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fatmansings
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fatmansings Apprentice

fatmansings

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Now that I got my bedroom headphone system sorted it's time to look at a normal speaker system. Last one I had was in 1993 and consisted of a marantz cd player, a pioneer a400 amp and some Image floor standers (302's or something like that I think). Anyway the kids pretty well destroyed it as toddlers and even more so as teenagers and it was given away to a friend.

 

So now that the kids are AWOL most of the time I can venture out into the house and set up a system just like the good old days.

However I have aged a bit so requirements have changed and I need some advice on how to put together a system which I can enjoy quieter music at lower volumes. I don't need huge bass anymore and I don't like classical so system needs to be optimized for high detail playback of vocals, jazz, acoustic type music.

 

So do I look at low powered amps and speakers and run them at mid

output to get them to " work " properly or can larger amp, speaker combos deliver the detail at low output. Though the drivers would hardly be moving i'm assuming ?.

Also in the room next door is my headphone setup which has a newly arrived W4S Dac 2 and would love to somehow use it as the source for

both systems though not sure if that's possible but it would save $.

Speakers for sentimental reasons HAVE to be Image and in Rimu

though the heavy spiked floor plates from Sound Creations can be overlooked as they rusted and the missus hated them. :P

Budget is about $2k a piece which hopefully lifts me out of the mass produced stuff and gets me a foot in the door of some reasonable gear.

 

Apologies for using the forum like a consultancy but my head is so crammed with dacs, headphones and headphone amps from researching my bedroom system over the past month that I don't think I have any grey matter left.

 

Thanks in advance

Electra Veteran

Electra

Posted
Posted

Image 414's. Perreaux Silhouette 60 mono's. a brilliant match, all for _around_ your budget.

Reasonable powered amps with good sonic characteristics, good speakers, with reasonable sensitivity. All Kiwi made.

 

But tell us what your W4S is like...... please :D

 

As for using it as the pre/source for both systems, I guess its easily done if your using it as a phone amp, but its never going to be that easy, being in separate rooms.

Hooster Proficient

Hooster

Posted
Posted

Wow, fatman, you are in a very enviable position. A clean slate and a fair amount of cash to spend is a luxury. Take your time. If you can, try things out at home. Have fun.

 

I think using this forum as a consultancy is a good idea. You will probably get a lot of good unbiased advice. Let us know how you get along and if you have any questions on your way.

Shane Hanify Veteran

Shane Hanify

Posted
Posted

Gidday,

 

I second the 414's, or even the performer petite - although that may blow the budget out somewhat. Amp wise, if you're talking about weight at ticking over volumes that requires lots of current. Valves may help here.

 

I had a chance to listen to an yet unreleased high current SS amp the other day that checks those boxes with ease (best low level sound I've heard in years - bags of body and weight) but I imagine that will be in the mortgage killing league price wise.

 

Cheers, Shane.

fatmansings Apprentice

fatmansings

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too_tall;138202 wrote:
Image 414's. Perreaux Silhouette 60 mono's. a brilliant match, all for _around_ your budget.

 

Reasonable powered amps with good sonic characteristics, good speakers, with reasonable sensitivity. All Kiwi made.

 

 

 

But tell us what your W4S is like...... please
:D

 

 

 

As for using it as the pre/source for both systems, I guess its easily done if your using it as a phone amp, but its never going to be that easy, being in separate rooms.

 

Thanks for that advice TT, I never considered mono's before but they do look interesting. I am organizing to meet up with the perraux rep who is coming to Akl soon so will be getting his advice as well. While I have his attn I will be fishing for info on the audiant as depending on how good the dac is it could be a solution to my 1 source 2 systems issue.

 

 

As for the W4S it's the best DAC I have ever heard by several country miles and I listened to 6 dacs ranging from $1500 to $3000.

I sourced it from Aussie for $2160 so it is a bargain also. I reckon if it was

distributed here it would be 3.5 to 4k rrp. Currently burning in so will wait until I get used to it and maybe drop a few lines on my impressions later if I can verbalize them that is.

 

If you or any other well known reg on here is interested in listening to the w4s yourself pm me and we can sort something out.

 

 

Thanks

fatmansings Apprentice

fatmansings

Posted
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Low Orbit;138341 wrote:
Gidday,

 

 

 

I second the 414's, or even the performer petite - although that may blow the budget out somewhat. Amp wise, if you're talking about weight at ticking over volumes that requires lots of current. Valves may help here.

 

 

 

I had a chance to listen to an yet unreleased high current SS amp the other day that checks those boxes with ease (best low level sound I've heard in years - bags of body and weight) but I imagine that will be in the mortgage killing league price wise.

 

 

 

Cheers, Shane.

 

I took a good hard look at those petite performas today, I like the size a lot and also like the fact it has the mass option for later if needs ever changed. Budget could possibly be squeezed by stealth ;)

 

So what was the unreleased amp you listened to - The Audiant ?

Electra Veteran

Electra

Posted
Posted

 

Low Orbit;138341 wrote:
Gidday,

 

that requires lots of current. Valves may help here.

 

 

Ummm... Is this not a rather significant contradiction within the OP's specified price range?

Shane Hanify Veteran

Shane Hanify

Posted
Posted

 

fatmansings;138347 wrote:
I took a good hard look at those petite performas today, I like the size a lot and also like the fact it has the mass option for later if needs ever changed. Budget could possibly be squeezed by stealth
;)

 

 

 

So what was the unreleased amp you listened to - The Audiant ?

 

No, the pre / power from Dynavector.

 

 

too_tall;138361 wrote:
Ummm... Is this not a rather significant contradiction within the OP's specified price range?

 

Not at all t_t - I know of at least 3 valve amps under 2 1/2 k ;)

 

... although in all fairness I wouldn't partner the $800 one with Image anything.

 

Cheers, Shane.

Electra Veteran

Electra

Posted
Posted

 

Low Orbit;138424 wrote:
No, the pre / power from Dynavector.

 

 

 

Quote:

 

Originally Posted by too_tall View Post

 

Ummm... Is this not a rather significant contradiction within the OP's specified price range?

 

Not at all t_t - I know of at least 3 valve amps under 2 1/2 k

 

 

 

 

 

Not at all t_t - I know of at least 3 valve amps under 2 1/2 k
;)

 

 

 

... although in all fairness I wouldn't partner the $800 one with Image anything.

 

 

 

Cheers, Shane.

 

You missed my point - you said high current, valves may help here....

 

I know of lower priced valve amps, some are very nice options, but none will deliver much current!

fatmansings Apprentice

fatmansings

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TheRe was a guy on trade me selling 6 month old petite performas with the mass bass options, a bit big but a good buy at 4k+. RRP is $5.8k.

If it was just the pp2,s by themselves I prob would have bought them.

 

I have time up my sleeve with this 2nd room set up so trying not to rush it.

Shane Hanify Veteran

Shane Hanify

Posted
Posted

 

fatmansings;138852 wrote:
TheRe was a guy on trade me selling 6 month old petite performas with the mass bass options, a bit big but a good buy at 4k+. RRP is $5.8k.

 

If it was just the pp2,s by themselves I prob would have bought them.

 

 

 

I have time up my sleeve with this 2nd room set up so trying not to rush it.

 

Gives you time to audition them and see if they're you then.

 

 

curious_george;138854 wrote:
Dynavector from Denco (Soundline)... that will me more than the average man's mortgage
:D

 

That's the one. The speakers alone it was running through were worth more than all my gear combined. Ouch.

 

So yes, a few dollars tied up there - hasn't stopped people pre ordering them though.

 

Cheers, Shane.

fatmansings Apprentice

fatmansings

Posted
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Posted

Just an update on my speaker and amp system. I succumbed to temptation and spent my entire amp/speaker budget on those petite performas that were on trade me.

I had heard the PP's before and know how good they are. they are $3600 rrp and I got them for $3900 including the bass/mass bases so thought it was worth the impulse.

 

So I now have good speakers but no $ for an amp, so i am hiding them in storage until after Xmas as i don't think the missus will understand my logic.:(

 

Gives me time to read up about monos though :D

Hooster Proficient

Hooster

Posted
Posted

 

fatmansings;139204 wrote:
Just an update on my speaker and amp system. I succumbed to temptation and spent my entire amp/speaker budget on those petite performas that were on trade me.

 

I had heard the PP's before and know how good they are. they are $3600 rrp and I got them for $3900 including the bass/mass bases so thought it was worth the impulse.

 

 

 

So I now have good speakers but no $ for an amp, so i am hiding them in storage until after Xmas as i don't think the missus will understand my logic.
:(

 

 

 

Gives me time to read up about monos though
:D

 

:eek: What have you done!?!? Now you will HAVE to get a high quality amp! Those speakers are going to show faults in second rate equipment as clear as day. While I admire your bravery I must question your wisdom. Seems like you will have to spend a fair bit on an amp.

 

I strongly urge you to consider using the variable output on your DAC as a volume control and avoid a pre amp altogether. With that DAC plugged directly into a power amp you could have a killer system. Please take the time to read what SJ thinks.

 

"For these applications, eliminating even a luxurious $10.000 preamp like my cherished Esoteric C-03 set to zero gain was the silver bullet."

 

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/wyred4/dac_4.html

 

Congratulations on your nice new speakers :D

fatmansings Apprentice

fatmansings

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Hooster;139206 wrote:
:eek: What have you done!?!? Now you will HAVE to get a high quality amp! Those speakers are going to show faults in second rate equipment as clear as day. While I admire your bravery I must question your wisdom. Seems like you will have to spend a fair bit on an amp.

 

:D

 

I question my OWN wisdom as times :rolleyes:

 

however the bases were purchased for use at a later date when we move to a larger place. For now I only intend to use the top half of the PP's as I literally dont have the floor space for standers. They are going to be sitting on a wooden unit which runs along one wall.

As for the amp type I am happy to look at one now just for this purpose and upgrade later as I would quite like to try owning a few different amps for experiences sake. eg: monos, 2 channel SS and 2 channel valve just so I can become familiar with their sound characteristics and then settle on something that suits my taste.

So the mono SX perrauxs are probably still a good recommendation and i do like the small form factor.

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