Years and years in the making. I can sit here in peace for hours. Not bright, not dull. Once it starts, i'm helplessly stuck to my seat. I hate to say it but it's better than live MOST of the time. rare i go to a live show that has acoustics and PA that touch it. All acoustic treatments with Bob Hodas's help (works on systems from neil young to george lucas). lots of in room measurement and incremental movements. like hours upon hours......
The system took a massive leap when i replaced the einstein turntable's choice with the air-tight/lyra step up combo. the whole thing kills.
top of line spiral groove from allen perkins. dense and dead quiet
Lyra Titan(i)
Top of the line Lyra
Air Tight ATE-2
Best Preamplifier i've had in this system. and it beat some super pricey ones! NOS frame grid telefunkens make it special
Sprial Groove Tonearm
Does not get better
Loiminchay Kandinsky
TAD compression driver married to resonance free enclosure with 20 coats of laquer, concrete baffle for accurate pistionic take off and sheep wool interior
Hi David, sorry for late replying your questions in my system regarding the upgrade to karan driving magico q5's. I strongly recommend and please try them if you can.
I have not had an opportunity to compare my kam2000 monoblocks to top soulution or dartzeel monoblocks but their power amps are far from the performance of the karans. You will not regret I can guarantee :).
System edited: Just updated this page. I've made some big changes over the last few months. David Berning Quadrature Z amps, JPS Labs Aluminata interconnects and Kubala Sosna Elation Bi-wire speaker cables. Hard not to lose yourself in this.
i'm familiar with the audio consulting. even with my 97db speakers, i enjoy having the power of the quad. i listen to lots of rock and jazz and dynamics are as an important attribute to me as tonality and timbre. i had an audio consulting transformer based volume control and preferred the music first, so it's turned me off of the brand.
I own a modest Master TSM by Merlin, until now driven by Berning ZH230 - David Berning said I needn't bother to go the way of the Q'z, as they share the same sound on different powerlevels (who knows..)
Actually completely happy, but might I direct your attention to my current alternative: http://www.audio-consulting.ch/?Products:Amplifier:MIPA_120_Watt
I am using the smaller 30W MIPA (mains independent pa) and it is - dare I say it - equal to the Berning, as fast, but so calm, I can't believe it. I have a slightly difficult setup in my studio, with a grand piano between the speakers, but the fact that you can hear a grand piano, but nobody sitting there, that vision only struck me with the Audio consulting, so it must do something right. (ps no affilitation, and what's more, I keep the Berning anyway!!)
rf, the speakers are a purchase i'll never feel the need of replacing. the step up is an amazing match for the titan. imaging is unreal. although battling hum can become a full time job with a step up! be prepared for work. i can help you find one if you want. friends with importer.
Did you try the "star ground" configuration that Syntax suggested to rid yourself of that evil hum? When grounding is absolutely necessary, groundings all coming back to one point will eliminate creating a loop and adding additional problems, just my two cents.
Nice to see OTL's in your mix David, you must comment on the synergy of the Bernings and the Kandinskys when you get the chance. I have witnessed first hand Mr. Karstan and Mr. Berning on this very site going head to head about what is OTL... and what might not be, have never had the pleasure to hear Berning's interpretation, but would like to. Oh well. Personally, I love my Atma-Sphere Ma1 Silver Eds, with the appropriate match of speaker, they are magic! Fast, detailed top to bottom, and gobs of air... what else would one desire?
Thanks Davidhyman, I'm a big fan of Chario, I've owned seven pairs, currently using Ursa Major in first system and Cygnus in secondary rig... they show great elegance and superb medium/high response. But your Loiminchay... wow, no words to describe it. Congratulations again !
Hello, David, you have a very attractive audio system, it must sound wonderful! Airtight and Vitus seems like a nice match, I`m interested to read your thoughts on the Vitus and David Berning amplifier comparisons. Regards,
yeah, i've been playing around with grounds and cheaters, and star grounding like a mad man. i've pretty much got it killed but it requires me to "float" the ground via switch on back of the erodian, which i'm told is not as good as if you didn't have to float it. but it's sounding dreamy. about to swap in david berning quadrature z to a/b test against the vitus.
.... dealing with hum issues for me has been a major major ordeal. not 100% gone...
A very interesting System. Just a few Thoughts about the hum problem... Is the Lyra Erodion grounded? Preamp grounded? Sometimes it can be also possible that some electronics react with grounding via the Power cable (+, -, ground), some (minority) work better without ground, or what is also possible, using only 1 ground connection and all other units are linked to that one (normally the preamp). Happy Listening.
R_f, thank you so much for the comments. the speakers are much better than they look! it's all about the TAD compression driver, the mundorf gold/siver capacitor in the crossover, and the herculean effort to remove resonances in the woofer enclosure. the pinth of solid concrete wrapped in leather. real lambswool is used internally.
the erodian is phenomenal with my lyra cartridge, although dealing with hum issues for me has been a major major ordeal. not 100% gone but the bit that i have still let's this blow away my previous einstein phono stage.
