Thank you for your comment Agear! Enjoy the music!

gwalt December 08, 2015 09:34

Before I retire I wanted to compliment my room with some music options. I have always admired the musicality of the Living Voice OBX-RW speakers. They are as coherent and seamless as any box cabinet speaker i have heard and have correct tonality for my taste. The designer Kevin Scott has been refining this design for over 20 years and it just sounds right to me. 8 WPC of Border Patrol power drives them wonderfully but I came across a match made for them with the Jadis JA30 monoblocks.. Now I have both horns and dynamic speakers properly driven by some of best electronics I can ever imagine. I feel very blessed to have this much music under one roof.

gwalt December 06, 2015 17:25

System edited: Well I have a substitute for my Lindeman 825 that suffered a storm power surge here in Nebraska and is under repair with more surgery to go but is should return as a back-up. I have purchased a used AA Lafontaine for my main service and it is much better than the old Prestige/Capitole that had service reputations. This player has the Esoteric transport with adjustable fixed or variable gain. Rich and musical with an exceptional ability to draw into the music.

gwalt August 16, 2015 09:24

Hi Lac:
Here is the deal. Right from the box I plugged it into my subamp. (replacing a Silent Source reference) so I could break in there and let it draw current.
What I experienced was a much quieter black background, larger soundstage, and firmer foundation? I did not think a subamp. was capable of following noise like that but then the preamp. feeds to it and vice versus.
There has been subtle differences along the way to 250 hours but nothing major. I run a Elrod Gold Statement MX2 (cord between Diamond and Gold) from the wall to my HB Marble so my test will be to swap that around and see how the Kraken compares. You have to do the best you can at the start of the chain so we will see. At any rate this thing is special and expensive as you know.
By the way you have some premium gear in your system along with your cables. I bet it glues you to listening and fun. If you ever want to try the Kraken for comparison sake let me know as it would be great to hear what it does vs. your cables.
gwalt

gwalt January 18, 2015 10:56

I recently added a Stage 3 Kraken PC and still experimenting with it in different locations.
Out of the box it is easily the best PC I have ever experienced and now with 200 hours is incredible and easily heard on the horns.
Plugged into any source it simply lowers the noise floor and expands holographic imaging and spaciousness.
The cute thing it does better than even an Elrod Gold Signature is provide a firm/full foundation to the music without loss of resolution. Simply magic in this system.

gwalt January 17, 2015 05:41

Hi Melbguy1
Thank you for the nice comment. I have heard a lot about the Jorma cable but have never experienced it. It is also wonderfully made and of course expensive.
I am in the process of listening to the Stage 3 Kraken and Triton PC's along with the old Zyclops. Very interesting comparisons indeed.
Now I hear that the next step for Stage 3 is to introduce a new series of interconnect/speaker cables. He does not change often so this should be interesting.
I need to win the local lottery however I am most happy with my current cables.
I like the Magico line when mated to the proper power and bet your music sounds compelling.
Best Regards,
Gwalt

gwalt November 18, 2014 22:24

Charles1dad:

They took 8 weeks to get here and I do agree with you.

Happy listening.

gwalt

gwalt October 18, 2014 21:06

Update:

I am now breaking in a new pair of Dueland Cast-PIO's tweeter caps. in my Titans.

They are more open in the top, definitely quieter overall allowing more presence with greater separation in the soundstage. As a plus they are fast and have a great jump factor. Amen

Gwalt

gwalt October 18, 2014 09:49

Hi Papermill:

I am glad I caught you as I am not on here very much except the weekends. Congratulations on discovering BP Electronics.

I don't think the P-21 is any harder on the tubes unless they were biased incorrectly that I am aware of. If you ask Gary he is not a huge fan of Sophia tubes as he personally had one go poof but I know he ran them for quite some time. I have a pair of Royal Princess that have maybe 500 hours on them with no issues except one tube is hotter in bias than the other. These are definitely richer in the lower midrange than the cheaper Chinese/Russian tubes.

If you want the best current stock tube on the market my belief is the Takasuki made in Japan however be prepared to pay the high price.

Most of the brands are either Chinese or Russian made currently which is where the EH is at. EH non-gold grid can sound a bit hard. I would try the EH gold grid cryo-set which is smoother throughout and very dependable if you have not went there. Secondly, you might want to try the Black Treasure series from China for increased musicality while staying affordable. I have not tried the Genelux Gold Lions or JJ's and likely won't anytime soon. Anyone tried the Full Music line with carbon plates as I suspect they are the same as Sophia's?

In the end, I find Gary's new Border Patrol EXS PS's make the cheap tubes sound wonderful and much closer to the high priced glass as they get the best out of everything.

Gwalt

gwalt October 18, 2014 09:40

Pradeep:

I like the Siemens 60's gold pins in my VAC the best so far with the Amperex PQ's being a bit warmer and the Siemens being more honest and a bit more vibrant. Since you now own the GAT you will have some time to "look around" for tubes and experiment with matching.
Tube rolling itself can be a frustrating experiment but something will lock in. The matching of all these things gets back to mention that the weakest link controls the outcome.
It is a great hobby to be in if you like something that will drive you to borderline insanity.
Great hearing from you and do enjoy the music.

Best,
Gary

gwalt June 16, 2014 09:09

Hi Pradeep

I see your 40 year journey has led you to a lovely system. I bet it sounds magical. Matching up everything to what you like from the music is the key and is most difficult to achieve.
With that said I found the VAC Signature a better match in my system over the GAT. Both are in the group of top tier of preamps. and are both great pieces in their own way.
The difference for me was that the GAT had to much gain (25DB) for the horns and I had to configure the BP amps. with a lower gain driver tube (E82CC) for the 300B which was not as good as the 6c45pi I am using now. The designer used the 6c45pi driver when he voiced the BP amp. which has more life and dynamics so the VAC is better with the 12DB of gain and a higher gain driver tube in the amp.
In terms of musicality each grade very high with maybe the GAT having a wider huge soundscape and the VAC being more holographic (bowling alley capable) and 3-dimensional with more resolution.
Also for me the VAC responded more on the swapping of 6922-7308 variety tube flavors possibly due to how it is used and Kevin Hayes stock tubes being very good.
In the end they each have the manufacturer's flavor and gets down to system matching properly to your tastes as both are first class pieces.
Again I hope you read this as one not necessarily better than the other but just different with the VAC winning out in my matching situation for what I needed. YMMV due to your matching situation and needs for gain.
Please realize that my comments relate to highly efficient speakers (107DB) with matching of gain to be of critical importance.
In your system the GAT's gain may win out in dynamics and spread but it would be hard to know without installation on-site with gain needs from your other components. It would be a very interesting comparison in your fine system for sure and the only way to know.

I hope you can grasp what I am saying.

Best Regards,
Gary (Gwalt)

gwalt June 15, 2014 21:28

Dmarkov:

Yes I agree with your comments on the front end importance as everything is down chain from there.
Systems are really only as good as your weakest link including but not any less important, your room acoustic tuning and treatment. This is an another topic but one of most important! I see a lot of rooms on this site without anything and I wonder what is missing from the fine components.
Having two sets of horns is not only a unique treat but must keep you busy experimenting! Would love to hear them as you appear a horn lover.
I have tried many cables if interested to share off-site you may call me at 402-276-0343. My current cables won out on the horns after a long exhausting search. OMG are they good but also expensive....again my last stop.

Best to you,
Gwalt

gwalt May 10, 2014 21:41

System edited: System edited. I recently upgraded to the top of the line Stage 111 Mantikor Speaker Cable and although expensive it was worth it to me. The background is quieter still and even more relaxed with soundstage expansion, air and depth. It is hard to describe but special to listen to. Until then the Stage lll Magnus Prime was the best I had heard and I have tried a lot over time before settling here.

gwalt March 30, 2014 20:02

Tjkurita:

I always thought Bruce was a good designer but needed some help finalizing and finishing through with sales. I worked pretty hard at getting mine built and delivered but it was worth it. Bruce was a much better fit describing his design and had a genuine passion about horn design with vintage drivers. His love of the design made him fun to visit with.

I know the integration of the bass spectrum can be tricky. It sounds like you are enjoying the integration as is and that is what counts. My bass was touchy until owning the Marchand with an adjustment to the gain which did the trick. Good Luck and enjoy your system as I bet it sounds sweet.

Gwalt

gwalt March 08, 2014 17:24

Hi Tjkurita:

Yes I would describe the Edgarhorns a bit laid back with wonderful imaging and tonal saturation coming from the JBL 2441 and JBL K-120's but most of all Bruce's design knowledge and materials. They lean slightly to the warm side of neutral and are not in your face like a lot of horn designs.
However with that said, they still have speed and dynamics with life that bests most any dynamic speaker especially when rooted down by Border Patrol and VAC electronics with Stage 3 cabling.
It appears you have a wonderful musical system also and glad you have discovered the benefits of SET/efficient speaker combination. Do you have any trouble getting your bass to integrate with the remainder of your system?

Gwalt

gwalt February 27, 2014 20:49

Thank you all for your kind words. This hobby has many choices to have fun with while enjoying the music.
For one of the first times in about 40 years I feel my journey is "done for now" so I posted the system under that heading.
Seriously as we get older we are bound to loose some hearing so my journey does appear to be over and I tried to focus my purchases on that goal.
For all of us in this crazy hobby that own horns please share your experiences as that is the best way to learn. Any non-horn owner thinking of going there just remember that these high efficiency speakers carry good and bad since they express everything as amplified.
Example would be this weekend when I turned on the 300B amplifier and could hear the 300B tube plates ringing as they warmed up through the horns at 12 feet!

gwalt February 03, 2014 09:33

Hi Isochronism:
When Bruce was here he kept me and my wife up half the night with his many stories and he has many to tell. What a nice gentleman he is and fun to listen to. Not bad hearing either back then.
I know the power supplies look to be over kill on an 8w amp. however I wished all 300B tube lovers could have witnessed the after hour demo I did at RMAF in 2012.
We had a 18W SET Border Patrol amp. (4 300B's) on a set of 95db speakers and we traded power supplies back and forth. The big ones I now have gave the amp. a new set of musical rules. Speed, depth of soundstage, and extension while running the tubes on easy street.
It is crazy what that tube can do with a great stiff power supply. I used to think 300B amps. were mushy and rolled off and it appears with a weak power supply most can be! So just remember when you go to horns they like some controlled power also but it has be of the quiet nature ha.
Thanks for the kind words and Best of Luck if you go the horn route as it will be an adventure.
Regards,
Gwalt

gwalt February 02, 2014 17:55

Lak:

I noticed your system also. Gosh how long has this all been in the works? This is serious stuff and bet these rooms are second homes. I would guess some real musical singing goes on?

Gwalt

gwalt February 01, 2014 22:34

Dan:

Your system looks beautiful also and it appears you have a serious music machine. WOW!

Enjoy,
Gary

gwalt February 01, 2014 14:28