I have been an audiophile for over 55 years, since i was 14. I have owned over 20 turntables in that time. I have not owned one since the mid 80's. I do not stream or rip.
I have tried to implement the best digital front end sources I could afford. i think I have achieved great sound with both simplicity and elegance and am very happy.
My loudspeaker make and model were usually paired with inferior budget electronics and so their true potential was never realized by their owners who then moved on.
The Gallo Ref 3.5's have no crossovers, enclosures or ports, the usual weaknesses of most loudspeakers. I feel the CDT high frequency unit is superior to most dome tweeters for both soundstage and accuracy. I felt that raising the speakers 8 inches on solid ballistic rubber blocks improved all parameters.
A brief system description follows.
Amplifier: Bricasti Design M28 Mono Block Power Amps
Preamplifier None. See DAC below.
Speakers: Anthony Gallo Acoustics
Reference 3.5 on 8 inch ballistic rubber blocks.
Sources:
CD Player/DAC: Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC Reference Series 2 MQA.
Transport: Weiss Engineering Jason Transport.
Speaker Cables/Interconnects: TARA Labs
Zero Evolution Balanced Interconnect with HFX Floating Ground Station.
TARA Labs The 0.3 Loudspeaker Cable. TARA Labs Zero Evolution AES/EBU Digital Cable with HFX Floating Ground Station.
Power Conditioners/PC's:
Oyaide Vondita-X Power Cords. Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum Power Conditioner. Telos Mini Quantum Resonators. Ayre Acoustics L-5xe AC Power Filter.
Dedicated 20 amp power line.
Furutech GTX-D NCF(R) AC Receptacles (3).
Saluda River Audio Stand
Room Size (LxWxH): 18 x 18 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments: Separate
listening space with a 7' x 6' alcove & open stairway to upper
level. Tile over concrete floor, 2" x 6" studs on block & brick
outside wall. Split HVAC unit is very quiet. Two 20 amp dedicated
lines. GIK Acoustics Screen Panels (2) & Tri-corner Bass Traps with
built in Scatter Plates (4).
Music Collection: 1000 CD's including 80% Classical & 20% Jazz, Female Vocalists & Film Soundtracks.
System Goals/Comments: Performance
Precision = Accuracy, Balance & Clarity. To reproduce the recording
without deviation or artifacts. Minimal equipment complexity for
maximum enjoyment in a dedicated space.
System Strengths: Expansive &
holographic soundstage. Wide dynamic range. Precise focus. Specific
imaging. Detailed bass. Unlimited power handling with no strain, compression or distortion.
Weaknesses: Nothing of any consequence or importance.
My favorable experience with the Gallo Ref 3.5's is in the "Description" above. Unfortunately, some associate the quality of the Ref 3.5's with their original price point. As a result, they were matched with mid-fi equipment which masked their true potential. In my opinion, they were underpriced.
The CDT high frequency unit is basically a cylindrical ribbon and is superior to any dome tweeter regardless of construction material. Additionally it operates without the deleterious effects of any crossover. They provide a very wide and clear soundstage.
The midrange drivers are carbon fiber using neodymium magnet assemblies. Lacking a crossover eliminates phase shifts, distortion, and power limits.
The bass is detailed and deep with the high excursion magnesium and aluminujm drivers It only needs a 1/2 octave lower bass boost which I augment with the Superlative dual Wilson Benesch Torus Infrasonic Generator System which includes an outboard electronic bass amp and crossover.
Nice setup. Surprised to see your speakers with your associated equipment.
I believe they’re Anthony Gallo speakers? Have you given any thought to upgrading your speakers. Looks like the rest of your system is a step up from your speakers. Maybe I’m wrong?
I previously related my search for reasonably priced solid stands for
the Ref 3.5's. Many of these enhanced maple stands cost upwards of
$1000.00, for common wood of all things. Searching the internet I
discovered a material used in shooting ranges to stop large caliber high
velocity bullets. I gave some thought to the high energy absorption
required of such a material. I thought the characteristics required for
that application could be easily transferrable for use as loudspeaker
stands. The website is the following and the product is described in
detail:
I ordered two blocks of vulcanized ballistic rubber. They measure
ideally for the Ref 3.5 platform: 8" x 8" x 16" and are very heavy and
solid at 41 pounds each.
I would never have believed such a dramatic transformation in the
sound of these speakers. The overall impact is tremendous. The
resultant bass is the equivalent of adding two high quality subwoofers
without the expense and complexity. The bass is not only fuller and
deeper but has greater layers of detail and tone color. There is more
range and nuance. The mid and high frequencies likewise have a three
dimensional quality with subtle cues previously masked by the lower
profile of the speakers directly on the floor. Horns are not anemic
sounding but very full with the appropriately realistic sound pressure
levels. You can hear the individual notes on each string of a guitar.
What especially amazes me is it seems I have gained more efficiency.
The Ref 3.5's play louder at the same volume setting I previously used.
The soundstage is much wider and deeper with the instrumentalists
moving farther into the room without a loss of depth of field. Also,
overall clarity is substantially improved and the experience seems
cleaner overall.
These loudspeakers absolutely need to be raised at least 8 inches off
the floor. The tweeters are now at my seated ear level, 8 inches
higher than stock. I previously had them slightly toed in but this is
no longer necessary. I moved them about 6 inches closer to the center
line and pointed straight ahead. They are positioned 10 feet apart and i
sit about 12 feet away with the woofers facing each other.
There are two minor cautions. These blocks were priced at $41.00 each
but the UPS ground shipping is costly due to the total 82 pound weight,
or about $1.00 per pound. They are made of vulcanized rubber and have a
pronounced oily rubber smell prevailing in the room when you first take
them out of the box. I helped to disperse this by leaving the window
and door open all day with only the fan on the HVAC operating (my
dedicated room has its own HVAC).
This is the best $158.00 I have ever spent. Seriously, this is like
getting an entirely new music library and loudspeakers at once without
spending exorbitant amounts of money on high end audiophile approved
products.
Hey There... I have the Gallo 3.1s and love them but always thought that getting them off the floor would benefit sound stage as these are designed in a low crouch kind of position. I'm curious what difference you think elevating them made? Also what are the dimensions of those blocks? and where did you get them?? I'd love to get my hands on some..
