Ron’s New System

[Ron Resnick]

sure, my point is during the search, don’t search for a couple of attributes only especially when some things would be clearly better overall even to the searcher

But I think this is back to you thinking I can get to a higher indifference curve with a completely different speaker/amp approach.

 

[Ron Resnick]

By the way, the tonearm installer -- who has no bashfulness about being critical of the system -- is not reporting edginess or brightness.

 

[Al M.]

By the way, the tonearm installer -- who has no bashfulness about being critical of the system -- is not reporting edginess or brightness.

I would have been surprised if he had.

 

[bonzo75]

But I think this is back to you thinking I can get to a higher indifference curve with a completely different speaker/amp approach.

no not at all this has no relation to that point which is totally different. This observation would hold valid even if you were a set horn user already

 

[KeithR]

Ron,

most your amp questions were around does amp A or tube A have more weight and midbass energy and midrange compared to B.

in fact when you asked me what I meant by “better” and tried to get me to answer on those attributes, or compare Jadis, NAT Magma and KR VA200 on those attributes, I purposefully refused.

your 5T report is now about openness and spatial superiority. There is no mention of weight. In fact Fremer’s review (and my brief listening and compares at Anamighty followed by listening on XVX and Dohmann demo by Dohmann himself) find the shortcoming as weight and bass. So, just saying that while comparing amps, at no point did you ask which amp is more open and spatial, does not matter if it has less bass.

Not being picky on those attributes, just pointing out that sometimes when you listen, you might choose component A over B for a more holistic better than just some couple of attributes you wanted more of before you went there.

I think you bring up a good point- reading Ron's recent adventures, it seems like he's trying to mix and match styles to some relative point and I'm confused as to what the ultimate goal is now. For instance, you can't claim to prioritize transparency and then think a JA200 is your ultimate amp, with a dozen paralleled tubes, but are actively looking at PSET options. By choosing Gryphon speakers you give up any SET compatibility as we all expected. And then you love Jadis, but run a VTL hybrid preamp. Or the tonearm commentary you bring up (which is less in my balliwick). Maybe he can expound upon this now that he's had the system up for 6 months and where he wants to go with it.

 

[Al M.]

I think you bring up a good point- reading Ron's recent adventures, it seems like he's trying to mix and match styles to some relative point and I'm confused as to what the ultimate goal is now. For instance, you can't claim to prioritize transparency and then think a JA200 is your ultimate amp, with a dozen paralleled tubes, but are actively looking at PSET options. By choosing Gryphon speakers you give up any SET compatibility as we all expected. And then you love Jadis, but run a VTL hybrid preamp. Or the tonearm commentary you bring up (which is less in my balliwick).

The ultimate goal is never a single parameter, and some compromise in juggling between parameters always has to be made. It seems Ron is in such a juggling phase right now.

 

[Ron Resnick]

The ultimate goal is never a single parameter, and some compromise in juggling between parameters always has to be made. It seems Ron is in such a juggling phase right now.

Much more lucidly stated than I was preparing to concoct!

Thank you, Al!

 

[KeithR]

The ultimate goal is never a single parameter, and some compromise in juggling between parameters always has to be made. It seems Ron is in such a juggling phase right now.

I think it's more that the Gryphon speakers don't comport with what he's owned in the past and the entire electronics chain will be changed as a result. Most of Ron's system was built on paper and he's changing his path. Its going to be fascinating where he ends up. But there is some cognitive dissonance he wrestles with. Basically the JA100 experiment has been fruitful as it shows how much power the speaker needs. 80 watts will work for girl and guitar, but apparently strains at concert levels in his largish room. I believe the solution will be going to a higher powered tube amp that doesn't have 12 tubes/side.

 

[bonzo75]

Much more lucidly stated than I was preparing to concoct!

Thank you, Al!

Except not relevant to the point we were discussing. If you want cheerleading ask him to jump up in skirts too

 

[Al M.]

If you want cheerleading ask him to jump up in skirts too

LOL

 

[Ron Resnick]

I I believe the solution will be going to a higher powered tube amp that doesn't have 12 tubes/side.

What do you recommend?

What do you hear as the sonic problem with massed output tubes?

 

[bonzo75]

What do you hear as the sonic problem with massed output tubes?

Gets unbalanced quickly, hard to keep 12 tubes in a matched state for long

 

[Johan K]

Congratulations Ron to your new Reed 5T tonearm. I looks beautiful !

/ Jk

 

[Mike Lavigne]

i think Ron has a slightly different mind set today in his musical goals than back when he purchased his current speakers. not saying he does not like his speakers, but his amplification priorities today are different today than then. it would be interesting to see how his thinking has adjusted, and whether he might go a different direction now.

just a fun idea to consider. would he now investigate the same speakers he did then? or maybe others?

Apogee vs Electrostatic

I know here there are fan of Apogee like Ked and others but no of electrostatic speaker I tell my experience about it In 1980 about I bought Duetta and became crazy ti use,I had Robertson amp and then Krell Kma 100 Sound and bass was good but little dark and sound in the speaker That I...

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Ron's Speaker, Turntable, Power and Room Treatment Upgrades

I have enjoyed our hobby for 27 years. This is how the front of my listening room looked until 2014: Due to a flood in this listening room in 2014, and to some ongoing repairs to my house, my stereo has been disassembled and has been stored under protective tarps for almost two years...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[Kingrex]

Nice tone arm. JR was at my house 2 days ago. He showed me how to use his tools. It's amazing how fast he can set a cartridge that has been analized. The overall impact was very large when it comes to clarity and detail. I am very aware the mistracking distortions I had in my setup. A tone arm that maintains the null point would be quite ideal from what I hear.

 

[Al M.]

i think Ron has a slightly different mind set today in his musical goals than back when he purchased his current speakers. not saying he does not like his speakers, but his amplification priorities today are different today than then. it would be interesting to see how his thinking has adjusted, and whether he might go a different direction now.

just a fun idea to consider. would he now investigate the same speakers he did then? or maybe others?

Ron already has heard many other speakers and speaker types in the years between purchase of the speakers and setup of the system.

Yet he still likes these speakers and, having heard them, I can very well understand why, given his taste which is a bit different than mine (I still liked the speakers a lot, regardless). Second-guessing of his choice by others is futile armchair reasoning.

If I understand correctly, Ron already has indicated why he would not pursue horn speakers.

 

[Ron Resnick]

OMG! OMG! OMG!

"Landslide" and "Rhiannon" on 5T: ethereal, airy, resolving, textured, unforced! Just like I hoped for!

The Reed 5T has the relaxed, unfrenetic sound of tape!

 

[PeterA]

The ultimate goal is never a single parameter, and some compromise in juggling between parameters always has to be made. It seems Ron is in such a juggling phase right now.

Al, This is a mindset that is based on the premise that every speaker system and every system in general is compromised and that we must ultimately choose among different trade-offs until we are satisfied. It is not the way I approach the hobby.

I know people who look forward every day to go into their listening rooms and enjoy listening to their music collection and the last thing on their minds is that what they are experiencing is somehow compromised.

This thread is about a state of the art system with almost no cost constraints assembled in a dedicated room that was designed with the advice of an acoustician. At this level after all of the effort, Ron should be absolutely thrilled with his system. After half a year or so of setting up the system and fine-tuning it, frankly I’m surprised that this thread is not about how much fun Ron is having but rather which trade-offs will lead to the best compromise.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Al, This is a mindset that is based on the premise that every speaker system and every system in general is compromised and that we must ultimately choose among different trade-offs until we are satisfied. It is not the way I approach the hobby.
I know people who look forward every day to go into their listening rooms and enjoy listening to their music collection and the last thing on their minds is that what they are experiencing is somehow compromised.

This thread is about a state of the art system with almost no cost constraints assembled in a dedicated room that was designed with the advice of an acoustician. At this level after all of the effort, Ron should be absolutely thrilled with his system. After half a year or so of setting up the system and fine-tuning it, frankly I’m surprised that this thread is not about how much fun Ron is having but rather which trade-offs will lead to the best compromise.

Ron asked for second guessing by pursuing SET sounding amplification for his speakers even asking for suggestions, which involves non SET type control of the speaker for a fit in the room, and wide musical capability. something has to give.

he could have been satisfied with the VTL's, and defend that position. but it's not what happened.

 

[Another Johnson]

OMG! OMG! OMG!

"Landslide" and "Rhiannon" on 5T: ethereal, airy, resolving, textured, unforced! Just like I hoped for!

The Reed 5T has the relaxed, unfrenetic sound of tape!

The last time I saw a post like this it was from Harry Weisfeld and he was remarking on one of his R&D projects. “It sounds like tape!” he would exclaim.

Ah …. Good times. It’s ironic that two posts above mine the poster has said this thread should be about Ron having fun. It sounds like the fun is finally officially underway. Yayyyy!