Hey rman9,

snopro July 05, 2023 01:55

Hey pdreher sorry for the late response. 

snopro May 17, 2023 19:57

Thx Jason really enjoy listening to music through this set-up!

snopro April 22, 2022 23:53

cfarrow,

snopro January 16, 2020 23:50

Thanks Charles! The Zu's with the newer FRD are wonderful speakers, especially for the money.

snopro April 18, 2016 18:08

Hi hic and jetrexpro, The HFC's are wonderful so clear, open, and natural sounding.

snopro March 23, 2016 20:39

System upgrade: I sold my Druid V and Undertone sub for a pair of Horning Eufrodite Ellipse speakers. Needs lots of brake-in but, sounds very good so far.

snopro February 12, 2016 20:49

Thank you Tom for your kind words. I'm really enjoying music thru this set-up. Your system must give you much joy. Wonderful components, those Total Reference Speakers must sound unbelievable with your excellent choice of components.

Best,
Joe

snopro June 22, 2015 18:22

Hi Tom,
Actually, I use The Sistrum apprentice bases for my Franks with very good results. The SRA bases are excellent also. I'm using them for my SACD player and phonostage. They cost more money and are made specifically for that component.

Both work great, really couldn't compare because the SRA are made for the weight distribution of the component it's made for.

Sorry, if I couldn't be of more help.
Joe

snopro June 22, 2015 15:00

Dmarkov, thanks for the kind words. The SRA and Sistrum both improve the components that sit on them. Which ones work better? I don't know, because the SRA are made specifically for that component it sits on, so I didn't compare.

Yes those are Apprentice platforms under the Franks. They definitely need a few days to settle in. When I first placed them in the tonal balance leaned out a bit, but came back with tighter bass ,better dynamics, and inner detail.

snopro June 11, 2015 21:54

Charles,
I was using the Takatsuki's. I ordered the Elrogs but TubesUSA (George) send them to my old address. The Post Office is forwarding them to my new address. It's been almost a month, hopefully they will arrive this week.

Looking forward to hearing them in the Franks, especially that you and Brownsfan think so highly of them.

snopro May 31, 2015 02:47

Hey Dave,
It was a pleasure to meet you. We had a good day of tunes. Those Classical pieces were very nice.

Thanks for coming by, hopefully I'll get a chance to here your system.

snopro May 31, 2015 02:33

Isochronism,
That pairing must sound wonderful! It's funny after all these years with
mutli-driver speakers & high powered complicated amps going back to
simpler circuits and speakers just sound more natural and enjoyable,
IMHO!

snopro December 12, 2014 15:22

Thanks Isochronism,
Do you mean with the back of my head facing the opening, if so no. That would put one of the speakers in the entrance from the staircase.
Maybe one day I'll try the speakers set-up firing from the open loft side.
Right now I'm getting very good sound. The right speaker is 6.5' from the side wall.

Joe

snopro December 11, 2014 19:08

Thanks Charles! The soundstage is huge when it is in the recording and bass is really good.
Evan, stop the excuses and come over with Esther when you have some free time.

snopro December 09, 2014 15:40

System edited: New room added. Much bigger then my old room. The Soundstage is huge with great width, height and layered depth.

snopro December 08, 2014 01:18

Thesaint519,
Thanks, I took a look at your system very nice. Your Lamm's and Wilson must be a wonderful combo.

snopro September 12, 2014 21:04

Charles,
I replaced the white Solen caps that connect to the 6em7 tube socket. I'm not sure the value, but I think they are .47uf 630v caps. I still didn't unpack from the move, once I do I'll make sure.
The new caps fit with no problem. Yes, they are worth the change. I got 20% off when they were on sale. I think they cost $166 for a pair.
It's a simple swap, so you can always go back to the Solens.

Give them about 200 hrs. of break-in before you decide. They sound a little closed-in out of the box.

Let me know your thoughts, if you go for it.

Best,
Joe

snopro September 11, 2014 16:24

Hi Charles,

I'm mostly using the Takatsuki tubes. I did put the EML's back in a couple months ago. They are excellent. The Takatsuki's have that purity which are very enticing.

I changed the coupling caps to Jupiter copper foils. The change wasn't drastic, but the tone impoved and the highs are more open and sweeter.

I moved to a new home last week and haven't set-up my room yet. The new room is a loft and much larger. Hopefully, the sound will be even better with a more expansive soundstage!

The Apprentice at first leaned out the tonal balance or so I thought. After a few days of settling and ears adjusting fine detail become easier to hear and bass became more articulate and tighter.

Best,
Joe

snopro September 07, 2014 15:38

System edited: added Star Sound Technologies Apprentice platforms for my
Franks and Takatsuki TA-300b tubes.

snopro March 17, 2014 22:19

Islandmandan,

You have a wonderful system as well. Can you tell me what the difference is with the retip?

snopro March 07, 2014 08:27

Thanks Jeff, you have an awesome system and beautiful big room. I wish my room was bigger.
Actually my room is on a cement slab, so couldn't use real wood. The Armstrong
laminate is very nice and does look like real wood.

snopro February 28, 2014 21:01

Hi Franks,
I really like the Purepower. It doesn't restrict dynamics with my amps. It really cleans up the incoming power. Excellent black background and grain free sound.

snopro December 11, 2013 02:57

Thanks, Early.

snopro June 30, 2013 13:20

Hi Early,
Can you tell me at what frequency you are crossing the Undertone to the Druids at?
Thanks,
Joe

snopro June 26, 2013 23:20

Hey Tbromgard,
The light is from Ikea. It is a led with a flexible neck. Don't remember the model #, but there are a lot to choose from.

snopro June 25, 2013 12:12

Hi Charles,
I heard the Zu Def. IV's at a Zu party in New Jersey. I heard their potential in that set-up. Most full range drivers of years past always had a shouty or peaky sound to them, which I didn't like.
These Zu's were different, so after reading the long post about the Druid V's and Def. IV's I took the plunge. I'm happy I did!
The Undertone sub really fills out the bottom end & mates seamlessly with the Druids. This is the best bass I ever had in my room! Fast, tight, deep, with wonderful detail and texture.
I will try some tube amps also. I ordered a Decware Torii III. I read it has some qualities of Set amps in the mids and treble, but bass like a PP.
The built time is around 3 months. We shall see.

Joe

snopro June 24, 2013 18:35

System edited: I went the hi-efficient low wattage route.
Went with Zu Audio Druid V and Undertone sub speakers. I
changed the amp to a First Watt J2. The sound is
fast,lively,dynamic,transparent,with a nice tonal
balance.The soundstage is wide and has nice layered depth.
I'm happy with the results.

snopro June 23, 2013 02:11

Hi Ira,
I changed the caps in the power supply to oil caps also put in two custom chokes. I changed the transformers,output caps,resistors, tube sockets,rca sockets.
I also changed the volume control to a Dact resistor attenuator.

All these changes really brought the sound to a different level.

snopro May 05, 2012 17:41

Hi Milpai,
Those triangle pieces are echo buster corner traps.
Thanks, the room is a relaxing place to listen to music.

snopro March 29, 2012 03:33

Yes Kevin, He stop for a while, but started making preamps again last I heard.

snopro March 22, 2012 20:33

Hi G,
It's been a while, but the Gran Corona was a little more fleshed out on my SACD player. The Lessloss is a very good cord. Just had better synergy with the Sablon.

snopro March 22, 2012 20:30

thanks,will try diffusers in the future.
Yes, I have panels on the first reflection points on the ceiling.

snopro December 30, 2011 01:59

Hi Bob,

I like it very much. Built quality is top notch and the sound is detailed and smooth. I personally don't think the sound is warm per say. I think it is musicially
engaging and just sounds natural.

snopro February 29, 2008 20:21

I had an Aleph 5 which was an excellent amp, but ran very hot and ran out of steam on loud dynamic swings. So I needed an amp with more power and I read about the Spectron on various forums and e-mags. I talked to John at Spectron and purchased the Musician II, which sounded very good only lacking the aleph 5 midrange magic.
Once the Musician III came out I upgraded. The amp was all around better then the II. The amp is neutral and transparent any changes up stream are easily heard. With a good tube pre-amp and NOS tubes you can tailor the sound to your liking , the synergy is awesome!
Don't listen to the Absolute Sound saying Class D treble isn't good. I think the Spectron's treble can compare to some of the very best out there. Listen for yourself and you be the judge.

snopro December 08, 2007 23:33

Thanks, Tympani I am sending the Spectron for the SE mod and I purchased a twin synergy 30 in walnut, looks much better and more stable with a lower height.

snopro December 08, 2007 15:34