AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Owner's Circles => Digital Amplifier Company Owners => Topic started by: rockn on 27 Apr 2020, 06:30 pm

Title: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 27 Apr 2020, 06:30 pm
Hey gang I’m new to DAC! just got this over the weekend after doing my research and reading many posts on ac. I must say I see what all the fuss is about, this is one tiny audio marvel!  This is replacing my Wyred 4 Sound mono mAmps which I was very satisfied with. I’ll have some questions later.

Thanks Bob

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207934)
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: Wind Chaser on 27 Apr 2020, 07:14 pm
Congratulations Bob, you have one very sweet little amplifier there!  :thumb:

What’s the rest of your system and room like?
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 27 Apr 2020, 07:28 pm
Thank u! Rest of my system:
Schiit Saga pre
Denafrips Ares ll dac
Bluesound Node 2 streamer
Dynaudio Special 40 speakers
Rel S2 sub
Pro-Ject audio turn table
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207944)


 
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: Wind Chaser on 27 Apr 2020, 08:05 pm
Nice, I take the Cherry is okay with the Dynaudio, as in not lacking power?

I'm guessing your speakers are about 18" off the side walls and about 30" off the front wall?
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 27 Apr 2020, 08:21 pm
Not at all, plenty of power in reserve and yes good guess on the measurements! The Dyns are great at retrieving micro details, lots of air and separation and the Cherry amp just brings more of that.

First day I ran balanced out of my dac into the Cherry, no pre...incredible! I would prefer this but I’m lazy and missed my remote so hooked up the pre and still sounds amazing....
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: Wind Chaser on 27 Apr 2020, 08:46 pm
I hear you on the remote. I have pretty decent DAC with a remote VC but I also recently added the entry level Cherry DAC.  Like the Cherry amps, the Cherry DAC is pretty amazing too ... and even more amazing it only cost a fraction of my other DAC.  :o

Have you tried pulling your speakers further out into the room?
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 27 Apr 2020, 08:58 pm
Yep I’ve read up on the dac and most of the rest of the DAC line of products. I’m always looking try new things...what’s a remote VC? Voice control?

And no haven’t tried pulling them out, mostly side to side but I might try. Always looking for that sweet spot to lock into...
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 27 Apr 2020, 09:10 pm
Well that made a nice improvement! There about 45 inches from the back all to front of speaker, Thanks
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 27 Apr 2020, 09:11 pm
Back wall😀
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 27 Apr 2020, 10:53 pm
Not at all, plenty of power in reserve and yes good guess on the measurements! The Dyns are great at retrieving micro details, lots of air and separation and the Cherry amp just brings more of that.

First day I ran balanced out of my dac into the Cherry, no pre...incredible! I would prefer this but I’m lazy and missed my remote so hooked up the pre and still sounds amazing....

Yeah, with the KING STM, you should have PLENTY of clean power!
I had the 48v STM and it almost got me to where I wanted but not quite. I have Magnepan LRS's, which are VERY demanding and hard to drive!  Tommy and I talked about moving up to the KING, then to a 2-CHerry, then we finally decided on his top of the line Golden Cherry monoblocks. In heaven with this combo! Tommy's electronics are high end! Not high priced. They're just stupid good!

And I had his DAC DAC 1HS and I had the EXACT same experience with the STM. When I went DAC straight to the STM and used the volume control on the STM!!!!! Holy smokes! It was so good! I mean a very noticeable difference. Switching back to my pre-amp for volume control still sounds spectacular, but not as good as going straight to the STM. The tradeoffs are convenience for sound quality.
Now owning the Golden Cherries, I have to use volume control but am getting a manual, balanced, passive preamp sent to me to try to interfere with the signal as little as possible. Should be as close to a straight pass through signal from source to amps. Here is my set up with STM and now.


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207950)


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207951)


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207952)
     

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207953)
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 27 Apr 2020, 10:59 pm
Here is a better picture.


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207954)
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: J Payton on 27 Apr 2020, 11:39 pm
How are you running the Rel Sub without a some sort of active crossover?

This has been one of the reasons I haven't made a STM purchase.

If your solution works I may consider again.
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 28 Apr 2020, 12:25 am
Wow AV, I bet that sounds as impressive as it looks. Very nice!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 28 Apr 2020, 12:39 am
Wow AV, I bet that sounds as impressive as it looks. Very nice!

It brings a smile to my face. Still have the HS2 on the way and my pre-amp. Two subs and will be set.

Your system is superb as well. I was REALLY considering those Dynaudio 40’s. I had the Saga you have as well. Real nice. Denafrips AresII is a very coveted DAC right now and bet it sounds superb. And of course the REL is one of the most musical subs you can buy. Well done all the way around!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 28 Apr 2020, 12:39 am
https://relsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004486607-Class-D-Amp-Connection-Methods

J Payton,
Read this link, this is how I hook up my Rel
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 28 Apr 2020, 12:41 am
How are you running the Rel Sub without a some sort of active crossover?

This has been one of the reasons I haven't made a STM purchase.

If your solution works I may consider again.

I am going to assume by using the crossover on the REL?
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 28 Apr 2020, 12:44 am
AV, thank u sir, I have a feeling my Cherry adventure is just beginning...
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 28 Apr 2020, 12:46 am
Yes, using the High Level connection
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: morganc on 28 Apr 2020, 01:25 am
Thank u! Rest of my system:
Schiit Saga pre
Denafrips Ares ll dac
Bluesound Node 2 streamer
Dynaudio Special 40 speakers
Rel S2 sub
Pro-Ject audio turn table
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207944)

Nice system Bob!  Glad that you're enjoying that fine Amp!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 28 Apr 2020, 01:30 am
Thanks Morgan🙂
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 28 Apr 2020, 01:32 am
How do u guys include the quote when answering a post??
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: morganc on 28 Apr 2020, 02:11 am
Hit the quote button on the top right of the post. 
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 28 Apr 2020, 02:52 am
Hit the quote button on the top right of the post.

Thanks again Morgan!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 28 Apr 2020, 11:31 pm
AV, thank u sir, I have a feeling my Cherry adventure is just beginning...

That’s what Tommy does. He gets you hooked with the STM and makes you an addict! Then you’re just begging him for more! Lol.  :D
I am begging him right now for my DAC DAC 2HS.
Top quality stuff though!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 2 May 2020, 06:53 pm
Back wall😀
Yeah, with the KING STM, you should have PLENTY of clean power!
I had the 48v STM and it almost got me to where I wanted but not quite. I have Magnepan LRS's, which are VERY demanding and hard to drive!  Tommy and I talked about moving up to the KING, then to a 2-CHerry, then we finally decided on his top of the line Golden Cherry monoblocks. In heaven with this combo! Tommy's electronics are high end! Not high priced. They're just stupid good!

And I had his DAC DAC 1HS and I had the EXACT same experience with the STM. When I went DAC straight to the STM and used the volume control on the STM!!!!! Holy smokes! It was so good! I mean a very noticeable difference. Switching back to my pre-amp for volume control still sounds spectacular, but not as good as going straight to the STM. The tradeoffs are convenience for sound quality.
Now owning the Golden Cherries, I have to use volume control but am getting a manual, balanced, passive preamp sent to me to try to interfere with the signal as little as possible. Should be as close to a straight pass through signal from source to amps. Here is my set up with STM and now.


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207950)


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207951)


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207952)
     

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=207953)


I’m thinking of trying a pair of the LRS’s! I’m just finding out about these 😲 for $650 how can I go wrong!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 2 May 2020, 07:23 pm
Why was my post inside the quote box? Still a rookie poster...
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: Wind Chaser on 2 May 2020, 07:44 pm
Because you wrote your response inside the quote.

When you click to quote a post, write your response after and below the very last word of all the text.

Hope this helps.  :D
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 2 May 2020, 08:07 pm
Because you wrote your response inside the quote.

When you click to quote a post, write your response after and below the very last word of all the text.

Hope this helps.  :D
Like this? Thanks
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: Wind Chaser on 2 May 2020, 10:28 pm
Like this? Thanks

YES - You got it!

 :D
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 4 May 2020, 04:59 pm
For some reason today my STM will suddenly go into standby mode. It has happened 3 times today🤔 normal listening levels, just streaming internet radio. Checked all connections...looks fine. Any thoughts??

Bob
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: Wind Chaser on 4 May 2020, 05:10 pm
Never heard of that one before. Give Tommy a call and see what he says.
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 4 May 2020, 05:51 pm
On another subject, when using the amp with a pre amp should the volume always be in full position or is there some kind of balance to consider? Say maybe three quarter on the amp and more volume on the pre...
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AmpDesigner333 on 4 May 2020, 07:47 pm
On another subject, when using the amp with a pre amp should the volume always be in full position or is there some kind of balance to consider? Say maybe three quarter on the amp and more volume on the pre...
Setting it to max is OK, but some listeners set it to limit max volume.  If you're interested in a MK2 upgrade, please email me at Support@DigitalAmp.com.  Thanks.
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 4 May 2020, 08:35 pm
Setting it to max is OK, but some listeners set it to limit max volume.  If you're interested in a MK2 upgrade, please email me at Support@DigitalAmp.com.  Thanks.
I am interested in the upgrade as mine does run very warm also for class D. I will be emailing u soon.
Thanks
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 5 May 2020, 04:50 am
Why was my post inside the quote box? Still a rookie poster...


Haha. I've actually done that myself at times. Depends on what device I am using. Sometimes I think the quote is done but I am right in the middle of it still. LOL

I was looking at that post and I was confused for a quick second. I was like, I should try these for $650? I already own them. And then was like, did I say that awhile back? LOL. Thanks for messing with my mind a little rook.  :D
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 5 May 2020, 04:53 am
Like this? Thanks

Exactly. You can also modify your posts as well. So if you see a mistake, go change it. You can even go change the mistake you made with your quote in my quote still. Just hit that modify button.  :)
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 5 May 2020, 05:09 am
Hey AF, yep l ordered the LRS today. Also contacted Tommy about getting my STM upgraded. This pandemic is killing me...all I’m doing is listening to music and buying, selling and upgrading my audio😎 It’s a great hobby a...
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: MttBsh on 5 May 2020, 03:22 pm
I purchased a King STM with the MK2 upgrade from Tommy a couple of months ago (as it turned out, just in time for the Stay At Home) and am loving it. Since I never heard the STM without MK2 I don't know if the upgrade improves the sound quality but it certainly runs cool, barely warm after hours of play. I use a remote Tortuga passive pre, so I have always left the STM at full volume and adjusted the Tortuga volume by remote control. 
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 5 May 2020, 04:05 pm
I purchased a King STM with the MK2 upgrade from Tommy a couple of months ago (as it turned out, just in time for the Stay At Home) and am loving it. Since I never heard the STM without MK2 I don't know if the upgrade improves the sound quality but it certainly runs cool, barely warm after hours of play. I use a remote Tortuga passive pre, so I have always left the STM at full volume and adjusted the Tortuga volume by remote control.
That’s good to hear, heat is not a friend to electronics. I actually backed the volume to about 1 o'clock on the amp running through my Schiit Saga pre, for whatever reason it sounds a bit better. Something to play with I guess...
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 5 May 2020, 05:24 pm
That’s good to hear, heat is not a friend to electronics. I actually backed the volume to about 1 o'clock on the amp running through my Schiit Saga pre, for whatever reason it sounds a bit better. Something to play with I guess...

What I have found is it's best to just go source to STM. Take the pre out of the mix.
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 5 May 2020, 05:28 pm
What I have found is it's best to just go source to STM. Take the pre out of the mix.
Sometimes I'm lazy as f__k, need my remote!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: MttBsh on 5 May 2020, 05:47 pm
Sometimes I'm lazy as f__k, need my remote!

In addition, I depend on my pre for its sub outs, not sure I could connect my 2 speakers and 2 subs to the STM speaker outs. If that was possible, I might ditch the pre as the STM is an integrated pre and amp
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 5 May 2020, 07:10 pm
In addition, I depend on my pre for its sub outs, not sure I could connect my 2 speakers and 2 subs to the STM speaker outs. If that was possible, I might ditch the pre as the STM is an integrated pre and amp
I use a Rel sub to connect to the speaker posts on STM, works great. I sometimes hook my dac balanced outputs straight to the amp, this is the best way...and then get lazy again😀
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 5 May 2020, 11:42 pm
Sometimes I'm lazy as f__k, need my remote!

I hear ya! And I change up the genre of music real quick. So I am constantly changing the volume. I better not get used to being so lazy though because my pre-amp with no remote will be here in about a week or so. I sacrificed convenience in the name of purity and as unaltered signal as possible. We talked about a remote, but in the end decided to go without it.
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 5 May 2020, 11:45 pm
In addition, I depend on my pre for its sub outs, not sure I could connect my 2 speakers and 2 subs to the STM speaker outs. If that was possible, I might ditch the pre as the STM is an integrated pre and amp

Speaker level hookups. You can do that. However, I like to use line outs for my subwoofer hookups and specifically had a left and right out on my pre-amp put in just for dual subs.
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 5 May 2020, 11:54 pm
Speaker level hookups. You can do that. However, I like to use line outs for my subwoofer hookups and specifically had a left and right out on my pre-amp put in just for dual subs.
Yes Rel has that High Level Speakon hook up that is unique from other subs.

What kind of pre are u Getting?

https://relsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004486607-Class-D-Amp-Connection-Methods
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 6 May 2020, 12:00 am
In addition, I depend on my pre for its sub outs, not sure I could connect my 2 speakers and 2 subs to the STM speaker outs. If that was possible, I might ditch the pre as the STM is an integrated pre and amp

[/https://relsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004486607-Class-D-Amp-Connection-Methods
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 6 May 2020, 12:06 am
Messed up this post, it was for MttBsh
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: AvsFan on 6 May 2020, 12:54 am
Yes Rel has that High Level Speakon hook up that is unique from other subs.

What kind of pre are u Getting?

https://relsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004486607-Class-D-Amp-Connection-Methods


It’s from a company called Pine Tree Audio. Very reasonable and a solid build. No magic bs or fairy dust. Just a straight up simple passive pre-amp. He’s a straightforward guy. Just like Tommy.  :D

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=208438)

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=208437)

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=208440)

Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 6 May 2020, 01:05 am
Nice, I remember seeing that now...almost matches the Cherry amp. I’m sure you’ll let us know how it sounds.🙂
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: MttBsh on 6 May 2020, 01:06 am
Messed up this post, it was for MttBsh

Hey, you didn't mess it up! I read and appreciate your post. Based on what you said I'm going to try hooking my subs and speakers up to the same binding posts on the STM, cut out the middle man (the pre)!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 6 May 2020, 01:08 am
Hey, you didn't mess it up! I read and appreciate your post. Based on what you said I'm going to try hooking my subs and speakers up to the same binding posts on the STM, cut out the middle man (the pre)!
Good luck!
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: rockn on 6 May 2020, 01:17 am
Be careful, it’s a little tight with those binding posts so close together. In my set up I use banana plugs for speaker and spades from the sub. And I’m using only 1 sub. Don’t want anything touching obviously 🙂
Title: Re: New King STM owner
Post by: MttBsh on 6 May 2020, 01:34 am
Be careful, it’s a little tight with those binding posts so close together. In my set up I use banana plugs for speaker and spades from the sub. And I’m using only 1 sub. Don’t want anything touching obviously 🙂

Yeah, it is a super tight fit. If I do it I'll be extremely careful, sure don't want to blow out the amp.