Description

I play a little piano and used to play alto sax and clarinet. I have season tickets to the symphony and patronize our local jazz and blues scene. I'm familiar with live music. In a past life I was a radio engineer. These experiences gave me an appreciation of good, emotionally-charged music reproduction as well as the enabling technology. My music interests run from classical to jazz, blues, and other stuff (rock, folk, funk, electronica, etc). Favorites include Michelangeli, Argerich, Furtwangler, Montoya, Piazzolla, Melvin Taylor, Junior Wells, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Brubeck, Jeff Beck, Stanley Turrentine, Santana, the Doors, Zeppelin, Groove Armada, etc., depending on mood.

The evolution of this system centered around the loudspeakers. Prior to this setup, I owned and heard a variety of speakers: Apogee ribbons, Vandersteen, Nola, Wilsons, Devore, Verity, Quad, Focal, Sonus Faber, vintage and contemporary Tannoys, Avantgarde, Lowther, and many more. After experiencing a properly implemented multi-way horn system there was no turning back. My epiphany was hearing Josh's Electronluv system at VSAC, later followed by Romy's Macondo. My current speakers were Edgarhorns acquired in 2005, and have evolved with the addition of a new upper-bass channel and a pair of Danley tapped horns for ULF. Naturally, the crossover was updated with the addition of the new channels. Still to accomplish is fabricating 1/4 wavelength mid-bass horns to replace the Edgar 80hz horn.

HF

> 8850hz Fostex T900A

MF

1000 - 8850hz JBL 2441 in 350hz tractrix horn

Upper Bass / Low Mids

280 - 1000hz Faital M5N12-80 5" driver in 142hz tractrix horn built by John Hasquin

Mid Bass

80 - 300hz EVM-15L woofers in Edgar 80hz straight horns

Sub Bass

At this level, the complexity increases and my focus is properly integrating the speakers, drivers, amplifiers and crossovers. My efforts are built on the experience and support of horn pioneers who were generous in sharing their knowledge with me (Dr. Bruce Edgar, John Hasquin, Steve Schell and Rich Drysdale, Romy, Jeffrey Jackson, and others).

Listening room is 16' x 18'. Like all systems, this one has weaknesses. It's large, tweeky, geeky, interferes with non-audio pursuits, and there's less social interaction. I have met new friends through audio. Thanks to all who shared in this journey!
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Components Toggle details

    • 構えの大きい主要主題 (A Majestic Theme) Loudspeakers
    English: A Majestic Theme 5-way speaker system ~ 107dB sensitivity First-order crossovers Alnico magnets Time aligned HF: Fostex T900A horn tweeter MF: JBL 2441 (NOS) compression driver, 350Hz tractrix Edgarhorn Lower MF: 5" Faital M5N12-80 in 142 Hz round Tractrix horn (courtesy John Hasquin) Mid-Bass: using Edgar 80hz straight horns and EV-15 woofers Sub Bass: Danley Sound Labs TH-SPUD
    • Danley Sound Labs TH-SPUD subs (pair)
    Stereo pair with dual 8" drivers per tapped horn
    • Lamm Industries ML-2 (> 75hz)
    Driving mains
    • Bryston 4B-ST (< 80hz)
    Dedicated power for Danley ULF channels
    • Lamm Industries L-1
    Sublime-sounding tube-eating linestage
    • Velodyne SMS-1 ULF processor
    Sub bass processor
    • Micro Seiki SX-8000 Turntable
    200 lb. turntable with 45 lb air-suspended platter and high speed inertia flywheel.
    • SME 3012R / Ortofon SPU-85 Limited (Stereo)
    SME 12" arm and limited edition SPU for stereo.
    • Micro Seiki MAX-282 / Ortofon SPU Mono (Mono)
    For mono LP playback
    • EAR 834PT (Thorsten-ized) Phono Stage
    Circuit mods and parts selection courtesy Thorsten Loesch
    • Sony SCD-1
    SACD player used as transport
    • Museatex BiDat Plus DAC (modified)
    Ed Meitner design DAC, with upgrades by John Wright.
    • Purist Audio Design Dominus (ICs and speaker wires)
    Pain to use due to ridiculous size, weight, and stiffness. Wonderful colorful tone and extended sound, effortless dynamics, with weight and texture. Anti-hifi.
    • PurePower APS PurePower 2000+
    In line power regenerator
    • Solidsteel H-5
    Welded steel equipment stand

Comments 153

Owner
System edited: My tuner is not as reliable as it once was, and I want to listen to FM on the big rig, so I decided to get another tuner. There is too much great music on the airwaves to go without. We have a nice classical station in Seattle, KING FM, and some public radio with nice jazz, as well as a great alternative station (KEXP). Expecting a mint Mcintosh MR-74 that was aligned last year to arrive soon, and looking forward to plugging it in. I guess that this tuner choice is consistent with my theme of combining interesting contemporary and vintage gear together for results that please me.

skushino

Owner
System edited: new pics

skushino

Owner
System edited: I'm finished for awhile. The music is great, and my job is busier than ever.

skushino

I love this system..the horns and the fact that you have a Qualiton LP playing...most people like to show off their TT with RCA/Mercury/MFSL when taking pics...great job.

jsujo

Owner
System edited: I'm done now.

skushino

Owner
System edited: Updated system description

skushino

.
Scott,
.
You need to post more mountain top photos.
.
Rgds,
Larry
.

cello

Owner
System edited: Updated pictures.

skushino

Owner
System edited: Sold Lamm L2 and replaced with Lamm L1 preamp. L2 has some (sound and mechanical) issues that I've discussed before. Overall, the sound is agreeable, but I wanted a one-chassis product. Lamm (the man) told me the L1/ L2 circuits are virtually identical, so I am giving the L1 a chance. The circuits may be identical, but there are many implementation differences - 1 vs 2 chassis, controls, etc. The sound is similar, with the L1 being very slightly warmer, and probably a little less transparent. So far so good.

skushino

Owner
System edited: Added Audio Technica SS-300 platter mat

skushino

.
Scott,
.
I have been thinking of getting a super tweeter. Please let us know what your new tweeter does for your system.
.
Rgds,
Larry
.

cello

Owner
System edited: added Fostex T900A super tweeters, 8R impedence, 5-38kHz, 106dB sensitivity. Crossed over at 20kHz.

skushino

Owner
Larry-
You have shared your experience with many people here, and I appreciate your comment.

It's been a long journey, and today I'm about as far as could be from the original high-power low-efficiency set-up. It's been tons of fun!

skushino

Owner
Kleonard-
Well, you may be right. The transport is the only part of the system that I haven't experimented with. I'll have to get smarter on this. Thanks for your input.

skushino

.
Scott,
.
Great system and it's been a nice evolution to observe.
.
Congratulations on taking your time and thinking through a nicely integrated system. Love the direction you are headed. It's been fun watching your decisions.
.
Rgds,
Larry
.

cello

I have the DVP-9000ES also, and it is a horribly sounding transport. Believe it or not you could do better with a Denon DCM-370 ($300) cd player as a transport. If I were you I would experiment with better transports for cd playback. If your cd playback sounds so good now imagine how it will sound with a better transport. I use a Meridian 500, which is better than both, but I A/B ed the DVP-9000ES with the $300 DCM 370 (used $100) and it was no contest, the DVP-9000ES is that bad, (its very harsh and slow). Just a suggestion for something you might want to think about.

kleonard

Owner
System edited: Added Lamm L1 preamp to system. The L2 does wonderful things to playback. The sense of acoustic space, instrument scale and location, humanizing voice and "anti-electronic" signature is a treat. But there are some idiosyncracies about L2 playback that bother me. Specifically, the L2 has an upward tonal balance and a slight but noticable compression of dynamic range. Also, two full-size chassis is impractical. I want to evaluate the L1 in the hopes of retaining the L2 goodness, while addressing its problems.

skushino

Owner
System edited: Added EAR 834P phono corrector.

skushino

Owner
Oldiesrecordstr - thank you very much. Are you a record dealer?
scott

skushino

Owner
Sirspeedy - thanks for your nice comment, although sometimes I do have a BAD attitude ;-) Contact me when you come to Seattle, and we can arrange that listening session. I am sure we would have a blast...
scott

skushino

HI
Your system is super ++++++++

oldiesrecordstr

Skushino,what a wonderful attitude,and approach to the hobby you have.I'm sure a good listening session with you would be a blast.Only,I'll stay off the "bluffs"!!I don't like heights,other than in frequency!

[email protected]

Owner
System edited: Updated pictures

skushino

Scott,
We're getting the Khorns in a few weeks. Enjoy those Edgars
Howard

boa2

Owner
Howard, first impressions posted. Having fun and always learning. This is like an advanced course in speaker design and room acoustics. It takes some effort to get everything together.

How's the K-horns? Are you listening to them yet???

skushino

Showing 101 - 125 of 153 posts