[tmij]

Office was closed today so I had free time to take some pictures. I've actually had the 626Rs for a couple months now but didn't have a good, matching amp, so this post had to wait.

I didn't plan on going this route, originally I just intended to get "better quality" speakers for my HT, which had been upgraded with a Pio 433cmx--



After hanging out in other forums, I came across VMPS and honestly, my first impression was that these speakers weren't visually appealing. I continued looking at other brands but was always drawn back to VMPS, if only for the fervor of its users and found some owner/reviewers (both in HD and AC) very credible. Tyson, for example, came across as very honest in his reviews and that helped me decide that this was the brand for me.

At that point, my intention was still to use the 626Rs as the L/R in my HT setup, but as I had a low grade receiver, I used an ART SLA-1, shown here with my current source, a pro-audio Sony CDR-W33--



After plugging in the 626Rs, my initial reaction was "d*mn, I need tubes!". With the ART, I could hear the 626Rs potential, the monitors were highly detailed and accurate, but it still sounded a bit harsh and, eventually, fatiguing. Problem was, I also didn't want to get derailed from a plan to upgrade my HT setup with a better receiver and subwoofer. What's more, I hadn't been seriously listening to music for a few years... but the more I listened to these speakers, the more I was getting pulled towards audiophilia.

Finally, I gave in. I trawled Agon and was all set to buy a Cary SLI-80 but also wanted to audition other amps. Last week, I visited a local dealer and auditioned the SLI-80, the VTL IT-85, but while talking to the shopowner, asked him about another amp mentioned on his website, the Aronov LS-960i. Within a few minutes of hearing that amp, I knew it was "the one", especially since the marked down price of the new-in-box amp was too good to pass up.

Here's the current setup--



And what a ballsy amp! It's a great match for the 626Rs and the only thing I wish is that I had done this a lot sooner. I haven't tried the 626Rs with any other amp aside from the ART, but I believe 626R owners really owe it to themselves to hear these speakers with a good tube amp.



Now I find myself listening to music again, every day for hours on end! My HT plans were completely sidetracked and I've decided to retain my cheap receiver/speakers setup, and that won't get any upgrades for a while

Next up is to get some good speaker cables and ICs, the usual route, and I just need to do more research on AC!--



Eventually, I also plan to use a DAC so I can hook up my "other" audio hardware to this amp--



That's it, thanks for reading! Thank you, Brian, for such a wonderful product!

[John Casler]

Tmij,

Great looking system.

And Welcome to the Club

[Woodsea]

Welcome to the club!  Now I need to join the tube club

[fredgarvin]

Congratulations on a great system! One quick word though on your room. All hard, reflective surfaces. (very nice look) From metal heater covers to drapeless windows and carpetless floors. I imagine these surfaces contribute in the main to your need for the "softer" sound of a tube amp. My room is not very live sounding and my RM1's sound great with solid state. I guess it is true that the room is the most important factor in sound reproduction.

[Brian Cheney]

For a real improvement try baffling the stand.

You can make one out of cardboard to start.  Cut a piece of cardboard 10" W and the same height as the distance from bottom of the speaker to the floor.  Now stand this "beard" in front of the speaker stand so that it touches the bottom of the stand and is flush against its frame.  You will gain about 6dB in bass sensitivity.

If this works make the "beards" out of MDF painted black and attach to the front of each stand.

[tmij]

Thanks for the kind words and warm welcome

Brian, I tried using thick cardboard for beards--



but am still trying to hear a night/day difference. I believe I can detect some tightening in the bass using beards although doubt if I can pass a blindfold test. I'll keep the beards on for a week then take them out, maybe I'll notice what's missing.

Funny thing is, twice while listening today, I forgot whether the beards were on and had to take a peek. Either way, the music was so engaging I didn't remember that I was supposed to be tweaking!

Fredgarvin, thanks for the compliments. I agree that the room is a very (if not the most) important factor and that would somehow dictate the type of gear and in my case, that tube amp is a good match.

Woodsea, thanks for the welcome! John, domo arigato O sensei

[John Casler]

The beards are more effective if they go directly to the floor without the "spike gap".

Don't know if you'll find it significant, but acoustically you don't want gaps in the "beard" where the "pressure" of the wave can escape, dissipate, or be impeded.

[nathanm]

Excellent photography tmij!  I'm surprised the image on the TV turned out so well.  Nifty.  Even off-axis looks good.

Audiophillia nervosa thought of the day:  Acoustic guitar hanging on the wall;  could it be inducing vibrations - sympathetic or discordant!?

[bkwiram]

What amused me about your pix was that I could tell purely from the shots of your interior (parquet floor, heat/cool built into the wall) and the color and quality of the natural light exactly where you live. Now I can't say whether you're on the upper east side or around the UN - but I'd bet two bits that you're somewhere on the eastern shore of the island...

(If you're in one of the other boros I'll be shocked and dismayed!

bk

[tmij]

The beards are more effective if they go directly to the floor without the "spike gap".

Oh I see, I'll try doing that.

Excellent photography tmij!  I'm surprised the image on the TV turned out so well.  Nifty.  Even off-axis looks good.

Thanks, nathanm, glad you liked it. That off-axis picture is from a HDTV PBS loop, much clearer than regular NTSC, so it was kinda "cheating"

Audiophillia nervosa thought of the day:  Acoustic guitar hanging on the wall;  could it be inducing vibrations - sympathetic or discordant!?

Oh uh, please don't go channeling...

What amused me about your pix was that I could tell purely from the shots of your interior (parquet floor, heat/cool built into the wall) and the color and quality of the natural light exactly where you live...

Very good guess, bkwiram, I see the same river but a bit more to the south than the UN.

Be back later, need to buy more CDs, hehe.

[TheeeChosenOne]

Excellent photography tmij!  I'm surprised the image on the TV turned out so well.  Nifty.  Even off-axis looks good.

My thoughts exactly.  TV Pics are difficult to capture with such resolution on a camera.

What amused me about your pix was that I could tell purely from the shots of your interior (parquet floor, heat/cool built into the wall) and the color and quality of the natural light exactly where you live. Now I can't say whether you're on the upper east side or around the UN - but I'd bet two bits that you're somewhere on the eastern shore of the island...
bk

I thought the same exact thing!  I thought East side near the river around UN bldg.    

Ahhhh, the parquet floors......soooo many NYC "lux" apt. bldgs have them.  these bldgs. use crappy parquet to top it off--some break down after only a year.  Quite unacceptable, especially when you compare this material to the flooring of even a modest Euro apt.

[jasonc]

Hi tmij, welcome and great pics!  

The Aronov integrated is one of the amps I've been looking at the past few weeks.  From what I've read Aronov products seem to have good versaltilty and are priced reasonably to boot.  Glad to hear your 626R's are performing nicely with it as I may be interested in auditioning the Aronov down the line with my setup.

John, I was surprised when I got my bearded stands that the beard stopped at the front feet of the stand and didn't reach the floor.  Then I realized with adjustable spikes the stand could not implement a beard that could travel to the floor since this distance would change.  
Lately I've been experimenting with setup and have acheived the best sound so far by placing the  626's closer to the back wall about 8" or so.  The bass response has been a nice surprise.  Not boomy as expected but deep and pretty articulate.  The speakers seem to work better with my room this way which I did not expect.  The overall presentation of the music is smoother, more holographic and all the detail seems to be there.
In short I'm getting my setup to sound more to my liking with the Arcam and Pioneer DVD player but still looking to upgrade when that time comes.

Anyway, off to see Steely Dan tonight.. hoping they stay away from their latest   .

[John Casler]

John, I was surprised when I got my bearded stands that the beard stopped at the front feet of the stand and didn't reach the floor. Then I realized with adjustable spikes the stand could not implement a beard that could travel to the floor since this distance would change.

Yeah if one uses adj/spikes it makes a gap.

And the sound pressure wave moves down the baffle/beard until it encounters an area of no pressure/or containment and then "loses" some of its force and power into the crack.

It also creates a sonic eddie to part of the wave.

I would suggest removing the spikes, unless you're already totally happy with your bass response.

If so, Frogettaboudit

As heavy as those stands are, using spikes on coins probably is much worse than no spikes at all.

For all you 626R owners, I have a little 626R beard tweak coming.

[tmij]

Thanks for the compliments TheeeChosenOne, jasonc.

The Aronov integrated is one of the amps I've been looking at the past few weeks.  From what I've read Aronov products seem to have good versaltilty and are priced reasonably to boot. Glad to hear your 626R's are performing nicely with it as I may be interested in auditioning the Aronov down the line with my setup.

In audioreview this amp appears to be either a complete hit or miss affair. The problem some users encounter is audible hum (mine is very quiet), which might be a quality control issue. During the audition I had the impression that there wasn't anything the Cary SLI-80 could do that the Aronov couldn't. How they stacked-- the Cary sounded warmer, the Aronov faster, more neutral and had noticeably better bass. The SLI still looks prettier to me and I wouldn't mind owning that amp at all. In fact, for my budget, the SLI was top of the list but a further price drop on the Aronov made me go for it.

Good luck on your selection!

[jasonc]

John,
The main reason I've decided to use the spikes is to achieve equal contact on all four corners at the stands base and for overall levelness.  Without the adjustable spikes the stands are wabbly with my uneven floors.
However your comments got me thinking.
I've removed the two front screws which allows no gap from baffle to floor and decided to keep the back screws to adjust for good four degree contact as well as close right to left levelness.  This new setup allows the tweeter to fire down a good margin as well, a tweak Pez and others have recommended for the 626's.
I'm happy to report what I've discovered is not subtle.  Not only is the bass better by a good degree but there is a rightness to the sound now, a type of naturalness to the presentation which makes listening to music a whole new deal.  Imaging is now rock solid which is perhaps the main reason for everything sounding so good.. while notes and voices seem to float in air etc..  
Now this is what it's all about!
I've done so little when it comes down to it to get such an improvement.  The speakers are in the same place as before.. just removed the two front spikes and recalibrated.  

These 626's just keep on surprising me .

[James Romeyn]

Thanks for the kind words and warm welcome

Brian, I tried using thick cardboard for beards--




but am still trying to hear a night/day difference. I believe I can detect some tightening in the bass using beards although doubt if I can pass a blindfold test. I'll keep the beards on for a week then take them out, maybe I'll notice what's missing.

Funny thing is, twice while listening today, I forgot whether the beards were on and had to take a peek. E ...

I found best results with beard located on the rear panel with the port.