I have made a switch from Thiel CS5i speakers to more efficient speakers. The dynamics of more efficient speakers sound more real/live to me. In addition, there are a lot of excellent lower power amp choices - tube and ss. It's a whole new ballgame!
Large Advent, Magnepan 1.2, Magnepan 1.7, Magnepan 3.6, Thiel CS3.6, Thiel CS5i, Tyler Acoustics Mx5, Zu Soul Six; Klipsch Forte iv's, Volti Lucerna's.
Great preamp but is more of a standby since acquiring the Don Sachs pre
Don Sachs DS2 Preamp
This amp gave my system more immediacy and presence. The CJ is more about texture and nuance of a different sort.
Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling RCA Interconnects
Generic 14 Gauge Speaker Wire
First Watt F7
My first Nelson Pass product. Amazing to me. Just about perfect with the my old Forte iv's but not as good with my Lucernas.
Quicksilver Horn Mono amps
I like these because they give me a taste of what monoblocks can do. Plenty of power for the Lucernas
First Watt F6
This is the most detailed of the three amps. I hear stuff that I do not hear with the other two. Still very musical.
Don Sachs Custom KT 88 Tube Amplifier
Dead quiet in my system but took a minute to get there. I had a hiss and tried tracking down a tube problem. No luck. Completely disconnected the amp and reinstalled into my system. Problem solved; I suspect that a speaker wire got too close to a power cord the first time around....
Volti Audio Lucerna
Excellent speaker. Closest I have come to matching room and components. Big step up from my my most recent Klipsch Forte iv's, which came after Zu's, Tyler Acoustics, Thiel cs5i's, and Magnepan 3.6's. I really liked the Thiel's, which were probably the most "audiophile" speaker I have owned. However, I think they were a bit too big for my space and I also got tired of dealing with 100 plus pound amps!
SVS SB 3000
Just needed a drop of deep bass with the Klipsch Forte iv's. I dialed the subs back with the Lucernas. I generally do not even know they are there unless I am playing loud. They kick in at 43 Hz and -10dB. No bloat that I can hear unless I think about it...do you really need to pay 3X for more bass control?
By the way, I first tried one sub and then bought a second one. My ears tell me that, with my gear and in my room, two subs are better than one.
However, I have updated my system but not the details here. Shame on me.
I had spent a lot of time trying to make my Thiel CS5i's sound good by searching for an appropriate amp, preamp, and DAC. After spending a lot of time and money, I still could not get the live sound or soundstage I was seeking.
So...the Thiel's have been sidelined in favor of Klipsch Forte iv's. They smoke the Thiel's for me in terms of dynamics and soundstage. I am a lot closer to a live sound than I was before.
I am using the same transport, DAC and preamp but am enjoying a new amp, First Watt F7 ,with the Klipsch speakers. It's twenty watts, all in class A, and is a good match with the Forte's as it provides detail and more than enough power.
Looks like a really nice well thought out system. I think the carpet over the monitor is an appropriate touch. I assume you throw that up there when listening to music only.
