I've winterized the cabin.........

Wayner · « **on:** 19 Sep 2012, 09:17 pm »

Did a little shifting of things in the studio, like moving in the VPI Hw-19jr and I also have some new speakers, Focal 706v Chorus, which is on the recommended component list of the Absolute Sound. The inverted dome tweeter is awesome and the mid/bass driver is loosening up nicely, with bass in spades. The best $700 a pair speakers I've ever heard anyway.

The tables from left to right: Empire 598MKII, VPI Hw-19jr, Technics SL1200MKII (2007) and the Sony PS-X7 (probably the first table with a carbon fiber tonearm). All equipped with the AT440MLa cartridge, except the Sony which is the test table for our Grado Gold1 Longhorns.....

Here is a link for the Focals: http://www.musicdirect.com/p-41246-focal-chorus-706v-bookshelf-speakers-pr.aspx

Wayner

charmerci · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 12:12 am »

Yeah, the heat from all those electronics will keep you nice and warm!

SET Man · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 12:19 am »

Hey!

Man! Must be tough deciding which one to use each time you want to listen to music.

Nice collection there for sure.

Take care,
Buddy

Blackmore · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 12:43 am »

Is that an Ultravalve down on the floor? I bet you can keep you feet nice and toasty. It must be nice to be able to roll your chair to your favorite table of the day and spin records at close-to-eye level. Very cool collection, Wayner.

Wayner · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 01:06 am »

Yes it is the Ultravalve, powered by a FET Valve and a proto-type tube phono preamp (not available).

Tomorrow it will be in the 50s for a high, so tubes maybe in the near future....

Wayner

Funnehaha · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 01:41 pm »

I notice you don't have a pair of Nate's T-5s. I thought they sounded okay at the ASM meeting with Frank's stuff a couple years ago.
How do you think they would compare to Focals and the Dynacos. I don't recognize your other speakers....

Wayner · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 02:17 pm »

I bought the Focals because of their placement requirement, which is right up against the wall. Nate's T5 has a rear port, that I thought would really cause problems in my locations. I have heard Nate's speakers and they are very, very good. In the future, when I downsize (and move to another place), they will be on my list.

The Dynaco speakers are modified A25XLs in matching mirror image cabinets. They also image very well for a speaker that was designed in the early 70s. The other speakers are Paradigm 40v.3s.

Wayner

Funnehaha · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 03:17 pm »

Okay, that makes sense. Just for my own information, were you able to audition them before purchase, and if so what "reference" recordings did you use to check out vocals, midrange, stage depth, etc. ? Did you use any recordings you made yourself or were present when they were made?

rcag_ils · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 03:37 pm »

nice, but just have to be careful when move them around, I hate scratch and dings.

Wayner · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 04:40 pm »

Quote from: Funnehaha on 20 Sep 2012, 03:17 pm

Okay, that makes sense. Just for my own information, were you able to audition them before purchase, and if so what "reference" recordings did you use to check out vocals, midrange, stage depth, etc. ? Did you use any recordings you made yourself or were present when they were made?

I trusted my buddy Robert Harley. Music direct does have a 100% return policy, other then being out the price of return shipping. I also have other Focal speakers from the Profile series that are used in another system, so I know the quality and voicing.

Wayner

JLM · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 04:48 pm »

With the topic title I almost missed this heads up for the Focal706.

Minn Mark · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 07:52 pm »

Kudos Wayner, and thanks for sharing the well organized and sweet set-up! I'm curious to know, with the speakers at their apparent height, does the imaging get thrown 'below' them much, lots, not-at-all? How does the imaging engage your listening position(s)? Happy Vinyl !

Mark

Wayner · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 08:51 pm »

The imaging is the best in the house, especially with the vinyl as the source. Very, very 3D and stereo everywhere. Maybe it's the room size, maybe it's the near field listening, certainly is the AVA electronics.

And of course, I have the speakers on the long wall, which helps get them separated enough apart. You see, I like the sound of "stereo", stuff flying across the room, reverb in the recordings, neat stuff like that. I'd say the room is actually a large pair of headphones........

Wayner

Mudslide · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 09:49 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 20 Sep 2012, 02:17 pm

I bought the Focals because of their placement requirement, which is right up against the wall. Nate's T5 has a rear port, that I thought would really cause problems in my locations. I have heard Nate's speakers and they are very, very good. In the future, when I downsize (and move to another place), they will be on my list.

The Dynaco speakers are modified A25XLs in matching mirror image cabinets. They also image very well for a speaker that was designed in the early 70s. The other speakers are Paradigm 40v.3s.
Wayner

LOVELY setup you have there, Wayner. And I'm pretty jealous of your Ultravalve.

I've heard the Focals and Paradigms and liked them very much. But I'm in love with the little Nates T5's. Can you borrow a pair from Frank to audition in your setup? I think if you can get the Nates at least the diameter of the port away from your wall, you would be highly rewarded. I notice no negative effects with mine when they get even as close as 4" from my wall. No bloated bass or boundary reinforcement with my setup, and no negative effect on imaging. You just want to avoid disturbing the port's air flow, I think. I'm most thankful to Frank for turning my head in Nate's direction.

I'd sure like to hear a set of Dynaco's sometime. Would you elaborate on your experience with them?

Wayner · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Sep 2012, 10:34 pm »

The Focals are up against the wall now, because of the toe-in angle required to achieve his and hers sweet spot. Nate's would be a problem in this room. Like I said, in the next house hopefully there will be room for some T5s.

The Dynaco speakers a a bit of a hoot. They have a fairly good command of the frequency range, a bit shy at either end, but the imagining is something many have never heard from modern day speakers. The original Dynaco A25Xls had a grill and a 1/2" lip all around the front baffle, plus they were not mirror imaged, and that really was a negative to what would have made these speakers complete killers in there time frame. They did manage to sell 600,000 of them.............

But who is counting.....

Wayner

johzel · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 Sep 2012, 12:20 am »

Here's a pair of A25's I rescued from a university classroom that was being remodelled:

Crimson · « **Reply #16 on:** 21 Sep 2012, 01:14 am »

Nice collection! I'm jealous.

[kind of had a false deja vu moment perusing the posts here

]

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #17 on:** 21 Sep 2012, 05:38 am »

Quote

I've winterized the cabin.........

Nice....now just watch out for bears....

Lookin' good....happy listening Wayne....

pansixt · « **Reply #18 on:** 21 Sep 2012, 06:13 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 21 Sep 2012, 05:38 am

Nice....now just watch out for bears....

Lookin' good....happy listening Wayne....

Yeah, Wayner, watch out for the Beers

.
I think maybe I'll drag out the old EV 7's. See how they sound with the U70.
James

pansixt · « **Reply #19 on:** 21 Sep 2012, 06:37 am »

By the way Lonewolf, I'm barely halfway thru the demo's you gave me in Denver last year. And here we are with a new winter coming on.
Serious ear candy....

Tubes 'll keep us warm this winter.
Thanks,
James