Neat, Rogue & Exposure, Sweet & Detailed

by stuartson on Budget Minded

Description

I just got into hi-fi about 5 years ago. I started off with a sub $2k system of NAD/Project/Sumiko/Acoustic Energy components. It was a fantastic first taste but it quickly left me desiring more. I found myself wanting to buy a complete system that would last me many years without the constant yearning to upgrade and swap components every 6 months in an attempt to find the perfect combination.

I set myself a new budget of $10k that would have to include a turntable (arm & cartridge), phono stage, amp (separates or integrated), CD player, cables & racks. I wanted floorstanders over bookshelf speakers and it would be a major bonus if everything looked as good as it sounded. Now, it's time to start the hunt!

I live in Los Angeles so I was extremely lucky to have most of the options that exist available to me for audition. I visited many the city's top dealers (including Sound Asylum, LA Audio/Video, Clever Castle, Ahead Stereo, Sound Factor, Brooks Berdan, Acoustic Image, GNP Audio, Shelley's Stereo, Imagine Hi-Fi, Home Theater Dr.) and tried every combination that fit my budget.

There were a few systems that rose to the top (Triangle/Musical Fidelity, Totem/Simaudio, Exposure/Spendor) but in the end, I just couldn't resist the Exposure/Neat/VPI combo. The sound is a bit forward, detailed and articulate but sweet and natural and not too bright. I auditioned this system 3 times over a period of a few months and every time I sat there listening to my music with my jaw dropped, amazed at how 'right' it sounded.

So, after a year and a half of bliss I realized the only itch I had left to scratch was to spend some time with my music collection and some tube gear. I bought the modified Cronus on Audiogon. It came with KT77s & EL-34s, but I'm currently using KT90s (best of the lot for my taste). I decided to keep the Exposure amp, I just couldn't part with it. I swap them from time to time for variety but they are not light years different for each other. I think of the Cronus as a tube amp with solid state qualities and the Exposure as a solid state amp with tube qualities.

I also recently assembled the dedicated iMac/Fubar music server and we love it! My wife works from home and we have a new 8 month old baby so it's a perfect solution for easily accessing much of our music as well as streaming radio. It's usually on all day. My wife and I like all sorts of music including straight-ahead jazz, classic rock, indie rock and electronica to name a few genres and we listen to sources as varied as mp3s downloaded from music blogs to Acoustic Sounds 45RPM vinyl jazz reissues.

Thanks for looking and check out my home theater on Audiogon!

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vhome&1245862520
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Components Toggle details

    • Neat Acoustics Motive 1
    An amazing speaker. British reviewers have gone nuts for the Motive 2 but I liked the bass extension from the Motive 1. There don't seem to be a lot of dealers in the US. That's a shame. I bought these from James Gregan in Venice, CA
    • Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum
    Magnum modded from Rogue. Just replaced aging KT77s with EH KT90 and loving it.
    • VPI Industries Aries Scout with JMW-9 tonearm
    Upgraded from a Project Debut III. What can you say, incredible bang for the buck. A great sounding, great looking turntable
    • Benz Micro SL Wood S Class low output MC
    Recently upgraded from a Benz Micro Ace low output MC. The S class wood really blew me away. I did not expect such and improvement. Music is more rich and lively.
    • Musical Surroundings Phonomena MM/MC Phono
    I like the depth with which you can adjust the gain on this amp. From StereoTimes: There are 16 steps of gain, ranging from 40 to 60 dB, and 128 load impedance settings available, ranging from 30 to 100 k-ohms. Two capacitance choices are available for loading moving magnet cartridges. Removing the metal top plate of the 12
    • Exposure 2010s Integrated
    Stereophile Class A Intergrated. Art Dudley's rave review: http://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/1105exposure/ The Cronus replaced the Exposure when I wanted to get my feet wet with tubes, but I can't bear to part with it. The wonderful thing about the Cronus is it's a tube amp that has solid state characteristics. The wonderful thing about the Exposure 2010s is it's a solid state amp with tube characteristics. I like them both and I'm sure the Exposure will end up in a second system at some point.
    • Exposure 2010 CD player
    Fantastic British CD Player. What Hi-Fi gave it 5 stars; http://www.whathifi.com/Review/Exposure-2010s-CD/
    • E&T Spider Racks
    Finite Elemente inspired Spider racks from Hong Kong. Very sturdy and a great value. Purchased on ebay
    • Music Server iMac & Fubar II USB DAC
    The hi-fi is in the living room and my wife works from home so she's using the server all day. It's the most used source in the system. Dedicated 17" iMAC 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 512 MB RAM $600 (used on Craigslist), 2 TB LaCie 2big Quadra external HD in RAID 1 mode (for music files) $355, Fubar II USB DAC $147, Blue Jeans Cable LC-1 $40
    • Glow Audio Amp One
    Single-ended pentode integrated used as a bedroom headphone amp. CD source is Sony Playstation SCPH-1001, ANTI-ICs and Grado SR-125s. Since I have a new baby in the house I plan to spend more time in the evening,once he's alseep, listening with headphones, so I just purchased a pair of AKG k701s. Looking forward to hearing them.
    • Supra Sword speaker cable 4m
    I got a good deal on these
    • Supra Sword-ISL Anniversary IC
    I got a good deal on these too. The most expensive pair of ICs I own by a long shot. They sound transparent to me but truth be told, comparing cables is not my favorite thing to do in the world.
    • VPI Tonearm Cable 1m
    VPI’s Series 2 Tonearm Cable is constructed from the same premium copper wire that is used internally in the VPI JMW-series tonearms. And if it’s designed to complement the JMW, you know that this cable will perform admirably with any high-quality arm.
    • Paul Speltz Anti-ICs with Eichmann Bullet plugs
    fantastic value
    • Maple Isolation Platforms & Vibrapods
    Custom flat grained Maple platforms from TimberNation $230; custom laminated Birch multiply platforms and 14 Vibrapods ($90), CD player & Exposure amp on birch platforms with vibrapods; Scout on 3 inch Maple platform and 1/2 inch Birch platform sandwiched between 5 Vibrapods; phono stage on 1 inch Maple platform
    • ATS Acoustic Panels
    For absorbing sound. 2 (24x24x4 inch deep) panels behind the loudspeakers
    • Nitty Gritty Record Cleaner
    Essential! If you play vinyl then you must have a decent record cleaner. It's worth it.
    • Signal Cable & Shunyata Research power cables
    Venom, SC Magic Digital and Magicpower PCs
    • Monster Power HTS 3500
    power conditioner

Comments 13

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Nice 'n' Neat! I also have been very impressed with the Scout. Had mine over 6 years and have no plans on another deck. I've got 4! armwands now (i think I'm done!?!) with different carts, and the only upgrade I'm interested in is a motor power supply.

My question for you is about your amps. I'm running a single-ended el-34 amp that puts out about 10 watts per channel. This is sufficient for most music most of the time, but I'm looking for more power for when I want to rock it out! Would you say that your Exposure or your Rogue is more suited to rock, or high volume fast-paced music of any kind?

I've also got a couple pairs of the Speltz interconnects...what a great product!

Best regards,

Chris

fullnine

Well done!

Great selection of components. Neat has great designs for extending bass using isobaric loading.

lapierre

Just curious, I've been told by supposed "experts" not to plug my power amp or integrated amp into any conditioner as it will robb the amp of the dynamics due to heavy handed filtering. I have mine plugged directly into the wall, but don't have a conditioner of any kind so I have no reference other than babble from others on Agon. Your thoughts???

jimbojrjb

Owner
I would plug everything into it, why not?

stuartson

If you don't mind me asking, which components do you have plugged into the monster power conditioner? I'm thinking of adding one just for CD/TT, not for the Rogue. Your thoughts?

jimbojrjb

Owner
I would agree that the Exposure is detailed and a bit forward. Can't comment on the Rega gear since I haven't heard them. I don't think you could go wrong with the Exposure.

stuartson

Just curious on your thoughts with the Exposure integrated and cdp -vs- a Rega Apollo and Mira 3. I don't have an Exposure dealer near me so I can't audition their gear but I hear it is amazing!!! People have told me that both setups would be great but the Exposure is a more detailed and forward sound while the Rega is a bit of a smoother more organic sound. Would you agree?

Brian

lads

Just want to respond to the mid-fi comment. The term mid-fi is meaningless and really a little demeaning. Given the dimishing returns in high end audio, it's a little ridiculous to call your system mid-fi. Your system is fantastic and I know it sounds like a million bucks.

The term mid-fi is meaningless because it has no definition. Nobody can define it. I invite anyone to do so and contradict me.

jaxwired

Owner
Hey Jastorg1, I was using a Fubar II when I posted this but I currently have the HRT music streamer II. I recommend both, but the HRT is based on the asynchronous USB mode and will play 24bit/96k. A couple of major advantages over the Fubar and at $150 you really can't beat it.

stuartson

Nice system!
I also own an exposure 2010s int.amp. but not the matching CDP. I'm really having thoughts on getting an external DAC. Since your a mac user what DAC are you using? I did not see you mention it.
Have you tried any speaker wire & interconnect on the exposures?

jastorg1

Owner
Thanks for the compliment Rantzmar but I have one question, what exactly in the Benz Micro/Scout/Phonomena/Exposure/Neat/Supra chain would you consider Mid-Fi?
I've been curious about that term since I first heard it. How would you define it?

stuartson

Owner
System edited: Just upgraded from a Benz Micro ACE to a Wood thanks to some sales on Audiogon.

stuartson

One of the best mid-fi systems I have seen. Good job.

rantzmar

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