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What’s next up on the docket for you?


What has been either your fav or your most interesting system or…
Which audio outfit was your best… or which one would you like most to have on hand soon?

Maybe you’ve thought of building a server based system. Perhaps putting together a Flea watt rig has your attention now. Could it be tubes front to back that you’re eyeing as the next project you’ll get into? Is the new digital amp arena piqued your curiosity? Finally decided to get into an all analog rig now? Thought of going to planar, maybe bi or di-pole speakers next instead of cones? Monitor & subs perhaps? Could it be that owning Active speakers has finally given you sufficient enough intrigue? Want to own membership in the lot’s o’ watts club next? Bent on going retro and now Vintage pieces allure you most? Finally decided to fill out your HT system with dedicated separates? Found a contractor to build your ultimate listening room now? Finally going to add those acoustical treatments you’ve been putting off doing for so long?

I’m curious to get some inkling of which scenario you have found thus far your best built system overall, your most interesting learning experience, and/or your next totally different direction, if so, you’ll soon be striving to put together, or would if you could?

S.E.T. has had my attention for some time now and of the various types of rigs I’vd be most interested in putting together it would be one of those. Albeit, on a small scale. Stereo amp & monitors. Something absolutely fat & wet sounding.

Acoustical room treatments too are in the works for me now. Mainly bass traps first. Diffusers will be next. All DIY too.

How about you? What’s your next audio interest or build looking like more and more, one you’d wish to pursue if at all possible?
blindjim
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I've recently begun a new journey with high sensitivity speakers and low(er) power amps. The change has resulted in giving up some low frequency bass...the kind that rattles windows and jiggles innards...but so far I find that the new speakers create an image that better fits the room. They "disappear" nicely, and their recommended placement creates an expansive, room filling image rather than a small, pin point image (although the illusion of the performers is very real). Low volume listening is also pretty nice.

I found myself bobbing my head quite a bit over the last several days. This happened less frequently before the change.

Still a long way to go dialing in placement, stands, amplification and cabling, but thus far it's very enjoyable, and there's nothing that *has* to change.

Regarding Daedalus speakers, the specs indicate they can be driven with lowish power amps, but a discussion I had with Lou Hinkley revealed that he believes more power is better with his speakers...at least as it applied to my room and preferences.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Regarding Daedalus speakers, the specs indicate they can be driven with lowish power amps, but a discussion I had with Lou Hinkley revealed that he believes more power is better with his speakers...at least as it applied to my room and preferences.

Having heard Lou's speakers with both low powered SET amps as well as high-current, high-output solid state amps (Modwright), I can tell you my impression: they sound superb both ways, but definitely seem to have more drive and impact with the latter, while possibly creating a more holographic illusion with the former (I did NOT hear them one after the other, but at entirely different times and in entirely different spaces). One further observation - using the SET amps I did not get the feeling, as I often do with SET systems, that bass was severely handicapped. I sure wouldn't have kicked the SET combo out of bed though, but I believe that was with a pair of very expensive SET amps if I'm not mistaken. In neither case were those systems easy to get up and walk away from - both were highly engaging. His speakers are on my own short list of something to try at home. Unfortunately, I don't know if the space I have would gel with them though (I listen about 8 feet from my speakers), and I'm very happy with my Coincident speakers. The Coincidents are also highly sensitive (97db at nearly flat 10 ohms), and also, at least in the case of the Super Eclipse III's, very good with high-current, high-power SS. A recent review in TAS of his more current, larger speakers with radically different tweeters, stated the reviewer did not think they were as well suited for SS amps as were his earlier models (with silk dome tweets). Lou's speakers definitely swing both ways effortlessly.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Marco, you're a careful listener, so I absolutely believe what you say about Daedalus speakers and SET amps.

I mentioned to Lou that I often played metal and progressive rock at fairly loud volume levels, and perhaps this is why he recommended more rather than less power. This is why I was careful to qualify my earlier comment to apply to my room and preferences.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
I mentioned to Lou that I often played metal and progressive rock at fairly loud volume levels, and perhaps this is why he recommended more rather than less power. This is why I was careful to qualify my earlier comment to apply to my room and preferences.

Although I have enjoyed rock on my SET systems in the past (don't listen to much of it though), if given the choice I'd always pick a well assembled system with more headroom, and more ability to separate dense, layered music. Just my opinion...I always seem to get jumped on by at least one SET enthusiast who claims their rig can do that kind of music justice. I have yet to hear that done as well as the alternative, but to each their own.

I don't know that I'd describe myself as a "careful listener", Grant. I think I go more from the gut and from the heart. What sounds real and what pulls me in and keeps me there. I feel like a fumble around all the technical descriptions and whys and wherefores. I don't have any real strong expertise in the technical aspects of why any of this stuff works the way it does. There are so many here who do and I completely respect that and value their contributions. My friend, Peter, is able to really pick things apart and analyze them in very scientific, and analytic observations. My observations may often reflect similar preferences (sometimes not though), but are more simplistic and from the gut more than anything else. I try to find words to describe it, but ultimately it simply comes down to which sounds more like real music and engages me to those emotions and responses that come with listening to live music. In doing comparisons of components, when there are significant and even subtle differences, I seem to have pretty consistent preferences. Anyway, thank you for the kind words, Grant.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Marco, I heard both Daedalus models at RMAF in October 2009. Each was powered by a Modwright amp (the flagship amp the Ulysses, and the smaller 150wpc amp on the DA-RMa). They sounded quite good, but I'd have been really interested to hear what an excellent push-pull tube amp or OTL (not certain they qualify for OTL...) would have done on them.
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