As good as vinyl? That is very subjective since there are so many variables. If you read the recent Stereophile review I think Fremmer got it mostly right. The digitized does shine in some areas and it is different and some may prefer the digitized but a very high end phono will still sound more analog. How much you have to spend to beat it is open for debate.

I digitize at 24/192 but so far have only recorded a few. I have no desire to archive my vinyl.

In my case with active triamping it is a solution that I'm extremely happy with.

I did start with passive crossovers and this is much better.

http://stereophile.com/phonopreamps/pure_vinyl_lp_recording_amp_editing_software/

.

herman September 07, 2010 15:31

Herman,

I would love to hear more about your vinyl digitizing: in your experience are the results as good as the vinyl? Are you doing 24/96? My experiments doing same at 24/96 with a rather humble Masterlink device were very encouraging. However, the vinyl was still noticeably better so I stopped.

My system is now Orphean bass bins with the Ah! 300 horns. With EQ, no real need for tweets. I am now using a DEQX and it is very promising, though not yet optimized. No digital sound signature whatsoever.

Did you experiment with passive xovers at all?

If I had room for bass horns, I'd do it. Yours look great and must sound incredible.

Perhaps I will try Edgar bass bins or some similar ~80 Hz horn with subs underneath some time.

paulfolbrecht September 06, 2010 16:06

Herman, I have been eyeing your setup for some time. (And we have talked of course.)

I'm finally taking the plunge into front horns with an Ah! 300 horn with B&C drivers couple to Orphean Reference bass bins.

I plan to use a DXC2496 to cross.

paulfolbrecht August 07, 2010 23:15

System edited: Added a third amp to triamp and get rid of all passive crossovers. This was a revelation. I expected some subtle improvement in getting rid of the tweeter filter but it really changed the tone of the system for the better. .

herman August 03, 2010 16:24

Glad to see you got the light bulb put into an actual fixture! LOL!
Btw, how far are you off the path from Nashville to Chicago? would like to stop by for a listen if we drive to Chicago in the fall.

streetdaddy June 17, 2010 15:59

Everything goes through the computer

Only sources are digital files mostly ripped from CDs and vinyl

From the description of the RME

Also using the ADC function to digitize my vinyl, cartridge straight into mic inputs.

RIAA, volume, 2 way crossover, and time alignment all done by Pure Vinyl software,

herman June 17, 2010 03:46

Super cool, is this system, just awesome.

How do you switch between sources, and what amplifies the output from your tonearm/cartridge?

Please get bigger speakers next time!

macdadtexas June 16, 2010 22:58

B&C 12NW76 compressed down to a 20 sq inch opening. Would like to try a LF compression driver like a Goto but they are insanely expensive.

herman June 16, 2010 16:21

Hi Herman
Very impressive speakers you have made I must say, may I enquire what driver are you using for the bass horn.
Thank you Jason.

jasonparmenter June 16, 2010 07:31

Sure, the maximums are 55 inches wide, 79 inches deep, and 8 feet tall. You could make them less deep if you started the curve up sooner. I added a side view so you better see how I did it but you just need to maintain the proper rate of expansion so there are an infinite number of ways to configure it.

herman June 15, 2010 21:36

May I ask what the depth (physical dimension) is of the folded bass horn? I want to do something similar but have a door fairly close to the front wall. Thanks!

stenersr June 15, 2010 14:49

Jason, I have quite a few of the Eighth Nerve products but haven't managed to get them put up yet. I do not have any bass traps but it is something to consider. The bass is pretty good but we always wonder if we can make it better.

herman June 09, 2010 14:52

Hi Herman
Do you have any bass traps behind your speakers in the corners, I have found this to be a huge improvement to the sound quality in room.
Your picture did not show any so I thought I would make the suggestion.
Your speakers look very impressive, they must sound very effortless during music playback.

Cheers Jason.

jasonparmenter June 06, 2010 20:06

Very very impressive set up.
Love the speakers with the big bass horns.
Must sound awesome, congrats.
Take care,

rugyboogie June 06, 2010 03:20

Hi Kale, just realized I didn't respond to your last email. Sorry. The RME Firface 400 is the nerve center of the set up. I feed my cartridge directly to it and it amplifies and and digitizes it. The Mac gets that data via firewire. The Pure Vinyl does the RIAA correction, controls the volume digitally, and does the crossover and time alignment for the bass horn. It then feeds it back to the RME via firewire where it is also the 4 channel DAC.

For digital files the Pure Vinyl does basically the same thing interfacing with iTunes. iTunes manages the database but PV does all of the processing.

The RME will go both directions up to 24/192. I have some 24/96 files from HD tracks that in general are a bit better than the 16/44.1 versions but I don't have many to directly compare so I'm not saying it is definitely worth the extra expense for them. I have Louis and Ella in both and while I prefer the 24/96 it may just be that a remastered 16/44.1 would be too close to tell a difference. Certainly no harm in the higher rez if you can get it.

Since I'm using firewire I really have no need for the USB-spdif device but it looks interesting.

Take care

.

herman May 24, 2010 17:02

Hi Bruce,

What are you using for a dac? Do you have one that will play the hi rez files? Have you thought about trying one of those hiface units on your mac mini?

streetdaddy May 23, 2010 14:04

The next thing to play with is equalization on the bass horns. Pure Music/Vinyl supports AU plug ins so you can apply all manner of EQ to the system. I'm getting ready to start playing with room EQ wizard and see what that does for me.

herman May 08, 2010 04:17

Honk Honk

vernneal May 07, 2010 23:15

Herman/Bruce,
That looks great and must sound awesome. Someday I'd love to get the 45Hz-180Hz on mine like that, but it will be a while before I have a mancave which will allow me to do that.

t_bone May 07, 2010 23:14

Oh, I see. I made them with the help of a friend.

http://hifiheroin.blogspot.com/2010/04/music-maker-of-month-bruce-bosler.html

herman May 07, 2010 16:32

Thanks. Oops. My question on "source" was more of a "where did you get them" question. Did you make them? Are they made by someone else? They're huge! I love'em!

Thanks for the note about Pure Vinyl software doing time alignment. I will have to look more closely at the software.

t_bone May 06, 2010 22:33

The 300B amps drive the big horns and Pure Vinyl software does the time alignment

herman May 06, 2010 19:42

Herman, what is the source for the big horns? And how did/do you time-align them?

t_bone May 06, 2010 05:33

system edited. changed to RME Fireface 400 and Pure Vinyl software

herman July 30, 2009 21:25

System edited: Added the big bass horns and triamping, updated equipment list

herman June 18, 2008 19:03