Thanks, Mike. Good to know. How much were they asking for the used older Arrakis you saw?

lloydelee21 June 23, 2012 08:25

The system looks nice Babybear. Active speakers are the way to go. Those Arrakis look great and must sound "stupid good". My Legacy Helix are powered this way too with an active digital crossover and 4 pair of stereo amps. Music just sounds unlimited and can spring free from your speakers. I'm sure the Seigfrieds and VTL 7.5 can make the Arrakis dance.

Congratulations on building such a fine system.

sgr June 23, 2012 04:59

Hi Mike,

Thanks very much for your kind words.

I always felt that the Rockport Arrakis would be my ultimate speaker. When I saw that pair come up for sale a few months ago, I contacted Andy Payor to see if in fact that pair could be upgraded to the latest active version and when he assured me that he could do that, I went ahead and purchased them. Andy was wonderful to work with - taking care of all of the shipping involved, arranging with Goodwins in Boston to come down to handle all of the setup and completing the upgrade on schedule. Goodwins was also great to work with as they did a wonderful job putting the speakers together (no small task in and of itself), dialing in the speakers with my room, integrating my 2 Rel Studio III subs, etc. They spent 3 days here getting it right. All in all, both Andy and the Goodwins team made the purchase and upgrade a first class experience for me and the sound is more than I ever imagined it would be.

Thanks again, Arnie

babybear June 23, 2012 00:15

Lloyd,

at one point i did converse with Andy Payor about the Arrakis. i thought about visiting Andy in Maine and trying to work out something. it never got very far. i also spoke to Gray Koh (a local friend) about the Genesis 1.2. both 'dream' speakers. a few months ago i saw a set of used Arrakis (not current model, not active) and 'dreamed' a bit more. how can one not lust after the Arrakis?

it is an ultimate speaker, and there are very very few like that from my perspective. the Rockport level of build quality, which i have experienced personally, is amazing.

none of that takes anything away from my choice.

i applaud Babybear's efforts wholeheartedly.

mikelavigne June 22, 2012 22:32

Mikelavgine,

You have the MM7s on the way, i think i read somewhere...and you dream of the Arrakis actives?

Here's a question...if they were the same price, which speakers would you take? (Ignoring your existing equipment which has a magic synergy with Evolutions). You've got quite a lot of experience, and i've always thought about Arrakis (original...second hand)...my equipment on the other hand actually apparently goes well with Arrakis. (Gryphon, Transparent Audio, CJ)

So thanks for any thoughts!

lloydelee21 June 22, 2012 22:09

wow!!

beautiful room and the Arrakis active speakers!

i've dreamed of those speakers. and i'll bet it all sounds wonderful.

congrats on an incredible system!

mikelavigne June 22, 2012 21:41

Thanks Booboo!

Lots of Bears out there!

babybear June 22, 2012 21:28

Nice system, looks well thought out. By the way are we related? Heehee!

booboobaer June 22, 2012 12:52

Hi Bob,

Thanks very much for your kind words.

I have heard the Rockport Avior (their new model that you heard at The Show) and I agree with you that its a great speaker.

As for power cords and cables I definitely agree with you that its the hardest thing to get right and usually very subjective and which cable works in one person's system may not work as well in another system. Before I tried the Echole cables I was using primarily Purist Audio Anniversary power cords and IC's with Elrod Statement Gold power cords on my amps. I never gave much thought to changing any of the cabling.

There was a lot of buzz going around about Argento Flow Master Reference cabling and my local dealer got some of those in (power cords, IC's and speaker cables) so he brought quite a bit of the Argento over and during the course of several weeks I began to add that to my system, one cable at a time so that I could hear the effect of the Argento cables. The more I added, the more I did not like what I heard. The sound of the system became too dry and analytical for my tastes.

A friend of mine in Australia suggested that I try some Echole cables in my system. The first one that I had a chance to try were the speaker cables and the synergy with the Purist cabling was very good. They add a little more life and extension in the upper frequencies. I then began to experiment with additional Echole cables- both power cords and IC's. Again, one component at a time over a 2 month period. With the Echole, as I added more, the sound became better and better and in a very consistent manner. The primary differences that I was hearing with the Echole compared to my Purist and Elrod cables was greater frequency extension both in the lower and upper frequencies, better resolution across the board, deeper and tighter bass, a very even tonal balance and a greater sense of space with improved front to back layering of performers. So I decided to go with the current set of cabling that I have listed.

Hope that helps.

Arnie

babybear June 22, 2012 12:50

Bear; I just now saw your incredible system; I think it must be in the top 10 of outstanding all out systems posted; well thought out; top class across the board. I just heard Rockport for the first time at THE Show at Newport; their entry level model; and was quite impressed.
Please share with me your evolution thoughts with power cords and speaker/IC cables...to me its the hardest thing to get right and to judge effect with change...I've been intrigued by the Echole line; what do you like about them; and how did you select them..the PAD stuff I'm more familiar; but the price of admission has held me back. Love to see great two channel blended into a HT rig..anyway, let me add my kudos to the three pages of positive responses from the other 'Goners...nice and sweet set up..

mribob June 22, 2012 03:56

System edited: Changed a picture and added some items that I had left out.

babybear June 18, 2012 18:47

Hi Clement,

You are welcome.

Might I also suggest that if you can, and if you don't already have it installed, that you try to audition the MSB Galaxy clock module for your MSB DAC IV Signature. I tried my MSB Diamond DAC with and without the clock and the clock definitely makes an audible improvement in the sound. It adds a purity to the high frequency notes and also enhances the overall coherency of the sound.

babybear June 13, 2012 16:53

hello
thank you very much for your answer.
I have an MSB DACIV Signature + UMT + CD Data IV Signature, and I think I'll try to find an Absolare purifier for a test.
Best regards
Clement

clementl June 13, 2012 08:50

Hi Clement,

Thanks very much.

I have not tried the other power conditioners that you mention. I do have a 10KVa isolation transformer that powers all of my dedicated outlets for my audio system.

I use the Absolare Purifier for my front end electronics - specifically my phono stage, turntable power supply, MSB Dac and VTL preamplifier.

The model that I have is the latest version with the Bybee's that are specifically made for Absolare. .

As good as the isolation transformer is, the Absolare Purifer makes an even further level of improvement primarily in a lower noise floor resulting in a blacker background, a further refinement in the overall sound especially in the high frequencies and enables a coherence to the sound that is easily noticed when I remove the Absolare and plug everything directly into the wall outlets.

babybear June 12, 2012 17:27

Hi Babybear,
what a great system & room !
can you give me informations please on Absolare Purifier power conditioner ?
what about this model vs other models like PS Audio P10 / Isotek Super Titan / Gigawatt models / ... if you have tried ?
which electronics have you connected on the Absolare purifier ?
which positives effects ?
your model is the new Bybee specialy made for Absolare ?
thank you , best regards
Clement

clementl June 12, 2012 12:35

Hi John,

Everything is well here. Thanks

Once I installed the Olympos and heard it in my system, I pretty much knew that I wanted the cartridge. It was really, really good after about 3 hours of break in. It is such a natural and effortless sound. I had thought about an Atlas, and I have no doubt that it is also a great cartridge that I would enjoy as well, but the Olympos SL is really good. I am looking forward to getting my Allnic Puritas back and doing some head to head comparisons if I get the second arm for the table.

As for arms, I am hoping to try the new Reed 3P arm which has both VTA and Azimuth adjustment on the fly and a new bearing system compared to my current Reed 2A arm. Hopefully that will happen in the next few months. And perhaps towards the end of the year I am hoping to try the new Schroeder Linear Tracking arm.

How is the room project going?

babybear June 03, 2012 14:24

Hi Arnie, as a owner of 4 lyra's over the years, I can only imagine what your new Olympos sounds like. Did you get a chance to compare it to anything else (besides your Allinic) or just did it get installed and you fell for it :)?

If you get a 2nd arm, going for the same or trying something diff? I am about ready to try a different arm than my TriPlanar...

Hope all is well !

jfrech June 03, 2012 11:59

System edited: I have sent my Allnic Puritas phono cartridge back to get re-tipped. While I am waiting to get it back, I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to hear the Lyra Olympos SL cartridge in my system. The Olympos SL, even with only a few hours on it sounds so natural and effortless with my new system setup that I went ahead and purchased it. I am also looking forward to getting back my Puritas (which I have not heard yet with the Rockport Arrakis speakers) and then I may just have to add a second arm to my table so that I can enjoy both of these wonderful cartridges.

babybear May 31, 2012 13:55

Okay. Fair enough. I am putting a unit added for my dedicated room, and I have heard others describe what a profound effect it can have. Happy listening.

agear May 29, 2012 23:13

Hi Agear,

OK - sorry, I should have realized what you were referring to.

I really can't comment on what improvement the grounding system itself makes as I didn't do any comparison of the sound with and without the grounding system in and of itself as the entire electrical power work was done together as part of building the dedicated music room.

babybear May 29, 2012 20:00

HI Agear,

Thanks Agear.

I am not sure to what you are referring to by "the ionic grounding unit"?

babybear May 29, 2012 13:18

Stellar system. Can you comment on the sonic contribution of the ionic grounding unit?

agear May 27, 2012 08:57

Thanks very much Glai..

I already had one pair of the VTL Siegfried mono blocks paired with my Magico M5 speakers. It was a great match. I did try an ARC Ref 210 amp that I had with the M5's but it did not have anywhere near the power to bring the M5's to life. At the time I did give some thought to the ARC 610t's but I felt that the ease of operation of the VTL tube amps (auto bias, tube fault protection, ability to use either 6550 or KT88 tubes and no fans) was for me one of the big advantages of VTL. In addition, the VTL gear is typically upgrade able as VTL brings out new versions both in their preamps and amps. So coupling all of that with how wonderful they sound I have been very happy. When I decided to get the Arrakis, I just wanted to stay with VTL so I got another pair of Siegfrieds. Based on what I have heard so far, VTL and Rockport is a great match.

babybear May 24, 2012 15:34

Congrats on the new toys. The system was world class but now out of this world.

Did you consider the larger Audio Research amps or Gryphon amps to partner the Arrakis? What made you decide on VTL. VTL is great stuff and I am just trying to understand your decision making. I am considering tube amps again myself.

thanks

glai May 23, 2012 23:45