System edited: Get rid of the mirror behind the speakers. replaced the audio agile clear 3f with the vibex + reference filter. Also added the Esp Essence power chord to the vibex filter. Never knew how much power connections could do, I like it !!
Before the forsell i had a ensemble combination (dichrono+dac). The forsell is much more like analog in combination with the jadis js2. No i never had problems with it, there's a cdm-9 pro in it.
I've seen that you are using Shakti Hallograph Soundfield Optimizer and the rfa 78i devices, can you tell me more about it ?
The Cat has very much 'power' it mates well, Cat is neutral, strong point of the Avalons are their midrange. The combination works very well. Most speakers i heard are to much hi-fi, i'm looking for music, look at the comments of sir speedy (his english is better than mine ;-)
People say often that the Avalon Ascents lacks deep bass, i think it has to do with the combination from the amplifier, I don't need more bass.
Tweaking of a system i very important, you can get the last %, one thing i wan't to do is room acoustics (i overlooked it a little bit).
Your system is very nice! I had in the past also the Apogee Full Range, one of the best speakers i heard.
You can't see it on the pictures but i removed the coverings of the speaker about a month ago, felt stayed in place (never remove this) a great improvement. This week i will try to remove them more from the wall (but i sit at the back of the wall about 8 feet from the speakers)
Last saturday i placed duende creature tube dampers on the jadis convertor. The last improvements over the last month seems to increase the resulution very much, becomes much more natural.
Regarding dynamics, the first time I had the avalons they seems to be dynamically not the best, but what i hear now they are very good, like you said it comes all from so few drivers.
Last sunday I placed goldmund cones under the jadis convertor, proved to be a good choice.
Also replaced the dedicated lines with AHP fuses, first impression : wider image/air, more laid-back. link : http://www.degroefaudio.nl/dg_audiophile.php?vNr=1
forsell with jadis works very well, like analog. i relative has also a forsell with the original dac, he has tried the jadis, he said it was better.
In the past i was using stax dma x2 as amplifier with the avalon's, very good, but with tubes you will get the magic.
The Acents are now dynamic and very musical/coherent. Improvements for future will be room acoutics (wish i have a bigger room) who has experience with it ?
The Ascents where from one who has upgraded to the Eidolon, but afterwards he regrets it.
Gallant, in the past i had also apogee's (the apogee)!
