I just switched from a two-way monitor (nearfield setup) to the Alons. This was a major upgrade. The Alons are so musical. They seem to just get out of the way and let the music through. They disappear all the time. Carl is a genius. Next move before adding a turntable will be to acquire a set of Acarian's Black Orpheus biwire speaker cables. In all the Alon reviews I've read, the reviewers end up prefering Carl's speaker cables with Alons to anything else they have, even the esoterics.
Vpi Scout with TNT Mark IV bearing and aluminum/lead/acrylic platter upgrade
VPI Industries JMW-9
Includes the dropped counterweight option.
Dynavector XX-1
MC, 2.0 mV
Aragon 47K
phonostage
Reference Line Audio Preeminence 1A
passive device, dual mono attenuators
Valve Amplification Company PA-160
mkII version, 160w x 1, mono pair
Alon Model I mkII
8in woof, 4.5in mid, .75in twtr, 120 lbs
Harmonic Technology Truth-Link
1m, locking RCA's, throughout entire system, except between tt and phono pre.
VPI Tonearm Cable
Designed to sonically complement the JMW Series of tonearms.
Acarian Systems Black Orpheus Biwires
These cables were designed for Alon speakers. The low-frequency cable is a coaxial design with solid core oxygen-free silver clad copper conductors. The mid-high frequency cable is a uni-axial design with a mixture of multistrand oxygen-free copper and silver-clad oxygen-free copper in the same bundle. Effective gauge is 13 a.w.g.
Moon Audio Green Dragon
4' pc, powers the Meridian 506.20
Virtual Dynamics Power Three
6 pc, original version (not the new cryogenically treated), one for each VAC PA-160 mkII
Tice Audio MBF-3
dual polarity outlets, 8 total
AudioPrism Quietline
Passive parallel filters plugged into spare outlets in listening room.
Vantage Point Euro
4 shelf base unit with 1 add-on shelf
VTI amp stands
Decent amp stands for the money. I might replace the Vantage Point rack with full VTI.
Mpingo cones
3 cones used to isolate the Meridian 506.20
Yugoslavian hockey pucks
My system rack and amp racks are sitting on these (all spiked though). Only my speakers are directly coupled to the floor.
The Mk IIA sounds more interesting to me. I can't get used to the long wall idea. When I walk into a long wall set up room, I feel like I need to leave. Fengshui? Or something like that. Also, when I had my large Krell system in my long narrow room, I felt like I wanted to leave all the time. Even when the music sounded good. And it didn't matter which way the equipment was set up.
Hi Creeper, 'Upgrading' to Mk III? Then I wouldn't be interested in them. The MK IIs are my dream amps. But maybe it is only a dream because for now I'm unemployed, though I do have some funds. Oh, I bet your Alons are keepers too! What size is your new room and what is the improvement over the smaller room? How much smaller was the small room?
I see from the pictures that these VAC amps are the PA160 MK IIs. Are you still using these? Are you thinking of selling them to upgrade? Please let me know when you list them on Audiogon if you do.
