Inoculator

@E_Schaaf After the Sugden A21SE I knew I had to try some other true class A stuff. Had my eye on the F8, but the DSHA-3F wrecked my budget. I figured trying the more relaxed F7 first might be worthwhile.

The F7 sounds a lot like a super DSHA1 when I've A/Bd with headphones, which could also be said of the 3F, though maybe branching off in different directions relative to one another. Of course you probably won't use the F7 with headphones, and 3F isn't a speaker amp so apples and oranges, but all of the above are exceptional amps.

Yeah I will be using F7 as a speaker amp only, so maybe different impressions a bit. I am feeling intrigued at the idea of trying to find something like the DSHA-3f and see how it would sound with my speakers/ You could almost call it ruthlessly clean, but still oozes musicality. Have just never heard anything like it.

I need me a 3F! Really enjoying the Quicksilver + Auteur, but all this synergy talk is tempting me big time. Probably for the best these amps are so hard come by.

Doug is apparently collaborating with CEE_TEE to manufacture the 3F at a more affordable price point sometime in the future, so that may be something to look forward to :O

That sounds like a great combo. I enjoy the Auteur and consider it one of my endgame headphones. i hope you enjoy the pairing for years to come.

I was going to kick this old used Nitty Gritty to the curb and get a new record cleaning machine. But turns out they will refurbish your old unit. They fixed lots of stuff, put a new switch plate on, and even cleaned up and oiled the wood on it before returning it. Feel like I am unboxing a brand new product.

How long were you on the waiting list?

@Cspirou about 5 months. Aready was a long waitlist, and facing supply chain woes like everyone else. Would have had to wait even longer if I did not go for the upgraded SUT.

I’d never really paid attention to Chord, but that Poly thing is pretty neat, price not with standing. Throwing an sd-card in there and using mpd would be cool

Does an iPad not count?

@dubharmonic I am not an apple guy so I had never considered it. Android products are plagued by not being able to bypass their audio mixer with Roon. I suppose if an iPad can do lossless Roon that would work with some sort of dongle. My ideal world would be something like the iFi portable dac/amps but with wifi built in/roon ready. Seems Mojo+Poly is the only product out there that fits the bill.

@gaspasser

Yeah, great idea! I’m game!

...you can focus on work while listening to that system?

No major spoilers for my full write-up that will come late next week (that is the plan at least), but I will say that these nail the LS3/5A DNA. Some pros/cons, that should be presented more as synergy/preference tradeoffs. Great speaker at any price, but getting something that so closly nails the LS3/5A vibe for under $1k is incredible.

I tried the following: Peachtree Decco 2 (brittle), Nuforce STA-200 (?) (flat and hard), PrimaLuna Dialogue integrated (good but not worth the $$).

Ended up with Quicksilver SET monos with an old AES (Cary) tube pre. Given my experience, I’d be hesitant pairing with the NAD (as great as it probably is). I’m curious to try something First Watt

I’ve heard Klipsch on class AB amps that were tolerable, (some Mac and Bryston) but many more class AB amps that were a bad match. I think you’d be really impressed with some Class A or tubes.

I liked a lot about it but i found the "wall of sound" presentation hit or miss. The depth of staging was lacking and width was limited to within the speakers. This worked for some music but disappointed with other stuff, and the bass was very room dependent

@JayC yeah not a super deep stage for me, but otherwise stage is not bugging me too much. So far I have only tried about 6 inches from the wall and no toe-in. I briefly did try like 1.5ft into the room and stage depth got way better, but that is not what I can get away with in this room so didn't spend too long basking in it.

I will add that I do find as they get loud (like threshold of my tolerance) I don't like the presentation as much, at least in their current position. Get more of that wall of sound effect. I do mostly lower level listening, sub 70db stuff though, and I am finding they really excel at that level.

I suggest to not waste time with this

Actually in many cases I have not noticed a difference, but there are some unicorn speakers or ones with two sets of binging posts yet strapped with some metal of ill repute that do sound a bit better bi-wired, ymmv

Just get rid of that jumper plate and strip your wire further so it connects to both binding posts. If not using bare wire get a quality jumper.

If I had the space, I would give these or the Cornwalls a try. Good luck with em! Which color combo did you go with?

Forte has been the best sounding Klipsch model for a while now. Great choice.

@rlow I opted to go for the Walnut and added the white lambswool grills. Really all the finishes could have worked in my space, a tough call. If the oak was a bit less weathered I would have had to go that route, too matchy with my current floors though. I have mix of oak/walnut in the space. Music Hall 9.3 on order will be walnut. Photo of the LS6F where the Fortes will be https://i.imgur.com/dLadfBL.jpg

My friend is getting a Sugden for a home demo and he is praying for it to work well with his Spendor 1/2. Because we don’t have that many good options here in India. Yea, I was eyeing the M33 for that very reason. A simple, all-in-one solution.

Yeah I need to eventually do a write up on the M33, I have been waiting to get my turntable in (yay COVID shipping delays) before I do a final write up. Is it perfect? No. Is it an incredible and versatile all-in-one? Yes. If someone needs a streamlined setup it has relatively few compromises and an overall musical pleasing presentation. Overall like it more than the Naim Uniti Nova.

Great. I look forward to your impressions. If time allows, please share some thoughts on the Grahams and the Sugden too. Hardly any reliable impressions of these gear out there.

Just disappointing to see the DR numbers are between 4 and 7, ugh.

I thought the recording sucked pretty hard.

I am bound to be wrong sometimes @bixby, maybe the Yggdrasil LIM just makes everything sound pretty good. Vocals and how they were layered did it for me via the LS3/5a

I’m a big proponent of decoupling speakers and subs so I’m not at all surprised at your findings! Going to have another look on that site, like you said it’s all priced very reasonably. Just shipping and import duties are something to consider for me…

I've used Herbie's products for years. Tenderfeet under disc players and DAC, and baby booties under lighter game consoles, Apple TV, and now Pi2AES even. I haven't added anything to my Coda amp yet, but that thing weighs 110 lbs so not sure Tenderfeet are the best choice. :)

@zonto They make firm tenderfeet for components up to 200lb! I stuck with the soft tall for my Sugden since just 35 lbs. Glad to hear other folks around here have enjoyed. I have not tried the baby booties, will have to check that out for pi2aes/rega PSU.

Good thing I hope.

I didn't realize just how right she was until something clicked for me recently. Yeah the omni effect is like walking around with headphones, but they also stage like headphones. More of a headstage than a soundstage if that makes sense.

@Gazny mostly at least, just a bit bizarre to get used to. Positioning right is very fine line between really nice bass slam and fuller/more textured mids closer to wall and nice air to the sound further from wall. Finding that sweet spot is tough. Going to test out DIRAC for final refinement sometime next week, as things a bit boomy where I landed on.

Long story short, this is my 2nd Khozmo product, and does not disappoint. Very well constructed/designed passive that removes my nervosa over transparency, while also giving me new functionality. Remote on my Sugden A21SE did nothing but volume, Khozmo has standby, mute, controls display brightness, and is a joy to use. A+ stuff. All electronics removed from signal path and external PSU.

Is that rack made out of gigantic pieces of Ikea bamboo?

@Garns yep! I had a post in the audio racks thread about the build, but that thread seems to not be available right now either. It is a Salamander/threaded rod style rack, and I just drilled the corners of ikea bamboo countertops. Worked great!

modern shoegaze gods
https://youtu.be/6EfP1nV-xtE

@Wilson I got the chance to see them at Red Rocks when they were opening for Fleet Foxes/touring their B sides album the year before that video, amazing stuff. Sun setting, lightning storm brewing in the distance, truly unforgettable.

Yes, indeed! They are mesmerizing live as well! Hoping to catch them on tour next Spring. Think tix go onsale soon.

Initial impressions all overwhelming positive. Midrange feels maybe a little sucked out/muddy, but need to mess with positioning and get them broken in. I bought them to confidently fill a large open concept space, and for a wide sweet spot, and on those two counts boy do they deliver. If you have never heard an omni (which I had not), it is trip. Stage/imaging stays perfectly locked in as you pace the room.

Great looking room. I also no longer believe you have any children. ;)

@Soups haha right? Got to splurge on setting this space up after moving/selling our old house. Taking a lot of work to get them to respect this space, toy storage and room to sprawl out at the back of the room. Have sacrificed whole downstairs rec room to play room space. I actually chose the Ohms partially for kid safety though. No driver they can poke!