What’s your Hi-Fi set up? spec and pictures please
Discussion
hornmeister said:
Hifi rack by Stands Unique?
Sad they went under. I have one of these:
http://www.standsunique.com/productrange/support/h...
Yup, the centre one was bought new, all the others are ebay specials. I like the look of them and they are strong enough to hold heavy components.Sad they went under. I have one of these:
http://www.standsunique.com/productrange/support/h...
Like you say, it's a shame they went under - they were a helpful bunch, they made me a set of extended uprights when I bought the isolation stands.
cb1965 said:
4 135s? No SNAXO visible? What gives?
The 52 pre-amp only has three outputs so two of the 135's are connected directly (Bass Left, Bass Right), Naim do a cable that has a 4 pin locking DIN connector on one end but has two independent XLR connectors (splitting up the Left / Right channels) for 135's. I've got this in the third connection so the middle/treble driven by the other two amps.Basically so rather than the SNAXO doing the frequency bypass filtering, I'm leaving the split to the B&W speakers on the independent connections on the back.
Make sense ?
There are some lovely, and some well-loved, systems in this thread. It's very interesting to see what people have created for themselves, and the decisions they've made. 'Hi-fi' is more esoteric an obsession than cars, and tends to be pursued in the privacy of one's home. It's nice to be given the opportunity to be nosy, and mildly reassuring to see evidence that one is not alone.
TimAla said:
You've shown me yours, so I suppose I should show you mine. Currently transitioning from Parasound to PS Audio.
Beautiful system - I love those Blades. I believe KEF discovered that they were losing sales because the visible driver count on their speakers was lower than the norm, but what's not to like about those!The Blades are visually a love 'em or loath 'em deal. Aurally, everyone also has their preferences, and I like the 'KEF sound', having had KEFs on and off for nearly fifty years. It's rare if ever you'll get to hear the Blades set up properly (er, my definition), which requires much free space and minimum boundary effect, so they tend to be rather under-appreciated. Barring Mission's Pilastro, which likewise benefit from a huge room, they're the best speakers I've heard.
TimAla said:
The Blades are visually a love 'em or loath 'em deal. Aurally, everyone also has their preferences, and I like the 'KEF sound', having had KEFs on and off for nearly fifty years. It's rare if ever you'll get to hear the Blades set up properly (er, my definition), which requires much free space and minimum boundary effect, so they tend to be rather under-appreciated. Barring Mission's Pilastro, which likewise benefit from a huge room, they're the best speakers I've heard.
I think the Uni-Q drivers give a really good mid/high balance - I had a set of Reference 4-2's, which were great speakers. I moved on to Martin Logan Prodigy, which nailed the mid/high thing, and I then spent ten years trying to get the mid-range to speak to the bass.I should think the side firing drivers in the Blade's need a hell of a lot of space - probably why there aren't that many about....not many people are blessed with a room as big as yours!
ian996 said:
I think the Uni-Q drivers give a really good mid/high balance - I had a set of Reference 4-2's, which were great speakers. I moved on to Martin Logan Prodigy, which nailed the mid/high thing, and I then spent ten years trying to get the mid-range to speak to the bass.
I should think the side firing drivers in the Blade's need a hell of a lot of space - probably why there aren't that many about....not many people are blessed with a room as big as yours!
I went the opposite way (ML to ref 4.2s) for similar reasons - they were the smaller (all relative !!) Sequel II panels but I could never get the bass response correct. I could position them where there was next to no bass or have bass that sounded half a beat behind the rest of the frequency range. Not being able to find a happy compromise meant they had to go.I should think the side firing drivers in the Blade's need a hell of a lot of space - probably why there aren't that many about....not many people are blessed with a room as big as yours!
A real shame as I’ve never heard acoustical music (of any genre) sound so real. Magical when right.
The UniQ did get close in the mids and highs and the bass was on another level both in terms of depth/impact and timing but there’s just ‘something’ about electrostatic panels that normal drive units can’t match (in my limited experience).
At the time I used an MF 308 pre/power amp combo which powered the front pair in multi-channel as well as stereo - driving big, power hungry floorstanders from Kef, B&W and Celestion to stupid levels only got the amp warm to the touch.
5 minutes with the Martin Logan’s and it was like a thermo-nuclear reactor, hot enough to heat the whole room!!
I really, really should stop looking through classified ads on the forums - there’s a pair of Summit X’s going for a relative bargain and I find myself thinking “Imagine if they’ve got the bass issues sorted...”
legzr1 said:
I went the opposite way (ML to ref 4.2s) for similar reasons - they were the smaller (all relative !!) Sequel II panels but I could never get the bass response correct. I could position them where there was next to no bass or have bass that sounded half a beat behind the rest of the frequency range. Not being able to find a happy compromise meant they had to go.
A real shame as I’ve never heard acoustical music (of any genre) sound so real. Magical when right.
The UniQ did get close in the mids and highs and the bass was on another level both in terms of depth/impact and timing but there’s just ‘something’ about electrostatic panels that normal drive units can’t match (in my limited experience).
At the time I used an MF 308 pre/power amp combo which powered the front pair in multi-channel as well as stereo - driving big, power hungry floorstanders from Kef, B&W and Celestion to stupid levels only got the amp warm to the touch.
5 minutes with the Martin Logan’s and it was like a thermo-nuclear reactor, hot enough to heat the whole room!!
I really, really should stop looking through classified ads on the forums - there’s a pair of Summit X’s going for a relative bargain and I find myself thinking “Imagine if they’ve got the bass issues sorted...”
I also have a pair of 104/2s, love them. But I’ve always fancied trying a pair of Quads, so bought a pair of 57s. They are magical to my ear and have demoted the Kefs and Sonus Faber Extremas to the background. A real shame as I’ve never heard acoustical music (of any genre) sound so real. Magical when right.
The UniQ did get close in the mids and highs and the bass was on another level both in terms of depth/impact and timing but there’s just ‘something’ about electrostatic panels that normal drive units can’t match (in my limited experience).
At the time I used an MF 308 pre/power amp combo which powered the front pair in multi-channel as well as stereo - driving big, power hungry floorstanders from Kef, B&W and Celestion to stupid levels only got the amp warm to the touch.
5 minutes with the Martin Logan’s and it was like a thermo-nuclear reactor, hot enough to heat the whole room!!
I really, really should stop looking through classified ads on the forums - there’s a pair of Summit X’s going for a relative bargain and I find myself thinking “Imagine if they’ve got the bass issues sorted...”
I’ve only ever had digital systems, and for rhythm and expressiveness, never found anything better than Micromega as a source.
The system chops and changes as you can see from the picture, but my go to at the moment is:
Micromega Solo, Duo or Trio - very decisive
Micromega Airstream - amazing quality sound
Alchemist monoblocks
Trilogy 901 valve pre
Quad 57s
Also in this picture are:
YBA pre and power
Alchemist Odin integrated
Graaf 50/50
Kef 104/2
Sonus Faber extremas
The Sonus’ and Graff are for sale if anyone is interested.
Those 57s certainly dominate a room (‘beige radiators’ quickly followed by ‘no way’ as my ex used to say...).
Only ever heard the more modern versions (9205 or something like that) in a packed dealers room fighting for space with 100 pairs of AV speakers from Monitor Audio but, even there, the quality shone through.
I kept reading and hearing the word ‘speed’ used when describing panels - it’s a good word - the first time you hear a plucked string then the decay to silence is something that stays with you (or maybe just me...).
Maybe electrostatic panels used with a well designed active and EQd bass is where it’s at?
In the past couple of years ive slowly moved from AV/surround to concentrate so,eh on 2 channel. Still got a big AV power amp and SVS sub to move on (thinking of keeping the sub - not really ‘hifi’ but, Jesus, it’s fun when it hits its stride).
All digital now too.
Flac/DSD from a NAS or Flac streamed from Tidal.
My streamer is the player, renderer, DAC and even pre-amp feeding some ClassD Nord monoblocks (each one half the size and a third of the weight than the power supply in my multi-channel amp!!).
Two boxes (well, 3, but the monoblocks are tiny) doing the job of four or five huge things, running a lot cooler with 10 times the efficiency but there is no doubt some of the systems in this thread will surpass what I have.
And that’s the fun part of this hobby - different tastes, different budgets, different ears - lots of ways to get it right.
Only ever heard the more modern versions (9205 or something like that) in a packed dealers room fighting for space with 100 pairs of AV speakers from Monitor Audio but, even there, the quality shone through.
I kept reading and hearing the word ‘speed’ used when describing panels - it’s a good word - the first time you hear a plucked string then the decay to silence is something that stays with you (or maybe just me...).
Maybe electrostatic panels used with a well designed active and EQd bass is where it’s at?
In the past couple of years ive slowly moved from AV/surround to concentrate so,eh on 2 channel. Still got a big AV power amp and SVS sub to move on (thinking of keeping the sub - not really ‘hifi’ but, Jesus, it’s fun when it hits its stride).
All digital now too.
Flac/DSD from a NAS or Flac streamed from Tidal.
My streamer is the player, renderer, DAC and even pre-amp feeding some ClassD Nord monoblocks (each one half the size and a third of the weight than the power supply in my multi-channel amp!!).
Two boxes (well, 3, but the monoblocks are tiny) doing the job of four or five huge things, running a lot cooler with 10 times the efficiency but there is no doubt some of the systems in this thread will surpass what I have.
And that’s the fun part of this hobby - different tastes, different budgets, different ears - lots of ways to get it right.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
You need to put a plank of wood across the top of the speakers and then you can have a decent game of football.
A silly suggestion.Though I did recently rig a cable between them and tried to walk across blindfold. It didn't end well. And, before anyone says it, a safety harness would have been a good idea.
There are systems on here showing distinct signs of 'middle age spread' or whatever description is best applied to the accumulation of multiple boxes. Desperate as I am to be one of the In Crowd, not only have I boxes aplenty, I also did my best to keep Stands Unique afloat.
Sad to say, this is the almost minimalist system of years ago, and pre-dates all those must haves we never knew we needed ... Atmos, Dirac, UHD, HDR and ever on.
Of course, if you're really, and I mean really, tuned into this stuff, you'll know it's all necessary, if not to say, essential.
Sad to say, this is the almost minimalist system of years ago, and pre-dates all those must haves we never knew we needed ... Atmos, Dirac, UHD, HDR and ever on.
Of course, if you're really, and I mean really, tuned into this stuff, you'll know it's all necessary, if not to say, essential.
Sure, well spotted. Whilst it has the most to do, like many people, my centre channel was compromised by the screen position. I tried to overcome that by using a pair of speakers, reasonably matched to the left and right channels (same manufacturer etc), which worked well.
Despite this, the system is now KEF-based, and I've a single sideways centre speaker, which is a more conventional solution. As a speaker sounds rather different when placed on its side compared to upright, KEF thoughtfully have provided tuning knobs to timbre match to the left/right.
Despite this, the system is now KEF-based, and I've a single sideways centre speaker, which is a more conventional solution. As a speaker sounds rather different when placed on its side compared to upright, KEF thoughtfully have provided tuning knobs to timbre match to the left/right.
legzr1 said:
I went the opposite way (ML to ref 4.2s) for similar reasons - they were the smaller (all relative !!) Sequel II panels but I could never get the bass response correct. I could position them where there was next to no bass or have bass that sounded half a beat behind the rest of the frequency range. Not being able to find a happy compromise meant they had to go.
A real shame as I’ve never heard acoustical music (of any genre) sound so real. Magical when right.
The UniQ did get close in the mids and highs and the bass was on another level both in terms of depth/impact and timing but there’s just ‘something’ about electrostatic panels that normal drive units can’t match (in my limited experience).
At the time I used an MF 308 pre/power amp combo which powered the front pair in multi-channel as well as stereo - driving big, power hungry floorstanders from Kef, B&W and Celestion to stupid levels only got the amp warm to the touch.
5 minutes with the Martin Logan’s and it was like a thermo-nuclear reactor, hot enough to heat the whole room!!
I really, really should stop looking through classified ads on the forums - there’s a pair of Summit X’s going for a relative bargain and I find myself thinking “Imagine if they’ve got the bass issues sorted...”
I must admit, at times I wondered if I had lost as much as I'd gained going from the 4.2s to the Martin Logans, but, as you say, they are magical with the right material. One of the driving factors for buying the KW monoblocks was to try and "solve" the bass integration , but I think there will always be a small disconnect between what the panels doing and what the moving coil driver is doing. Anyway, all good fun finding these things out - to my ears, the Raidhos are the complete package, although they have a mixed reputation out in the US, as it seems they are voiced for small - mid sized rooms and get a bit out of control when trying to fill large spaces. A real shame as I’ve never heard acoustical music (of any genre) sound so real. Magical when right.
The UniQ did get close in the mids and highs and the bass was on another level both in terms of depth/impact and timing but there’s just ‘something’ about electrostatic panels that normal drive units can’t match (in my limited experience).
At the time I used an MF 308 pre/power amp combo which powered the front pair in multi-channel as well as stereo - driving big, power hungry floorstanders from Kef, B&W and Celestion to stupid levels only got the amp warm to the touch.
5 minutes with the Martin Logan’s and it was like a thermo-nuclear reactor, hot enough to heat the whole room!!
I really, really should stop looking through classified ads on the forums - there’s a pair of Summit X’s going for a relative bargain and I find myself thinking “Imagine if they’ve got the bass issues sorted...”
gizlaroc said:
I had a pair of Scansonic MB2.5's and couldn't fill my room of 7m x 7m.
By the time they were filling it they sounded really shut in, I suggested upgrading to Raihdos but he said it would be the same.
They are definitely designed for near-field listening - I have the speakers about 9 feet apart, and the "sweet-spot" is just over 6 feet from the plane of the speakers. My room is 15 * 18 (with an open plan staircase along the long wall) and they work beautifully in that space. I can imagine they might be a bit out of their comfort zone in a 7m x 7m space.By the time they were filling it they sounded really shut in, I suggested upgrading to Raihdos but he said it would be the same.
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