My first two channel. Whad'ya think?

by mariasplunge on Opinions Please

Description

This is my first high end system. I first have to thank this community without which most of this equipment would be out of my range. So thanks!!

EDIT: Hi there. This is the second rendition. Had to send the Focal back to Canada for repairs. The woofer was off-center thus the rattle. I must say though customer service was great, with a quick turn around, no charge for shipping to and from, and no charge for the repair. A++ to Focal for that!!

Isolated the speakers on great maple stands. This definately brought out the best of the Focals. Deeper bass, nice tingly highs. Mids might be lacking a little for this mini-monitors though.

Changed CD players as well. Went from the marantz/bel canto combo to the audio aero prestige. As expected from an upgrade like this I was blown away. The detail, sheer musicality, and functionality of this player are just astounding. Really for the first couple of weeks I had this player I was just floored. And that feeling continues. Ultimately what I am looking for is a system that just makes me want to get up and dance, sing, keep my feet tapping and fingers snapping each time i listen. The prestige does this in spades.

Also upgraded power cords in the shunyata line. 20amp pythons now power the conditioners. I think big improvement in floor noise and my system just seems more extended.

Finally, with the recommendations of many fine audiogon folks, I stepped into vinyl. Man I love it. I love the sound, I love getting back into records and finding recordings that peak my interest. Just great. The Scoutmaster as is well known is a fine entry turn table. The Dynavector matches well. The tube based minimax gives me a nice touch of that tube beauty. Just lovely.

Thanks again for looking. Any comments suggestions appreciated. I am currently working on building a maple isolation platform for the table.

Cheers,

Peter
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Components Toggle details

    • Jeff Rowland 501s
    these monblocks are real beauties that fits well into my limited space
    • JM Labs Electra 1007 Be
    Nice Monitors. Unfortunately on arrived and upon playing it sounds broke. Bummer.
    • Acoustic Zen Silver Reference
    Nice used pair
    • Aural Symphonics Digital Echelon
    No longer using due to built in DAC in the prestige
    • Kimber Kable 3035 Select
    Kimber's copper silver mix.
    • Audience Power Chord
    These two run the marantz and the bel canto.
    • Purist Audio Opus
    Nice cords but still burning them in
    • Shunyata Hydra 6
    Powers my front end dac and transport
    • Shunyata Guardian 2
    This one powers the Jeff Rowlands
    • Audio Aero Prestige
    A fine player. Also acts as my preamp, plugs diretly into my Rowlands (balanced) and runs my phono pre
    • VPI Industries VPI Scoutmaster
    This is the one with the signature tone arm and Valhalla wiring
    • Eastern Electric Minmax phono
    This is a stylish tubed phono. has a bit of background noise , not dead quite but for my first definately worth it.

Comments 36

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Hi, very nice setup. I have the JMLab 937bes in my system and love them. As noted above you could certainly benefit from stands but if you don't have room you should at least put some isolation platforms under your speakers. I custom build most of my own isolation devices using hardwoods like maple filled with sand and use vibrapods for feet. I have had very good luck and the price is right. If you find it doesn't work for you then you are not out alot of money.
I also recently got back into vinyl within the past year. Rega and VPI are certainly excellent and provide a good upgrade path. I ended up getting a Marantz TT15S1 that I am extremely happy with. Very easy to set-up for a begginer and excellent performance. I am also using the Graham Slee Era Gold IV for a pre and it is a great value.

matt54321

Owner
Dewald,
Thanks for all that info. The valve pre looks fantastic and well built. Where is it made? i had a hard time finding some specs on it, but one of the features a pre must have is balanced outs for my jeff Rowlands. Do you know if the valve has such? Also does it have a phono stage?
I haven't gotten to investigate the other gear yet but will certianly be asking some questions considering all the great info you provided me. I appreciate your time.

mariasplunge

Sorry, I did not notice that the Bel Canto is a DAC only.

Okay for the pre-amp:
Have a look at the Valve Audio Black Widow Pre-Amps. These units are hand-built in my home-country by my good friend Mr. Havenga. Its quality beyond imagination. It has balanced in/outputs and uses tubes in the gain stages. I would say that a tube pre-amp like this one will work wonders with your Jeff Roland digital power-amps. You connect the poweramps to the Black Widow outputs and then the BelCanto DAC to say BAL1 and the phono to SE1 and the Tuner to SE2. It has a quality remote control and is very easy to use.
See it here:

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AVALVEBWPREAMP

Here's a link to the GS phono amp.
http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AGRAHAMP3MC

And the Rega turntable:
http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=AREGP7SILVER

And the Cartridge:
http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=ASUM8

This bundle of gear will surely propell you into the world of analogue. Have a look at it and tell me what you think...

Dewald

dewald_visser

Owner
Tell me dewald, if I were to move into a pre-amp with a phono stage which would you recommend. Also, what would the connection process be via my cd transport to my dac to some pre amp. What kind of cabling would this involve. I think a pre with a phono stage is up my alley so I could also add a tuner. What should I be looking for?

I just investigated mapleshades massive maple speaker stand, the rooted buttress. Looks real impressive and reasonably priced. Any thoughts on that.

mariasplunge

It is never-ending... but it is great "fun" hey??

Stands: Anything that is very heavy and at least 600mm high - get the tweeter at ear-level at listening position. If you can get stands that is hollow to put sand in so much better.

Yup - Rega. It is quality tables with only the most nessesary stuff. Sounds very good indeed and is childsplay to set up. Easily upgradable. Looks sexy and well... is just amazing. Even the higher-end Rega P7 is stunning compared to other highend tables.
Dont ever be tempted to buy a Pro-Ject machine - they have motor-hum problems.

Cartidge wise: Sumiko EVOIII MC - best place to start.

Phono Amp: Graham Slee units... value for money.

Keep well,
Dewald

dewald_visser

Owner
Thanks fro the advice Dewald. Sounds like speaker stands are in order. Any recommentations?

Rega? Well here goes the next addiction!

mariasplunge

Just get the speakers on their own pedestals and then youll be 'singin''.

A good place to start with vinyl is a Rega P3 turntable - it is plug and play and sounds stunning for the price. Then slowly buy some LP titles - no need to rush. Music Direct has hundreds of stunning titles...

Greets,
Dewald

dewald_visser

Owner
Yes, I certianly agree!! Vinyl is the sound I really want, yet I have not collected vinyl in years and the thought/space necessary to have it is beyond me now. But what a way to get out of the digital world.

Any body have thoughts on isolation considering my current set up?. Any body have other improvements they might add??

Let me know, as I appreciate all coments/critiques. really I am just in the learning phases here.

mariasplunge

Not bad at all Maria!

Mix some vinyl into the equasion...

DV

dewald_visser

Owner
Thanks for your response. Yes stands is something I considered yet it seemed too wide for my listening area. Maybe toeing the speakers in can solve this and allow me to still direct the sound.
Unfortunately I have limited space and have to work with that. I can't move the couch that much and i can't move the credenza that much. I have to settle for a happy medium there.

Tvad, I am sure you are right though, those vibrations are traveling. Also I will check out this back panel thing. I believe thay are removable. Safe to go in there? Thanks.

mariasplunge

Beautiful.

No speaker should rattle, even during break-in. However, it might be an easy fix. If your speaker's binding posts are mounted on a removable plate, you can often unscrew this plate and then check for loose connections (a loose nut, bolt, etc).

It might be interesting to try placing the speakers on stands rather than on the credenza. Despite having some vibration control under the speakers, I have to believe a considerable amount of vibration is still making it into the credenza...and into your electronic components.

tvad

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