which Vancouver? I am in the Southern (i.e Washington) branch.

jcipale March 16, 2011 17:40

With and without Hydra 4, what is the different can you hear. Do you plug CD player and Amp to the Hydra 4.

[email protected] January 03, 2007 23:39

wonderfull. Less = more.

loxodrome December 31, 2006 11:00

I haven't been paying much attention to this page but I wanted to say thanks for the kind comments. Indeed our daughter is the best addition to our "system". Just hope she loves music as much as I do. She's already fascinated with the guitar though she'll probably break the strings as she tugs at them. She also likes to watch my fingers move on the piano but she's not banging at the keys yet.
So much fun!

stuartbranson September 21, 2006 17:21

Very nice system and hand made cabinet!

linnie01 September 02, 2006 08:02

I think that Isabel is the best addition so far to your system. What a cutie! Congratulations Stuart.

sherod August 04, 2006 23:05

Thanks. I am in Vancouver too. I think I might have met you in a Stereo Shop in Richmond. They had the ASR and there was a discussion about Kubala Sosna vs. Valhalla.
If it isn't you, there is someone in town with a remarkably similar system (Levinson/Wilson). Very nice I must say.
Thanks again for the well wishes and compliment. I have struggled to put this system together with the intent of doing as best as I could imagine within my budget and my wife's kind and generous heart. I think I have plateau'ed and until I can get a real room set up I think an added expense (beyond a return to vinyl) would not be worth the investment. But then again, I may have had this sentiment many times before. Ha.

stuartbranson April 03, 2006 00:28

Nice system and congratulations on your latest addition to your system. I am sure there will be lots of "late night" sessions. Enjoy to the max. From Vancouver.

rugyboogie April 02, 2006 13:38

Thanks very much. We couldn't be happier.

stuartbranson March 26, 2006 22:36

Congratulations on your new addition! Much happiness to all of you.

slipknot1 March 24, 2006 14:56

System edited: Now for some beautiful evenings listening with our precious daugther Isabel.

stuartbranson March 24, 2006 14:47

Thanks for the kind comments. I hope Don's cables get some press because they are a bargain IMHO. I used Gregg's cables for along time and they beat everything I tried until the Chords. (and I tried and borrowed alot of cables) It's a significant (huge) difference in price but it's worth it. So many other cables that cost way more than Gregg's can't even come close. They're still around so I will probably revisit them in the future for another comparison. Also, if I ever were to start a second system, I'd be way ahead in the cable game using his cables.

stuartbranson March 17, 2006 11:15

System edited: Just wanted to mention that in the midst of a problem with some ground hum in the EMC-1 I was looking at the RCA jacks and saw how crappy and cheap they were (as well as causing the hum) so I replaced them with the WBT NextGen Cu jacks and it was like a cable upgrade! It's so simple for me to believe that cables can significantly change the sound but for some reason I couldn't imagine the jacks having similar effects. I believe now. I am thinking of changin the jacks on my VAC now.

stuartbranson March 17, 2006 11:09

Stuart, very well thought out systems! You know what you are doing, and you have good ears. I 100% concur with your assessments of both, the DCCA power cables and the Gregg Straley Reality speaker cables and ICs. I use both, and my system has never sounded better!

1markr March 16, 2006 21:12

System edited: My Chord Signature speaker cables came in today. So much "air" and emotion in the music. It feels good to be at the end of the cable road.

stuartbranson March 16, 2006 00:18

Thanks Synjohn, kind words made all the more generous considering the beautiful aesthetics of your room. The rack was a fun project and it's fun to watch the cherry take on it's dark rich colour as it ages. I need a new project now, maybe a matching cd rack.

stuartbranson February 19, 2006 05:34

Stuart,

I love the simplicity. When you made such nice comments on my amp stands I hade to come look at your system. I could see how you are very happy with it. Your craftsmanship is awesome. I could only dream of building things as nice as that. Maybe it is our Northwest weather that gives us more time indoor to hone the skills.

synjohn February 16, 2006 12:39

System edited: I won a DCCA power cord on auction with the thought of seeing if the raves were justified. I ended up replacing my Elrods and Shunyata Taipan. These are the best power cords in this price range I have tried and I have gone through alot of them. Don is a great guy to deal with and I really hope more people discover his cables.

stuartbranson February 11, 2006 02:39

Thanks for the kind words! I really do love my system and set-up now.
When I first got the ProAc's I thought I'd made a huge mistake. They did not sound good with the 30w Audiomat at all. So my friend lent me his VAC and the pairing is beautiful. Clean dynamic bass, silky midrange and great highs. I quickly figured that it was the amp for me even as it was out of my price range. So I pared down so I could afford it. I miss the vinyl but it's worth giving it up for the VAC. I guess 30w just wasn't enough.
The Electrocompaniet is a significant improvement over the Copland. As much as I liked the Copland, the EMC-1 is just better in all respects.
I consider this new system to be much more resolving, engaging and musical than any system I've had. I really enjoy it. The upgrade I want to try next is the matching Chord Signature speaker cables.

stuartbranson February 05, 2006 21:08

What a great system!

As a fellow ProAc fan I am interested to hear how you feel the Super Avatar works with them. Your equipment stand is one of the coolest I've seen. A nice blend of antique furniture and usefullness. The plants and the lighting work really well too. It must be a great place to escape and unwind.

I'll be posting a new virtual system soon. I'm using a Bel Canto SET40 amp with my Response 2.5s now with everything in a SOlid Steel 6.4 rack. I prefer your theme though, and hopefully will return to my Magro stand but built with nice hardwood this time.

I'm interested to know how your new system compared to your old one with the Copland as the source.

Thanks and great job!

gunbei February 03, 2006 13:42