Audio System Evolution

[derekrumble]

I have just put together a rough diagram to illustrate how my system has evolved since 1973. Ther are a few items which do not appear and which I still own but I have excluded anything I would not consider belonging to my main system. If I included office, dining room and bedroom kit as well, then I just wouldn't know how to 'map' it all.

Blocks with a colour fill show equipment still in use. And I haven't included my small collection of headphones along with my X-CANv3.



Regards,

Derek.

[XTRProf]

Hi Derek,

If you have any intention of upgrading for the TT side, you can consider an mc for the cartridge first. However, you will have to also upgrade your tonearm to a Rega RB300 or 301. The mc cartridges you can consider are the AT OC9 Mk3 or 2, Denon 103R and also the Benz MC20E low output. Just for your consideration.

Btw, why did you change the Quad 11L for a LS3/5A? Quite similar sound, right? The Magnepan SMGa, although sounding roll-off in the highs, images beautifully the recording environment which none of the box speakers can ever come close.

[derekrumble]

Jul 6, 2010 13:36:04 GMT XTRProf said:

Hi Derek,

If you have any intention of upgrading for the TT side, you can consider an mc for the cartridge first. However, you will have to also upgrade your tonearm to a Rega RB300 or 301. The mc cartridges you can consider are the AT OC9 Mk3 or 2, Denon 103R and also the Benz MC20E low output. Just for your consideration.

Btw, why did you change the Quad 11L for a LS3/5A? Quite similar sound, right? The Magnepan SMGa, although sounding roll-off in the highs, images beautifully the recording environment which none of the box speakers can ever come close.

No - my X-PreV3 will not accept MCs - and I dont have the need or will to change / upgrade my record player. My turntable is just for legacy LPs - it's not an active format for me. Also there is an emotional link for me with the SME - first (and only) piece of high end kit I owned - will keep it for ever.

Quad 11Ls, believe me, totally nothing like LS3/5a - a completely different balance - there is a longer story to this which I have bored everyone with in the Yahoo LS3/5A group.

Yes the SMGa is wonderful, rolled off at HF but good anyway - current room is wrong shape and a bit too small - but I will keep them forever. I bought them 'ex-demo' for 380 great british quids - a bargain.

Derek

[derekrumble]

It would be great to see how other members' systems, tastes and budgets have evolved?

Derek

[mrarroyo]

Mine would go pre-wife1, with wife1, post wife1 (or pre wife2), with wife 2. Next!

[XTRProf]

Jul 6, 2010 19:41:41 GMT @derekrumble said:

Jul 6, 2010 13:36:04 GMT XTRProf said:

Hi Derek,

If you have any intention of upgrading for the TT side, you can consider an mc for the cartridge first. However, you will have to also upgrade your tonearm to a Rega RB300 or 301. The mc cartridges you can consider are the AT OC9 Mk3 or 2, Denon 103R and also the Benz MC20E low output. Just for your consideration.

Btw, why did you change the Quad 11L for a LS3/5A? Quite similar sound, right? The Magnepan SMGa, although sounding roll-off in the highs, images beautifully the recording environment which none of the box speakers can ever come close.

No - my X-PreV3 will not accept MCs - and I dont have the need or will to change / upgrade my record player. My turntable is just for legacy LPs - it's not an active format for me. Also there is an emotional link for me with the SME - first (and only) piece of high end kit I owned - will keep it for ever.

Yes the SMGa is wonderful, rolled off at HF but good anyway - current room is wrong shape and a bit too small - but I will keep them forever. I bought them 'ex-demo' for 380 great british quids - a bargain.

Derek

Alright, for legacy LPs only. But don't forget with a properly setup TT system, so far I have heard none from the digital camp that better it, SACD, DVD-A, CD and you name it, in a HIGH resolution system. The closes are the Esoteric and DCS camps and I have heard many TT and digital systems.

Oh, yes, for 380 quids for the SMGa, it's a steal. The problem with Magnepan is that their speakers really need space and watts to come alive. When they do come alive, many speakers will be left behind, except for the highs and the bass wacks.

[derekrumble]

Jul 7, 2010 1:55:20 GMT XTRProf said:

Alright, for legacy LPs only. But don't forget with a properly setup TT system, so far I have heard none from the digital camp that better it, SACD, DVD-A, CD and you name it, in a HIGH resolution system. The closes are the Esoteric and DCS camps and I have heard many TT and digital systems.

Oh, yes, for 380 quids for the SMGa, it's a steal. The problem with Magnepan is that their speakers really need space and watts to come alive. When they do come alive, many speakers will be left behind, except for the highs and the bass wacks.

My current room is probably large enough, just, to use the Maggies but furniture placement makes it impractical. I just can't get them far away enough from the back wall where 2 to 3 feet is the practical minimum. In my previous house we had a smililar sized room to the current one but the layout was different and the Maggies were very happy there. Back then I used a Musical Fidelity B200 amp; it had 60 Watts or so per channel but it wasn't quite up to driving the Maggies as they have such a low impedance. On heavy orchestral / choral works the amp would clip at medium levels; the power supply in the particular model I had just wasn't up to the challenge. My present A3.2cr, is VERY happy with the Maggies... low impedance loads are taken in its stride as it has plenty of current available. I do get the SMGAs out for a run now and again - they are particularly good with grand piano and vocals. Top end is totally grain free too. I find the main weekness is a (slight) colouration in the upper bass / lower mid which is probably from panel resonances in the MDF surrounds. One day I'm going to modify them. One day.....

Derek

[derekrumble]

Incidentally, the B200 which eventually failed (once to often and took an expensive Kevlar driver down with it) is now used as my passive pre-amp. It's a hansom casing for a pre-amp.... I replaced the original basic, noisy and poorly balanced pot with a Mike-supplied Alps Blue 50k log. The existing rear sockets send the inputs directly to the selector switch and onwards to the volume pot (I bypassed the MC / MM section to give me an extra input). I then take the signal from the pot to a new set of sockets at the rear. The tape monitor facility remains in place too so I can use its output to feed my headphone amp... my very smart-looking B200 lives on. The case is too striking to throw away.

[Deleted]

Jul 8, 2010 10:54:49 GMT @derekrumble said:

Incidentally, the B200 which eventually failed (once to often and took an expensive Kevlar driver down with it) is now used as my passive pre-amp. It's a hansom casing for a pre-amp.... I replaced the original basic, noisy and poorly balanced pot with a Mike-supplied Alps Blue 50k log. The existing rear sockets send the inputs directly to the selector switch and onwards to the volume pot (I bypassed the MC / MM section to give me an extra input). I then take the signal from the pot to a new set of sockets at the rear. The tape monitor facility remains in place too so I can use its output to feed my headphone amp... my very smart-looking B200 lives on. The case is too striking to throw away.

Derek
That's a recipe for a lot of HF loss. You would need to use an awfully short, low capacitance interconnect to avoid considerable HF loss.
Alex

[XTRProf]

Jul 8, 2010 10:54:49 GMT @derekrumble said:

I replaced the original basic, noisy and poorly balanced pot with a Mike-supplied Alps Blue 50k log.

Good as it is the Alps pots here:





but better design has catched up in the case of DACT pots here:






URL: www.dact.com/html/attenuators.html


or GOLDPOINT pots here:







URL: www.goldpt.com/



Those pots used in our advance members SCHA will also be a big improvement over the ALPS. Those should typically be made in Taiwan but fitted with 0.1% Dale precision MF resistors. Eg here:

[derekrumble]

Jul 8, 2010 12:20:06 GMT XTRProf said:

Good as it is the Alps pots here:



but better design has catched up in the case of DACT pots here:



URL: www.dact.com/html/attenuators.html


or GOLDPOINT pots here:







URL: www.goldpt.com/



Those pots used in our advance members SCHA will also be a big improvement over the ALPS. Those should typically be made in Taiwan but fitted with 0.1% Dale precision MF resistors. Eg here:

One day something I do will meet with your approval.

The Alps pot is cost effective. It works well thanks.

Derek

[derekrumble]

Jul 8, 2010 12:19:15 GMT @sandyk said:

Jul 8, 2010 10:54:49 GMT @derekrumble said:

Incidentally, the B200 which eventually failed (once to often and took an expensive Kevlar driver down with it) is now used as my passive pre-amp. It's a hansom casing for a pre-amp.... I replaced the original basic, noisy and poorly balanced pot with a Mike-supplied Alps Blue 50k log. The existing rear sockets send the inputs directly to the selector switch and onwards to the volume pot (I bypassed the MC / MM section to give me an extra input). I then take the signal from the pot to a new set of sockets at the rear. The tape monitor facility remains in place too so I can use its output to feed my headphone amp... my very smart-looking B200 lives on. The case is too striking to throw away.

Derek
That's a recipe for a lot of HF loss. You would need to use an awfully short, low capacitance interconnect to avoid considerable HF loss.
Alex

Yeah I knows. My interconnects ARE short. The 'pre-amp' is directly above the power amp (with a ventilation gap between them) and interconnects I use sound really good - just a pair of QED Incon golds.... IIRC each lead is simply a twisted pair so capacitance is maybe not as low as it could be but it's so short at only 12 inches. HF is definately extended and far superior to my X-PreV3 active pre-amp. Interconnects from the main sources to the passive pre are also as short as they can be... custom made so they are no longer than they need to be.

D.

[XTRProf]

Jul 8, 2010 14:11:14 GMT @derekrumble said:

Jul 8, 2010 12:20:06 GMT XTRProf said:

Good as it is the Alps pots here:



but better design has catched up in the case of DACT pots here:



URL: www.dact.com/html/attenuators.html


or GOLDPOINT pots here:







URL: www.goldpt.com/



Those pots used in our advance members SCHA will also be a big improvement over the ALPS. Those should typically be made in Taiwan but fitted with 0.1% Dale precision MF resistors. Eg here:

One day something I do will meet with your approval.

The Alps pot is cost effective. It works well thanks.

Derek

Oh, don't need my approval but just to share .......... Any members can do what they wanted to do with their setups as long as they are happy with the results. Forum is about sharing and learning from each other to advance the art and science of things .......... ;D