Description

As I ponder the relative physics of space-time and try to grasp the ultimate meaning of "approaching 50 orbits around the sun", I can say with all certainty that there is at least one phenomenon I find entirely inescapable. You guessed it. The search for quality 2-channel audio playback is my own personal event horizon - with "perfect fidelity" playing the part of the nefarious singularity that threatens to destroy me (or at least disturb my finances, marriage, friendships, etc). OK, lame comparisons aside, let me tell it like it is (and has been up till now). I have been drawn to hi-fi since pre-teen years. My brother once built a pair of speakers and, at the time, I thought they were amazing... bragging to all my friends about them, etc. They weren't bad really, 2-way vented boxes as I recall - but what impressed me most was their ability to play loud without sounding horrific (not a trivial accomplishment for stab-in-the-dark home-built speakers back in the early 70s). Anyway, that set me firmly on the path such that when I could afford components myself (and always seemed to focus more on transducers than front-end gear or amplification), I started buying (and selling) like a godless heathen. Well, pretty much everything I did then and do now fits that same heathenesque description. But I digress... after farting around in my teens with Boston Acoustics, Infinity, my brothers hand-me-down speakers (yes, the ones he built), and even, don't hate me, Bose, I finally bought my first pair of "exotic" speakers circa 1982: Ohm Walsh 2. Man I loved those little truncated pyramids. Played them way too loud, way to hard, and with wildly inferior electronics (and, I'm pretty sure, too much free-falling beer way too close). I should have been executed on site. But they served their purpose well, sounded way better than almost anything my pals had (or so I kept saying to all my pals), and really helped to open my eyes to the vast majority and huge variety of quality components. They were the pair that broke the dam without question. After the Ohms, I bought a pair of used Maggie Tympani 1Ds. Good God man! I wish I only had enough floor space back then to do them justice (even though they were mind blowing in the small rooms I inhabited at the time). I paired them up with a set of matched MOSFET monoblocks that I designed and built and figured that was it. I'd done it. I'd both created and entered my little hifi nirvana-singularity. Done. But wait... then I heard the Apogee Duettas and, after that little virtual myocardial-infarction, realized that perhaps my Maggie enabled nirvana wasn't the end-all after-all. I stealthily obtained a pair of Duetta Signatures, enjoying wave after crashing wave of temporal and spatial coherency. There I stood, firm (OK, double entendre is suitable here) for many months in my belief that (for my budget anyway) there was no topping my setup. I had advanced to the end of the asymptote (at least wrt transducers). Then I heard a pair of Martin Logan Aerius in San Diego (and sure, they were driven by some serious gear, with select recordings, in a treated room... I knew it was the whole system, not just the speakers), but regardless, I was hooked on stats. Not even the Maggies (IMHO) could match the transparency and tangibility I heard through the Aerius. I then made the mistake of visiting a similarly "disturbed" friend who happened to have a pair of classic CLS speakers driven by a thorens table and some s.e. triodes. Good God man! Wha? How'd? You can't! I never! and so on. Beyond magic (at least in what they did right). So began my love affair with Martin Logan. People will argue, as they inevitably did and do, that ML sound "plasitcy" or the just don't blend well with low end augmentation (which until recently, I would have to agree with) - but I will say this: Never has a friend ever visited me here in the dedicated 2-channel chamber/shrine/alter and been anything less than blown-away by the relative excellence of any of my past ML transducers. Suffice it to say that after having listened to Sequels and SL3s for a while, I always felt like I was most "at home". I even took a side trip to Maggie 3.6r land... loved them, but they just never completely stole my heart (although that 48" ribbon tweeter still has to be one of the most amazing bits of hifi techno-wizardry on planet earth). Not to appear anything less than level-headed, I even revisited boxville... trying on a pair of mighty Sonus Faber Amati Homage.... eh... not worth the money. And following that, a pair of Gallo 3.1 Refs, different, pretty good even, but still "ain't planar". So why did I drag you kicking and screaming through such a neurotic "this is your hi-fi life"? Because I think history is important in order to truly understand anyone's position (on just about anything) they are involved with. Thus we come to the present. My system as described here is anything but virtual. The Summit X speakers are jaw-dropping (with truly outstanding low-end integration). The Bel-Canto MkII amps are uncanny. The MCD301 is wildly analogue sounding for a CD player. The cables, power conditioning, racks etc are all based more on logical technology/physics decisions than any voodoo (there are no stones or hallograph tridents to be seen). You want to hear how glorious this setup sounds? Well, you can't really, unless you happen to know me - and I invite you - assuming you bring an excellent Pinot Noir... but that's beside the point. If you have really good computer speakers, I invite you to listen to this youtube clip where someone posted a video of a pair of ML CLX speakers "reliving" the aural experience of a track "French Carol" from the awesome SACD "Cantate Domino" (Proprius - PRSACD 7762). Wow! (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-iKjqIadSI)... now, we can all agree it's impossible to get a sense of a given system's performance by listening to the audio portion of a youtube clip... but something about this clip does remind me of the transcendent effortlessness of my system as it sound currently. Having said all this, I'm now obviously enchanted by the full-range CLX offering... but until I can figure out how to upgrade to that level of heaven, the current system will just have to do. Cheers to all!

UPDATE: CLX's have arrived, also changed many of the components. There is absolutely no question that the sound this system creates is the highest fidelity I've ever had the good fortune to hear. Thanks for looking :)
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Components Toggle details

    • Oppo BDP-93
    Enables playback of SACD with internal conversion from DSD to 24/88.2 LPCM
    • Martin Logan CLX ART
    Full Range Electrostat
    • PS Audio PPP
    Power Plant Premier
    • MapleShade Samson V.3
    two tiered V.3 with independent maple platforms (w/isoblocks and brass weights) for each component
    • White Zombie Audio El Chupacabra
    1 meter length matched pair - solid single strand silver connecting D/A to Power Amps
    • Morrow Audio SP6 Grand Reference
    2 meter matched pair
    • LessLoss DFPC
    Custom length DFPS power cables for all components
    • W4S DAC2
    State of the Art DAC with SABRE 32 d/a
    • Olive 04HD
    Wireless Hi-Res Music Server with 2G HDD
    • ModWright KWA150SE
    Two amps, each bridged to mono - 600W/ch

Comments 50

So your going solidstate for the CLX ? How did you go about matching amps with the logans?

kwa69

Owner
Thanks Jimbojrjb !

tsv_1

Owner
Kwa69 mentioned he'd like to hear the system... best I can do is to accommodate would be this youtube iPhone vid I made a few weeks ago. Cheers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekN-kcOVYIY&feature=channel_video_title

-

tsv_1

Glorious tubes and Martin Logans! Very nice!

jimbojrjb

Owner
Thanks Vernneal!

tsv_1

Owner
Dcrugby: Yes, thanks... one of my all time favs as well.

tsv_1

Owner
Thanks Kwa for the kind words. I've actually since sold the Summit-Xs and graduated to a pair of CLX. I can tell you that the PrimaLuna tube amps sounded downright miraculous with the Summits - but the marriage of tubes and CLX is unlike anything I've ever heard before. The only problem now is that the CLX are so ridiculously honest and transparent, that you can literally hear everything the amps do to the signal... and unfortunately, 70W/ch is just not enough power to properly drive these speakers. So, as it stands today, I've traded in my PL amps and preamp toward a pair of ModWright KWA-150SE amps (should be taking delivery within the next 2 weeks). The ModWrights preserve the tube-like midrange but add tons of extension up top and all the authority and control down bottom that tube gear can sometimes have a little trouble with. Once the new amps arrive, I'll take some shots and update this posting.

Thanks again!

tsv_1

Your system looks great wish i could listen to it. How do like the SUMMITS with the tube monos and not solidstate monos ? Everyone tells me tubes are better on ML . I am helping a friend put together a ML system with CLS IIz and a pair of REL subs im not 100% on what monos to tell him to get solidstate or tubes. Your system looks amazing with the tube monos.

kwa69

Nicely done

vernneal

love the raphael.

dcrugby

Your system is a visual masterpiece. I've only seen a few other systems so thoroughly and well executed--minimalist in the best sense of the word. I can only imagine the sound--ENJOY!!!

stipwu

Owner
System edited: Dear Aud_fellows, Just a quick note to describe recent system modifications. First, I've included new pics of the system after having installed the PimaLuna Dialogue 7 tube monoblocks... which are astoundingly articulate. These are waaaay up on the value chart. Their ability to unveil the minutest inner goings-on of pretty much any music I play back has got me all wrapped around the axle (in a good way). While I will also soon be swapping out the MAC player for a music server, I felt it only reasonable to include pics of the interim system. I will update again once the server is installed. As I've stated before in this thread, I'm still coming to grips with migrating from the Summit X to the CLX. Wish me luck on that potential transition. I want to thank everyone for commenting so far as well. I do appreciate the input and feedback... keep'em coming, the more the merrier! Cheers

tsv_1

Owner
Hi Airegin,

Thanks for the kind comment. And believe me, not a day goes by that I don't count myself fortunate to be able to dabble in this hobby. It's like anything really, if you genuinely love something, you find a way to engage and make it work for you. Of course with the first of three kids headed off to college within the year, my dabbling may be taking a back-seat for a while (which is why I'm going full-bore now to put together the system I know I'll be reasonably content with for the next several years). Anyway, good luck to you in all areas.

Cheers,

TSV_1

tsv_1

Owner
Hi Verneal,

Thanks. To your question on the weights and other brass bling, I find the MCD301 chassis top plate to be remarkably (and frustratingly given this caliber of equipment) thin and prone to vibration. The weights completely eliminate that issue.Does it sound better? Maybe it's psychological, but to me, yes... it's better with the weights. I've never heard the Meridian, so can't compare notes there, but I did own a Wadia 860x for quite a while and, if my audio memory serves me at all, the MCD301 provides a more accurate musical presentation. Of course the other gear in my system has evolved since the Wadia, so it's not apples to apples. Anyway, if I weren't planning on migrating to an Olive HD music server, I would absolutely hang on to the MCD301. It has been a wonderful front-end since the first day it arrived. But, as it stands now, I have the MCD301 posted in the classifieds on Agon. Now, back to more nail biting on whether or not to upgrade my Summit X to CLX, uhg!

Regards,

TSV_1

tsv_1

Lovely setup. A direction I'd probably go if I wasn't so broke.

bgeofft

Can you REALLY yell the difference with the weights and tip toe like feet on the MCintosh CD player. I have one and it sounds a little dull compaired to my 20 year old Meridian 506 16 bit outdated player(which is now gone)
I want to like the Mc better the Meridian had a more 3D sound and highs were better to my ears. I am still dialing it in and testing different ic cables.

vernneal

The best systems are those that have evolved. Congrats. And the Mac player is sweet

vernneal

Owner
System edited: Hey Guys... just updated my system with PrimaLuna Dialogue 7 tube amps... Holy inner-detail and never-before-heard-microdymanimcs Batman! Will add pics and initial observations when I get a chance. Cheers, -TSV_1

tsv_1

Enjoy thanks for setting up the mood
I think I will put on some Franz Richter as well

musicfile

Owner
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Musicfile - I appreciate the kind words. Yes, I should add a few more pics to show the other half of the room which is indeed very confortable... it's an above-the-garage affair appx 24' x 26' with a 12' cathedral ceiling sloping all the way down to 2' kneewalls. Plenty of cubic volume for the Summit X to sparkle and shine, as they do.
Listening to a little Franz Xaver Richter as I write this (Naxos 8.557818) - considered a contemporary of Mozart, although he wrote these symphonies before Mozart's birth... FWIW.

Cheers,

-Todd

tsv_1

Nice system
I love the room it looks like a nice place to sit down and enjoy the music Congrats !!

musicfile

Owner
Thanks for the kind comments - and you are so right Cio52 about taking the time to relax and really enjoy the music... as I type this the sun is low in the western sky, the air is crisp with just a light breeze, and I just finished listening to Esteban Salas (Baroque Cantatas from Santiego de Cuba - JADE 64135/91012-2) - if you enjoy baroque even a little and don't mind the occasional cantata, I highly recommend you check out any of the works of Salas on the JADE label. Amazing stuff recorded in Havana in ther late 1990s. The acoustical space is magnificent!

Kind regards and enjoy!

tsv_1

Beautiful system Tsv_1. I like to read/know how someone has reached this point with their opening article. You've done a great job relating your experience and assembling your system. I believe when the light is dim and you are relaxing in front of this system the enjoyment, peace, and relief from stress it gives will add years to your life. Listen every day!

cio52

Owner
Gracias Gadman - I appreciate the kind comments and your tolerance of my, well let's face it, UNforgivable close-encounter with Bose. I stopped by to view your system as well. Some really beautiful classic equipment there. Nice job. Enjoy!

tsv_1

Great stuff bro. I seldom take the time to read such lengthy bio's but yours is truly entertaining. Love the part about the Bose mistake. Admire your system for it's simplicity and value. They say the type of dog people own reflects their own perception of self image but I believe you can say the same about one's own hi-fi. Congrats on finally(for the time being at least)reaching "nirvana".

gadmanrdh

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