Description

It all started with a pair of $300 Sony headphones. Now I'm up to my neck in audio and have dropped several G's. The sound is very musical and natural - great for chamber music and female vocals. The VPI Scout was purchased in March 2003 and it has really opened my eyes to vinyl - vinyl definitely sounds awesome. The main drawback with my system is the small room that prevents spacing out the speakers more. Right now the Response 2's are approximately 4.5 feet apart. Later aquisitions may include either a REL Strata III sub or a Proac ER One sub.
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Components Toggle details

    • Audiomeca Mephisto II.X
    Great imaging and musicality. No desire for SACD again.
    • Sonic Frontiers Line 3
    Retubed with 6 pairs of JAN Philips.
    • Manley Retro SE/PP 300B Tube Monoblocks
    18 watts SET/36 watts PP, retubed with a quad of Sophia 300B Meshplates + a pair of 1950's Mullard ECC35 Black Plates (Gold Grade: Pearl Cryo-Vac) + a pair of Tung Sol 6SN7s
    • Coincident Super Eclipse II
    Super Eclipse II with Scanspeak Revelator tweeter. Final voicing of speakers was done with Manley Retro 300B amps.
    • Acoustic Zen Silver Reference 1.0m RCAs
    SCD-777ES --> SF Line 1
    • Acoustic Zen Matrix Reference 2.0m RCAs
    Matrix Ref. 2m (Sonic Frontiers Line 3 -->Manley Retro 300B)
    • Acoustic Zen Hologram 4ft -spades
    Manley Retro 300B --[greaterthansign] Coincident Super Eclipse II
    • (2) Acoustic Zen Tsunami Plus Powercords
    1) Tsunami Plus 6ft (P1000 --> Manley Retro 300B) 3) Tsunami Plus 6ft (P1000 --> Manley Retro 300B)
    • (2) Virtual Dynamics Nite I Powercord
    Cryoed w/ Speed of Light Tech P1000 --> Audiomeca Mephisto II.X P1000 --> SF Line 3
    • PS Audio P1000 Powerplant
    Running entire system including monoblocks, subs, and front-end off of it. Alternate between TubeWave and Sine 60Hz. Really does a spectacular job in improving the imaging.
    • PS Audio xStream Statement Powercord
    2.0m long. Wall --[greaterthansign] P1000
    • Argent Room Lens
    Increase imaging depth.
    • Salamander Synergy Twin 20 (Cherry)
    Not as good as Standesign Penta rack, but I need to integrate 2-channel + HT.
    • Cardas RCA & XLR caps
    placed on inputs of SF Line 1
    • Mapleshade Cones
    Ultimate Triple Points under CDP and Pre. Heavy Foots under monoblocks.
    • Sony KD-34XBR960
    34in. Widescreen HDTV
    • Momitsu V-880
    A couple taps on the remote = region free. Using DVI-D out to the TV.

Comments 24

Hi Yidimsum,
writing to you for one question about your Manley RetrĂ²,
can you explain to me wich differences are beteween your old version and the Neo-Classic version? Why your old version gives in SE 18 watt and in PP 36 watt and the Neo-Classic version gives only 11 watt in SE and 24 watt in PP mode?
Thank you so much in advance for your answer...
Best Regards

gryfon762

you used to have tyler speakers right? what made you switch to proac, and now back to something with seas drivers again? i'm guessing the proac's rounded out the sound too much?
you should try sonic frontiers or electrocompaniet digital, the sony is holding you back! ;)

audio_me

What were your impressions regarding the change from the Rogue Audio Stealth to the SFI Phono 1?

zanth

beautiful amps and speakers!!! please describe in what ways super eclipse is better than response 2. i can almost feel the sweet sound from your system.
congatulations!
scottie

szutinglee

Owner
System edited: Replaced Proac Response 2' and ACI Force subwoofers with a pair of Coincident Super Eclipse II's. The Manley Retro 300Bs and the Coincident SE seem to be a match made in heaven (final voicing of the Coincident SE's were done with the Manley Retro 300Bs). I wish that my room was bigger - system still sounds very good. I need to get a turntable again, but that will have to wait for now.

yidimsum

go for the er1 sub, i have one and its great.

classikaudio

Hi,

Was just wondering whether there were substantial differences when using a pair of subwoofers compared to a single sub. Neat system you got there.

ryder

Owner
System edited: Sold Sonic Frontiers Line 1 and replaced with Thor Audio TA-1000.

yidimsum

Owner
System edited: Sold the vinyl rig since I won't have time to clean LPs/cartridge. Picked up a SCD-1 which sounds fantastic for digital. Analog still sounds the best though.

yidimsum

I am curious, how loud does the proacs play with 18 watts. I have a pair of responce twos and power them with
a Sonic Frontiers 80. I would love to get a pair of amps such as yours, but I'm too chicken. I pair the proacs with
a Vandersteen subwoffer with very nice results. I'll just look at your system and dream.
Happy Listening

surfgod

Owner
System edited: Changed speaker cables to 4 ft. AZ Satori shotgun biwire from AQ Dragons. Have some nice AZ synergy going. Also added a pair of ACI Force subwoofers. I need a bigger room.

yidimsum

Does Mr Patches add provide PRAT or PAT? Sorry I couldnt rufuse. I bet it sounds purrrfect. Seriously though, a fantastic setup.

Stacy

semantic_sound

Owner
System edited: Manley Retro SE/PP 300B monoblocks retubed with a quad of Sophia 300B Meshplates replace the VTL TT-25

yidimsum

Owner
System updated. Sold 555ES in favor of an all vinyl system for now. Upgraded Rogue Audio Stealth Phono to Sonic Frontiers Phono 1 SE.

yidimsum

Bring the Sony 555 to a tech and upgrade to IEC jack for power cord changable

infinity_audio

Hatched? You crack me up!

viggen

Viggen-no I was younger back then ;) I was 19 when I started using audiogon- my age was mentioned in the Who R U thread and I do believe I was 19, I just found my post and it started:

01-06-01: Tireguy
Hi everyone by the looks of things I'm a younger audiophile, 19 and spending.........

I don't recall mentioning my age in any other older threads for the record I was hatched on 06/09/81 Happy listening.

tireguy

Tireguy, I see your posts from two years ago... and you were 21 back then too!

viggen

I do like this system! Isobearings under the CD player will clean up the attack and strengthen overall imaging.

celtic66

Great to see another younger guys system! I am 21 myself and there aren't many of us youngsters trolling around here. Looks like you have a great sounding system! I concur with the statements made above about the audio magic stealth and the power cords. I was skeptic about power cords but they are really really deal breaker with many digital front ends, if you like what you have now just wait till you get the right pc on it! Cheers! ~Tim

tireguy

I agree with smjason. The Stealth is the way to go. You'll be very happy. It'll open up your whole system better than any $50? power cord; any $500 dollar cord.
Happy listening

warrenh

Owner
Thanks for the responses. I would like to upgrade powercords, but the 555ES doesn't have an IEC and the powercords on the two monoblocks are also fixed. The only powercords that I can upgrade is the one on the Line 1 and the Ultimate Outlet. Do you guys think the Absolute Powercords are any good at $50 each?

yidimsum

Instead of the Ps audio products, you should really try out a Audio Magic Stealth. You can get the mini for 799, usually discounted and it will give you two outlets, it will blow away the PS Audio powerplant and UO, good luck.

smjason

I am certain you have upgraded powercords that are not listed? If not, at least spend a few hundred dollars for a cord on the cd player.

I am on a college budget too, and, after I grad this spring, I will be on even a stricter budget knowing how dim the current economy is.

I spent 3500 on my system so far not including the stuff I am not currently using and will soon be selling, which is about another 2000 worth.

Good luck!

viggen

Showing all 24 posts