Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.
04-18-05
Tj, excellent system. i've heard how good the ensemble comb ... Islandear
04-19-05
Wow, killer system. come on tj, thirty five years and no tu ... Mitch4t
04-20-05: Teajay
Thanks for your succient kudo about my system.I have totally replaced my extensive vinyl jazz collection with Cds which now total about 3500 to 4000 disks.If your serious about purchasing the Lps let me know,we can work something out.It was not necessary to use an attenuator to match the gain in my system.My room is length=38 feet,width=15 feet, and ceiling height=half the ceiling is 8 feet, the other half goes up to 20 feet in a gentle slope.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-20-05
Hey, i'd like to get in on this lp purchase thing. email me ... Ozzy62
05-01-05
Hi, i like the calssic horns with jazz. i use klipsch forte ... Larry510
05-05-05: Teajay
System edited: Just audtioned the new Acoustic Zen reference wire the Absolute. Brought the whole system to a higher level,so their my new reference in my system.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
08-05-05: Teajay
System edited: Just did a two week audtion of this DAC and found it to be better than my old reference (Ensemble HI-DAC). Its a keeper! In the near future I will write a formal reveiw for the GON.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
10-13-05: Teajay
System edited: Just got through audtioning the Stealth Varidig Sextet digital reference cable, and it bettered my old Artistic Arts Vacuum Digital reference, so its a keeper! I will post a review here on the GON to share what I heard. It's a fantastic cable.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
03-25-06: Teajay
System edited: Just got through auditioning the Jaco AC line conditioner built by Running Springs Audio and it totally surpassed my Richard Gray pieces, so its my new AC conditioner. I will post a review here on the GON to share what this piece added to my system. Its quite terrific in its effect on my system's overall sonic signature.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-03-06
Hi tj, i'm an audiophile from the netherlands. after 12 year ... Dazzdax
04-04-06: Teajay
Chris, to directly answer your qusetion, I have no experience or knowledge regarding using a output coupling transformer between a DAC and pre-amp. Sorry.
Regarding your digital front end, are your Accuphase pieces, from about the late 80's or early 90's, or are they later more recent offerings from Accuphase? I used to have Accuphase reference digital gear years ago, and found them "warm/musical", but lacking details/dynamics/prat.
I believe the new Digital gear around today is a vast improvement over the older gear and is very competitive with analog these days.
So, maybe what you are experience is not a technical problem, but your digital end possible showing its age compared to newer gear.
If, I'm confusing your digital pieces with older models, then what you are concerned over sonically might be something more with synergy in your system. Let me know what happens.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-05-06
Tj, the accuphase combo is from 1992. according to you the a ... Dazzdax
04-07-06: Teajay
System edited: I have replaced my Pass Labs X-350.5 with a pair of Pass Labs-XA 100 monoblocks to power the midrange and ribbon tweeters of my MG-20's. These are the best sounding amps I have ever had in my system. I'll be posting a review on the details regarding their sonics, shortly here on the GON, after I collect my thoughts regarding what makes them so special/pleasing to me.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-07-06: Teajay
System edited: I have just replaced my Pass Labs X-350.5 with pair of Pass Labs XA-100 monoblocks to power the midrange and ribbon tweeters of my MG-20's. I'll be posting a review shortly with the details concerning the sonics of these monoblocks.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-07-06: Teajay
System edited: A major move to replace my Pass Labs X-350.5 with a pair of Pass Labs XA-100 monoblocks to power the midrange and ribbon tweeters of my MG-20's. I'll post a review shortly on these great sounding monoblocks.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-22-06
Congratulations on assembling a real dream system. what is m ... Listener57
05-17-06: Teajay
System edited: The new Accustic Arts DAC1 MK4 has replaced its older sibling, the MK3, because it's sonic signature is on a higher level and brings my total rig's performance to another level of naturalness/musicality.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
08-23-06: Teajay
System edited: The new Accustic Arts Transport is the partner to my Dac1-MK4, it brings out the best performance out of the DAC. I will share later on how much better/different this transport sounds compared with my older Ensemble transport in my system.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
08-23-06: Teajay
System edited: This transport is the new Accustic Arts reference and was built by Accustic Arts to bring out the best performance out of the DAC1-MK4. I will share later on how much of a difference it made in my system, compared with the Ensemble transport, after it has a chance to break in.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
10-07-06
How about some pics?....truely an awesome system! Shadorne
10-07-06
Hi teajay i just read your "reference dacs" threa ... Aball
10-08-06: Teajay
Aball, thanks for the interesting question. I would like to answer it in two ways.
1) My most important priorities regarding specific sonic attributes are the following in rank order:
Natural/accurate timbres
Macro-dynamics/speed
Transparency/details
A wide/deep soundstage with air around the different players and a natural layering in the stage
Extension on the top and bottom
These are the factors, especially the first three, that I am trying to obtain in the overall sonic signature of my system because it allows me a good taste of the "real thing" with the greatest amount of ease to get into the music. It's like my brain does not have to work as hard to enjoy the music.
I find that even if a system's overall sonic signature contains things like great bass, razor sharp details, great speed, but offers up these virtues with any degree of harshness/etch/brightness or without having what I call very subjectively "musicality/liquidity", I find the overall experience either unpleasant or I can admire it on an intellectual level, but not enjoy or ease into the music. On the other hand, I have listened to system's that are so euphonic, totally extreme Type 2 flavor, that the music has no PRAT or aliveness and it sounds like its stick in molasses.
Now, that my overall perspective has been articulated, on to the specific pieces in my system that get me the overall sonic signature I'm listening for.
Mg-20's being planar speakers with one of the greatest transducers of all times, their ribbon tweeter, offers a slightly type 2 sound, with great details and a natural soundstage which sounds very much like real music. They do not offer pinpoint imaging, but a very natural perspective compared to most box enclosure designs.
The Pass Labs XA-100's are almost a perfect match of the warmth/natural timbres/liquidity of a type 2 flavor, along with great dynamics/transparency/speed of the best of type 1 virtues.
The Placette preamp is dead in the middle of the two flavors, and just let's the music flow without adding or subtracting anything that's not already upstream in the system.
The Accustic Arts combo, along with Stealth Sextet digital cable, are very detailed and with great speed, but has a slight to medium type 2 flavor overall.
The line conditioners, both on the front end of the system and the back end offer great transparency,virtually no noise floor and very powerful dynamics, so I would say these virtues are more a type 1 set of flavors.
Finally, all the wires in my system, including the power cords, are slightly type 2 flavors, but offer enough clarity and details, so I don't end up with what I would call a "fat or overripe" sonic signature.
So, like everyone else, I want the best of both type 1 and type 2 flavors in a totally perfect balance in my system,
well, I can at least dream about it, and that's been my goal as I learned what sonic factors would lead to what I was seeking from my system.
Hope, that's helpful, and that I answered your question in a way that is clear and precise
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
10-09-06
Ah yes, the balance between type 1 and type 2. that is why ... Aball
11-03-06
Tj, according to experts a digital s/pdif cable should have ... Dazzdax
11-04-06: Teajay
Chris, my experience with digital cables would confirm your assumption, just because a cable is 75 ohms does not always lead to excellent sonic performance.
The two cables that you were seeking information on regarding their sonics I have never personally heard, so I can't be helpful, sorry about that.
As you know, by looking at my system and reviews, my reference is the Stealth Sextet. I virtually never call any piece of gear the "BEST" in the world, however if the Sextet is not the best digital cable around today, it ranks right at the top of a very short list.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-08-07: Teajay
System edited: I just got through with a round of auditioning different linestages and found the Bent Tap linestage to be a little more "organic/musical" then my Placette Active linestage, so the Tap is my new reference. I'll post a review here on the GON in the next few days.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-08-07
Hello teejay! i´m building a new system and i´m considering ... Asradict
01-09-07: Teajay
Hi, Mike seems like your putting together a fine sounding system. To answer your questions:
1) I bi-amp in my system so I use two pairs of Absolute speaker wires and not Double Barrel.
2) If you like the Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II, you would diffently like the Absolute IC's and speaker wire in your system. For alot of details regarding how they sound compared to the Silver Ref II's go to my review here on the GON and see if the information posted gives you a good perspective regarding the sonics of the Absolute wires, if you still have questions, let me know and I will try to answer them. Good luck.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-09-07
Hello teejay! thank you very much for your answer! did you ... Asradict
01-09-07: Teajay
Mike, if you already use the Acoustic Zen family of wires, Silver Ref II, Matrix II, and Satori, your getting about 70% to 80% of the performance of what Mr. Lee's reference Absolute wires have to offer already. As I often say that last 20% of performance often is very expensive to get, but does make a real difference sonicly.
In the past, I have tried reference wires from Nordost, AudioQuest, and high range Transparent Labs and find the Acoustic Zen wires to be much more "musical", built to a high standard and more reasonable priced then many other highly respected house brands.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-10-07
Hello teejay! thank you for your answer! only now i notice ... Asradict
01-10-07: Teajay
Asradict, sorry I can't help with this one because I have never auditioned the Absolute PC's at all in my system. When I did my auditioning of PC's, tried several different house brands, I liked the Harmonix cords so much better then the others they became my reference throughout my system. At this point I'm not very interested in exploring the Acoustic Zen PC's because I'm very happy with the Studio Masters PC's. However, someone who's ears I trust has auditioned the Absolute PC's and thinks they are terrific, but has never tried the Studio Masters, so we don't know which would sound better in his system.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-13-07
Hello teejay! thank you! as i told you i´m thinking on the ... Asradict
01-13-07: Teajay
Asradict, again you have asked a question which I cannot answer because I bi-amp my system not bi-wire. I would recommend you call Acoustic Zen and talk to Mr. Robert Lee, who has always answered my questions regarding his wires in a honest and very helpful way in the past.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-16-07
Did you position your rig along the long wall or the short w ... Mitch4t
01-17-07: Teajay
Mitch4t, I have moved into a new home that is a total open design. My MG-20's are six feet off the back wall, which is the short wall of 30 feet and I sit about 12 feet from the speakers with the back wall another 35 feet away. The ceiling is 30 feet high with many posts and beems running through out the total house. It's the best acoustic environment my rig has ever been in.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
01-22-07
How far apart are your speakers from each other? i have a 1 ... Mitch4t
01-24-07: Teajay
Mitch4t, my MG-20's are 10 feet apart with the ribbons on the outside. In my old house the speakers were about 7 feet apart with the ribbons on the inside because I was much closer to the side walls and found I got a better soundstage with more percise layering this way. Now, in the new house my soundstage is much wider and deeper, but I still get great layering with the ribbons on the outside.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
03-01-07
Teajay, it looks like i am going down the same path as you b ... Dev
03-12-07: Teajay
System edited: Just added the Stealth Metacarbon between the Accustic Arts DAC1-MK4 and the Bent Audio Tap linestage. It's a great cable and raised the level of my total system to another sonic level, just like the Stealth digital cable had done before.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
03-13-07
teajay stealth product is amazing, get of pair of indra's f ... Dev
03-13-07: Teajay
Dev, we totally agree on the Stealth wires, they really offer something special in the system that they are placed in.
Yes, I have heard the WB ACT speakers and found them quite good, open, very detailed without being "edgy", and musical. As far as their bass extension, it seemed fast, and accurate, but I don't know how deep they go.
I know no that has ever tried the Oracle transport. I have read postive reviews of the Oracle CDP, but nothing on the transport. So, if you have a chance to hear your friend's with the DAC1-MK4 in your system, please share what you hear compared to the DRIVE1-MK2! I will say all the Oracle pieces are beautiful "eye candy".
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
03-17-07
Tj, have you auditioned mbl? what does it sound like? i'm th ... Dazzdax
03-18-07: Teajay
Chris, I have heard the MBL DAC/transport on a couble of occasions, found them quite good, but not better then my Accustic Arts combo, and was not motivated to do a home audition. The MBL pieces were not the reference combo, but the pair that sells for around $15000.00. I never have heard the MBL 1521A, but would suggest you post on my thread, entitled, Reference DACS: An overall perspective for information on this piece. I would also recommend you put on your audition list the AA CDP MK-2 which offers great performance in the price range of the MBL player.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
03-19-07
well teajay, i ordered the oracle 2000 on friday, should ge ... Dev
04-17-07
How was the placette versus the bent audio pre? did you sacr ... Samuellaudio
04-17-07: Teajay
Samuellaudio, the Tap did everything as well as the Placette active, but bettered it in three main areas:
1) The Tap does a better job on the decay of notes in a more natural way then the Placette.
2) The Tap offers a bit more of a "relaxed/warmth" then the Placette and to my ear's a more natural sense of timbres.
3) The Tap offers more image density, not more space between players, but more solid images then the Placette.
If you have not seen my review of the Tap here on the GON take a look at it for alot more details comparing these great linestages.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
04-19-07: Teajay
System edited: Just added the Indra and two more pairs of Metacarbon to the system. The total effect is just amazing and brings the whole system to another level of "musicality and liquidity" then before.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
08-13-07: Teajay
System edited: Just posted a review on the Accustic Arts reference Tube Hybrid DAC II, which now is part of my system.
Teajay (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
08-17-07
teajay noticed you have put up your bent tap up for sale! ... Dev
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