I got started in Audio in the early 60s when I was doing graduate work at the University of Chicago. I use to go to the outlet store of Allied Radio and buy components to try and then assemble them into systems to sell to fellow students. This led to a long career in what you might call Semi-Pro audio. I have been a factory authorized dealer for many brands but never with the intention of making a living at it. I have loved music and audio all my life and have wanted to share this with others. In the old days I was always trying something new, I obtained Stax and Spendor direct from the manufactures and showed them to the person who became their first importer. I have liked the British sound since using the Quad 57s but not to the exclusion of other speakers. I have not listed my interconnects because I have a large number of them and because I can't remember what some of the unlabeled ones are. I like Siltech, Van Den Hul, Kimber, Mapleshade and others, they do make a difference but they can drive you crazy. I would not spend a fortune on them but get good ones. Use Stax and Senheiser 650 headphones.
I am now using the Gamut 5s with a Gamut 200 amp. My CJ 350 has a glitch due to the ### movers and It is back at CJ. The gamut is very good and I may keep using it as it and the speakers were designed together. I have a hell of a lot of stuff but I got a lot as a dealer and many more used. Have never had trouble with used gear but I have been carful who I buy from. I am going to have to start selling a bunch as I am 75 and can't live forever.
Wife decided I was taking up too much time; we got a divorce and I am living in an apt in Vincennes In. Still have some stuff in storage and the movers screwed up a lot. Some of my friends from Louisville have been up a couple of times. Gradually getting it back together. I was going to get a pair of Event Opel speakers but after waiting for them for a year I gave up and am using Spendors.
You have not heard from me for about 4 years. I had a brain tumor removed then am just getting back on. I will be making some changes in my system to downsize it as my physical condition has changed. I have ordered some Event whatevers. My memory has suffered so I will not be posting much but am still here. Hello everyone, good listning.
Still here but don't yet have my system set up as my new house is smaller and so full of gear that it is hard to place things. Got someone who is going to help me set it up soon. Thanks everybody for their concerns. Happy listening.
Due to a brain tumor I can no longer switch gear as I use to so am getting rid of a lot of it. Watch my ads if there are particular items you are interested in. Most heavy gear will be pick up only as I cannot lift as I use to.
I love the Townshend Allegri passive and it is very small. Disclaimer, I might become a dealer for it in the future. I also like the Metrum Octave dac; also very compact. I have been using Spendors for 40 years now but speakers are a very personal thing. Monitors on stands can sound very good even in a large room; my friend Dave just bought one of my pairs of SP-1s to alternate with his Wilson Sasha. I would like to get some of the size out of mine also; I love the CJ 350 but it is HEAVY. Going to have a 55 pound weight limit on any amps I buy in the future. The Spendors together with my RELs give a full range performance at a volume level that satisfies me; probably wouldn't a heavy rock fan. Active speakers get the most out of their size; ATC is probably the "best" but HIFICRITIC is coming out with a review of a lesser known one that they have given very positive previews of. There are so many ways to go and audio is so personal. Audiogon's personal message service is finally up so send me one if there is any specific question I might help with. Packed 30 13X13X13" boxes of LPs last couple of days. Had forgotten how heavy they were.
I have the Apogees up now even though the room is marginal in size for them. Apogee said that bare walls work best so I took down all my panels except the corner bass traps; which are fastened to the wall. However; in a listening session with my friend Dave [ he of the Wilson Sasha, Lamm amps, Ref 5 etc ] we ended up putting all the panels back up including 2 not shown in the photos; these are placed either just in front or just behind the Duetta Signatures. Still very impressive speakers but I will probably go back to the cones as a better match for my room.
System edited: New gear added; time for some more housecleaning. Changing to smaller and lighter gear; i.e. Superline for Basis Exclusive. More in line with my advancing years.
My room is 13' W, 35' L, 7' H. Haven't heard the new RELs. My chair is usually 6 to 7 ft back from the speakers at the apex of an equilateral triangle with them. Exact placement depends on speakers being used. Many of my friends like sitting a couple of feet or more farther back.
I haven't been able to edit my system; now using a Linn LP 12 [modified] with a Rega RB 1000 arm and Riggle VTA adjustor. Just got my Metrum Octave after an 8 week wait. My room is 13' wide, 35' long and 7' high. The speakers are about 8' apart and I sit back 8' from them. I am happy with the Stadiums and if I were ever to move up it would be to the Stentor or Studio.
I am using the Gamut L 5s, which are floor standing but not actually as large [I think] in volume as my stand mounted Spendor S 100s; these use a 12" woofer, 6" mid and 1" tweeter as opposed to the 2 7" and 1" in the Gamuts. Both have very good bass by themselves but the RELs still add something. I occasionally use the Spendor SP 1s also.
I should say that I made an exhaustive search but the truth is that I bought them together used. I had had an Ovation previously and liked it. A.J. told me he likes the 2.2 better than the Phantom on his tables. I just got hold of an extra arm wand on here; have a Denon DS1 in one and an AT 33EV in the other. I recommend the 33EV, my friend with the Sasha just got one to use while his new Koetsu Vermillion gets here from Japan and he likes it. $400 at J&R. My rebuilt LP 12 is suppose to be ready tomorrow, I really doubt if it is either better or worse than the 2001, just different. The combination of 2.2/2001 is really well balanced and barring someone giving me a 2500 sig. I cannot see changing.
I would be glad to have you; visitors always welcome. I have mostly classical and folk LPs but jazz, rock and country as well. I listen more to small groups than I use to as my system can do a good job of reproducing them realistically as opposed to symphonies. Also most of the better recordings seem to be by small companies who can't afford large scale recording.
The room looks better than it is! Too small for my bigger speakers but I am using them anyway; I am going to put some new photos up. Cables make a big difference but vary from system to system. Some of them, like Cardas and VDH TFU appear to work over a wide range of systems, others may be even better in a particular system but have to be carefully matched. Looking for the BEST combination can drive you crazy as every change makes a difference; there are probably better combinations out there than the ones I use but I am happy with mine.
System edited: The Basis weighs 75 pounds [ for both boxes] My MF weighs about 50. Sometimes I wish I still had the Dynavector P-75, which weighed almost nothing. But they both sound very good, especially the Basis.
I set the crossovers to start rolling off at 25Hz on top end. Run my main speakers full range. This doesn't change between Spendor SP 1s, S 100s or Mini Utopias. Usually have gain around 9 AM position. Depends on amps and speakers in use. Subs are invisible, Saturday a week ago two others who are experience audiophiles and I listened for 4 hours and I discovered after they left the one of the subs had not been turned on after I had made some system adjustments just before they got there. Now if both had been off it would have been obvious after a few cuts but the bass was not obviously coming from one side of the room. I drive the subs from the amp outputs, I prefer this but others like the line level output.
I haven't been using my OC9 in my current set up, Blue Circle made up a loading RCA plug for the Denons and it when I got my 707, I think it is in the 30 to 40 ohm range but due to the flooding I mentioned I can't get to my info to check. I am using the high gain tap on the Bob's Devices SUT which is 37.5 ohms and works well. I will use that when I get my system back together and set up the OC9. My OC9 is 20 years old so not a fair comparison with the 304, which I got this year. In general I would say the Denon is a little more forward and detailed and the OC9 a little warmer and more relaxed. These impressions are from my system of the early 90s and based on my memory of it and an earlier 304. Both are good cartridges.
System edited: The second photo shows currently un-used equipment. Caption refers to Linn Sondek's Guru's statement that you should never have even a phone in your listening room...let alone another pair of speakers......
I have never actually done an AB, when I bought the Stadium 11 it had no cable so I bought the Signal Cable. The Stadium 111 came with the standard cable so I used that till recently when I replaced it with one from the seller who makes them up and advertises them there on Agon. I think I like his a little better than the SC but since I have a listening panel and technical crew of one [me] it is hard to make judgements. My impression is that it is worth the money to upgrade.
They are the original version. I was not sure that I would like the Be tweeter and it would have cost several times what I paid. Works very well, just now getting them the way I want them. Currently using them on Atacama 720s with steel shot filler and trying Barry Diament's ball bearing mounting. It appears to work well but I have to compare it with the Audio Points for a while to tell for sure.
No, I would have to have a very large room. I have a basement room in my new house that is about 13'x35. I have the equipment set up at one end. Right now I am using the MF TriVista 21, VPI Scoutmaster with Denon 103 and 110, the Vendetta pre pre into the Musical Fidelity M3 driving the Spendor SP1/2Es through Cardas Golden Reference. Interconnects are Van den Hul First and First Ultimate and VPI from the turntable. The VPI cable is quite good. I have the two RELs connected to the speaker outputs of the MF. Very possibly the best sound I have had. If I had the room I would have the Apogees up or possibly the S-100s. I will try them sometime. But this system fits the space I have, a consideration I feel is often ignored. The 1204s are out of the question and I need to find a home for them. But it is rather fluid, I am setting up the Basis Ovation and SME IV shortly to listen before I put them up on Audiogon. If I had the money and space I would keep them , they are an exceptional combination. I am spending most of my time tuning my system,I am becoming a dealer for Star Sound products, they have an unbelievable effect on sound quality. I haven't tried everything out there but these certainly work. Much of this I have had since the early 90s and some longer. Good equipment has a long life,
