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***System Update:18/12/06***

Finally got my second set of KR Audio 8000s. Theyare a new model, the VA 8000s due for release in 2007. Now bi-aming with my old KR 8000s. The sound improvement over my previous Pass X600 driving Megaline ribbons and Krell 600 driving 12 woofers per channel is huge. Can't believe how much better the KR Audio valves sound than previous solid state. Starting to listen to more SACDs/CDs again.Relieved haven't wasted a lot of $$$ on the DCS stack for no reason. Begs question what I will do with my 5000 vinyls which have taken up 3 rooms in our house. Wife will kill me :))Next hifi upgrade is prob to go for a Koetsu cartridge for Avid turntable.

For the past 3 years I almost exclusively focused on home cinema. At the beginning of 2006 I bought a DCS Delius Dac from a friend. After that I split off my Talon Khorus X MKII speakers to form a 2 channel system in our main reception room seperate from my home cinema room. Since then I have been expanding the system acquiring a full DCS stack, Nordost Valhalla interconnects/speaker cables and more recently Dali Megalines, Sound is truly a revelation vs my previous system. Albert Porter was not exaggerating about how good the Megalines sounded. Recently bought a Lamm L2 pre-amp which has helped tightened up the sound and given some tube warmth back to offset solid state sound. Have also just bought Avid Acutus Turntable/SME V arm/Sumiko Parewood Sig for my first foray into vinyl.
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Components Toggle details

    • Dali Megaline
    Full range speakers with 12 woofers and ribbon tweeter per speaker. Active bi-amped. Line source not point source Review www.positive-feedback.com/Issue18/megaline.htm
    • DCS Verdi
    Reference SACD/CD Transport review http://www.stereophile.com/hirezplayers/105dcs/index.html
    • DCS Delius
    Delius DAC
    Review http://www.stereophile.com/hirezplayers/105dcs/index.html
    • DCS Purcell
    Digital Upsampler firewire equiped to upsample to DSD
    Review http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/454/
    • DCS Verona
    Master clock Review http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/305dcs/
    • Avid Acutus
    British turntable. Love the looks and bass is tight
    • Lamm Industries L-2
    Reference two chassis pre-amp Review http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/lamm_l2.htm
    • KR Enterprises VT-8000
    Tube monoblocks. Push Pull 75w. Amazing synergy with Talon Khorus X.Beats Pass X600s
    • KR Enterprises VT-8000
    KR Audio VA 8000 push-pull monoblocks. These are a prototype due for release in 2007 that are the closed match to my old KR 8000. Theyare push pull but use 2 new 842 tubes per monobloc. More powerful and refined bass than Krell 600. Truly unbelieveable sound improvement !!!
    • Pass Labs X-600
    600watt Monoblocks driving Megaline Ribbon Tweeters
    • Krell FPB-600
    600W Stereo amp driving 24 Megaline mid/woofers
    Review http://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/829/
    • Nordost Valhalla
    Two 1M pairs frpm Dali active crossover to Krell and Pass Power amps.One digital Valhalla from Verdi to Purcell. One 0.5M from Lamm L2 to Dali X. One 0.8M Valhalla from Lamm to delius
    • Nordost Valhalla
    Two Pairs of Valhalla 2M and 1.5M between the two sets of KR Audio monoblocks and the Dali Active crossover for bi-amping
    • Talon Audio Khorus
    Khorus X mk II. Loved these speakers which have impressive Bass and excellent mid range
    • Levinson No 38s
    Great build quality. Upgraded 38
    • SME Series V
    SME V tonearm. Classic
    • Sumiko Reference SHO
    Parewood Sinature
    • Electraglide Ephiphany X
    To the amps, Lamm L2 and DCS system
    • Richard Gray 400s
    Two 600s for source
    • Whest Audio Reference Phono Stage
    Prototype from Whest due for release in 2007. Great soundstage and major step up from PS 20
    • VPI HW-27 Typhoon
    Industrial build record cleaner from VPI.

Comments 19

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Owner
System edited: Finally got my second set of KR Audio 8000s. Theyare a new model, the VA 8000s due for release in 2007. Now bi-aming with my old KR 8000s. The sound improvement over my previous Pass X600 driving Megaline ribbons and Krell 600 driving 12 woofers per channel is huge. Can't believe how much better the KR Audio valves sound than previous solid state. Starting to listen to more SACDs/CDs again.Relieved haven't wasted a lot of $$$ on the DCS stack for no reason. Begs question what I will do with my 5000 vinyls which have taken up 3 rooms in our house. Wife will kill me :))Next hifi upgrade is prob to go for a Koetsu cartridge for Avid turntable.

iftyi

Owner
System edited: Finally got my second set of KR Audio 8000s. Theyare a new model, the VA 8000s due for release in 2007. Now bi-aming with my old KR 8000s. The sound improvement over my previous Pass X600 driving Megaline ribbons and Krell 600 driving 12 woofers per channel is huge. Can't believe how much better the KR Audio valves sound than previous solid state. Starting to listen to more CDs again. Begs question what I will do with my 5000 vinyls. Wife will kill me :))Next hifi upgrade is prob to go for a Koetsu cartridge for Avid turntable.

iftyi

Owner
Tabl10s. If you ever get them, would be curious what they sound like. My second set of KR 8000s are arriving next week so will see how bi-amped vales sound versus solid state

iftyi

Owner
Great pics of your system Kuzibri btw. Horns must be fantastic with the Manleys.
Also found Tabl10s valve amps interesting as well !!

iftyi

Owner
Kuzibri
I am acquiring a second set of KR Audio 8000 tube monoblocks and then I will move back to valves. Never heard the Manleys before but curious as to how they sound. Rgds Ifty

iftyi

Owner
Tabl10s

It is a little congested as there are so many components aroound on account of the 4 box DCS stack CD/SACD system as well as the biamping needed for the Megalines. I am having a custom made rack made by SB Designs which will allow things to be much neater.

iftyi

Owner
Al,
Sorry for the delayed response as I have been travelling for the past week. Anyway, the Megaline speakers do come in 3 identical modules plus a base and the crossover is an active external one. Took two of us to put it togetehr and a third person when we were putting the top module on. Rgds Ifty

iftyi

Owner
System edited: Finally added my analogue setup of Avid Acutus/SME V/Sumiko Parewood Reference cartridge and Whest Auudio Reference Phono stage. James Henriot of Whest has been a huge help and a real gent in offering me advice on my first step into analogue. Must say I prefer the sound of vinyl. With the right recordings more natural and three dimesnional. Feeling a little regret on the DCS stack purchase but I guess I do have a lot of CDs and SACDs.

iftyi

Owner
System edited: Frank also, I have two Talon Roc subs in my cinema room that I may transfer to the 2 channel room as I have switched to Re stadium 2 pair of subs. But Megalines produce so much bass it may be overkill though the Dali xover box has a sub out so would be easy connection

iftyi

Owner
Frank,
Talon Khorus only have one set of biinding posts so Bi-amping would be tricky. But the sound that the combination of the Talons and KR 8000s produced was incredible. It was so much better than the sound of the Pass X600s, I was truly floored. The KR8000 were sitting gathering dust for the last 2 years since I moved back from New York. But with the right speakers, I cannot recommend KR Audio amps enough.Incredibly sweet mid-rang but surprisngly powerful for valves. The bass was as good as the Pass Labs which was a surprise
I want to get a second set to bi-amp the Megalines where you need two identical pairs of amps.
On the Richard Gray, I have used them with source and amps though I have heard they constrain the dynamic range with power hungry amps. I think Isotek Titan may be the best bet or one of the new PS Audio high power conditoners. I also have Richard Gray substation in my home cinema room. Rgds Ifty

iftyi