[bhobba]

This "listen before you buy" stuff is way over-rated (or I'm damn lucky). 

Nope - you did your homework - Bob and all the other guys at SP tech really know their stuff.  That the designer does is, IMHO, much more important than  listening.  Unless you are really experienced, you are often the easiest guy in the world to fool.  Guys like Bob and Karsten (plus all the others at SP tech of course) are a good deal more difficult.

Thanks
Bill

[zybar]

OK, so I have to post something right?  Well, Bob and Jason showed up about 6pm and just left (midnight).  They have a 5 hr drive back to Indiana!!  Bob will sleep while Jason listens to his girlfriend, the Garmin GPS chick, talk to him.   

The Revs are incredible, and this is with about 40 lbs of Mundorf caps (holy sh$5t they are huge!!) needing about 2000 hours of break in.  I'll post pix this weekend. 

The outboard crossover boxes are nice (and huge).  Bob didn't have his cables quite ready yet.  The real value of these cables are the zero resonance, perfectly matched capacitance he figures into them, based on length, etc.....and we had to redo the math, so he needed to redo the entire cable run.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime we used my AZ Satori biwire shotgun from DNA-500 amp to crossover, then some Canare star quad biwire I had, from xover to speaker.   

By the time we finished setting them up, wiring them up, labeling the crossover boxes and toe-ing them in properly (much less toe in than the Sasons) it was 10pm.  Then after listening for about an hour to 4 or 5 different setups (Transporter as source, Transporter as dac, Modwright 3910 analog, Bob/Jason's own DVD-to-Orpheaus DAC setup) we all had a good-but-not-great kind of response.  It wasn't until I realized I had installed some older Kimber Hero XLR cables between pre and amp, and promptly replaced them with good ole' BlueJean Belden 1800F XLR's...then the fun began.  Wow!  The soundstage opened up, the transient attack was mindblowing.  The dynamics of the Revs are one of their most obvious features, along with musically accurate and deep bass.  But it's the other things, the layering, the timbre, that later become patently obvious.  And the microdynamics aren't even there yet (a few hundred hours or so). 

I'm tired, but happy.  Will post more later.....I just hope Bob and Jason have a safe trip back.  My home was all full of relatives tonight, and although I offered a floor to sleep on they needed to get back.  Thanks again to the both of them; two better people you'd be hard pressed to find. 

Glad to hear that the almost 9 month wait for the Rev's paid off Ted.

I look forward to pictures and further posts as things settle in.

Once you get the full HT setup, I will need to figure out how to come out for a visit.

Bob and Jason, please be careful driving back...you have lots more orders to fill.   aa

George

[reefrus]

Ted,
Congrats!
Just be patient!
The fun just start! aa

[ted_b]

Thanks for the comments.  Nothing against any of the kind and supportive words but the audio in this room was no slouch before the Revs, with the Sasons.  They are great speakers that disappear like none I've ever heard (incl the Revs so far).  They image like crazy.  They just don't work as well in this room, with it's viewing angles, etc as I'd like so I went another direction with my HT/music room. 

I am very excited at the potential of the Rev's, and what I've heard so far, after a long evening of setup and cable pulls, and likely not anywhere close to their final placement or final cable configuration, is remarkable.  I woke up this morning realizing I hadn't continued the break-in process so I promptly put the Modwright Transporter to work and started the XLO burn-in selection (track 9) on repeat.  It's on low or the dogs would think aliens are landing.

Thanks again to Bob, Jason and my buddy Rob for the work last night, and especially for the incredible customer service of driving in from Indiana.  This is the second time a speaker designer/mfg from LaPorte IN drove to my house to set up speakers!!  What a great thing.  I feel bad that, as they left, I had only offered drinks and had left them go on their way hungry.  A few chocolate pretzels were all we ended up munching on as we got to work lifting, securing, poking, proding, labeling, wiring, measuring and positioning....oh, and listening....with the cables, label makers, power cords, dacs, dvd players and various tools laid strewn across the floor.   When the Continuums come we will be ready with a feast, both for the ears as well as the tummies. 

[ted_b]

I created a new album to document my HT makeover.  The pix from last night begin the album. 
Revs Arrive

I'll add more as the paint, carpeting and risers are installed, as well as new shots of the new equipment/rack, etc...should anyone care. 

[mcullinan]

Wow! Awesome Pics!!! And you had the man set the Revs up... verry nice.

I never knew what Bob looked like. Almost like Jerry Garcia... hehe.
Anyways congrats on the speakers!
Mike

[ted_b]

Wow! Awesome Pics!!! And you had the man set the Revs up... verry nice.

I never knew what Bob looked like. Almost like Jerry Garcia... hehe.
Anyways congrats on the speakers!
Mike

Ten fingers, though.   
Thx

Edit:  added pix

[Frank S.]

Wow! Those crossovers look beautiful  Nice work Bob.  Room looks great as well.

Ted- perhaps you could start a new thread on the Revs with your comments, pictures etc, since the arrival and comments of your Revs is kind of off topic in this one (although certainly welcome!).

[RodMCV]

Great Speakers,
You can feel the Buzz in the room.

[2bigears]

   Very nice Ted,very cool lookin' room,let the music play and congrats,,,,

[ted_b]

Wow! Those crossovers look beautiful  Nice work Bob.  Room looks great as well.

Ted- perhaps you could start a new thread on the Revs with your comments, pictures etc, since the arrival and comments of your Revs is kind of off topic in this one (although certainly welcome!).

I was just thinkin' that too.  Copied my comments and link and created new thread.  Sorry to the OP, 2bigears.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=48974.msg439279#msg439279
Thanks

[Aether Audio]

Mike,

I never knew what Bob looked like. Almost like Jerry Garcia... hehe.

Bob ends up looking like that from living down at the shop day and night and then working on remodeling his house on the weekends.  No time in the schedule to shave and go down town to get a hair cut.  One day soon I'll post pictures of the "barn" I'm living in and then you'll know I'm not joking or exaggerating.

No regrets though.  All for the love of family & customers.

-Bob

PS.  In a couple of years when I'm rich I'll have my own personal hair stylist, manicurist and masseuse!   

[Aether Audio]

Well, after some great extended listening sessions, I can confidently state that in my room, with my associated equipment, and with the music I like, the Continuum 2.5s are better than my previous MM3s.

PSS.  If things keep going as they have been lately, I'm only "half" kidding about the "rich" part.

-Bob

[lonewolfny42]

Well, after some great extended listening sessions, I can confidently state that in my room, with my associated equipment, and with the music I like, the Continuum 2.5s are better than my previous MM3s.

PSS.  If things keep going as they have been lately, I'm only "half" kidding about the "rich" part.

-Bob

See Bob....Start your planning now for RMAF 2008.....

[Zero]

Hell, Bob - I think the beard gives you a more distinguished look. 

Ted, Man am I jealous! I'm sure you're in for some first-class listening! Enjoy!

[2bigears]

  OK,just off the horn with Bob,he's a good guy, and i an going with the standard x-over but out-of-box.I will live with this as the alternative would have been 3 large extra.I would love to do a taste test with a broken-in unit sometime in the future.It all depends on system too i would think aa.I think the big VAC pre with the real big DNA will work wonders together.Money saved would go to the mods on the 500 which would be 2200.00......think i will try that.   Happy New Year all......

[zybar]

  OK,just off the horn with Bob and i an going with the standard x-over but out-of-box.I will live with this as the alternative would have been 3 large extra.I would love to do a taste test with a broken-in unit sometime in the future.It all depends on system too i would think aa.I think the big VAC pre with the real big DNA will work wonders together.Money saved would go to the mods on the 500 which would be 2200.00......think i will try that.   Happy New Year all......

Depending on what you paid for the DNA-500 + $2200 to upgrade, you might want to think about a used BAT VK-600SE.

While I have never heard a modified DNA-500 (and I have tremendous respect for Steve MCCormack), buying the BAT might be a better choice for a couple of reasons:

1.  It might sound better (it is still the best SS amp I have owned or heard).

2.  Buying it used for around $7k means you can resell it used for around $7k.     This protects you a lot more than going the mod route on the DNA-500.

I don't think either direction is a bad choice, but just thought I would throw this out there.

George

[2bigears]

   thks George,when i am up and runnin',maybe i can rent yours and face-off these monster amps.I paid 3600 bucks for the 500.1/2 price the big BAT .Your right on the mod cost,you get nothing back from that when you sell. hAPPY nEW yEAR