The sound of jazz

by teajay on Opinions Please

Description

This rig is the cumulation of building my system for over thirty-five years. The Threshold SA-1 monoblocks are true classics and still sound great powering the bass panels of the MG-20s!I love this system's combination of details,natural timbres,and soundstage. I sit about 14 feet off of the MG-20s so I get a great blossoming of the soundstage in a very real and natural way.I named the system "The sound of Jazz" because I'm a serious jazz buff who listens to swing,be-bop,hard-bop and soul-organ styles about 99.99% of the time! Most of my collection was recorded in analog so it has that organic/musical sonic sense to it which sounds great when played on this system. It's a wonderful treat on a daily basis tohear the great players in the history of Jazz play in my house.Nothing is like live music but this system gives a great illusion of the real thing.I can honestly say that my goal was to enjoy the beauty of music I love and this system allows me to do that, without feeling that I'm missing out on some important aspect of the experience of sound that we humans call music.
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Components Toggle details

    • MBL mbl 1621
    Silver and crome reference piece. Weighs over 80 pounds.
    • Concert Fidelity DAC-040
    Non up or over sampling DAC that uses NOS DAC chips and NOS tubes.
    • Concert Fidelity CF-080
    Hand built linestage built on the philosophy of having the shortest signal path possible.
    • Pass Labs XA-60.5 monoblocks
    The latest generation of the XA series amps.
    • Lawrence Audio Cello
    The Cello is a floorstanding five driver 3.5 design using Air Motion Transformer and ribbon drivers with Carbon fiber cones.
    • Martin Logan Depth I
    The Martin Logan Subs are designed to be able to intregate with panel speakers. The Depth uses three 8" drivers and goes down to 20HZ, but is fast and quick enought to blend with the MG-20's. I'm using two of them in my system
    • Stealth Cables Varidig Sextet Digital reference
    Designed to be a mate with the Indra reference. BNC to BNC connections.
    • Stealth Cables Indra
    The cable with the "infamous" amorphous conductor.
    • Stealth Cables Metacarbon
    A carbon with metal flakes cable that is Stealth's answer to the sonics of it's much more expensive Indra cable. Three pairs.
    • Stealth Cables Dream Petite & Ultimate Ribbon
    The Dream Petite is one step down from the reference Dream and the Ultimate Ribbon is used for the bass panel.
    • Running Springs Audio Dmitri
    This companies new reference AC power conditioner, along with their new HZ power cord.
    • Harmonix Studio Masters
    A total of seven Studio Masters power the system.

Comments 104

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Ah yes, the balance between type 1 and type 2. That is why there is no "best" IMO since everyone has a slightly different operating point. It all becomes relative to people rather than equipment - and people definately are tougher to nail down. :)

I asked the question mostly from the point of view of how your different pieces of equipment compare to each other, but I suppose that happens automatically. We favor the same types of attributes (my first three are the same as yours, a very european order I might add) but rated our equipment somewhat differently it seems. Interesting how much room there is for subtle differences. But then again, that is where it all hinges! Thanks,

Arthur

aball

hi Teajay

I just read your "reference DACs" thread for the first time today. I have come to the same conclusion as yourself concerning the "2 categories of sound." I find that split for every type of equipment I have used so far. Same goes for people's personalities too. I was happy to read someone else who noticed that and was able to put it in such concise wording.

My tastes generally reside in category 1 and I have assembled my system with that bias - but I like to visit the other side too. The McIntoshes fall in category 2. My MC240 is the very definition of catergory 2 and my other amps, Kora Aries are the very definition of category 1. Which one I choose to use depends on my mood and the type of music I feel like hearing. But the Prima and the 926s tend to keep the sum total in camp #1.

So I am curious as to how you feel your system breaks down. I don't have first hand knowledge of any of your pieces but knowing their category will give me a good idea of their style.

Thanks,

Arthur

aball

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