In case we don't meet earlier, I'm unavailable Saturday/Sunday August 2-3.
Had the great pleasure to hear Duke's Jazz Modules again last Wednesday at member Berndt's place. The more I hear Duke's speakers the deeper must I dig for reasons not to snatch a pair. May well have the world's largest sweet spot the way Bill has them setup (extreme toe-in/tilted back). Even in the neighboring dining room way back/off to the side produced a clear, smooth well-integrated soundfield. The $100k YG Acoustics floorstanders were also very good in this regard but their ballroom was 10x larger so comparisons are difficult...besides costing 25x as much!!! We employed the TRL-modded/Sony 900 CDP, SST Ambrosia preamp & Bill's sweet looking/sounding Jolida Music Envoy 200W tube monos. Sound was among the most satisfying I've heard.
I have every reason Duke's speakers will sound at least as good at my place. If they do it should be fun.
Can't help but think the Dream Makers properly set up in a larger than average space must kick butt. Both models worthy of the very best components.
Anyone considering a cost-no-object preamp must hear the Ambrosia ($7500 line/phono, $5500 line only). It at least equals several audio performance benchmarks established by Bongiorno during his stellar forty year audio carreer (I'm not a fan of every SST product). He invented the balanced symmetrical circuit of virtually every high-end power amp. I place the Ambrosia at least equal to more well-known fine-sounding preamps auditioned such as the $17,500 VTL 7.5, $15k Krell Evo & $5k-ish ModWright 36.5 Balanced. It would be enlightening to A-B w/ the ModWright having the latest upgrades bringing it up to $8500 (again, the Ambrosia line-only is $5500 & includes remote: balance, bass/treble w/ switchable poles & two high-quality headphone outputs).
