Hi VPN,

I did compare the Echole Obsession in my system to the Echole Signature IC's and power cords and to me the Signature were a very nice step up in performance. The cables have a very similiar tonal balance given they both use the same alloy wire (silver, gold and palladium) but the mix of the alloy is different with the Signature and the overall gauge of the wire is thicker. I found that the biggest improvements were in the frequency extremes - more resolved and powerful bass and more harmonically rich in the upper frequencies. I have a friend here locally who did the same comparison very recently and heard the same results and he ended up getting the Signature IC's and Speaker cables.

Obviously the Signature cables are not 80% better than the Obsession but they are a definite sonic improvement that I think you would easily hear in your system. But, they are quite a bit more expensive as well.

Hope that helps,

Arnie

babybear April 28, 2013 12:46

Hello Babybear,

I have a pair of Echole Obsession interconnects and I am considering buying more. The Echole Signature is about 80% more expensive than the Obsession, so I will probably stick to the Obsession, but I wanted to have a word from you on how much better is the Signature. If could give me a sense of the magnitude of the difference it would be highly appreciated.
Cheers,

VPN

vn101606 April 27, 2013 21:31

Hi Peter,

Thanks very much!

If you are ever coming to Texas, let me know as you are very welcome to come by for some listening.

Arnie

babybear April 20, 2013 03:33

Babybear, All I can say is WOW. I just looked up your system for the first time. It must sound fantastic. Yours is one of the systems on Audiogon that I would really love to hear. I heard "The Beat" at RMAF 2010. That is an excellent table. Congratulations.

peterayer April 19, 2013 17:50

System edited: I made some changes last week. My dedicated room is also used for Home Theater and I have been using a fixed mount Stewart Studiotek 130 G3 screen. For 2 channel listening I would mount 3 fairly heavy acoustic panels over the screen which made significant improvements in the sound. I've been wanting to get a motorized screen for some time now so that it would be easier to go between home theater and 2 channel. I've been waiting for the Screen Innovations Black Diamond motorized screen to come to market and it finally has and I have one installed now. For those of you who have projection screen setups, the SI Black Diamond screens (fixed or motorized) are simply amazing. In addition, I reworked the acoustic panel setup on the front wall behind the speakers. The 2 channel sound is even better now. The old screen/acoustic panels can be seen in the first photograph and the new setup is shown in the third picture.

babybear April 16, 2013 21:44

To be assumed...;) Nevertheless, i have promised myself never to go down that dark road...;) Thanks for the feedback.

lloydelee21 April 16, 2013 16:34

Hi Lloyd,

I do have Saxophone Colossus and Waltz for Debby on CD but not on vinyl. We didn't do the comparison while I had the Revox R2R here, but I am very confident that there wouldn't be much comparison between the digital format and the R2R format. The realism that was presented by the R2R in my system was pretty amazing. Waltz for Debby definitely created the illusion of being at the Vanguard will Bill Evans. The vocals on Mose Allison - Creek Bank were so realistic sounding and the drum kit on Colossus had a very realistic presence in my room.

Arnie.

babybear April 16, 2013 12:40

OK! Nice one! Now...on a scale of 1-100, if you scored the 16/44 redbook version of the above albums on your MSB digital, vs the TT, vs the Tape Project versions...how would you score each medium? Presumably you have at least Saxaphone Colossus and Waltz for Debby?

lloydelee21 April 15, 2013 18:09

I had a wonderful opportunity to hear 3 of the Tape Project reel to reel tapes in my system yesterday played back on a Revox professional level tape deck. I heard Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus, Mose Allison - Creek Bank and finally Bill Evans - Waltz for Debby. It was the first time I had heard reel to reel in my system and it was pretty special. A big thanks to my friends Luther and Travis for bringing the deck and tapes for all of us to enjoy! A truly great Sunday afternoon.

babybear April 15, 2013 16:54

Armie,

I guess it shows that tube matching is system dependent. I love your equipment moves.

dgad April 15, 2013 02:25

Hi Darren,

Good to hear from you and thanks very much.

The Echole cables are very good - I am using the Signature version of Kerem's IC's, power cords and speaker cables and couldn't be happier.

Thanks for the tip about the Cryo Gold Lion 12au7 re-issues. I will have to give one a try. My Absolare preamp does indeed use 2 of the 12au7/ECC82 tubes - one tube for input and the second tube is in the output side. The 2 tubes do not need to be the same but they both need to be 12Au7/ECC82 or one of the compatible variants (like 5814, 6189, etc). I actually did try two Telefunken 802s tubes in the Absolare, but i did not like the sound at all. They were very extended with lots of air in the upper frequencies, but a little too thin and analytical sounding.

Arnie

babybear April 14, 2013 23:14

Arnie,

Just checked in and noticed big changes. Congratulations. I have been keeping put for a while as I feel once I get back on I might lose the magic. In the end it is finding synergy.

I heard the Echole cables years ago on Kaiser speakers at RMAF. One of my favorite setups of all time. The designer of the speakers and cables were in house. One thing I can say, I loved their sonic bias. My kind of sound.

I noticed your new preamp uses 12AU7s if I am not mistaken. My biggest upgrade these days - and it was fairly huge - was changing away from NOS tubes to a pair of Cryo Gold Lion reissues. I know you are using Telefunkens. But for the money, and maybe I am lucky, these are the best tubes I have tried in my VTL pre. It is like I am hearing it for the first time. You might want to give it a shot even on your new pre. First time I tried cryo tubes though. That might be why.

dgad April 14, 2013 14:48

Good luck VPN!

Arnie - you're probably right...but having just bought second hand HRS M3 and nimbus/couplers for Zanden...i am sticking with them. the Ultra 5s are for the Wilson X1s and Velodyne DD18...though i admit i did get Ultra 5 for the CJ and LP Isolator for Transport...that's enough for now!

They are excellent and addictively good!

lloydelee21 April 10, 2013 22:32

Hi Lloyd,

You should definitely give the Ultra 5's (or perhaps the Ultra SS's) a try under your Zanden transport and DAC - I would bet on a very nice improvement.

Arnie

babybear April 10, 2013 00:00

Babybear, Lloydelee21, and Himiguel,

Thank you for your feedback!
Cheers,

VPN

vn101606 April 09, 2013 12:29

The ultra 5's under my turntable, phono stage and Tripoint Troy. Revelation! I use 5 5's under my turntable, 4 5's BMC phono stage, 4 5's under the Troy. Positioning and direction are critical. In my experience under components, threaded insert must face shelf. Impossible to judge or maximize performance of any component without the 5's.

himiguel April 09, 2013 01:16

Hi VPN,

FWIW, I just did that with my Wilson X1s...stunning changes. I posted on whatsbestforum. Ultra V and X1s thread. Stillpoints makes adaptor threads for nearly every screw type...mine are screwed in and they are not coming out. Good luck.

lloydelee21 April 08, 2013 19:49

Hi VPN,

Thanks very much.

I would definitely give the Stillpoints Ultra 5's a try under your speakers. If they can be threaded onto your Dunlavy speakers that would be best and Stillpoints makes various threaded adapters that you can get that hopefully would fit your speakers. The weight of your speakers won't bother the Ultra 5's.

I have tried the Ultra 5's under several components (but not my speakers) and the results have been very consistent sonic improvements regardless of which component I have tried.

Hope that helps,

Arnie

babybear April 08, 2013 13:29

Hello Babybear,

In my view (not having heard it), I believe you have one of the top three systems here at Audiogon. Congrats!

I am considering using 2 sets of 4 Stillpoints Ultra 5 with their bases under my (very heavy) Dunlavy SC-VI speakers. I currently have BDR Pucks and cones.

Do you think this would be recommented?

Thanks,

VPN

vn101606 April 07, 2013 19:54

Thanks Art,

Looking forward to it.

Arnie

babybear March 24, 2013 12:36

Doing great. I will be down for sure in the next couple months so we'll definitely figure something out!

Be well - Art

arthursmuck March 23, 2013 22:36

Hi Art,

Thanks very much and we are doing great here. Hope you are doing well also.

Art, you are welcome anytime (not an intrusion at all but the wine would be most welcome!)- just let me know when you will be coming so that we can get together for some listening!

Thanks again,
Arnie

babybear March 23, 2013 21:52

Hope you are well Arnie, the room and system are looking great! I'm going to drop you a note and try to invite myself for a listen my next trip to Austin. I'll bring a nice bottle of wine for the intrusion. :-)

Take care,
Art

arthursmuck March 23, 2013 13:30

Hi Luther,

Thanks so much.

I had a great time as well and it was nice to meet John. I am looking forward to coming down to your place as well and learning more about reel to reel playback!

babybear March 21, 2013 22:51

Hi Arnie, great listening to your system again. It is amazing when I think it can't get any better, you manage to raise the bar. Looking forward to having you down at my place.

wardsweb March 21, 2013 02:03