My Music Machine | Virtual Listening Room

Cheap thrills

Description

I started this system about 2 years ago and it's constantly evolving. I'm comparing different components to what I have as budget permits and update my system or not depending on the results. My room is far from ideal. It's very small. The rack has to be in between the speakers which is not the best and I can't sit very far from the speakers. Of course I can't pull the speakers much more than a foot from the wall either. Still, I enjoy this system a lot. It has many strengths and few weaknesses.

Components Toggle details

- East Sound CD-E5
If there is a player that truly deserves the title cheap thrills, this is it. High end sound, quality components and a very small price tag. It can be had for almost nothing on the used market. Watch out for minor design issues related to the transport mainly and the remote is laughable with its minute buttons. I still like mine a lot after 4-5 years. I'm looking forward to getting the Platinum Reference version one day but at $3000 USD, it will have to wait.
- Cayin 265Ai
A well built and heavy (50 pounds) Class A double mono integrated amplifier. It is extremely detailed and fast and like all class A's, can get pretty hot. I find this amplifier needs at least 1-2 hours of warming up before sounding its best. The difference in sound between when it is first powered up and after 2 hours is anything but subtle. Those who have reviewed this amplifier without giving it at least 1 hour don't really know what it sounds like.
- Castle Acoustics Stirling 3
They look great and sound very good too. Very detailed. Highs are never fatiguing and bass is surprising for their size. Imaging is wide and deep. Female voices could be a little smoother (mostly depends on recording quality). These speakers require equally fine components in the rest of the chain to really sing. I've recently upgraded the extra crappy original plastic binding posts to WBT 0764's. It was a moderately easy upgrade but costly. These fine speakers deserve the upscale binding posts that Castle put on their higher priced models. If you ever wondered why WBT is so expensive, buy them/feel them and see for yourself. Nothing comes close.
- Mitsubishi DA-F20
One of the best sounding vintage tuners out there. Looks cool when the lights are out.
- Canare L-5CFB
Canare RCAP connectors. Bought from Blue Jeans Cable. I've tried many other more expensive designs and these always come out on top. Blue Jeans has some of the best cables out there for a fraction of the snake oil loaded alternatives.
- River Cable Flexygy 6
I use double runs (2 separate pairs of cables) in a biwire configuration. I could have used only one pair of cables and quality jumpers. It would have saved me a lot of money but now that I have the 2 pairs I might as well use them. River Cable is as free of snake oil as a company can be. Quality high conductivity individually tested cables and sturdy connectors.
- Gutwire B-12
I wanted a cheap shielded power cable of decent gauge for my amplifier. This cable is tough to beat at this price. 12 ga, double shield and Wattgate connectors.
- Brick Wall PW8R15AUD
I wanted the best protection I could find and a minimal hit on the audio signal. I don't have enough funds for a power regenerator yet.
- Isoclean Power Isoclean audio grade fuses
After seeing a few positive reviews I wanted to try these out for myself. This made more change in my system than most tweaks I have tried so far. I was very doubtful that a fuse could make a difference but it does. So far I've put them in the amp and CD. I wish I had done it sooner.
- Cardas RCA caps
Used to eliminate RF and EMI from entering unused component connectors. Essentially I use them to keep female RCA's clean. They look good too.
- Salamander Designs Archetype 3.0
Well finished sturdy rack. Not the most solid but versatile (adjustable shelves), expandable and relatively cheap
- Dedicated AC line Romex 12 ga.
I've recently had a dedicated AC line installed with a Pass & Seymour outlet and I realise now that this should have been one of the first things to do. It made more difference than any cable swap in my system. Absolutely worthwhile if your present electrical line is shared with many other components and appliances. No more clicks and pops when the furnace turns on.
- The Vibrapod company Vibrapods
Vibrapod and Sorbothane footers on components. I'm not sure if this does anything at all to the sound as some proclaim but it looks good and prevents the amp or CD from moving at all on the wood shelves.

Comments 8

Showing all comments by rtilbury.

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The midrange is very good on the tannoys. I had to fidget with speaker placement before I got vocals to be pinpoint center. The sound of the panache is almost strange when you first hear it; at least I thought it was. It is such a liquid warm sound compared to the NAD and really sucks you in. My friend thought the same thing; it’s as if you know you are listening to something really great.

Male vocals sometimes sound a little laid back, but it really depends on the recording. I think maybe the Panache lets you realize how recordings really are that different from each other. Because every cd I listen to has totally different dynamics, spacing, and separation. Sometimes it gets annoying when even the same cd has so much variety in the songs, ex. coldplay has some songs that the vocals are really centered, than others where he’s off to the right.

I am sure I will be changing speakers in the near future, most likely the Sonus Faber grand pianos. I really love these speakers, and have listened to many Sonus Faber speakers. I think I am one of those guys who will take warm non-fatiguing sound over detailed analytical any day.

rtilbury March 21, 2006 00:27

The buzzing is still present, but can't be heard unless my head is closer than a foot away. I also prefered the MIT to a Cardas Twinlink. I use the cardas now on my cd player. Maybe you can try speaker placement and toe-in, when switching from the NAD my soundstage was a lot different.

PS - did you put the white metering marks on your panache, or did it come like that?

rtilbury March 20, 2006 14:41

I also have the Portal Panache integrated and really love the sound it produces. what I thought was funny though was that I also use the MIT z-cord II. I thought it made a good companion with the Portal. My system sounds so lush that I can just listen for hours.

rtilbury March 17, 2006 13:21