Sharp SD-SG11: Bingo! I Guessed Right

Tbadder1 · « **on:** 9 Dec 2003, 04:42 pm »

I finally picked up used ($395) what I thought might be an excellent match for this little digital beauty--a pair of Moth Cicadas. With and 11ohm load and 94db sensitive, I thought they would be a perfect match, easy for the 12.5 watter to drive, without the top-end graininess that a single driver design tames, and with a nice balance as the amp is only rated to 40hz. Well, I was dead on (first time I'm told). What a great combo--very musical, round, approaching warmth, but clear and detailed. I also upgraded the interconnects with a pair of Fidelity Dragons ($795--paid 225 used three years ago) and the first BMI powercord ($89). Despite the fact that the SD-SG11 is sitting on a thin piece of glass, and that I haven't attached the bases or spiked the floor yet to the Moths, everything sounds great--I'm much too pleased with myself as you can tell as this is the first time I've spent so little and gotten so much in return. Cheers all.

Carlman · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 04:53 pm »

So, how much were the Moth Cicadas? and where did you get them? Do they also make catepillars or butterflies?

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 05:02 pm »

I picked them up from a private sale. They retail for $695 normally. This is the only speaker that Moth Audio makes; they specialize in tube amps. By the way the speakers are truly beautiful, finished in a glossy burgundy and beautifully badged. They also are front ported which is important to me as this system is in my kitchen and i need to put them very near the wall. Check out the website for a picture. I think it's just Mothaudio.com.

P.S. Oh yeah--as my first post mentions I got them for 395.

audiojerry · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 05:06 pm »

speakers in the kitchen?

btw, the SP Tech are here. Did you check your pm?

Merle · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 07:53 pm »

I bought a pair of Klipsch RF15's to use with mine. Again, a fine match. 8ohm, 96db floorstander with two 5 1-4" woofers. Hooked up to the little Sharp, these things absolutly rock! I've bought three more of the Sharp units to give as Christmas presents this year. I'm using mine with an Audioquest Coral interconnect and Audioquest CV4 speaker wire. I may look into an aftermarket powercord. [Any suggestions?] After about a month of constant use, the little Sharp has really opened up. When used in it's powerband, the Sharp makes very fine, detailed music indeed! Has to be the best $149 I've ever spent on Audio.

Brad · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 08:11 pm »

I got my Sharp in yesterday.
The fit/finish is amazing at this price point. It's built like a tank and gorgeous.

I picked up some nOrh 3.0 drums from some nutjob to use with the Sharp. Can't wait to give the combo a listen tonight.
Perfect for an alarm clock/bedroom system.

F-100 · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 08:35 pm »

Quote from: audiojerry

speakers in the kitchen?

Tbadder is probably a gourmet chef therefore he spend a lot of time in the kitchen

BTW, I hooked my Sharp up with a pair of Cain & Cain Abby over the weekend and it sounds faboulous.

audiojerry · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 08:53 pm »

Quote

I picked up some nOrh 3.0 drums from some nutjob

Would his name begin with a 'P', have an 'E' in the middle, and end in 'Z'?

doug s. · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 09:04 pm »

Quote from: audiojerry

speakers in the kitchen?

whatz wrong with that? i have a pair of thiel 3.5's in the kitchen.

but, funny ting happend yust an hour ago - i was listening to a message from the wif on my woicemail - she wants to know if i can get a good deal on these zucable monitors - she wants 'em for the kitchen cuz of their cool lemon-yellow-gloss finish! and, she hasen't even *heard* 'em yet!

i *know* she'll like the fact that they're 99db/1w-efficient - she's always complaining she can never get it *loud* enuff!

doug s.

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 Dec 2003, 09:14 pm »

F-Man: Cain and Cain Abbeys!!!! I'm so jealous. Those were my first choice. These things are begging for single driver speakers. I think it creates a real balance.

Jerry: Got your message, just really busy, end of the semester stuff. I wonder if early January would be all right with you.

Powercords? Its gotta be light and flexible otherwise I think it'll pull the little amp apart.

Hell yeah in the kitchen. Eventually a system in every room. One digital, one tube, one Class A, One Class A/B, so computer room, living room, bathroom, kitchen is taken care off. It's on to the garage and the bedroom, which are sometimes the same room.

Brad · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 05:10 pm »

First listen with the Sharp did not go well.
It powered up and took a Cd - I was able to set the clock/color.

But absolutely no output from ANY of the inputs (CD, Tuner, etc).

I guess I'll find out how good PlanetMiniDisco's service is now...

viggen · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 08:01 pm »

Brad, did you use the RCA connectors?

Brad · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 08:15 pm »

Nope, didn't try any aux inputs.
I'll give that a shot tonight, but if there's no output from the internal sources (even the tuner), I don't hold out much hope of it working.

Even if the aux works, a big part of why I got it was the digital source-digital amp thing...

jackman · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 08:22 pm »

Try another set of IC's and make sure the connection from the amp/power supply and the source is hooked up correctly. It has to snap in place. Also, you need to use the IC's between the amp and the source unit. If that doesn't work, you need to get another unit.

Jack

Brad · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 08:42 pm »

I thought the umbilical between the source and the amp unit was all that needed to be connected (other than speakers/antennae). The umbilical is obviously connected, because the main unit lights up and it will open/read a CD. There is just no output to the speaker terminals.

If I'm only using the internal sources, why would I need to RCA in to the aux input?

viggen · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 08:46 pm »

Brad, You need a pair of RCAs between the CD section and the AMP section. The umbilical seems be a powercord only.

Come to think of it, I think the positions of the RCA jacks and the speaker terminals on the CD section are too close togegther if you don't use banana plugs.

Brad · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 08:52 pm »

Cool (better to have it be my stupidity than a bad system I have to arrange to have swapped)
I didn't see a place on the amp section for RCA's.

Is the signal analog or digital at that point?
If it's analog, it kind of compromises the fully digital signal path, doesn't it?

Thanks for the tips, guys.

cotton · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Dec 2003, 08:52 pm »

you need to have a total of two cables between the tuner unit and amp unit.
#1 that funny usb-like cable (which you must have connected if you have power on the tuner unit.)

#2 a rca cable (one should come with the unit) it goes from the rca plugs labeled "system out" on the tuner unit to the "system in" rca plugs on the amp unit.

That should do it.

edit- i see you already got it. enjoy.

viggen · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Dec 2003, 02:29 am »

Brad, I assume it is analog since you got both left and right channel RCAs. However, I do see your point.

It would be interesting to feed the amp section from another preamp or using the Sharp's CD section to drive another system. Since I have an integrated amp, I will compare the CD section with my regular digital front end.

Brad · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Dec 2003, 02:39 pm »

Here's a surprise:

The Sharp works just fine with all cables connected like they're supposed to be.

I'm still disappointed that they designed in an extra d/a and a/d conversion.

Staying fully digital is one of the things that makes the little Panasonic receiver sound so good. The Sharp is still a bargain at $149...

The nOrh 3.0 drums are NOT a good match for the Sharp though.