Modern and Classic - Not Quite Done Yet

by jperry on Opinions Please

Description

I recently added some ceiling and side sound absorption panels from GIK. They made a real difference. I plan to make some additional sound treatment updates to improve the aesthetics  and the sound. It's a very good start. Before my room was too lively. Now the soundstage is bigger and deeper with a more defined and stable image. I wish I would have done this sooner.

The tonearm cable was upgraded from Nordost Valhalla 2 to Odin 2. The improvement was tremendous.

I just added a Nagra Classic Amp to my system. Great sound and the only SS amp to work in the mix.

The most recent change to my system was replacing the stock platter and bearing with a Shindo platter and bearing. The build quality of the Shindo platter and bearing is amazing resulting in a significant improvement in sound quality. The platter and bearing upgrade results in blacker backgrounds, more detail, and more dynamic sound.

Some other recent changes to my system are:
Tonearm replacement: Ortofon RS-309D replaced with an Ikeda IT-407 CR1 incl. VTA base
The addition of an Ikeda 9GSS phono cartridge.
Updating the digital front end to an Innuos music server and Line Magnetic DAC.

Planned future changes are addition of an outboard turntable power supply for the Garrard.

I can sit and listen for hours. This system excels with vocals, but can play rock and full scale orchestral music with ease at volume. I listen primarily to vocalists with small groups and some classic rock or jazz on occasion.

Any thoughts or suggestions please.

My listening room is about 12X17 with 10 ft ceilings.
Read more...

Room Details

Dimensions: 17’ × 11’  Medium
Ceiling: 10’

Components Toggle details

    • Garrard 301
    Cream colored Garrard 301 with Shindo platter and bearing.

    Mounted in Woodsong plinth with Indian Rosewood veneer and Nordost SortFut underneath sitting on a Vibraplane
    • Ikeda IT-407CR1
    IT-407CR112 INCH ARM Price:$7,400


    Type:Dynamic Balance

    Overall Length: 388 mm

    Effective Length: 307 mm

    Overhang: 12 mm

    Stylus Force Range: 0g - 5g (in 0.5g steps

    Pivot to Spindle Distance: 295 mm

    • Ikeda IT-VTA-06

    IT-VTA-06

    IT-VTA-06 is an arm base with built-in elevation mechanism that allows you to easily adjust the height of the tone arm. The housing is machined from stainless steel, and the arm fixing part has a hybrid structure of stainless steel and brass. The height can be adjusted smoothly with a single dial operation even record play.

    Height adjustment range: Vertical 10 mm


    • Ikeda 9Gss MC Cartridge
    9GssMC CARTRIDGE Price:$10,500

    Product Specifications:

    Output Voltage:
    0.3 mVrms (1kHz 35.4mm/sec. at 45°peak)

    Coil Impedance:
    3.0 Ohms (1kHz)


    • EMT Audio JSD S-75
    JSD S75 75 year Jubilee Moving Coil cartridge is the latest addition to EMT‘s award winning line. Diamond stylus on white Sapphire cantilever.
    • Benz Micro LP-S mr
    The newest Benz LP-S with micro ridge stylus
    • Kiseki PurpleHeart Sapphire

    This cartridge uses purpleheart housing, but instead of the aluminum cantilever used in the standard purpleheart, white sapphire from the Lapiz Lazuli is used for the cantilever.

    Specifications

    Cantilever: 0.3mm sapphire, length 4.5mm

    Stylus: line contact, 0.14 x 0.6 mil

    Stylus polish: super polishing by pieces of hair

    Output: around 0.4mV

    Impedance: 42 ohms

    Compliance: 20 x 10-6cm/dyne

    Tracking force: 1.6 to 2.2g

    • Luxman CL-38uC
    Luxman preamp including MM/MC phono preamp
    • Luxman MB-3045
    Luxman mono amps originally sold with the NEC 8045G triode tube.

    This pair was factory modified to use the 6550 tube in triode. About 50-60 wpc

    This is as quiet as any tube am I have ever heard, including Shindo
    • Proac Response D-40r
    Floor standing with ribbon tweeter, 2-6.5 woofers and Nordost SurtFut instead of factory spikes
    • Nordost Odin 2 tonearm cable
    Used with the Garrard turntable and Ortofon tonearm
    • Nordost Odin Interconnect
    Interconnect cable between preamp and power amps. A significant upgrade from the Tyr 2 used previously
    • Nordost Valhalla 2 Speaker Cable
    3 meter pair used with Nordost Reference Jumpers
    • Nordost Valhalla 2 Power Cord
    Used for QBase to wall, Qbase to preamp and power amps
    • Nordost Tyr 2 interconnect 1 meter
    Used between CD plater and preamp
    • Nordost QBase 8
    Used for all AC Connections in concert with a Valhalla 2 AC cable
    • Nordost Sort Fut
    Nordost SortFut used under the ProAc D-40r speakers
    • Nordost Sort Kone TC
    Used under preamp, power amps and Nordost QBase.
    • Vibraplane 2210-01-13
    Passive 20x24 vibraplane placed under Garrard 301 turntable
    • Audio Desk Systeme PRO
    Ultrasonic Record cleaner, Get great sound from record cleaning dirt you did not know was there
    • VPI Industries HW-16.5
    Reliable record cleaning machine
    • Innuos Zenith Mk III
    Black
    • Line Magnetic lm 32 dac
    • My Sonic Lab Signature Platinum phono cartridge

    Internal impedance: 1.4Ω
    Output voltage: 0.5mV
    Compliance: 10x10-6cm/dyen
    Weight: 13g
    Recommended tracking force: 1.9-2.2g
    Recommended loading: 100-800Ω (ideal is around 400Ω)

    The Preeminent Culmination of Decades of Cartridge-Building Expertise: Japanese-Made My Sonic Lab Signature Platinum MC Phono Cartridge Delivers Indescribable Transparency and Purity

    The Japanese-made Signature Platinum, the least resonant of any My Sonic Lab MC phono cartridge, stands as the preeminent culmination of master-builder Yoshio Matsudaira's four-decade-plus expertise. Unreal transparency and perfectionist neutrality combine with indescribable purity in an inimitable boron-cantilever cartridge that seemingly knows no power, dynamic, or frequency-extension limitations.

    • Nagra Classic Amp with VFS base

    Power:100 W RMS per channel into 8 ΩSensitivity:1 V or 2 V RMSBandwidth:10 Hz to 80 KHz, +0/-3 dBCrosstalk:>70 dBSignal-to-noise ratio:Typically 110 dB

    ASA “A” weightedTHD+N:< 0.05%Input impedance:>100 KΩ

Comments 52

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Jperry,
Thank You for the invite and letting me know about your setup. Those D40R seems excellent. I am sure, that ribbon tweeter has some magic. My only link to Arizona is Paul from Clear Day cables. I visited AZ in 2004, when we were in Grand Canyon.
Very nice system!

milpai

Owner
Milpai, I have the speakers placed about 2 feet from the side walls and 3 feet from the front walls. Based on looking at your system the placement I have is similar to yours.

The bass has response into the twenty hz range, based on using a Stereophile test CD, but I had not measured exactly how far down or how much the volume decreased at as the frequency decreased.

The bass has plenty of impact on upright bass, drums and electric bass. I don't really listen to organ music so I can't comment on that.

If you are ever in Phoenix, AZ let me know and you can have a listen.

jperry

Jperry,
I see that you are a ProAc fanatic :-) How is the bass in your room with the D40R? How close from wall are these speakers. I will be looking at PMC and ProAc in the future. ProAc rates their speakers down to 25Hz. But to they really go that low?

milpai

Owner
Jerry, great to hear from you, and thanks for the compliment. I have been very busy and have some more changes in early 2015, including upgrading the Aesthetix Rhea to a Signature version, and a new cartridge.

The Vibraplane made a significant difference with the SME TT, but I have not tried it under the Basis as it already has suspension.

I will look you up if I get to the east coast. I would love to hear your system. Glad to hear you are still happy with the Basis Vector tonearm.

jperry

Jim, you have been busy! Nice job, I'll bet your system sounds great. I love you having 2 turntables on your rack! I have considered that also, I still have my basis 1400 and considering setting it up as a mono table since my 2200 only takes 1 arm.

pops

Owner
System edited: I just bought a rack from Timbernation. Great solid walnut construction, I also added a Vibraplane under the SME 10 turntable. The Vibraplane made significant improvements to the sound improving the imaging and clarity of the sound

jperry

Owner
Matt, thanks for your comments. I just saw your comment when I was revising this. Let me know if you are ever in Phoenix, AZ

jperry

Owner
System edited: I have made a number of changes since I last updated this virtual system. The addition of the Aesthetix Rhea and Calypso along with changing from the Proac Response 2.5 to Proac Response D-40r has really taken this to another level. I am considering the addition of a Minus K or Vibraplane platform under the SME 10 TT. I would appreciate comments and suggestions on this system.

jperry

Thats a really nice system Jperry I wish I could hear those Proac speakers with the Rogue pre amp. very clean, nice Job!

mattmiller

Owner
System edited: Changed the main speakers from Proac Response 2 to the floorstanding 2.5 model. Replaced the Quad 99 preamp with a Rogue 99 preamp. Changed speaker position to bring them further out into the room, and further from the equipment rack. I also added plants in the back corners per "Get Better Sound"

jperry

Owner
System edited: I just changed the speakers from Proac Response 2 (after 10 years) to Proac Response 2.5. In addition to the speaker change I also removed other speakers from the room and added silk plants in the back corners. The changes in the room made a significant difference in the sound. I appreciate all of the suggestions I received and I think I am on the home stretch. I want to change to a tube preamp and I would appreciate any suggestions Thanks, Jim Perry

jperry

Owner
Buconero, thanks for the input. I will give it a try. I am selling the extra speakers so they will hopefully go away soon. The speakers are in front of the equipment, but will try the blanket test.

jperry

My two cents. Too many speakers in the room, try one pair at a time, otherwise you getting a negative inter action of all the drivers. Get the equipment out from between the speakers, it a classic mistake. The equipment is picking up acoustic energy from the speakers and I am sure it is smearing the sound. See for your self, put a blanket over the equipment. You will be surprised how it cleans up the sound.

buconero117

Owner
Luckily I am in Phoenix, AZ. I think the Seismic Sink is banned in Florida

jperry

Careful that the Seismic Sink doesn't cause your entire system to, well, sink. This can be doubly hazardous in places like Florida, already prone to such events.

hjs

Owner
I had the woofer surrounds repaired on the ProAc.

I thought the Proac was more lively, had better bass, and better imaging than the Harbeth, Amazingly my wife agreed with me!

The harbeth is a good speaker, but too laid back for us.

jperry

JP well done on system components.

What do you like about ProAc sound compared to the ES-2?

BTW...what did you get repaired on the ProAc?

lapierre

Owner
System edited: Pictures added. More to follow.

jperry

Owner
System edited: I just made a number of changes in the past few weeks. Replaced Benz-Micro MC20E2 L with a Dynavector 17D3. Added PS Audio Power Plant Premier. My Proac Response 2 speakers are back from repair and I like them better than the Harbeth Compact 7 ES-2. I would appreciate any comments. Thanks

jperry

You might want to consider upgrading your cartridge. I have a p25 and used an elys for a while. A nice cart. for the money, but something like a shure v15 or dyna 10x5 (which I both used) will represent a big improvement for relatively modest cost.

If you're still thinking of a new pre., perhaps you might consider a tubed unit. Two that I've tried and liked are a conrad johnson 10a and an audible illusions 2d. Each has different strengths and weaknesses. Both can be had with very nice phono stages, and in neither can little fingers reach the tubes.

shersta

Owner
System edited: I just changed from a Cary CAD 808 to a Quad 909 power amplifier for child safety reasons. I plan to purchase a new preamplifier and am considering the Quad 99. Other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for looking.

jperry

i, on the other hand, bought a small house because that's all i could afford and that's the reason my listening room is only 10X12. bla. the music still sounds good though.

[email protected]

Owner
System edited: I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks for your help.

jperry

as the british would say...you have 'lively' components. if you go with a linn integrated..or a roksan caspian cd the synergies of these brand matched components create a more pleasing,less bright sound...the caspian cd player will deliver a more musical bass than the linn but both are top shelf...the naim speaker wire is forward,but detailed.....keep it until you've changed components.

[email protected]

Owner
Thanks for the input Skim1227. What speaker cables do you use?

jperry

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