I have settled down after years of tweaking and rolling gear to find the perfect synergy. The tubes with horns are sublime to my ears. I listen more these days.
System edited: Ever evolving, now with Custom Isolation Products amp stands. I used some more cold cathode blue neon to light the stands to match the turntable.
System edited: Here is the latest pic of this ever evolving system. I still need to veneer the speakers but the system is almost finished. Also, I have some amp stands coming from Tate Blanchard of Custom Isolation Products.
FYI: the diy horns are made from CNC Baltic birch and MDF. The four layers of kerf MDF for the sides are filled with glass beads used in bead blasting (finer than sand). The interior wall are sprayed with a non-hardening sound dampening material and fiberglass lined. I still need to apply the sapele pommele veneer and mount the crossovers. They each hold an Altec 416-8c woofer, Altec 802-8G driver on a Altec 511B horn, JBL 077 tweeter and custom crossover. These weight in around 250 pounds each.
System edited: Yet once again my system changes and I think for the better. The DIY horns still need to be veneered but are breaking in nicely. The Odyssey Tempest preamp has brought the amps to life and helped fill in some bottom end that was lacking witht he previous pre.
System edited: Like the category says, ever evolving. Trying out some Klipsch Cornwalls. They look small next to the Altec A7's, but do sound nice. I like horns.
Thanks for the confirmation. I did buy the Silver 7t amps for the CLS's in the den. They are being delivered this saturday. Also, I will pick up a set of Klipsch Cornwall on Monday to use while I pull the drivers out of the A7's, that are going into some custom modern cabinets (200 pounds of baltic birch and rosewood - each). I'll update the pic when they are in place. Then the Klipsch will be used in a third system going in the back room.
Wardsweb, if you are asking if the Carver 7t's will drive the CLS's, the answer is yes. I still think the 7t's and the 9t's are pretty good amps for their age and you if have an opportunity to grab a pair to own or just audition jump on the chance. I am definately moving forward with the purchase of a T100 or T200 which ever one I find first that is in pristine condition. I'm going to audition an couple of tube amps with my speakers before I move on the SP80's. I know evetually I will replace my speakers but not right now, I'm very satisfied with their sound and my wife loves their look (important) and she also likes the look of the Shanlings, except the new T300, she thinks it looks like a toy. Anyway I will keep you posted. If you have any suggestions don't hesitate to let me know. David
David I have never heard your speakers, so hard for me to say. I can tell you before the Alted A7's I was using the SP-80 amps to drive my Martin Logan CLS electrostats. The sound was just as crisp as with the Carver A-760x I had used. Granted the A-760x at 1100wpc at 2 ohoms had more impact.
Speaking of Carver, I'm picking up a set of Silver 7t's this week from a friend who has the 7t's and 9t's. The Silver 7t's will push my CLS's.
I have been REALLY looking into purchasing the SP80 Blocks to replace my Carver Silver 9T's and the T100. My only worry is I have a set of Vienna Acoustic Beethovens which are on the warm side, I was wondering if the SP80's would make the speakers sound "not alive". I was told tube amps are more for speakers on the "brighter" side. Correct me if I am wrong..
I have run the SP-80 direct from the T100 in the past. The gain controls on the cd and amps are a bit overkill. The Audio Mirror is mainly for the phono section. The A7's are 104dB efficient so I never move the amps off their startup default of -40dB. I will see what happens when I roll in the Klipsch Cornwalls that will be doing duty while I move the Altec drivers to some new custom cabinets.
