Yes, still working on it! And, actually, I think I might upgrade the speakers someday to the next model up. But here it is...It's an ACTIVE set-up using Sonus Faber Electa Amator's (original 1 versions), modified to bypass the simple internal crossover, using an out board electronic crossover (Bryston 10b special), driving both set's of drivers "actively" with Dual high current Threshold T200's with 100w/ch pure class A operating amplification. The preamp for all this is the Pass Aleph L passive/active (virtually tranasparent and amazingly hyper detailed(the Electa's sound much better with Solid state stuff!). The stands are Osiris ehavy dubty stands filled with lead and a tiny bit of sand and glue (stands are 140lbs each!!).
The cabling for all of this is Harmonic Tech Pro-11 (dual runs bi-wire/amp), which is very transparent and detailed (great stuff!), interconnects are Acoustic Zen Matrix on bottom and Ref Silver on top pressently.
The tuner I'm using is a way way over achiever for the money, which is the Creek T43. (only $700 retail, but competes with much much more expensive!).
The CD Source I'm using, which is also being upgraded to separets eventually, is a modest, but way too good sounding Panasonic DVDA310 DVD player! (yes, it sounds cheep, but sounds like several thousand dollar CD players!!..really!). Anyway, probably wait till the formats settle down a bit before I upgrade. As for the power conditioner/source, I'm using the PS Audio P300 for everything but the amps!(in the wall pressently)
Ultimately, I've heard a ton of sytems from years of working in several ultra high ends shops, and have installed and sold a ton of gear, plus gone to the shows and what have you. And, I must say, you can probably not get any significantly better overall sound that what I'm using right now! Not to mention the gear I'm using is pretty decent foundation for my medium sized room (2 channel only), but the ACTIVE set-up, driving the speakers directly with the amplifiers (bypassing the internal crossover), is so much more dynamic and realistic than the standard high end dainty, that it makes everything else seem like flat weak sound! I mean the dynamics are so strong it hurts!!! We're talking about just about as close to Dynamic transparancy as you can get!...very real! you simply can't get this kind of pressence, dynamic finess, and solidity of image that you get from the "active" set-up! The only thing I can think of that sounds close to being this strong in this regard, is something like Avantegard horn loaded speakers, at unrealistic sensetivity ratings!
I don't know, I've tried all the high end delicate little "non dynamic" speaker choices out there over the years, and can say that I'm pretty tired of anemic dynamic drive and realism that most of them offer. And believe me, most of it is pretty, polite, and just not that exciting if you play anything that "rocks", "rolls", thumps" or "bumps!"
In this regards some of the mid-fi "self powered" speakers with amplified sub's do better than a lot of the purist audiophile offerings! I've sold Thiel, Wilson (better than most), Dunlavy's, B&W, NHT, Magnaplan, Martin Logan, Celestion, Infinity, Mirage, and others, so I can say this with experience!
I think the manufacturers of high end gear can only go to active set-up/speakers if they want to improve over anything that' been marketed over the last 30 years! ACTIVE is the way to go if you want to get to that illusive "you-are-there" sound reproduction! The thing that the pro-audio industry has known for some time, is that active speakers are simply more realistic and dynamic/life like transducers of sound! If there's really going to be any strides in Audio speakers, it's going to have to go this way, or the way of ultra high sensiitivity quality speakers! Everything else has been done over and over again (only with different labels!).
Anyway, eventually I'm going to work on my Surround sound system a bit more. Probably end up doing some hi resolution monitors all the way around eventually, doing an active(modified) set up, using some Diappolito configured speakers like dunlavy's, or go crazy and play around with moding some Wilson Cubs!..and do some killer sub/sat(active) combo w/multiple subs!!!...bang!..the glory!
And if you ask me,..."it's all about ACTIVE baby!"...
The cabling for all of this is Harmonic Tech Pro-11 (dual runs bi-wire/amp), which is very transparent and detailed (great stuff!), interconnects are Acoustic Zen Matrix on bottom and Ref Silver on top pressently.
The tuner I'm using is a way way over achiever for the money, which is the Creek T43. (only $700 retail, but competes with much much more expensive!).
The CD Source I'm using, which is also being upgraded to separets eventually, is a modest, but way too good sounding Panasonic DVDA310 DVD player! (yes, it sounds cheep, but sounds like several thousand dollar CD players!!..really!). Anyway, probably wait till the formats settle down a bit before I upgrade. As for the power conditioner/source, I'm using the PS Audio P300 for everything but the amps!(in the wall pressently)
Ultimately, I've heard a ton of sytems from years of working in several ultra high ends shops, and have installed and sold a ton of gear, plus gone to the shows and what have you. And, I must say, you can probably not get any significantly better overall sound that what I'm using right now! Not to mention the gear I'm using is pretty decent foundation for my medium sized room (2 channel only), but the ACTIVE set-up, driving the speakers directly with the amplifiers (bypassing the internal crossover), is so much more dynamic and realistic than the standard high end dainty, that it makes everything else seem like flat weak sound! I mean the dynamics are so strong it hurts!!! We're talking about just about as close to Dynamic transparancy as you can get!...very real! you simply can't get this kind of pressence, dynamic finess, and solidity of image that you get from the "active" set-up! The only thing I can think of that sounds close to being this strong in this regard, is something like Avantegard horn loaded speakers, at unrealistic sensetivity ratings!
I don't know, I've tried all the high end delicate little "non dynamic" speaker choices out there over the years, and can say that I'm pretty tired of anemic dynamic drive and realism that most of them offer. And believe me, most of it is pretty, polite, and just not that exciting if you play anything that "rocks", "rolls", thumps" or "bumps!"
In this regards some of the mid-fi "self powered" speakers with amplified sub's do better than a lot of the purist audiophile offerings! I've sold Thiel, Wilson (better than most), Dunlavy's, B&W, NHT, Magnaplan, Martin Logan, Celestion, Infinity, Mirage, and others, so I can say this with experience!
I think the manufacturers of high end gear can only go to active set-up/speakers if they want to improve over anything that' been marketed over the last 30 years! ACTIVE is the way to go if you want to get to that illusive "you-are-there" sound reproduction! The thing that the pro-audio industry has known for some time, is that active speakers are simply more realistic and dynamic/life like transducers of sound! If there's really going to be any strides in Audio speakers, it's going to have to go this way, or the way of ultra high sensiitivity quality speakers! Everything else has been done over and over again (only with different labels!).
Anyway, eventually I'm going to work on my Surround sound system a bit more. Probably end up doing some hi resolution monitors all the way around eventually, doing an active(modified) set up, using some Diappolito configured speakers like dunlavy's, or go crazy and play around with moding some Wilson Cubs!..and do some killer sub/sat(active) combo w/multiple subs!!!...bang!..the glory!
And if you ask me,..."it's all about ACTIVE baby!"...