Thanks Fjn. The basement had not yet had a chance to dry when Toronto experienced 5 inches of rain in two hours. Another flood. Severe thunderstorms expected today. I have ordered a very sophisticated sump but it won't be installed for another week. All of my cables are removed. I am just hoping the water level won't get high enough to impact the speakers or amp. It hasn't yet.

adamg July 10, 2013 17:19

Thanks Lapierre.

Right now I'm thinking small. Probably the acoustic treatments described in my most recent post. I am also still using the stock Mac tubes in my pre (SIN!) and should look into rolling. As far as significant upgrades, upgrading to the Mc501 monos would be next on my list.

adamg April 30, 2013 13:58

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for your comments. You seem to have excellent knowledge with acoustic treatments and I appreciate your input. Treating my room resulted in the most profound sonic upgrade I have ever experienced, more so than any components.
-I have looked into Vicoustic and RPG Syylines for the front wall. Definitely needs to be addressed.
-I do have a GIK panels at the first reflection point of both speakers in an attempt to create an equal environment for both speakers
-the wall behind the listening seat has two bass panels in addition to two corner traps.

There is still more tweaking to be done as I do have some fairly uncontrolled bass with some recordings.

adamg April 29, 2013 20:32

Thanks for the kind comments Mikeduke. I am pleased with the sound of the R12 and it was certainly an upgrade over my previous Hydra 6. However, overall I have not noticed siginificant sonic benefits with passive line conditioners relative to other accessories (such as the isolation base under the Ayre). The sound certainly "tightened-up" in terms of increased focus and greater image separation. The 6TS with teflon capacitors might be a different beast entirely and should represent a major upgrade from your current Monster conditioner. Additionaly, the build quality of audience power conditioners far exceeds what is normally expected from these types of products.

adamg December 13, 2011 00:43

I recently decided to switch from the 4 ohm taps to the 8 ohm taps on the MC402. I was surprised I had never considered this previously. The dynaudios that preceded the utopia had a 4 ohm nomimal impedence. After reading the review of the Stella Utopias in this months TAS, I realized that utopias have an 8 ohm nominal impedence. The switch could not have been more disappointing. I was considering giving it one week but it could not be tolerated. Bloated bass and bright treble. After reading the measurements in stereophile, it makes sense as there are dips to 3 and 4.1 in the bass and midbass. I was really looking forward to a free sonic improvement :/

adamg December 10, 2011 00:49

It has now been three months with the Nova Utopias. I continue to be amazed by the their detail retreival and realism with vocals. I'm next considering new tubes for the C500T or possibly a diffusion device for the rear wall. Minor changes only as my budget has not recovered and I have no desire to significantly alter the sound of this system. Yet...

adamg May 06, 2011 12:41

Thanks. I tend to purchase about 6-8 CDs each month. My music tastes are varied and diverse but I listen to a lot of what would be called underground or indie rock. Accordingly, I prefer hi-fi equipment that is more forgiving than ruthlessly revealing. I also listen to soul, classical, rock, hip-hop, and alt-country. Its a shame how I'm currently required to travel to specialty music shops to purchase my listening material.

adamg February 11, 2011 22:58

Thanks for the kind comments.

Ryder, I could never conceive of myself acquiring speakers such as the Nova's in such a short period of time. Its amazing how the used online market place allows for such occurrences.

Samhar, dusty - I was not prepared for the lush, gorgeous yet staggeringly detailed sound of the Nova's. I had read that some Audiogoners did not enjoy the sound of the Beryllium tweeter. This was a little concerning as I tend to stray from bright sounding components and I had grown accustomed to the Dynaudio Esotec tweets on my previous speakers. However, I can listen to the Be tweeter all day with the most challenging and poorly recorded material. The same can be said of the mid-range units.

I was particularly concerned about the bass given the size of my room. Unfortunately, there is some overhang and thickness to the lower frequencies. It is not to the point of distraction on most recordings and is certainly not obscuring the other frequencies. Often times I am surprised with all the additional low end information that was imperceptible with the Contours. However, ultimately the bass is not ideal for my room. Based on the other strengths and the cosmetics of these speakers, I will not be changing them until I move into a custom designed listening room with a pair of Rockport Arrakis talking to me from the front (planned for the summer of 2018)

adamg February 09, 2011 19:02

System edited: The Dynaudio Contour S3.4s have been replaced with the Focal Nova Utopia Be's...I don't have the words to described the impact...

adamg February 09, 2011 14:15

Thanks for the kind comments.

Joeweiss, the C500t is an absolutely incredible sounding unit and looks undeniably stunning on the equipment rack. I didn't compare it to other Mac pre-amps but I figured the 2300 would be a lateral move from my previous pre, the BAT VK-31Se. As other owners will tell you, the 500 is not a "plug in and play" unit. It is very complicated and can be difficult to set up. I recently had a power surge and subsequently, only one channel of my system was working. After much experimenting over the course of several days, it was determined that the umbilical cords that connect the two units of the 500 were at fault. Mac is sending out a new pair this week ($110). I would still highly recommend the 500T based on the sonics but warn of its complexity.

adamg October 14, 2010 19:43

System edited: New system pics added

adamg October 13, 2010 01:22

System edited: System now contains Purist Audio Designs Venustas Interconnects and Proteus Speaker Cables. I was not prepared fot the results.

adamg April 16, 2010 01:16

System edited: Just recieved the ARC CD3 MKii CD player to replace my Stello CDT 200 Transport/Electrocompaniet ECD-1 DAC. Was tempted by the reviews and build quality of CDPs from both Wadia and Esoteric, but in the end, I went with a player that suited my listening preferences. Engaging and musical yet detailed, dynamic and extended. I intend to log many pleasant hours in the listening chair with this unit as my new source.

adamg June 10, 2009 01:32

Dpac, as a loyal Mac owner, if you need additional power - go with the Pass. Those who have heard both indicate that the Pass is subjectively more dynamic despite its lower power rating. Then again, since you've already owned the Pass, it might be nice to experience the different character of the Mac.

adamg September 16, 2008 20:23

Thanks for the new comments. It actually feels quite odd to be at a point where you can't think of any necessary upgrades but I'm happy to have made it to this point.

Arthur, I had a chance to play the KS on my B&Ws for one day prior to the arrival of the Dyns. I was startled at the level of detail and microdynamics relative to the SR. Even more shocking was that the presentation was pushed siginifcantly back. For those who contend that cables don't have a significant impact on sonics, I wish you all could have been there to hear the differences. I tend to prefer equipment that leans towards the warmer side (Mac, Cardas) since the majority of my listening material is very bright and poorly recorded.

Sam, I was intending to go with Kimber Monocle XL but the owner of a legendary h-fi shop in Toronto (American Sound) was offering her personal KS 3033s that she used on her Grande Utopia's for a fair price. It was much more than I had budgeted to spend but I couldn't turn it down. I still haven't had a chance to push the system yet but the differences so far, even at low levels, are extraordinary.

adamg September 16, 2008 16:15

System edited: I have finally changed my speakers after seven years with the addition of the Dynaudio Contour S 3.4's. The imaging, soundstaging, low frequency response, and pleasantly detailed treble are beyond anything I was accustomed to with B&Ws. The new addition required a cable change to the Kimber Select KS 3033 since the Dyns do not accept bi-wire. The KS 3033 are a reference level all copper cable which reveal details and nuances in recordings that were previously undetectable.
This is the first time I have be completely satisfied with the sound of the system in the 12 years I've been involved in this hobby. The GIK acoustic treatments and the Dyns have brought my system to a level which I didn't think was possible. I have no urge to make any significant upgrades for several years to come with the exception of a new PC for the BAT. Although, being a frequent visitor to Audiogon, who knows what will tempt me ;).

adamg September 16, 2008 12:14

System edited: System has moved

adamg August 19, 2008 01:35

Wireless, when I decided to get a new power amp, my research through review archives and forums led me to the Pass X250.5 and the MC402. I recall reading a review in TAS in which the author described the Mac as the most musically satisfying power amp he had ever reviewed. I was looking for a powerful amp with a non-sterile, musical character and aesthetic appeal. My first choice was the Pass. I took home an X150.5 from a local dealer (the 250.5 wasn't available, the 350.5 too heavy) and found it to be bright and sibilant. I was very suprised since the Pass sound is described as being very forgiving. It may have been the limited power of the 150.5 or the fact that I only had it for 4 days. I auditioned the Mac in-store and decided to go for it and ordered one from here. The first week it was in my system was very underwhelming. However, it really started to open up and is now everything I would want in a power amp with the exception of slightly limited dynamics. Nevertheless, I cannot see my self replacing it for several years barring a significant change in finances for the better :). Hope you enjoy yours for many years as well.

adamg July 10, 2008 12:25

The extreme toe-in was necessary to tame the bright treble. The room is very narrow (10x15)and a bit of a sonic nightmare - determining the correct speaker placement to balance the room was a bit of a chore. The metal dome tweeters on the B&Ws were not making things any easier. As a result, imaging is obviously not the strongest point of my system. The center image is very strong but the soundstage just barely extends beyond the speakers. Coincidentally, my wife and I are putting an offer into a new home tomorrow with a nice room in the basement which I have some big plans for ;)

adamg April 17, 2008 20:45

Thanks for the recent replies. With the pre/power combo, the urge to upgrade is mininal. I would love to get rid of the speakers but I will have to wait...for quite some time.

adamg April 16, 2008 14:49

Thanks Arthur - the 400w might be a little overkill for my speakers and small room, but those who have compared the 402 to the MC252 report that the former is superior in every way . And when those speakers get replaced (Sophia's maybe?), I won't need to get a new amp. Couldn't be happier with the sound of the Mac! I really had a hard time with bright treble and sibilance prior to installing the Mac

adamg October 25, 2007 13:10

Thank you Joey. My listening chair is a loveseat that is off-center such that the right of the 2 cushions is in the sweet spot. It is very comfortable but not so pleasing to the eyes (hence, it never occured to me to take a pic of it). The room is very small (10' by 15') so I am listening in the nearfield. The Mac is everything I could want in an amp and will be (or should be) my last amp for a long time.

adamg June 14, 2007 22:37

System edited: Just added the MC402 power amp.

adamg May 20, 2007 15:37

Any new comments are welcome - thanks

adamg March 13, 2007 14:04

System edited: System edited - too many changes to mention

adamg March 13, 2007 13:51

System edited: Just added a Stello CD transpory to replace the Arcam player. There is much greater detail retrieval, imaging, and to my suprise, increased bass solidarity and dynamics.

adamg December 05, 2005 22:29

System edited: Recently added some new power cords. Next focal point is room treatments.

adamg August 16, 2005 18:37

System edited: Changed to Cardas bi-wire from XLO. It has been effective in reducing some treble brightness and added some tube-like musicality and softness to my dry-sounding system.

adamg August 04, 2005 19:31

I found the Absolute Power cord to be superior to the XLO ER-10 which is 2.5 times the price. I inserted in into my power amp and noticed a difference immediately. It is not much in terms of cosmetics but certainly does the job. You should evaluate my opinion with caution since I have not experimented a great deal with power cords, nevertheless, I still recommend it and there is very little financial risk in purchasing one.
In terms of the profession of chiropractic, evidence-based practitioners (such as I will be) constantly struggle against those chiropractors who simply apply manual adjustments to thier patients with repeated visits. I'm glad you have found someone who can treat your problem the right way.

adamg July 26, 2005 18:28

Thanks for the replies. I am looking to add some canvas prints in order to reduce wall reflections which will hopefully diminish the awful treble brightness I am experiencing. Bi-wiring was something I never considered but may have to look into since it has come up before as a means of reduicing the tizziness. Thanks again.

adamg July 25, 2005 20:26

Where do you go to school?

adamg July 24, 2005 19:23

I am entering the 3rd of 4 years at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic college in Toronto, Canada. It is a very demanding progream but hopefully it will be worth it.

adamg July 24, 2005 17:50

Any comments?

adamg July 24, 2005 17:38