Dsper's System

by dsper on

Description

I have made a switch from Thiel CS5i speakers to more efficient speakers. The dynamics of more efficient speakers sound more real/live to me. In addition, there are a lot of excellent lower power amp choices - tube and ss. It's a whole new ballgame!

Large Advent, Magnepan 1.2, Magnepan 1.7, Magnepan 3.6, Thiel CS3.6, Thiel CS5i, Tyler Acoustics Mx5, Zu Soul Six; Klipsch Forte iv's, Volti Lucerna's. 
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Room Details

Dimensions: 35’ × 21’  X large
Ceiling: 9’

Components Toggle details

    • PS Audio Perfectwave Memory Transport
    • Mojo Audio EVO B4B DAC
    Love this thing. R2R forever.
    • Conrad Johnson 17LS2 Preamp
    Great preamp but is more of a standby since acquiring the Don Sachs pre
    • Don Sachs DS2 Preamp
    This amp gave my system more immediacy and presence. The CJ is more  about texture and nuance of a different sort.
    • Synergistic Research Alpha Sterling RCA Interconnects
    • Generic 14 Gauge Speaker Wire
    • First Watt F7
    My first Nelson Pass product. Amazing to me. Just about perfect with the my old Forte iv's but not as good with my Lucernas.
    • Quicksilver Horn Mono amps
    I like these because they give me a taste of what monoblocks can do. Plenty of power for the Lucernas
    • First Watt F6
    This is the most detailed of the three amps. I hear stuff that I do not hear with the other two. Still very musical.
    • Don Sachs Custom KT 88 Tube Amplifier
    Dead quiet in my system but took a minute to get there. I had a hiss and tried tracking down a tube problem. No luck. Completely disconnected the amp and reinstalled into my system. Problem solved; I suspect that a speaker wire got too close to a power cord the first time around....
    • Volti Audio Lucerna
    Excellent speaker. Closest I have come to matching room and components. Big step up from my my most recent Klipsch Forte iv's, which came after Zu's, Tyler Acoustics, Thiel cs5i's, and Magnepan 3.6's. I really liked the Thiel's, which were probably the most  "audiophile" speaker I have owned. However, I think they were a bit too big for my space and I also got tired of dealing with 100 plus pound amps!
    • SVS SB 3000
    Just needed a drop of deep bass with the Klipsch Forte iv's. I dialed the subs back with the Lucernas. I generally do not even know they are there unless I am playing loud. They kick in at 43 Hz and -10dB. No bloat that I can hear unless I think about it...do you really need to pay 3X for more bass control?

    By the way, I first tried one sub and then bought a second one. My ears tell me that,  with my gear and in my room, two subs are better than one. 

Comments 5

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Owner
Thanks jafant,

I appreciate the comment.

However, I have updated my system but not the details here. Shame on me.

I had spent a lot of time trying to make my Thiel CS5i's sound good by searching for an appropriate amp, preamp, and DAC. After spending a lot of time and money, I still could not get the live sound or soundstage I was seeking.

So...the Thiel's have been sidelined in favor of Klipsch Forte iv's. They smoke the Thiel's for me in terms of dynamics and soundstage. I am a lot closer to a live sound than I was before. 

I am using the same transport, DAC and preamp but am enjoying a new amp, First Watt F7 ,with the Klipsch speakers. It's twenty watts, all in class A, and is a good match with the Forte's as it provides detail and more than enough power.

Hope the Thiel Thread is going strong!

Dsper




dsper

Owner
X-ray Vision.

dsper

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