MattyW Posted July 23, 2021 Posted July 23, 2021 Took a short little video of my system today using a Rode NT1A Mic into my Samsung Galaxy A70: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KLeu1N2UHS6UWjQf9 12
BLAH BLAH Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 WOW...Looks very nice...sounds nice...just had a listen...all I can say is we have different tastes in HI-FI @Matthew Willims... 1
MattyW Posted July 24, 2021 Author Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) Haha, sounds natural to me. There is impact if it's in the music. None of what I played there was that sort of music though Edited July 24, 2021 by Matthew Willims 1
THOMO Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 20 hours ago, Matthew Willims said: Took a short little video of my system today using a Rode NT1A Mic into my Samsung Galaxy A70: https://photos.app.goo.gl/KLeu1N2UHS6UWjQf9 Fantastic. And Jim Reeves of course. 1
MattyW Posted July 24, 2021 Author Posted July 24, 2021 6 hours ago, THOMO said: Fantastic. And Jim Reeves of course. Yeah, I grew up with Jim Reeves, John Denver, plenty of Beatles etc
crtexcnndrm99 Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 Very transparent sounding, well done on getting to this point I think I’m becoming accustomed to the slight roll off inherent in coaxial speakers, which may be why that stood out for me. Quite some change since last time I watched a vid of your system though, most notably the lack of turntables 2
MattyW Posted July 24, 2021 Author Posted July 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, crtexcnndrm99 said: Very transparent sounding, well done on getting to this point I think I’m becoming accustomed to the slight roll off inherent in coaxial speakers, which may be why that stood out for me. Quite some change since last time I watched a vid of your system though, most notably the lack of turntables Yeah, my wife is very happy about the lack of turntables. Less gear means things look considerably neater and timber. Sound has improved mostly due to mods and improvements on the digital side of things. I'm down to linear power supplies for media PC's and servers, networking gear etc now. Also waiting on Supra CAT8 cables to replace all my no name stuff. Pretty much time to call it a day. I'm losing interest in tweaking things further. Diminishing returns and all that. 1
crtexcnndrm99 Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 52 minutes ago, Matthew Willims said: Yeah, my wife is very happy about the lack of turntables. Less gear means things look considerably neater and timber. Sound has improved mostly due to mods and improvements on the digital side of things. I'm down to linear power supplies for media PC's and servers, networking gear etc now. Also waiting on Supra CAT8 cables to replace all my no name stuff. Pretty much time to call it a day. I'm losing interest in tweaking things further. Diminishing returns and all that. ‘Neater and timber’ - this I get Fair enough re approaching the end of tweaking. As you know being all analogue here, I’ve been at a similar stage of just thoroughly enjoying buying music... it’s almost a deliberate change in focus, pretending the gear isn’t there and isn’t endlessly modifiable, seeing the music as the intriguing part 1 1
MattyW Posted July 24, 2021 Author Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) Ha, that was a typo. Meant to be tidier, not timber. Shows more nice woodgrain though so I guess timber works. The challenge has been walking the fine line between musicality and transparency. Too transparent and enjoyment suffers limiting you to only the best recordings. Too musical and you've lost the fine detail that makes things sound so lifelike. Anyway I won't waffle on about that much as my views are at odds with some members and I'm not really interested in a debate. Tidal means I don't buy music anymore. Fewer deliveries means I'm in trouble less Edited July 24, 2021 by Matthew Willims 2 1
THOMO Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 What drivers are you using? I agree completely about finding the right balance between transparency and musicality.Especially if you only have one system.I have one system that is extremely transparent but you need to be in the right mood to enjoy it.The other system is my every -day system and that uses more forgiving /musical speakers and a warmer and more relaxed presentation. Not sure about going without vinyl though because that is both transparent and musical.Try listening to the digital version of Gentleman Jim on digital after listening to the record. 2
MattyW Posted July 24, 2021 Author Posted July 24, 2021 (edited) Lii Audio Fast-10S fullrange, Lii Audio W15 woofers, also a pair of helper tweeters per speaker, Aurum Cantus G3Si ribbons and ceiling facing Skar Audio VX1ST bullets. The tweeters are wired in series with each other but in parallel to the Fast-10S fullrange. There's a single 2.2uf Duelund Cast Cu-Sn cap in front of the tweeters. The W15 woofers have their own Crown XLS1002 amp with the low pass set at 200Hz and the other drivers are driven by a 10W Pass Aleph-M Edited July 24, 2021 by Matthew Willims 1
JB82 Posted July 24, 2021 Posted July 24, 2021 I don't suppose you have any knowledge or an opinion on the Lii flagship speakers or their Liionidas? I'm also a fan of a transparent but musical system like yours, I currently get that with my Electrostatics but having moved into an apartment I'm looking for something that can give me that sound when the speakers are placed closer to the wall. 1
MattyW Posted July 24, 2021 Author Posted July 24, 2021 No personal experience no.... My Fast-10S were the flagship speakers before the Crystal-10 displaced them. I believe the Silver-10 have now displaced the Crystal-10. My understanding is that the Crystal-10 are better suited to open baffle use than Silver-10 and have more high frequency extension than my Fast-10S so no helper tweeters needed. 1
MattyW Posted July 25, 2021 Author Posted July 25, 2021 Ok, so did a longer, more comprehensive video tonight. Nearly an hour: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vB7vVs2BZOZArvHHzqc4Ss-OE23q9xvr/view?usp=drivesdk 1
tripitaka Posted August 21, 2021 Posted August 21, 2021 Hi Matty, I have a question. After some illuminating discussion on Ittaku's thread about open baffles and rear facing drivers, I am now really curious as to how you ended up with open baffles AND a rear facing tweeter. Also, were there any technical challenges (driver phase, etc) that you has to overcome in your unusual configuration? Best, Trip
MattyW Posted August 21, 2021 Author Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) I've no rear facing tweeter..... I've 1x forward facing ribbon and one ceiling facing bullet. I originally intended to just have the bullets but I missed the fine detail ribbons bring (my previous speakers were Aurum Cantus F620's). The idea of the ceiling facing bullet is to avoid some phase issues and bring greater ambience. It seems to deliver on that. The shallow open back cabinet design came from a reference I found online where one person found it improved bass and kept most of the benefits of a true open baffle. For me it also brought the ability to child proof the speaker by putting the speaker cloth on the back of the cabinet. Would another approach have been better? Possibly though this has worked well for me. I didn't have time for a mock up or first build and built these, just modifying the design and tweaking as necessary. Not the best way to do something I know but it's worked for me Edited August 21, 2021 by MattyW 2
tripitaka Posted August 21, 2021 Posted August 21, 2021 Thanks! Yes sorry I had mixed up your top-firing driver in my own head. I'm gonna try and learn more about that config. Thanks for the explanation 1
MattyW Posted August 21, 2021 Author Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) I tried to place the fullrange drivers about ear height for when seated which made a real difference, and the woofers as close to the floor as possible for a little help with bass from the floor itself. The ribbons weren't part of the original design so they were just squeezed in where they would fit without any consideration as to what would sound better. I figured on the outside they'd give a wider soundstage but have since been advised that imaging would be improved with them on the inside? I can't swap speakers over either as I placed terminals close to the inside edge on each speaker so that shorter speaker cables could be used (Aurealis Litz 201 ain't cheap). Such is life. Edited August 21, 2021 by MattyW 2
Artnet Posted August 21, 2021 Posted August 21, 2021 1 hour ago, MattyW said: (Aurealis Litz 201 ain't cheap). Lovely cable though, Not wanting to invite the debate you refer to, I use these and really enjoy. Am running a new speaker cable from Geoff, (Spiral 8 prototype) musical with terrific seperation and sound stage. Will post something about them soon. Havent watched your vid yet but the upward firing tweeter is interesting. Reinhard Thöress uses one in his 2CD12 loudspeakers. Not aware of others? Linkwitz used a rear firing tweeter on one of his OB models, think it was an option on the kit. 2 1
MattyW Posted August 21, 2021 Author Posted August 21, 2021 33 minutes ago, Artnet said: Lovely cable though, Not wanting to invite the debate you refer to, I use these and really enjoy. Am running a new speaker cable from Geoff, (Spiral 8 prototype) musical with terrific seperation and sound stage. Will post something about them soon. Havent watched your vid yet but the upward firing tweeter is interesting. Reinhard Thöress uses one in his 2CD12 loudspeakers. Not aware of others? Linkwitz used a rear firing tweeter on one of his OB models, think it was an option on the kit. Damn, can you tell me how it is in direct comparison to the Litz 201? Just differences please? Might have to get in touch with Geoff. 1
Artnet Posted August 21, 2021 Posted August 21, 2021 They are different listening experiences. The Litz 201 has much more detail, (transparent) but they will reveal bad recordings particularly in digital. On analogue, they are great, less recording dependent but still sounds good. The Spiral8 has a different delivery, I described it as a first SET amp experience that you don't forget. With the Spiral8 it is easy across all inputs (Musical ?). Geoff puts it as "... a very nice separation and layering of instruments and vocals." After some burn in very enjoyable lovely sound stage, particularly during lockdown, accommodating of system changes, shuffling components, cables etc. Interestingly changed out the Dueland 50 for the R3i AgCul back in which gave some definition. 2
MattyW Posted August 21, 2021 Author Posted August 21, 2021 Mmm, sounds like something that my wife would enjoy..... That said it sounds like it may cover up what my lovely Abbas DAC does. Might get a set to try out and alternate cables as I feel like. I've sufficient R3 AgCuL and Duelund 50 to switch between whatever is necessary. I can't help feeling I've a tube amp in use now I've the VTL Reference DAC in my second system. Everything I like about tubes and glorious bass. 1
MattyW Posted August 23, 2021 Author Posted August 23, 2021 @Artnet ok I had a chat to Geoff today. I'll have a set of the new Spiral 8's on the way soon too. Keen to try. Be nice to change my systems flavour a little for a bit. Cables are the only changes I can really make and won't be noticed by my wife these days. Worthwhile though 1
Artnet Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 I didn't want to complicate things further but On 21/08/2021 at 8:55 PM, MattyW said: Mmm, sounds like something that my wife would enjoy..... Mine prefers the Litz201 I bought a pair of Abbas's speaker cables before I ordered my DAC as was hoping to head into MONO block territory. Maybe later this year? They are a little short at the moment to use without moving things around, but plugged them back in to try. I would put them a close second to the 201. Like all of Abbas's things I have, they show incredible balance in presentation! Maybe they are not burnt in well enough yet but I find the bottom end not as tightly presented as in either the Aurealis litz 201 or the Spiral8. The Spiral 8 is easy to listen to and look forward to hearing what you make of them in your system. 1 1
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