Room Size

16.5x15.5 with 10ft ceilings

System Overview

Omega Super 8 XRS alnico single driver speakers driven by Manley Neoclassic SE/PP 300B monoblocks.

Music Preferences

Acoustic Guitar, Jazz, Funk, Soul, Bossa Nova, Tango, Samba, Classic Rock, Alternative, etc.

Room Description

16.5Lx15.5Wx10H.

Acoustic Treatment

Acoustically not a great living room. I have the speakers on the short wall and the listening chair only about 1ft out from the opposing short wall. The short wall behind me unfortunately has 2 large windows that I am definitely going to have to buy blinds for - just get those large flat glass surfaces covered up. I have a large 10x14 oriental run laid down which helps and a nice fabric sofa along the long wall which also helps I suppose. As this is an upscale (rental) I cannot nor want to use sound panels for aesthetic reasons. The higher ceiling has also resulted in some lost bass impact vs. my old apartment but NYC apartments are always a big compromise :(

Listening Impressions

The Omegas are very fast and detailed but also very natural sounding. Unbelievable mid-range and decent bass for a single driver. Excels at guitar, sax, drums, piano but pretty much anything you want to throw at them. I think they are really great with 300Bs but I also like them with EL84s and would be very curious to hear them driven by quality 805 SETs. I really think the Omegas like more power - 30-40 watts of tube power is probably the sweet spot.

Other Comments

The most noticable improvements in my system have come from tube rolling. NOS Telefunken ECC801s tubes made the Manley Shrimp pre absolutely come alive. The amps have the full treatment - Sophia Carbon plate 300bs, RCA or Ken Rad VT-231s, RCA VT-229s and NOS RCA 5U4GBs

Components

Digital Source

Sony XA9000es (Reference Audio modified)

Preamp

Manley Shrimp with Telefunken NOS ECC801s (12AT7)

Power Amp

Manley Neoclassic SE/PP 300b monoblocks

Speakers

Omega Super 8 XRS alnico single driver

Speaker Cable

Acoustic Zen Hologram II

Interconnects

Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II and Matrix Reference II

Power Cables

Black Sand Violet Z1 for source & pre, Black Sand Silver Ref V for the monoblocks and conditioner

Power Cond

PS Audio Power Plant Premier

Tuning and Tweaks

Black Diamond Racing #3 and #4 cones under the SACD and preamp

Other Components

Preamp tubes - Mullard NOS ECC81 or Telefunken NOS ECC801S matched pairs. Amplifier tubes - RCA VT-231 or Ken Rad VT-231 on driver side, RCA VT-229 on input side, RCA NOS 5U4GB rectifiers. Herbie's Tube Dampeners on input and driver tubes. Sophia Carbon Plate 300b tubes.