This is a secondary system in my Family Room measuring 21(L)X13(W)X7(H). I know this system is more on the budget end but it sounds very good. Since my system was initially posted I've updated my subwoofer, DAC, and speakers. I also have a spare pair of KEF R3 speakers and Kimber Kable TC-12 speaker cables (bi-wire), that I may swap in and out of this system from time to time. I hope that I am done updating this system. The sound is big, detailed, and satisfying.
System edited: The NAD M3 integrated replaces the NAD C372 integrated. A large improvement in resolution and realism. Does the evolution ever end? Im not looking for anything new at the present.
I've used Kimber cabling in and out of my system for many years. Like anything else in your system, it's all about synergy.
This is what I have noticed as a generality about Kimber. They are a little cool sounding because of the use of Teflon dialectric. There is a slight mid/bass hump with a little leaness in the midrange. They have excellent detail and are a tad bit forward sounding. Provide good punch and dynamics. One thing about Kimber is they take an extremely long time to break in before all its characteristics jell together, especially the highs before they smooth out.
One thing that you could try with your 12TC is single cable bi-wiring, with 8 leads for the bass and 4 for the highs. When I was using 8tc I used 6 for bass and 2 for highs with better cohesion from my speakers.
System edited: Added Kimber Kable speaker cables over the summer (2011). In my opinion they sound inferior to the Audioquest Bedrocks cables they replaced. I immediately took them out of my system and put the Bedrocks back online. About a month latter I tried the Kimbers again and had the same reaction. I put the Bedrocks back in my system immediately. The Bedrocks present a more balanced sound over the in entire audio range. There is far better bass presentation with the Bedrocks. The Kimbers present more high frequency extension and are a bit more resolving in the midrange but not enough so that they outdo the Bedrocks in overall presentation of sound. I eventually (a few months later) decided to get rid of the Bedrocks and put the Kimbers in my system as opposed to letting them lay in the closet due to the money invested. It turns out after my ears became acclimated to the sound of the Kimbers my system sounds fine and I am no longer complaining.
Darkkeys -- you have the PPP listed in your living room system, so is it fair to say that you used a PPP there at one time? I'm interested in comparisons between the now-discontinued PPP and the new Perfect Wave conditioners.
Nice rig. Looks like you put a lot of thought into purchasing the-best-bang-for-the-buck components. Ahhh...NAD 372 integrated & tuner, CA 840 cdp, Wadia Dock, iPod Classic, Polk LSI 15, Audioquest cabling. I'll bet it sounds mighty fine indeed, and better than it should for the $$$. Wonderful system.
I use the PS Audio Perfect Wave 5 throughout both systems. In my opinion they do not add too, take away from nor in any way change the sound of either system or components.
I have a Belkin Pure/AV power conditioner in the Man Cave system. The sound of the Pure AV presents a smoothness but there is not a lack of details in the sound. The bass is still "right" in relation to the overall mix. This system is still very dynamic overall.
The PPP in the living room system has more of a "silent and dark" background allowing the instruments to sound more distinguished/separated from each other. Especially the improvement of bass performance is notable in terms of it becoming more distinguished. Furthermore, all instruments are presented in a way that is seamless in relation to each other. There is not the level of compression or smoothness with the PPP, as is present with the Belkin. Just seamless integration with the PPP.
However, I am completely happy with both systems. My Man Cave system is in the same room with my office where I spend a lot of time listening without tire.
The iPod and Wadia is one of my best purchases in a long time. It sounds awesome in my system. I rarely play a CD anymore. Since buying the iPod it almost seems as if the CD player is obsolete. I will probably purchase the updated Wadia for my upstairs system when it becomes available but I am wondering about the Apple TV also. The Apple TV may be more (features) than I need. Plus the Wadia is simply plug and play. No network worries.
I have a left/right matching pair of Lsi 15's. I guess the picture is shadowy.
I sit here listening while working at my desk and all of a sudden find myself patting my feet and moving around in my chair to the beat of the music, involuntarily. I then have to stop what I am doing and turn towards the speakers and just listen. You can't beat the random playback of all your favorites. Your music seems just like new again. I truly enjoy this setup and yes, the Lsi 15's deserve a lot more credit.
Came to your system page after reading your response concerning the ipod dock. I'm gotta try one of them. When I look at your pics though it seems as though you have two right LSi15s, or is it just the pics?. I had a pair a couple years ago and the woofers were on the outside. Very underrated speakers I thought. That is a very nice system and the title seems fitting.
I get the same impression in my mind that you describe from everything I have read about tube pre-amps. If the opportunity arose that would be an option I would try. NAD does use amp to pre-amp jumpers on their integrated amps.
I am by no means an interior decorator nor pro photographer. Plus, back in my younger days I considered stereo equipment the same as furniture.
Now days I purchase based on reviews. There is nothing in this town and I would have to drive at least 200 miles for any type of in person audition. Everything in my system, with the exception of speakers was either mail ordered or purchased after traveling out of town for an in person purchase. I drove to pick up my int-amps. Everything else was mail order. I also ordered my sub via mail order.
When I took my first step into tubes I did it because of what I've read from owners, not on auditioning equipment. My first step was a tube preamp because preamp tubes last a very long time, it adds body, size, and the human element to recording, plus they don't generate the heat of a tube power amp. If your NAD has preamp input on it it is a painless first step and if you don't like it you can sell it and get your money back. For me it opened the door to another musical dimension.
Incidentally, I like your well thought out system. Though the pix don't show its beauty the black on black look is very nice with a great choice of gear. Congrats!
Even with the sub, depending on the recording (especially older recordings) the bass can be lean with the 840c if the recording doesn't contain the content.
The Polk system does a great job of revealing what is or isn't present in the rest of this system. This system, before adding the 840c never revealed a lack in bass content. I could turn up the sub but newer recordings sound fine with the 840c so I haven't bothered changing the volume of the sub.
The 840c is very revealing. I do most of my listening on this system and I am often surprised with hearing new content in old songs. On one song I heard vocals that were previously hidden in the mix. I now hear parts of the mix on various recordings that were obviously recorded at lower levels unveiled by the 840c. I am of course impressed.
I have used NAD electronics about 30 years but I am happy with what the 840c does. It's a keeper.
I am curious about tube sound. I have never heard a home audio system with tube gear. That's part of the disadvantage of living in a smaller city when it comes to home audio.
Even w/ your Polk sub, the 840c still sounds light in the bass? CA gear is not robust sounding, but detailed w/ great PRaT like Linn. I have the 640A V2 amp and find this to be true, but it has outstading detailed and PRaT. Lean interconnects don't work well with them.
If you like NAD I can see how you may not like CA. You may like tube gear. I like tube gear for music and fast SS gear for movies, hence I have 2 systems (well allmost)
At this point I can't say that either one sounds better than the other. I like them both. What I noticed when I first got the 840c was that the Onkyo provided better bass and midrange performance and that maybe the 840c needed to "burn in". The vocals were out in front of the rest of the mix on the Onkyo. With the 840c the vocals were a lot further back in the mix. The initial comparison was done in the same system and room in my living room. After about 2.5 months with the 840c in a different system in my family room it still has a "light" bass presentation on certain, especially some older recordings but its enough. I would have to put both players in the same system again to give an honest comparison now that the 840c has had some playing time. As you know, both rooms systems and rooms have their own sound. One thing certain is that the DX-7555 cost a lot less.
System edited: The Cambridge 840c is sounding outstanding these days. I believe I am not missing any details. Completely revealing of all recorded info. The sound is light on bass with certain recordings but regardless of that a very well balanced/coherent sound. I have no plans of upgrading this system. This system is working its "mojo" the way it should. Sounding good with all types of music.
System edited: Sold the Musical Fidelity. Added the Cambridge 840C. The 840C was purchased for my main system but my old CD player, which was to be replaced (Onkyo DX-7555) sounds better for now. Maybe the 840C needs "burn in". The Onkyo provides better bass and midrange performance. The highs for both CD players are on par with each other. So the 840C lives in this system for the time being with the iPod/Wadia running through its DAC.
I have added the Musical Fidelity A324 DAC that I purchased on here on Audiogon recently. What a dramatic improvement it made with my Technics CD changer. The Technics only allows use of a toslink cable so I am using the Audioquest Optilink 1. I may upgrade to the Optilink 3 but the improvement was so dramatically positive I am not in a hurry. I will add updated pictures soon. This system has grown somewhat since my original posting.
Iggy, thanks. I am going to try a DAC at some point hopefully within a matter of months but have no clue what to get. The most advertised seem to be the Benchmark and the PS Audio brands. I'm keeping my eyes open for what's here on Audiogon, which may be the best bet since I will be testing unfamiliar waters, in hopes of finding one for a couple hundred bucks or do.
