It's taken quite awhile to get to this point... one which I feel is a synergy that is and will be giving long term MUSICAL satisfaction.
Unfortunately there is no "one way" to get that synergy. The best advice out there (obvious but not always followed)... absolutely, positively, one must audition equipment before spending a single cent.
The Escalante Fremont's are new and beyond expectation. First heard them at CES '06. I listened and compared every day I was at the show. Did 6 more months of listening and comparing, then I decided to purchase them.
A match made in Heaven with the Claytons... or at least until the Clayton pre becomes available.
Clayton Audio M-200's
200 watts of SS Class A love...
Jorma Design No. 2
Copper cables with the natural organic warmth one would expect and the added bonus of refined, fatigue free hi-resolution.
Marten Design Birds
89db @ 6ohms. The diamond tweeter is a revelation.
Purist Audio Designs and Isoclean.. Auditioning all models of both.
Purist to the line conditioner and amplifiers, Isoclean everywhere else.
Isoclean Model 80A3
I'm in a condo complex with 183 other units. Line conditioning is an absolute necessity. The Isoclean has given me what I've been searching for... finally.
Finite Elemente Pagode
Set it and forget it. Easy to adjust the heighth of each shelf. Fit and finish is top-notch.
Isoclean fuses and outlets
These 2 accessories build upon what the line conditioner does so well. The music flows with a natural organic quality that is quite beguiling, BUT never euphonic or slow. Nothing about the music is sacrificed to create an absolutely fatigue-free sound.
Definitely the Miles for small listening rooms. Although I've heard the Birds work in smaller rooms, and because I know how they can sound in a larger room, there was always a sense of they were holding back. A bit like owning a Ferrari and only using it to go to the grocery on weekends.
The Miles is easy to integrate, especially now that they have switched to downward firing ports. Plenty of bass that's solid, transparent and free of boom.
Once again... as I said before, judging a speaker under show conditions is pointless. Especially when comparing bass response which is very much room dependent. I've schleped Marten speakers to many homes and in every case I've gotten a different bass response. I've since learned conclusively that the room is THE most important element in putting together a hi-end system. I tell customers that when considering speakers or any other component in this price range that home demo is an absolute must.
Unless your room is of the same dimensions and constructed of the same materials as the one your demoing in (such as one finds at Munich's Show) making a final judgement is an exercise in futility. I can safely say that the sound you hear at almost any Show will bear little if any resemblance to what you will hear in your own room.
I'm always amazed how some manufacturers quickly set up a room at Shows with very little time spent optimizing. I've been to many late night sessions at CES where we fiddled with the room after hours and produced a major improvement in the overall sound.
Why do you think reviewers stress one should always try to hear the product in their own environment before purchasing. The reveiws are always in the context of the reviewer's room and his or her's particular components. The more resolute the speaker, the more important this becomes.
BTW, overblown mid-bass is usually more a function of the room and placement, not the speaker.
Your picture of the Birds set-up probably explains why you did not like them... the walls and floor are marble and some other stone, even the baseboards. No other acoustic treatment is visible.. What you heard was the room not the speakers. In a properly set-up room the Birds (when compared to the Coltranes) present a denser and more visceral sound. Also a bit warmer with a slightly more forgiving top end.
One should never reach a final conclusion under the influence of only show conditions.
When I decided to become a dealer I wanted to have my system represent the products I will be selling. GPA was not an option as my area of SoCal is covered. The Finite is a temporary compromise as I have it on display for another regional dealer. Visually it works with my floors and speakers and sonically, compared to the GPA, it's a different flavor.
If I had to pick one main difference between the two, it would be that I'm hearing more of a difference between recordings with the Finite Elemente. The GPA, in my system, imparts a certain quality to every cd. To my ear I would call it a refined or burnished textural quality that puts a slight patina on voices and instruments. This isn't a bad thing and would probably benefit some systems. I just prefer what I'm hearing now.
System edited: Many changes to my system this year. Last pic shows the new equipment in the new rack next to the new speakers. The Marten Design Birds are on another level... one I never thought I would be able to attain in my less than acoustically perfect living space. And combined with the Clayton Audio amplifiers it's been quite a ride. Eveything listed in my system is new, from the wall outlet to the speakers and everything inbetween. So taken was I by my new system that I have become a dealer and am more than happy to extend an open invitation to those interested in auditioning any of the components listed.
Thank you for the nice comments! I'm now a dealer for several of the products pictured, but have also taken on a couple more... so new pics are coming in a few days. Everything has morphed into another system with only the Audio Aero cdp still in use. Even changed the outlets, rack and all cables.
I'll post an update with new pics this weekend.
And congrats on the Merlins... one of the most musically satisfying monitors I've ever heard.
System edited: Felt a bit of nostalgia tonight and posted a pic of the speakers I replaced. And thanks to all re. the nice comments. It's strange when I look at the system pics... it appears somewhat minimalistic, but man, what I went through to get there!!!
The stock version of the Audio Aero was merely good compared to the SE version. If you get the opportunity to hear one someday, make sure it's the SE version... otherwise you won't hear what it's really capable of. And the combination of the AA with the Purist Anniversary pc took it to an even higher level than I thoght possible.
You pretty much got me started with Purist cables... now I can't stop. It's like an addiction. Once you've had a taste, it's all over.
