Author Topic: New toys!!!!!!!!!!!! (Read 10414 times)

carlbeck · « **on:** February 10, 2004, 08:57:55 PM »

Well everything is done for this week, I am still waiting for my Audible Illusions L2 pre amp.

I recently bought a pair of Von Schweikert VR4jr's, they are the only pair in existence at the moment. I was able to purchase the demo pair from VSA through my dealer, the rest of the run won't be shipped until at least 3/31 at the earliest. Anyway, the speakers are incredible, a pair of 7" bass drivers on each bass module with a monitor on top that has another 7" midrange driver, front tweeter & rear tweeter. These puppies kick so much ass it's scary, I am so impressed with the dynamics. A very nice speaker that I would highly recommend. Right now their is a pride of ownership from owning the only pair that is unmatched. VSA has been an excellent company to deal with & I can't say enough good about them. Check them out if your in the market for some speakers.

I also just added a BAT VK-60 tube amp in the system. This is my first tube amp, 12 tubes & 95lbs of hulking weight. The sound is fluid with a musical flow that has not been heard in this room at any time. I replaced my Mc Cormack DNA-1 with it & while I can say the BAT blows it away in overall sound quality it is lacking ever so slightly in the bass department. This could be due to tubes or only have 60 wpc, I would say it is the lack of pure wattage over the tubes. I think when I do upgrade to a pair on mono-block VK-60's making them 120 wpc each I won't be shy in the bass department. Is all this worth the 3x more asking price of the BAT vs. the DNA-1?? Probably not, the DNA is 90% of the BAT & can be found used for cheap money.

I am running everything with my Benchmark DAC & Parasound CBD transport. I use the Benchmark as a passive pre & it has been working out well. I think it will hang tough with the new Pre-Amp but we won't know until next week at the earliest, stay tuned!

carlbeck · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2004, 09:03:22 PM »

here are some pics!

carlbeck · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2004, 09:04:21 PM »

carlbeck · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2004, 09:05:15 PM »

from the drivers seat

carlbeck · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2004, 09:10:33 PM »

PS- for any & all audio needs I would highly recommend Jonathan at Chambers Audio, he has done the world for Nick & I. He is the best dealer I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with. If you need anything for your home system drop him a line. He has called us on his dime numerous times, placed us on three way calls for advice. His service can not be topped anywhere for any price. He is truly one of the best, he will end the audio merry go round for you with honest advice & fair prices.
carl
http://www.chambersaudio.com/index.html

MattD · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2004, 10:05:17 PM »

Is that the "dark cherry" finish on the VR4jrs? My VR-1s have that finish and it's gorgeous. Hmm ... the 4jrs look like a nice upgrade for some years down the road when I have a house and can move the VR-1s to rears or a second system. I really like the size of the 4jrs. How do they compare directly to the 4s? (or 4 MKII?)

carlbeck · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2004, 10:13:40 PM »

I really have no clue but Kevin @ VSA said the 4's are better in the extremes, i.e. extreme highs & lows they better the JR's. I can't imagine that! If I had the room I would go for the 4's in a heartbeat then. The only problem with the 4's is that they are butt ugly.

Tim · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2004, 11:26:10 PM »

looking good Carl! sounds like you two have found a great dealer up there...

how do you like the rear firing tweeter?

have you had much experience with tubes?

I see you're selling the dpa's.. just looking for a different sound or trying to better match the playback with the taping rig? That's been one of the most interesting aspects of developing my playback system, trying to mix and match my rig to suit it.

keep the info and picks coming, I'm learning a lot from you and Nick (and everyone else in this forum!).

zhianosatch · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2004, 02:42:39 AM »

so cool... i'm just "starting," i guess, picking up some b&w dm302s on ebay and a denon receiver from mattd. should be up and running in a few weeks. someday, i hope to have a system that can kick my ass... but i hope i'm more decisive than carl or nick!

armen

carlbeck · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2004, 05:08:23 AM »

Trevor, actually our dealer is on the other side of the country for us but he ships quick & get's the job done since the local boy's can't. This is my first tube power amp, I had a tube pre before this but it is my first "real" tube set-up. Funny thing is that 2 months ago I was leaving tubes entirely & had none in my system! The rear firing tweeter is real nice, it is completely adjustable from off to 10. With it on you can hear a slightly deeper soundstage from the listening position & the speakers seem a little brighter vs. ruler flat. Part of the reason I'm looking to try different mic's is exactly what you said, my system (especially when it was solid state) is rather revealing of recording flaws. The DPA's I noticed have cymbals that sound fake, little splashes of static with no air or sizzle about them. I find this to be an annoying trait & don't know if I can live with.
Armen, the fun in building your home rig is trying everything you can. Either buy & sell alot of stuff used on Audiogon or find a great dealer that let's you demo at little to no cost. Or like Nick & I, do both to the extreme

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2004, 07:48:51 AM »

decisive is for pussies!

Wes · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2004, 09:48:13 AM »

Those speakers are georgeous! Only problem I see are those damn MIT terminator 2 cables.. I bought a used pair of those before and they were out the door the next day.. They sucked every bit of life out of my system.

zhianosatch · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2004, 10:05:04 AM »

Off-topic: Whose flag is that, if you don't mind me asking?

JeffK · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2004, 12:16:36 PM »

Quote from: carlbeck on February 10, 2004, 08:57:55 PM

I also just added a BAT VK-60 tube amp in the system. This is my first tube amp, 12 tubes & 95lbs of hulking weight. The sound is fluid with a musical flow that has not been heard in this room at any time. I replaced my Mc Cormack DNA-1 with it & while I can say the BAT blows it away in overall sound quality it is lacking ever so slightly in the bass department. This could be due to tubes or only have 60 wpc, I would say it is the lack of pure wattage over the tubes. I think when I do upgrade to a pair on mono-block VK-60's making them 120 wpc each I won't be shy in the bass department. Is all this worth the 3x more asking price of the BAT vs. the DNA-1?? Probably not, the DNA is 90% of the BAT & can be found used for cheap money.

Carl, do you still have the DNA-1? if so, maybe try biamping the speakers and using the DNA-1 for the lows in the cabinets. A friend of mine has the VS 4's, iirc, and he biamps using SS for the lows and tubes for the mids/highs and just loves it. I've never heard the system, since it's across the country, but he loves it

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2004, 04:26:28 PM »

damn...I bet that sounds good

I'm likely going to be upgrading to the VR4's myself sometime soon. While i love the VR2s, a great overall speaker
they just can't charge up the room w/bass energy the way i want.

So Lee...you say the MIT's suck? i run the TERM 3's, and think them a capable cable, but I've not heard anything else. Hmmm.....
Of all the things I dont like spending money on, cables top the list.

Wes · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2004, 04:43:57 PM »

Quote from: NicksPicks on February 11, 2004, 04:26:28 PM

So Lee...you say the MIT's suck? i run the TERM 3's, and think them a capable cable, but I've not heard anything else. Hmmm.....
Of all the things I dont like spending money on, cables top the list.

I know they sucked with my system.. they made everything sound incredibly cut and dry, not musical in the least.. I used to have the same outlook on cables as you until I finally decided to see if cables really do influence sound that much.. and they do!! Cables have almost as much character as the components in a system.. try some out yourself and see..

carlbeck · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2004, 05:09:12 AM »

Lee, funny thing is that just a few days ago Nick & I were having the converstaion about my speaker cables being the likely culprit of the weakest link. Even funnier is that when I was speaking with Jonathan he agreed & offered to send me out a pair to try instead of the MIT's. Nick will be experiencing the dramatic change cables can offer soon enough.
I'm a firm believer in cables changing the sound, I have preached this time & time again to Nick. He'll see the light soon enough.

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2004, 08:03:28 AM »

time and time again? wtf are you talking about?

I recently put new MIT IC's in my system, replacing crap ARs and monsters, and could hear...no difference at all. I was disapionted after dumping $150 on two ICs and a s/pdif coax...and that was used. I know, short money...but i'm just not yet convinced of the dramatic difference from one cable to the next. When I have a real high end cable to play with, then i'll know. but i'm not buying one to find out is the problem. eventualy, my MIT speaker cables will go away, and my new ICs are actualy no longer needed w/my CD-PRE24 replacing the need for one IC and the digi. Maybe I'll sell them all and buy a good mid-level IC to connect to my amp.

Wes · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2004, 09:29:46 AM »

Quote from: NicksPicks on February 12, 2004, 08:03:28 AM

I recently put new MIT IC's in my system, replacing crap ARs and monsters, and could hear...no difference at all.

Your problem is you put MIT in your system.. Some cables that have recently lifted veils off my system are the Kimber KCAG and the Nordost Red Dawn's.. Once you do make the plunge into HQ cables (excluding MIT) you'll hear a difference

dmonterisi · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2004, 09:37:00 AM »

i get the feeling wes does not like MIT cables.

Wes · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2004, 09:53:11 AM »

Damon, you busted my cover, I was going under my alias of Lee

dmonterisi · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2004, 10:00:58 AM »

there goes your career as private investigator...sorry wes.

Lil Kim Jong-Il · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2004, 03:43:45 PM »

What MIT cable series are you talking about? Terminator, Shotgun?

Wes · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2004, 04:12:26 PM »

I was talking about the terminator, i have no experience with the shotgun

scb · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2004, 04:37:21 PM »

what kinds of interconnects are you guys running? i can lend some if you wanna check out if you hear a difference

MattD · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2004, 04:59:29 PM »

Do your interconnects happen to have the ability to improve my room?

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2004, 05:07:34 PM »

wes, lee..whats the difference
it all comes out in the wash!

Nick's Picks · « **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2004, 05:20:48 PM »

i'm running MIT term 3's

Wes · « **Reply #28 on:** February 12, 2004, 05:26:49 PM »

my current ICs are

digital co-ax: ps audio x-stream
digital toslink: ps audio glass
pre>amp: Kimber KCAG XLR
Speaker: Nordost Red Dawn

Scott, what you got to lend out? if you want to can just send them all to me

Tim · « **Reply #29 on:** February 12, 2004, 05:56:56 PM »

Quote from: MattD on February 12, 2004, 04:59:29 PM

Do your interconnects happen to have the ability to improve my room?

scb · « **Reply #30 on:** February 12, 2004, 06:17:09 PM »

>>Scott, what you got to lend out? if you want to can just send them all to me<<

2 pairs of audio magic excalibur IIs, 1 meter rca
1 pair of audio magic spellcaster 1 meter rca

spellcaster is the newest, and the bass is BIG after putting it between the pre and amp. i might lend something for a few days if someone wanted to check them out

Wes · « **Reply #31 on:** February 12, 2004, 09:38:42 PM »

Awesome offer, scott! +T

Nick, you should be all over this..

scb · « **Reply #32 on:** February 12, 2004, 11:07:11 PM »

i think you'll hear a dramatic difference in the system

joeshambro · « **Reply #33 on:** February 13, 2004, 09:25:30 PM »

I definately heard a huge difference when I rewired my studio monitor setup with the Audio Magic cables... overpriced, maybe, but very good performance upgrade... really helps when mastering and mixing and EQing, to hear things so accurately..

Wes · « **Reply #34 on:** February 16, 2004, 09:23:56 AM »

I thought we could make this thread the official "New Toys" thread, here's mine: (Thanks Uncle Sam)

Wes · « **Reply #35 on:** February 16, 2004, 09:26:36 AM »

back.

scb · « **Reply #36 on:** February 16, 2004, 09:52:40 AM »

what's the full system now?

Wes · « **Reply #37 on:** February 16, 2004, 10:04:42 AM »

I've had gear flying in and out of my house this past month..

it started Arcam AV8/P7

then went to AV8 / Krell 2250

then.. Krell Showcase / Krell 2250

and now Krell Showcase / Levinson 331

The showcase and the AV8 sound both sound very good.. but the Showcase is more in your face and I felt it got the best bang for the buck.. The Krell 2250 blew away the P4 in terms of power, but the 2250 was too bright, especially when paired with the b&w's. The Levinson is the most accurate, detailed amp I have ever heard.. They say once you've heard a Levinson you don't go back, well I think that may be true.. I'd eventually like to dump the Showcase for a Levinson No.40, but with a $30K price tag, it will probably be quite a while.

BC · « **Reply #38 on:** February 16, 2004, 02:09:52 PM »

Quote from: MattD on February 12, 2004, 04:59:29 PM

Do your interconnects happen to have the ability to improve my room?

of course they do. Get a few thousand of them and hang em' all around the room!!
Should damp those room resonances nicely...

Ben

jacallery · « **Reply #39 on:** February 20, 2004, 12:41:18 AM »

I have been using Crystal Clear Audio, pure silver reference interconnects
and am super pleased with them. I had used some Blue Heaven Nordost
for a bit, but I believe that I like the sound of the CCA's better.
They are not quite as bright as the Nordost.

callery