Less is more

by gsm18439 on Done For Now

Description

My goal was to redo my entire system with first class components and be done with it. The system is located in a real-world living environment (as apposed to a dedicated listening room) with mostly off-axis seating. My priority was a system that had rich tone and "presence," was full-range, was not associated with listening fatigue, and could fill a very large space and still sound good at low volumes with all types of music; typical audiophile priorities were secondary. I started with the ZuAudio Definition 1.5s, but upgraded from the MK1.5s to the MK2s (when the MK2s were announced during my trial period) and eventually to the Definition MK4s. (Sean Casey tuned the MK4s to be flat to 16Hz; the output curves in the ZuAudio specs and product manual come from my living room.) This was my first foray not only into high-efficiency speakers, but also into tube electronics. I started with an EAR 859 amplifier that was replaced with a Yamamoto A-08s and then a Deja Vu 45/2a3 SET. I also started with an EAR Acute CDP. However, I discovered the Ancient Audio Lektor Prime CDP in Krakow when visiting Poland in 2008. And, eventually, I had an Ancient Audio Integra 300b SET made to match the Lektor Prime. The Integra 300b SET came with Shuguang Black Treasures; I upgraded from the BTs to Sophia Electric Royal Princess and then from the RPs to Takatsuki 300b tubes. The built-in cabinetry (including custom CD storage by the Kennebec Company in Bath, Maine) is on the wall apposite the speakers; speaker wires are concealed and run through the walls and under the floor from one side to the other - a distance of 30+ feet. The cherry cabinets have soapstone countertops that were mined in Vermont. Since my house is a converted bank that has appeared in many architecture and design magazines, the physical appearance of the components could not be ignored. Zu speakers and Ancient Audio electronics fit into the modern industrial design aesthetic perfectly. One word about the size of the room. . . The living room (primary listening area) is one end of an open volume that is 20'x40'x16'. I wanted speakers that could fill this space as needed as well as be optimized for the primary listening area.
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Room Details

Dimensions: 20’ × 14’  Medium
Ceiling: 16’

Components Toggle details

    • Zu Definition MK4
    Full range speaker: www.zuaudio.com
    • Ancient Audio Lektor Prime
    http://www.ancient.com.pl/e_lektor_prime.htm
    • Ancient Audio Integra
    300b SET

Comments 60

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Owner
I recently required service of my Ancient Audio 300b SET during which I used an SS amplifier that I had in one of my bedroom systems and that I had always liked. No comparison. Sometimes you don't know what you've got til its gone. . .

gsm18439

stunning.  BTW, I am enjoying the Zion trio CD....as does my one year old....

agear

Owner
I have added a "panoramic" shot of the living room taken from the second floor balcony. The living room is at one end of the (mostly) open floorplan that is 45 feet long.

gsm18439

Stunning property but no shots of what I was looking for. Strangely incomplete without speakers....:/

agear

Owner
Agear - Thanks for the comments. I will try to post a couple of wide-angle shots in upcoming weeks. However, the interiors have been photographed several times in past 20 years (pre-dating my current system). . .

http://www.brawerhauptman.com/#!mintz/c1n9u

http://dcbydesignblog.com/architecture/at-home-in-a-bank/

gsm18439

08-26-13: Gsm18439
My initial plan was to do this "once," do it right, amd have the system fit visually and fill the house with music.

I think that is an ideal goal. I would love to see some more wide angle shots to see the space in its entirety. Yours is one of my favorites visually amongst all the Audiogon system threads. Very elegant.

I picked up that New Zion Trio CD and love it. My 1 yr old even bobs to it when on....

agear

08-26-13: Gsm18439
My initial plan was to do this "once," do it right, amd have the system fit visually and fill the house with music.

I think that is an ideal goal. I would love to see some more wide angle shots to see the space in its entirety. Yours is one of my favorites visually amongst all the Audiogon system threads. Very elegant.

I picked up that New Zion Trio CD and love it. My 1 yr old even bobs to it when on....

agear

08-26-13: Gsm18439
My initial plan was to do this "once," do it right, amd have the system fit visually and fill the house with music.

I think that is an ideal goal. I would love to see some more wide angle shots to see the space in its entirety. Yours is one of my favorites visually amongst all the Audiogon system threads. Very elegant.

I picked up that New Zion Trio CD and love it. My 1 yr old even bobs to it when on....

agear

Owner
Charles

My current issue is dwindling storage for a large and growing CD collection. Computer audio would not solve that problem since CDs should be kept for back-up ... except for what will be downloaded. So I would need both a server and a second hard drive and back-up for both. What I really need to do is edit my CD collection.

gsm18439

Hi Gary,
I agree with your rationale in staying with your current CD system for the present time, they're very simple, reliable and sound fine. When you read others description of the initial setup, correct implementation and numerous glitches, I say why bother? I do believe eventually this genre will get sorted out somewhat standardized. In the meanwhile how taxing is it to insert a CD and just listen and enjoy your music?
Charles,

charles1dad

Owner
Gadmanrdh: Thanks for your comments. It sounds great and looks great, too.

Tboooe: Not really. Actually, I think that adding a music server will increase the complexity (but that is my own personal craziness). For now I do not have the time to do justice to setting up a digital music system. Buying CDs is so much easier. My AncientAudio CDP has a built-in pre-amp and a second analogue input, but I would need a server and a good DAC (and the time to rip my CD collection). The next level AncientAudio CDP (that was not available when I got my Lektor Prime) has a USB input that allows direct access to the built-in DAC. For now, I am quite content.

gsm18439

GSM18439, have you considered going to digital music? This will keep with your less is more theme while also helping to increase your enjoyment of your music because of the easy access.

tboooe

WOW. Awesome execution. I am sure it produces wonderful music!

gadmanrdh

Owner
Not sure. Perhaps nothing. I am pretty satisfied. My initial plan was to do this "once," do it right, amd have the system fit visually and fill the house with music. For the most part I have succeeded. There were a few fumbles along the way, of course; and maybe in the future I would like to try an 845 based SET like the Audion or old model Sophia or new Coincident (ala Phil, 213Cobra). But I am pretty satisfied.

gsm18439

What's next on the HiFi roadmap?

lapierre

I would have thought that given the height of your ceilings and the distance from you adjacent walls there would be problematics with the sound other than bass. Good to know the 4s are doing the job. My space? I'm getting the chills thinking about it. It's taking forever to get these babies.

warrenh

Owner
The bass is spectacular - flat to 14Hz. The best that I have ever had in my space.I listen to all sorts of music. For example, with Bach's organ music, the bass is tight and visceral. . . . just like in real life. . . . and much more coherent than the Def 2s. I attribute this to the down-firing subs that replaced the split tuned rear-firing subs of the Def 2s. Phil says that the upgraded amp has a lot to do with it. Plus, the inboard amp's controls provide a lot of flexibility. When I started to put together a system, one of my criteria was "presence" and the ability to fill my space with music. The Def 2s were good. The Def 4s are, simply, much better.

gsm18439

That's some space you got there. I do not know what type of tunes you listen to, but I am curious, be it the huge space, high ceilings, how the bass holds up; the speakers being quite a distance from the side walls? Also the high ceiliings. I too, started (still own as you know) with the 1.5s, so you can imagine my excitment awaiting the 4s. My wife? Just the fact they are a different lovable color is ALL that matters. It's worth $13k for a change of color. Go figure.

warrenh

Owner
Thank you, as do you. I have a secondary system in my (small) bedroom that is more modest: Celestion SL-700s and Audio Refinement electronics.

gsm18439

Very nice system!

lak

Owner
The speaker cables go through the walls behind the cabinetry, down into cellar, across to the opposite side, and up behind the speakers. They are bulk cables. My intent was to have conduit that would allow the flexibility to exchange the speaker cables, but the electrician took a short-cut and did not use conduit. (This was in 1994.) While it would be possible to swap cables, it would be a huge undertaking and probably just a one-time thing. They clearly are not premium cables, but considering that I would need 30-40 feet of cabling plus the cost of construction. . . Well, I have decided to live with them.

gsm18439

Can you perhaps explain how the speaker cables are run through the wall? Are these bulk cables, how do they compare to premium cables such as Zu Mission or Event, and are you able to exchange them should you desire to do so?

gemini05

Owner
Thanks. No, I am in our nation's capitol.

gsm18439

Beautiful, simple system. Are you in Atlanta? Glory was rolling down there to hear the Zus....

agear

Owner
Ancient Audio used to make a stereo 300b power amp (called Integra), but it was discontinued. It had a volume control. Jarek resurrected the basic design, but upgraded the components, simplified the signal path, and incorporated some of the monoblock features.

gsm18439

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