HI , sorry for my late response... Dynavector is great but not easy to make sound out of "the lady"... I found a 13x transformer and 75k impedance the bset for her... The titan is probably easier .... Very detailed and if not properly matched may seem acid... A lot of break in is required and match with the right arm (Optimum in my experience is the Dynavector 507)...
For great cartridges one principle is always valis... A lot of patience and trials to find the right set of partners to make them sound right.. Sometimes the easiest way is to have the matching transformer.. Hope this helps

marco_esposito June 14, 2015 16:36

Hi Jeff... To be honest is probably to soon to say... BUT I feel like they are belonging really to the next level. The music comes to you more effortlessy but at the same time with much more energy on all the spectrum... I have never been so happy even the speakers are barely 20 hrs on them... I am sure, based on the experience with the Violon that 6 months from now all the fluidity will be there and the bass will become deeper and less rubbery... But it is aleady extremely good... I will work hard to take the best out of them. But I know they are great.

marco_esposito September 01, 2014 13:41

System edited: Many year to get to this point.... and Many months in front to set it up as needed!

marco_esposito August 29, 2014 08:02

System edited: Recently upgraded in several aspects: 1) Atlas Speakers took Violon place 2) Viola amplifier 3) 3 arms on the AC Raven 4) Dynavector and MiYajima cartridges 5) 3 motors and heavy platter on the Raven ( now is Black Night configured 6) Air suspension foot Still working on the set up, but already very happy for what i hear

marco_esposito August 29, 2014 06:27

System edited: Atlas Speakers took place in my set-up

marco_esposito August 28, 2014 15:26

Edit:
Change to the system: Changed Arm to Ikeda 407
Changed Cartridges: Now Miyajima Kansui; Shindo SPU; Jan Allaerts Boron
Added step-up Miyajima
Added Einstein The turntable choice Balanced

Getting better and better

marco_esposito December 23, 2013 21:51

HI, yes I am working on the 12" SCHICK arm and is coming in few weeks. My first plan are to have the ZYX on the TW arm and the Zu audio 103 on the Schick. I will work as next step on upgrading the cartridges. The first thing however is to learn about the arms with Cartridges I know the behaviour of. I am planning fo MiYajima Kansui but also thinkong of Orofon.. The problem is that the new Anna costs a lot!

marco_esposito February 28, 2013 02:10

Alan, I couldn't agree more..The recording is for me the number one variable... AND I was fortunate enought to work as studio sound engineer 20 years past... And so your point is well taken and shared.. You inspire me to pubblish my expereience with great recordings as well... Just wanted to let you know that I was bit boried with D. Krall, but I just bought the LP you recommended... I will tell you how it sounds in my listening room... Say more... suggest more...

marco_esposito February 06, 2013 06:40

System edited: Exploring now on 2 fronts: analog set up and liquid streaming.. On both fronts very interesting results..

marco_esposito January 22, 2013 21:48

System edited: Sound Laboratory here.... Happy to share my experience over the last 12 months.. Levinson 333 has been replaced by OTL GRAAF MONOS... Basis changed with TW acoustics Raven and EMT 950... Other changes coming.. Stay tuned

marco_esposito January 19, 2013 17:28

thanks for your comments. The system has evolved a lot..To your point Alan, I agree. I have been working in the 80's in recording studio... and Yes I agree.. Records quality is probably the most important variable into the chain...
I will pubblish my list of records og great sound (less than 10% of my collection.
I will also update you on where is my system now... In brief everythng has changed...Einstein Preamp, TW acoustics Turntable and in a few days Einstein Phono coming... I will come back and update the team here...
After one year with Acapella... I can really say they are fantastic...!

marco_esposito January 19, 2013 09:29

System edited: System changes. Preamp, Final Amp and cables

marco_esposito June 20, 2012 06:39

Update: Quite significant changes over the last months. The Acapella forced me to change many things to get the best out of them.
1) I did change the Premaplifier: from ARC Ref3 to Einstein the Preamp
2) The cables from Pre and amp is now Acapella la Musika
3) The cables to the speakers is now Acapella la Musika
I hope to have the time to descibe you the several things I discovered through those changes.

One think I want to anticipate: In case of you will decide to go for the Einstein Preamp, please be aware that Stock tubes are penalizing the pre A LOT. Make sure you change the input tubes with serios nos. The changes are HUGE (beyond what I thought).

marco_esposito March 12, 2012 13:42

Hello.

I loved the Thiel quite much... Throught the experience with JBL I discovered however they were too mkuch on HIFi sound and that for my taste I was looking for something more bold and close to the live music.. The Acapella is the answear I found.. Yes they are very different and much closer to the real sound I have as my goal..
The Esoteric was bought for the SACD and DVD audio, but I think I will sell it soon since I probably have less that 30 hrs on it..

marco_esposito January 09, 2012 14:48

System edited: Acapella Violon SubOctave

marco_esposito November 20, 2011 18:33

system edited: small tweak I want to share: I have put wood base under the speakers. Great results. The Speakers look like matching better the room resonances now. Bass is more deep and solid and mid-high sweeter!

marco_esposito March 11, 2009 08:00

Hello Hillyau: On the ref Phono I have got JJ tesla on all ECC88. The 5AR4 is a Sovtek (I know...this one should be a telefunken!) and the 6L6 is GE.

marco_esposito March 06, 2009 22:22

Trank,
Thank you for sharing. The last trial I have done has been with Vrtual Dynamics and I'm impressed by the results especially in terms of Dynamics. Still My taste is with Synergistic.. So I would Agree with your approach. The problem is that now I'm almost convinced to try MAGNEPLANAR 20.1 as next step...Before i do that any suggestion from Goners will be much appreciated. Marco

marco_esposito March 06, 2009 22:21

thanks. I'm going to try many things next week. Stay Tuned

marco_esposito February 06, 2009 20:10

Yes among the rest the treatment is the effort that paid back the most. And i do not like much the big cilinders!

marco_esposito February 06, 2009 15:34

System edited: just added DSS 3K filter on evrything but the Amplifier. Huge difference in terms of details and image depth (forward and backward). Very happy about the results. Congratulation to Martin Dillenhöfer for his products. it Worthed the efforts

marco_esposito February 06, 2009 15:33

Agreed. Without the treatment, the room was really not singing. I still need some carpets around to improve. But among all other things I have done, probably treatment gave the best Return of the effort

marco_esposito February 06, 2009 02:34

Thanks. Stay tuned,..I'm trying Virtual Dynamics next week and will report the outcome.

marco_esposito February 05, 2009 01:08

Thanks for your words. I moved in this room 1 year ago and discovered some of the limitations you are talking about. In the smaller room I was in before the speakers did magic; in the current one I miss some weight in the bass. I'm working on cables to fix this since I really do not want to part from my beloved CS6. I will keep you posted on the results. About the JBL everest, i simply found them breathtaking....BUT i did not listen to them in My room...And so I can't say if they would make a step forward. For now I enjoy making ny system better and better ...

marco_esposito February 02, 2009 22:08

thanks David. I'm woorking these days to the AC conditioning. I will post my findings.

marco_esposito January 20, 2009 10:06