[jw2k_fr]

Soooo, this is always awkward.... but... manners are essential... so...

New AudioCircle user.  Been reading the boards a fair amount, and like how there don't seem to be as many trolls as elsewhere.

IT pro who moved into the AV world in 2002, been doing home automation since then.

Have waaay too much hardware, most of which is old crap, but my own systems are:

Castle Acoustics Harlech S2 speakers
Bryston B-100SST integrated amp with onboard DAC for Apple TV
IMac with iFi nano iDSD DAC for playback of DSD rips & Spotify
VPI Prime Signature
Pass Labs XP-17
Velodyne DD-10 sub (which keeps failing)

Denon AVR4520CI
Vienna Acoustics Webern 2.1 on-walls + sub

Currently upgrading from the B-100 (which I adore and is just so musical) to a Parasound JC pre/power setup because separates have to be better than an integrated.... maybe?

Wondering whether I sell the Bryston as it still has ten years on the warranty and I don't have enough rooms to build another system.... however, I'm worried I may regret selling it as it has always sounded so great.  Thoughts?

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome JW2k

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC jw2K_fr    If the Bryston sounds good, you never know when a backup or alternate will come in handy, unless space is really critical.

[Phil A]

Welcome!

[Triode Pete]

Welcome!

Have fun,
Pete

[SET Man]

Hey!

  Welcome to the AC! Also, from NYC... in Queens here 

  As for your Bryston. Unless you really need fund to get new stuffs, I would hold on to it until you find something that you really like better than sell it after.

  Oh! Castle Acoustic speakers? I don't see those much here. But my cousin in Thailand love his Castle Acoustic monitor, I believe he still have them. Separate amp/pre vs. integrated? Well, that's debatable but to me is all depend. Well, I wouldn't mind have an integrated like the Kondo's Ongaku

Buddy

[Emil]

 
Interesting placement of the driver on top.

If I remember correctly, Castle makes some of the nicest cabinets around. Solid wood I believe

[jw2k_fr]

Thanks everyone for the very kind and warm welcome - I should have also said that my name is James

[jw2k_fr]

Interesting placement of the driver on top.

Hello Emil!  Yes, it is a little unusual, the idea was to promote a larger sound.  Thankfully it doesn't seem to make things sound too weird from a soundstaging perspective.  It does have the fortunate benefit of making them sound a lot more consistent as you move around the room.

If I remember correctly, Castle makes some of the nicest cabinets around. Solid wood I believe

I have a second set of Castles from the same period - the Avons - and I've upgraded the tweeters in those and have seen that the cabinets are actually veneered MDF.  I believe the emphasis was on using woodworking grade veneers - higher quality than a lot of the real wood veneers used by most of the rest of the industry.  Both of my sets are in the Yew finish, which is the one you have pictured here, and they've just become better with age, although unfortunately my Avons have some imperfections in the veneer in a couple places, possibly from water, but a few passes with some 2000 grit sandpaper and some beeswax polish should minimize that.

[jw2k_fr]

Hey!  Welcome to the AC! Also, from NYC... in Queens here 

As for your Bryston. Unless you really need fund to get new stuffs, I would hold on to it until you find something that you really like better than sell it after.

Hello Buddy!  Yes, that's a sensible idea.  I need to see how things sound.  I do also love the practicality of the 24/96 built in DAC though, and if I move out of the city, I'm sure I will need music in more areas...

Oh! Castle Acoustic speakers? I don't see those much here. But my cousin in Thailand love his Castle Acoustic monitor, I believe he still have them.

I imported mine personally when I moved here from the UK   I've had the hardest time getting replacement woofers after two different people blew a woofer in one of my Avons.  I'm looking to find someone who will re-wind the voice coils on both of the ones I have to hand as I'm sure they would benefit from an upgrade.  But I will post a separate topic about that

Separate amp/pre vs. integrated? Well, that's debatable but to me is all depend. Well, I wouldn't mind have an integrated like the Kondo's Ongaku

Ugggh, hifi porn is dangerously intoxicating!  I've heard some higher end Macintosh tube stuff and it the treble sounded weirdly "chromatic" and shimmery to me.  I've only ever really listened to SS equipment, but I really want to change that.  I'm interested to hear a good all-tube setup as well as a tubed front end to a big solid state power amp like Bryston's 28B3 amps.

[jw2k_fr]

If the Bryston sounds good, you never know when a backup or alternate will come in handy, unless space is really critical.

An eminently practical suggestion that I'm sure Ford would agree with and Zaphod would undoubtedly roll his eyes at
As for Marvin, don't get me started on Marvin...   

[SET Man]

Hello Buddy!

....

Ugggh, hifi porn is dangerously intoxicating!  I've heard some higher end Macintosh tube stuff and it the treble sounded weirdly "chromatic" and shimmery to me.  I've only ever really listened to SS equipment, but I really want to change that.  I'm interested to hear a good all-tube setup as well as a tubed front end to a big solid state power amp like Bryston's 28B3 amps.

Hey!

    HiFi porn? Kondo's Ongaku is one of those rare handmade jewel in the audio world. I've heard a Kondo system at a show and it was beautiful. But that was under the show condition, so I always wonder how will the system sound with my rougher pop and rock musics in my room. Well, if I ever hit that big lottery jackpot, Ongaku would be one of thing on my list to get.

   McIntosh tube amp? Actually I don't remember have heard their current tube amps, only have seen the current 275 at one show but only as display. I've heard their big SS amps at audio shows. Honestly new McIntosh stuffs are not really my cup of tea.

   Yes, tube pre feeding SS amp would be a good compromise if you need power to drive your speaker. A good high power tube amp can be pretty expensive.

   But for me I like all tubed system, especially with power amp with single tube... SET or SE doing the duty of driving the output to the speaker. Personally when is come audio these days for me I like the idea of simplicity and I prefer system that is "emotionally correct" over "technically correct" one that doesn't sound like music.

Buddy

[JLM]

Welcome to A/C James!

Never walk away from a piece you enjoy.  Listener's remorse is dreadful.  Am new to hi-res, but am finding that the recording makes more difference than the format.  And still doubtful of any benefit from hi-res that originates from analog or Redbook (which is 98% of all recordings).  So hang on to that integrated!

Those Castle speakers look interesting. 

Tried an iFi tube preamp, but it did nothing good for my system.

[ArthurDent]

An eminently practical suggestion that I'm sure Ford would agree with and Zaphod would undoubtedly roll his eyes at
As for Marvin, don't get me started on Marvin...   

Yeah, a manically depressed robot is not the best of associates, or consultants.