Since Audiogon got the new interface, my virtual systems are NOT connected to my account anymore! WEIRD

jaytea January 11, 2012 05:09

Chrisliv: My apology! i WAY overestimated the size of my room (bad memory)! Let me measure them when i come back from this trip and let you know. Sorry.

Just had a chance to listen to an all MBL system! The way that system does with the soundstage is amazing!

jaytea September 25, 2011 08:25

System edited: Added Element Cable: Signature Titan Ag!!!!!

jaytea September 23, 2011 13:59

System Edited: Bryston BDP-1 & BDA-1 added

jaytea September 23, 2011 13:39

Chrisliv
I dont remember exactly, but it's about 18ft x 25ft.

jaytea September 23, 2011 13:38

Thanks Dan, it's sure fun to do a project like yours! I love my Kensington so far, they truly are very special speakers. I have never been happier with my system right now! The last step would be some simple room treatment and then i'm done!

jaytea September 05, 2011 23:07

Added Bryston BDP-1 and BDA-1 combo. PIctures will be added soon *grin*

jaytea September 01, 2011 11:25

Thanks Scar! I think I will live with the Tannoy Kensington for a long time! BTW, I will be in Dallas in Sept 25th, please make time so I can come for a visit and audition your system. The Magico speakers and TW Acoustic RAve look so awesome, cant wait to hear and molest them! :-D

jaytea July 15, 2011 23:55

System edited: NOTE: System edited: Since I decided to add a simple home theater system to watch 3D movies and play games on PS3, it's logical to turn my upstair master bedroom into a music room dedicated only for 2-channel system and move my main system up there. Done! Problems: The Avalon Acoustics's Opus Ceramique, while did WONDERS where they used to be (a rather wide room), now have a tendency to overpower this new room. No matter which position I tried, the midbass pumped up and clouds the midrange, screwing stereo image UNLESS i listen to them at rather low level (lesson learned: Avalon Acoustics Opus Ceramique are NOT for smaller room as some claim. They LOVE space..they need space to breath!!!!!!). I was thinking of moving the Harbeth SLP05, which residing in the office-den that I love so much, into the main system, sell the Avalon and get a pair of mini monitors for my office, then while surfing Audiogon for ideas, I found a local distributor for Tannoy, a brand which I have fantasized about for a long time now. An email was sent to Eric Engebretson, president of Home Theater Experience in Oceanside, CA, whom who has just did a demo with Carry Audio and Tannoy Prestige speakers at the Newport Beach, CA show last june. I have Cary amps too, so that'd great to audition them with the KensingtonSE, the smallest in the Prestige range that has the Pepperport featured in larger Tannoy Prestige. In home audition was set up and I was in love! (with the Kensington, of course.) Eric Engebretson was very friendly, enthusiastic and promptly delivered the Kensington SE and set them up in my new music room. I instantly like the sound of the Kensington SE right from the beginning. Having listened to many different speakers including the Avantgarde Duo at my friend's systems, I found the Kensington's midrange was as natural, effortless and engaging as the Arvantgarde Duo, which i also like A LOT. Soundstage was wide, extended beyond the boundary of my new listening room just as the Avalon did in the old room. Bass is deep and tight and pleasant but not as clean as the Avalon (when they were in the other room), but at least it does not by any mean mess up the midrange. At some point during the audition, I detected a slight hint of horn-ness in the upper midrange and told Eric about that. I later repositioned the speakers a bit so the axises of the horn crossed a bit in front of my listening position, and that horn-i-ness disappeared! A few days later, Eric took back the demo pair of the Kensington and a week later, delivered to me a new pair of the Kensington SE !!!!! Now I'm gonna run them for a while before Eric would come back and help me fine-tune them. Expecting a long term relationship with these Tannoys. Now all of my speakers (Tannoy in the main system, Harbeth in office, and Wharfedale Diamon 10.1 in the bed room) are all British speakers (well...to what i know, Tannoy is made in Scotland but some where on the speakers or the manual said in Britain, maybe GREAT Britain?). I'm very thankful now that Southern California (especially in Greater San Diego area where I live) has a local dealer for Tannoy Prestige range speakers, and also big thanks for the enthusiastic Eric Engebretson, president of Home Theater Experience, for a very quick, pleasurable experience in acquiring my own pair of Tannoy Prestige Kensington SE!

jaytea July 08, 2011 02:17

Eric, you got me.

jaytea June 30, 2010 21:56

@ Todd: Thanks for your comments..I do listen to Viet music, but rarely on my system because it's hard to find Viet audiophile-quality albums except some instrumental CD recorded by European productions.

@Rtn1:
This is the best position for my speakers (took me about 2-3 months to set them up to my preference). It's about 2.5ft from the side wall, about 4.5ft from the back wall, and about 10 ft apart..and 8-9ft from the listening position. They are toed in so i'm on axis with the tweeters.

With this position, the vocal will be at the center of the soundstage, about 5.5 - 6ft high (from the floor) with nice texture and dimension, its image is at the right size (not to big/thick like a giant singer and not too small/thin). Soundstage is of a very good side, enveloping around the speakers (extended beyond the left and right of the speakers) and the speakers totally disappear..I cant hear the sound coming from the speakers but instead, the instruments are spread across the soundstage.

I have experimented with a lot of positions but this is the best so far. Put the speakers closer together, the vocal will become "honky", thick and too big to be real. Pull them too far apart, the vocal will thin out and "dilute" in the mix.

jaytea June 15, 2010 22:21

System edited: After adding 3 Thorens TD-124 (two MKI restored by me and one Schopper-restored MKII) to my turntable collection, I fell in love with these classic idler wheels (both sound and look), then a Garrard 301 craving is unbearable !! After doing a lot of research and hunting, I won a cream enamel, oil bearing 301 in excellent condition on Ebay and had it shipped to California from Australia, for a total of around $1,000 USD. Initially, I was thinking of restoring the deck myself, so I started to buy spare parts here and there to get ready for it. On one occasion while talking to an audiophile who emailed me regarding a Soundsmith cartridge I used to have, I found out that Loricraft in England is very reputable and reasonable in rebuilding these 301s. Thinking it'd be great to have one Schopper-Thorens TD124 and one Loricraft-Garrard 301, I decided to ship it to Loricraft- England for restoration. Communication with Loricraft - Terry and Jane- through both email and phone is such a great pleasure. They response quickly, detailed and friendly and patiently. The deck was shipped on May 17 and I was promised to get it back some where between 4-6weeks. During this time, I called Chris Harban of Woodsong Audio (who made a gorgeous plinth for my Thorens TD-124 before) to fabricate a Garrard 301 plinth to my specification. This time, I chose birdseye maple for the top, baltic birch plywood as plinth material, matching crescent removable armboard cut for SME 3009. To cut cost, I went without the veneer around the plinth and the black painted bottom. The plinth came out to be very natural and still very very beautiful. Again, it was pleasurable to work with Chris again! Thanks Chris! For arm and cartridge, I picked a SME 3009 Series II (rewired with Cardas wire by Michael Wharton - BritAudio) and an Audio Technica AT33PTG (Audiocube). I have listened to this combo on my other Thorens TD-124 MKI during this time, and this proves to be very good sounding, and the tracking is absolutely wonderful: without any hint of distorted sibilance, mistracking or inner groove distortion. After only 4 weeks of waiting, the Loricraft-restored Garrard 301 arrived today, double boxed. The platter came wrapped in its custom-made cardboard enclosure, so is the deck. Loricraft created the special transport box for these Garrard 301 to ensure a safe delivery and add a nice touch to the finish decks. I am absolutely pleased with its condition: All the linkages are cleaned, replated, lubed..etc. It looks essentially new! I did not have it repainted because the original enamel on my deck is still in excellent shape. The platter, on the other hand, was resprayed. Oh, by the way, the old cover of the voltage connector (transparent) was cracked. Since my deck was in for a total rebuilt, i wish Loricraft 'd replaced this for me, and also the 4 chassis isolation rubber washers. Luckily, I have bought these and replaced them. No big deal. Now it's totally new (well..kinda ). ....Taking time setting it up.....! Upon turning the deck on, I notice that the Garrard runs quieter than all three of my Thorens. The Thorens, due to the presence of a belt driving an intermediate aluminum pulley , somehow make more, well, whispering belt noise, which doesnt transfered to the platter, though . Don't get me wrong, the motors of my three Thorens are very quiet as well (if i take of the belt, then I can barely hear the motors). The switches of the Garrard 301 operate differently than the Thorens: Pick a speed and then turn the deck on. If you need to change the speed, you have to turn the deck off first. The speed selector is locked while the deck is on. I guess many many Garrard switches were broken because their owners forgot to turn their decks off while changing the speed !!! I also miss the Thorens's clutch a LOT while changing records with the Garrard. Without this function, each time I change records, I have to turn the Garrard off. Some might want to suggest me just taking the record off the platter while it's running to avoid turning the deck on and off every 15-20 min, but this is a BAD thing to do: The Garrard platter is the SAME size with the record and the torque is strong, so it's very easy to slip and have your fingernail scratch the record (I did before...and ruined my copy of Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue-45rpm Mobil Fidelity..ouch! ). So..how does it sound???? Rawer, more energy, a tad more bass but a bit less refined compared to the Thorens TD-124 MK1 I used with the same SME 3009 & Audio Technica AT33PTG. The Garrard sounds a bit more direct, powerful and dynamic. Its imaging is impressive, very spot-on and stable. It also has a bit more bass but somehow to my ears, bass is a bit boomy (sp) with the Garrard. On the other hand, the Thorens has a sense of more finesse and elegance. I'd say the Thorens is a bit more balance all around. Both sound very big and open. In short, the Garrard is more like trying to impress you with its muscular, youthful, full of life kinda sound, and the Thorens portraits music in a more elegant, tuxedo & evening gown-sound. So if you want to impress your friend, play the Garrard, and if you want to have a more relaxing, romantic night, the Thorens will deliver!

jaytea June 17, 2009 11:38

Hi Lim,
I havent listened to any Garrard 301 yet, but I liked it so much that I just bought one from Australia, and it is waiting to be cleaned up, lubed and play!! I am waiting for its plinth (check out my Woodsong Audio plinth for the Thorens TD 124). This plinth will also be made by Woodsong Audio. I sold one of the Thorens TD-124 MKII to an Audiogoner a few months ago, he had a chance to compared it with a Garrard 301, and he said while the Garrard is mor prominent on the bass, the Thorens sound a bit more refined. I will let you know when I have a chance to compare them side by side.

I love the Thorens very very much. The sound is dynamic, great bass, great soundstage ..it just keeps me going!!!!

jaytea February 03, 2009 13:10

hi Scar,
Thank you for your compliment!
You used to restore Thorens but never owned a 124? So you only worked with other models before or you just did it for your clients or something? I have 3 Thorens 124 (One MK2 and two MK1) and I LOVE them.

I have never had a chance to compare these arms because they are of different mass (my Morch is 6gr) so they cannot work with the same cartridges nor could I mount them on the same table to compare them, but I am very confident about Morch arms (or at least my DP-6). It's a great tracker and musical arm when used with Clearaudio Maestro MM cartridge. This combo on my 124 tracks at least as well as the Phantom-Lyra Helikon, and they sound really really good too.

jaytea February 02, 2009 06:34

In the last few months, my main system has changed dramatically. The BAT VK150SE were replaced by Cary CAD211 AE together with Cary SLP05 preamp.
I bought and restored two Thorens TD-124MK1. One of them is mated with a Morch/Moerch DP-6 and finally married to a Clearaudio Maestro (after 3 failed marriage with Shure V15 VxMR, Soundsmith Aida and The Voice). The sound of this Thorens-Morch-Maestro is simply musical and problem free. Love it!

After 8 long months waiting, I finally took shipment of a Schopper-restored Thorens TD-124MKII completely restored, repainted with new Schopper bearing, aluminum upper platter, plinth and a new Ortofon AS-212 arm, through Brinkmann Audio This combo is mated with a Cardas Heart. The sound is more refine, smoother but just a tad less dynamic compared to the Thorens TD-124MKI - Morch/Moerch DP-6 - Clearaudio Maestro.

jaytea January 14, 2009 11:23

SGS,
You don't HAVE TO position the P-44's headshell exactly 53mm away from the edge of the platter (this applies only to the SME arms as specified by SME).

I think the better way to do this is to put the P-44 arm on the arm rest and swing the whole thing outward away from the platter until the back of the arm clears a safe distance from the back right post. Now, remove the arm from the arm rest and swing it back toward the spindle just to make sure that when the needle reaches the last groove of the record, its counterweight still clears the VTA tower (make sure you dont move the arm rest in this step). Make adjustments if needed to make sure the arm is clear of anything when it's on the arm rest , and at the end of the record.

Best

jaytea May 05, 2008 10:05

Hi Sgs,
sorry for the late response.

Sharp eyes! You were right..the arm rest of the Phantom isnt parallel with the edge of the SME 20/2.

I was unsure of this when i first bought the Phantom so i dropped Bob Graham a call, and he told me that the Phantom, when being used on SME 20/2 table, it should be positioned in the same way as the SME arms. And SME arms on SME turntables are not parallel with the edge either (because the edge of the head shell must be around 53mm away from the edge of the platter in order for the Anti-skating to work properly).

So..when the Phantom positioned this way, it well clears the rear right post !!!

jaytea May 01, 2008 09:54

if I was on a tight budget, the SLP98 would do just fine..for double the price, the SLP05 provides a more refine performance all around. It was a tough call but i am happy with the move up.

jaytea December 05, 2007 11:44

System edited: My system was going through some drastic changes in the past few months. While i was in the middle of a battle against LP's sibilance, one of my BAT VK-150SE monoblocks desided to blow fuses. BAT said one of the diodes inside might be defective so I shipped it in for a check-up and ended up trading them for a pair of Cary CAD 211AE. Compared to BAT VK-150SE, the Cary 211AE are less agressive, more laid back. While the BAT are extremely transparent , dynamic upfront and detailed sounding (sometimes too in-da-face ), the Cary are a little recessed (i like this match with my Avalon Opus Ceramic a little bit more), still dynamic and detailed but the sound is more romantic. What i love most about the Cary that i didnt feel with the BAT was the 3D presentation of female vocal. Somehow the Cary manage to push the solo voice infront of the mix and give a better 3D illusion. Perhaps this is the reason why with the Cary, there is a clearer sense of soundstage depth that i did not feel with the BATs. Feeling that a Cary preamp is, by default, the best match for my new Cary amps, i traded my Cary SLP-98P in my 2nd system for Cary's top of the line SLP-05 and use this in my main system in place of the Manley Neo-Classic 300B preamp (which now resides in my upstair system, together with Air Tight ATM-2, Harbeth SHL5, Audio Aero Prima CD player and Zu Audio cables). The changes in amps & preamps requires me to move the Avalon about 1 foot apart (closer to sidewalls) from the old positions in order to uncluster the soundstage. After that, everything snap back in focus and the system can produce wall-to-wall soundstage and more important to me: DEPTH. After 8 weeks of waiting, the Graham's Phantom finally arrived!!! My version is a gold accent (to match the SME 20 Mark II table), and much to my surprise, it's really easy to set up. The reason why i got the Phantom is that i want to try different cartridges on the same turntable and tonearm. Even though the idea of having one turntable with multibple tonearms is still aching inside me, i figure this solution will do at the moment for a cheaper price. I planed to put the SME VI.Vi on a Thorens TD 350, but seems like NO ONE are using this table :( So there's no user's reviews whatsoever online..so i decided to put the IV.Vi on sale...we'll see how this go..i might end up keeping it for my "future" tonearm collection ! The Phantom is great looking, almost 1.5 time heavier than the SME and looks like a very high quality arm. Set up is real easy but cartridge installation with the guage is a bit tricky..takes time to get use to it. I tried to setup both my Koetsu and Lyra using both conventional Baewald and Graham's own schemes, and ended up prefering Graham's. With Graham's the stylus is set back about 1-2 mm (less overhang), and sound more focus with cleaner sibilance. All of this drastic changes took a lot out of me (i'm obssesed with my gears) and finally, I can sit down and listen to music again. Hopefully It'll be kept that way for a while before my idiot audiophile side of me kicks in again and make me change another thing or two !!!!!

jaytea September 23, 2007 08:39

Tbooe: Stop hanging around me wont do you any good in term of saving you from "upgrading"...you KNOW we are as bad as each other :) well...i am worse..you are smarter in managing your money, i admit. hehehe

jaytea March 24, 2007 22:39

System edited: Found out that my previous analog setup was great with classical/jazz, but not so for vocal, so, for a change, i sold the Avid Acutus and Origin Live Tonearm and get the SME 20/2A combo instead. Also with the addition of a Lyra Helikon and another Finite Elemente Pagoda Signature. I think the detailed and fast sounding Lyra complements the SME well. Done for now (Yeah right !)

jaytea March 24, 2007 10:19

RandyK:
Not yet, i really wanted to..but it's kinda expensive.hbehe...but sooner or later, when i got the green, i 'd definitely try them out. Thanks for the suggestion. Do you have a virtual system?

jaytea March 02, 2007 08:45

System edited: System changed. 1. Manley 300B pre replaced Air tight ATC-3. 2. Different speaker positions.

jaytea January 12, 2007 10:38

HI all,
Thank you for your compliments..Wish you all a great Holidays Season..and Happy listening.

Tboooe: Yes yes..i'm still waiting for you to come over and give me some feedbacks...please send my regards to your wife and hope your kids getting over the cold soon to enjoy Xmas. Drop by when you have some free time, bro.

Eric: Wonderful ! What are you listening to now? I find out that my listening has different phases..sometimes i spend a few weeks listening to classical piano...or chamber music (especially Ravel's trios or Violin sonatas)...right now..i'm enjoying Stravinsky & Prokofiev & Tchaikovsky suits from Ballets (prolly because of the holiday spirit).

jaytea December 15, 2006 05:35