Uru,

Thanks for the kind words. The system has really come together lately and I am enjoying it tremendously. A bit hot in the Summer, but Fall is here.

I found that the upgrade to the SME V was slight. The bearings are better, so there is slightly less noise. The VTF is dynamic rather than static. This allows for a more even balance of weight with warped records, so SRA changes less abruptly which effects tonal balance in theory. There is a thread on this topic on Audiogon. The headshell is fixed, so no azimuth adjustment, but a more rigid connection at the cartridge. You can read a review of the SME 10 in Stereophile by Fremer and he compares the two arms on the table.

The Seismic Sink isolates structural vibrations. I'm amazed at the change in sound. It seems to increase focus and clarity. It is much more obvious than the SME V upgrade. The bass in particular is more articulate, seems to have more weight and impact and I hear more extension. It is now much easier to hear nuance in acoustic bass and details that were previously obscured. Bass lines are much easier to follow in the mix. Midrange and high frequency information is also clearer. I stated elsewhere that I notice more PRaT also. I've read that Vibraplane and Minus K offer even more improvement, but they come at a higher cost. The Seismic Sink is very low profile and is a good deal if you can find it used on Audiogon. I'll add a photo soon.

peterayer September 07, 2011 15:39

Peterayer,
Just saw a response of yours and have the SME 10 though with the SME 10 tonearm. Can you give me some hints as to what upgrading to the SME V would give me? It seems we both have Zoethecus racks, if I am viewing yours properly, I have no footfall problems, how much does the Seismic Sink add to the sound?
In my rush to ask questions of someone who is living with at least something similar to what I have I have ignored appreciating the beauty of your room and set up.
Forgive my rashness.

uru975 September 06, 2011 23:42

System edited: Added a Townshend Seismic Sink, another step to the AIVS LP cleaning regimen and more room treatments. Since Jim Smith voiced the system, changes are very easy to analyze. The added isolation under my turntable is a big improvement as well as the deeper cleaning method for the LPs. The noise floor is lower and the sound is clearer and more focused. Music is more detailed but more natural at the same time.

peterayer August 28, 2011 17:44

My limited experience is that Jim Smith knows what he is doing and can work magic out of otherwise substandard setups, as is his reputation.

I walked into his Audition shop in Birmingham Alabama years ago, heard a pair of $800 Maggies set up optimally, and both myself and the friend I was with bought a pair on the spot. That's the only time I recall being so impressed with good sound I could afford in a shop that I did that.

Those Maggies were with me for around 20 years, and I always found it a challenge to get them to sound as good as they did in the shop in my actual rooms.

mapman May 19, 2011 17:14

Knghifi,
Yes, that is a consequence of hearing other systems too, but I'm not about to stop experiencing what else is out there. I'll be holding onto the incredible Mini II's for the foreseeable future. I don't think my room could support the Q3, nor can my wallet at the moment. "It's nice to want." There may also be a Q2 down the road. Not everyone likes Magico, but they are pushing the envelope and developing new products at quite a pace.

peterayer May 19, 2011 17:00

Peterayer,
That's the DANGER in demos ... are you upgrading to the Q3s? :-):-)

knghifi May 19, 2011 12:12

Lapierre,
I can't answer that as I haven't heard them. I do prefer the look of the MIni with the wood, but I'm sure the Q1 will sound better. The Q3, which I recently demoed at Goodwin's, are the best speakers I've heard.

peterayer May 17, 2011 12:43

Pete you going for the Q1s in the future?

lapierre May 16, 2011 21:44

Hi Peter, That's a great description. I am tempted to do the same once everything settles with my system. I am always tinkering with the speaker position from recording to recording, usually by a couple degree or cm. It seems difficult to nail down definitively, and it would be great to be assured of the optimal position across a variety of recordings.

rtn1 April 19, 2011 14:47

Hello Rtn1,

I did write a rather lengthy description of the service at:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1302809712&openfrom&31&4#31

My post is dated 4-16-11 in the "Imaging and Soundstage Depth" thread in the speaker forum.

Basically, Jim measured the room and listened to a lot of music and then selected first the best listener position and then he worked on speaker placement. Finally, we adjusted the room treatment and turntable set-up. He worked 9 1/2 hours straight in my room after a couple of hours listening the night before.

The changes in positioning were not major, but they were very carefully/deliberately made and the results are dramatic. I experimented for months with speaker/listener positions and just don't have the experience to know exactly what to listen for and how to get effective results. Jim dialed everything in and with these small changes the sound is much more like the real thing. Dynamics, imaging, body/weight, staging, detail - everything improved. But most importantly, the sound is much more engaging and involving. It just sounds more real. He wants to work with the equipment the client already owns, so he does not try to sell anything or increase the cost for the client. I couldn't be happier.

I may try to write a full review of my experience. If you have any more questions, please feel free to email me directly.

peterayer April 19, 2011 10:01

Hi Peter, Can you provide more detail on what precisely was accomplished. Your room and the speaker positioning doesn't seem all that different. Was your rack closer to the speakers on that side wall before the visit. There doesn't appear to be many treatments on the walls. What did he do that was so beneficial? Thanks.

rtn1 April 18, 2011 22:22

Got it. Thanks.

cmalak April 18, 2011 13:55

Hello Cmalak,
Jim Smith offers a service in which he will come you a client's home for about a day and a half and voice his system to his room. The service is explained in great detail on his "Get Better Sound" website under the "RoomPlay" section. I can not recommend the service highly enough. I had not known what I was missing. Jim unlocked the potential of my system. He also did a system down the street from where I live and the results were actually even more dramatic.

The book is good and there is also a new DVD, but to really experience what your system is capable of, I suggest you contact Jim directly. It was the single best investment I've made in the audio hobby.

peterayer April 18, 2011 06:58

Peter...very nice system. Quick question. I have Jim Smith's book. When you say "after my recent Jim Smith RoomPlay voicing" do you just mean following his speaker set-up advice in the book or is there another product/service he is now providing that you are referring to? I wasn't sure what you were referring to. Thx

cmalak April 17, 2011 21:56

Sublime it is! I have had the pleasure of hearing Peter's room recently and it is a joy. I heard Sonny Rollins, some beautiful classical music and some female vocals and all were wonderfully engaging.

madfloyd April 17, 2011 20:14

System edited: Updated photos after my recent Jim Smith RoomPlay voicing which resulted in a dramatic improvement in realism.

peterayer April 17, 2011 11:16

Thanks Mapman,

After hearing many systems, some good, some less so, I began to appreciate the importance of the room/speaker interface. I believe that the Mini II's work well in my small room for two primary reasons: they are small speakers and they are a sealed design. They also don't clash too badly with the decor.

I don't know if prefer small scale acoustic music because of the system I have or if my system evolved to match my preferred type of music. It may be a bit of both. Regardless, it is very enjoyable.

peterayer December 11, 2010 16:14

Very nice.

The Magico Mini's are one of the most impressive sounding speakers I have heard for the kinds of music you listen to. I would agree with your description of the sound. Their soundstage and imaging and ability to deliver bowed string instruments and piano for example cleanly and in an involving manner is absolute top notch in rigs I have heard.

mapman December 06, 2010 15:10

I truly like your system. Your environment sounds very similar to mine and I am impressed with your choices of equipment. I have at one time or another owned or almost bought most of these components (the Magico's then proving too expensive) but ended up going different ways. I still hope to have a chance to hear a similar set up at some future point.

Happy listening and congratulations

dgob October 15, 2010 02:28

Hi Peterayer,
I once tried racking my system at just about where you have your fireplace, center - but around 3' behind speakers. I found the Mini2 to be very sensitive at that - anything / physical mass above 50cm in-between them to have more/less this detrimental effect. Soundstage depth felt foreshortened and center image focus to be somewhat skewed. Also loosing out some midbass impact and definition. So after about one week of trying, I gave up, returned the Finite rack and back to floor all went. Maybe you could go about this by using a standing portable acoustic baffle / panel, similar to the Roomtune ones I have (deflecting front/absorbing rear). I believe these will greatly aid, and easily removed/stored when not in use. Goodluck..

bvdiman October 08, 2010 06:33

A very beautiful system! Thank you for your feedback on room acoustics control. I need to try an acoustics baffle in front of our glass fireplace doors. I also have the diminished soundstage depth that you mentioned.

txp1 October 07, 2010 17:50

Beautiful!

dpac996 October 04, 2010 22:52

Hello Txp1,
I have never placed anything in front of my fireplace. I remove the screen for serious listening and have made sure that the speakers are well in front of the fireplace projection. The fireplace also creates four (4) corners on the front wall behind the speakers. I have ASC Tube Traps in each corner. They help a lot. I do have a 2' X 2' absorbing panel on the mantel in front of the very reflective mirror. Maybe that is what you saw. I also found the mantle effected image height until I moved the speakers more out from the front wall. I plan to experiment with some kind of portable baffle at the fireplace. I find that I don't have as much soundstage depth as I've heard in some other systems.

peterayer October 01, 2010 18:32

Hi Peterayer,

Did you formerly have an acoustic baffle of some kind in front of your fireplace? I thought i saw a photo of such. I 've meant to ask you for quite a while as I have a similar situation. Which acoustic baffle did you use and what advice can you provide regarding a room acoustics situation as I've described? Thanks very much!........Terry

txp1 September 30, 2010 01:14

Thank you Bvdiman,

I can report that after several months of small, incremental speaker and listening seat movements, not being quite satisfied, and many critical listening sessions, I have finally settled on the best placement combination.

About a week ago, things suddenly locked in and the music just started to flow. The sense of air, space, tone and presence have all improved. I listened to Elgar's Cello Concerto with DuPre tonight, with a single malt in hand, endured the summer heat with the Class A amps, and got lost in the music.

It's not the twelfth row center in Boston Symphony Hall, but it's the closest I've ever been from distance of my living room.

peterayer July 26, 2010 23:57