alright finally got my playback setup...
Denon 2900
Arcam AVR300
Anticables speaker cables
Audio Magic Excalibur II ICs
VR-2s
so first I bought the VR-2s through the VS B-stock program...got African Hazelwood...amazing deal pricewise, shipped, they were half the new retail, and what makes them B stock is slight mismatch on the finish. Looking at them, I can see some "finish blemishes" but nothing that stands out unless you are looking for them. These also come with a 10 year warranty as well, and I was told that the electronics used are all the same as A stock...only difference is the finish mismatch. Speakers shipped in these (is it velvet?) bags and were packaged fantastically by VS, double boxed.
Everything else but the anticables were used through Audiogon...and the units looked brand spanking new...I really got some incredible deals on A-gon with the condition these units are in...
So I bi amped (or is it biwired? ran two sets of speaker cables from the Arcam, which allows me to run a full 2 ch/100W per to each speaker) the Vr-s and got to listening last night.
First the room...it is a finished attic, that is a long rectangle. Currently I have the TV stand (where the 50" SXRD is going to go
) situated on the long wall, with the speakers on either side, which allows my seating position to be ~10 ft from the speakers. I am considering putting the equipment on the short wall and seating behind it, but with a partially sloped ceiling on one side, I need to determine if the dimensions would allow it...will post pictures actually soon...
OK, so listening last night, broke out the discs that I am most familar with how they sound.
Studio Discs
Sheryl Crow - Globe Sessions SACD
Springsteen - Born to Run Reissue
Drive by Truckers - Dirty South
Govt Mule - The Deepest End
DMB - Crash
Live
Drive by Truckers - 11/19/05 24 bit
Connells - 12/23/06 24 bit
Govt Mule - 10/29/04
My Morning Jacket - 1/21/04
The things that stuck out the most to me...
- The seperation of the instruments. I am used to hearing these songs, and hearing the "collective effect" of the bass/drums/guitar/horns/etc, but I can honestly say I dont think I have ever been able to hear the individual instruments, without straining to hear them...seemed like they all had their spot on the soundstage in front of me...
- the soundstage is freaking huge. I have heard a set of the VR-4Jrs (thanks Michael) before and had an idea what to expect, but until you are playing recordings that your are intimately familiar with, it is tough to really understand what you are hearing. I was absolutely amazed by the fact that I could close my eyes and it sounded like the sound was coming at me across the entire stage in front of me…not from two speakers. I definitely understand the comment now of losing the speakers…
- full range speakers are an amazing thing…I don’t see any reason why I would need a sub with these. Especially with the live recordings you get that popping bass that is tough to replicate. Add to that the sound that these fill the room with….I am assuming that bi-wiring is helping contribute to this effect (but as I didn’t use the jumpers and single wire I don’t have a base for comparison), but the sound, even at lower volume levels really is thick and full…not at all what I am used to…especially at lower volume levels.
And this is just from 2 hours of listening last night…of course I did listen to Jungleand from 20 minutes last night, repeating it over and over
…the sax solo is a thing of beauty…
Next up, I am looking at power conditioners…trying to go the used route on PS Audio or Blue Circle…but have to wait til the right thing comes up…
Will post pictures later for those interested….