TomicTime Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 A fantastic and well sorted out system. I used your agon photo to choose color for my 7’s as well. Best to you, enjoy the music. Jim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 You guys have inspired me. I just placed an order for: Niagara 3000 with Dragon power cord Re terminate my Hurricane power cords with the 20amp connection the M5-HPA's have that will plug into the 3000 Hurricane power cords with the new proprietary connectors to fit the Quatro's Fire balanced interconnects until the new line comes out. (I already have a Diamond USB if I need one and will start with the top Basis power cord until I can sell it and get the Dragon source for the server/DAC/analog volume control) I sold my WT 8' run that's the zero and bass for a 3' run of William Tell Silver with the zero and bass runs for true bi wire 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Neff Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 You will notice a big improvement. Enjoy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GdnrBob Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 @darthlaker, Thanks for posting your impressions regarding the Twenty upgrade on the KX-R. I have been thinking about it for a couple of years, and wasn't sure it would be worth the $10K, but seeing your post pushes me closer to doing it. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 Bob, it's a graet upgrade. Which piece are you thinking about upgrading? The 20 upgrade isn't an upgrade. It's a whole new device. They literally pull out the guts and install a totally new set of boards etc... they only keep the controls and cabinet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 as a previous Ayre VX-R Twenty owner, I would rather have M5 amps. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthlaker Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 11 hours ago, TomicTime said: A fantastic and well sorted out system. I used your agon photo to choose color for my 7’s as well. Best to you, enjoy the music. Jim Thanks Jim. I love the gloss black and also the gun metal grey black in the 7's..... 11 hours ago, ctsooner said: You guys have inspired me. I just placed an order for: Niagara 3000 with Dragon power cord Re terminate my Hurricane power cords with the 20amp connection the M5-HPA's have that will plug into the 3000 Hurricane power cords with the new proprietary connectors to fit the Quatro's Fire balanced interconnects until the new line comes out. (I already have a Diamond USB if I need one and will start with the top Basis power cord until I can sell it and get the Dragon source for the server/DAC/analog volume control) I sold my WT 8' run that's the zero and bass for a 3' run of William Tell Silver with the zero and bass runs for true bi wire You will hear even MORE with the 3000! 8 hours ago, TomicTime said: as a previous Ayre VX-R Twenty owner, I would rather have M5 amps. FYI, On an email Richard said the best amps he has heard with the Sevens, besides his top of the line tube amps are the Ayre MXR-20's.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 They are mostly shown with Ayre, AR , Aesthetix or Brinkmann gear. It all depends on what flavor you love. For my money, when spending this kind of money, I want an amp that’s built for my speaker. I also want the most neutral cable/cord and that’s AQ. I have had some of the esoteric stuff in and it’s also been very good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthlaker Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 6 minutes ago, ctsooner said: They are mostly shown with Ayre, AR , Aesthetix or Brinkmann gear. It all depends on what flavor you love. For my money, when spending this kind of money, I want an amp that’s built for my speaker. I also want the most neutral cable/cord and that’s AQ. I have had some of the esoteric stuff in and it’s also been very good. AQ makes great cable! Always on show with Vandy's at audio shows.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Richard shares the DBS patent with Bill Low. When using Vandersteen speakers, it’s so easy to use the best AQ you can afford as well as HRS Systems gear as that’s how they are tuned. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Yes i believe Richard had a pair of MXR running his 7’s while his amp was in development, the MXR with 7 combo is one i have heard in several well sorted rooms and systems now and is very, very highly musical. Charlie was a genius, RIP. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthlaker Posted February 23, 2021 Author Share Posted February 23, 2021 Charlie was Yoda (RIP) Richard is Obi-Wan.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 I miss talking with him. He was so insightful and I learned so much. RIP for sure. Ariel shared Charlies college note book with me when I visited them. He showed me his sketches of the diamond circuit that he basically invented while in school. Crazy or what? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthlaker Posted February 23, 2021 Author Share Posted February 23, 2021 (edited) 8 minutes ago, ctsooner said: I miss talking with him. He was so insightful and I learned so much. RIP for sure. Ariel shared Charlies college note book with me when I visited them. He showed me his sketches of the diamond circuit that he basically invented while in school. Crazy or what? Cool story re the book! I spoke to him once. I was having a problem with something. So the CEO (Charlie) gets on a Skype call with me! He even offered for me to borrow his tone arm to see if that would fix my issue. (and I live in Australia!). This is WAY above the call of duty. Edited February 23, 2021 by darthlaker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 great stories....Charlie and I were friends on facebook, mix it up about DACS, A2D ( generally verbotten topics with Obi Won ) and especially the theoretical virtues of no preamp and the real world reality of needing one.... RIP 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Jim, this is one reason I had them put a balanced, analog volume control in the DAC. I'm hoping that it's like a no preamp sound if you would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthlaker Posted November 24, 2023 Author Share Posted November 24, 2023 Hi all, Been a long time between drinks and have upgraded the system quite a bit since my last posts over 3 years ago. Now running a Brinkmann Balance TT with Ront III power supply, acoustical systems Axiom tonearm with Lyra Atlas cart on a custom HRS M3X base. Now using an Audio Research 3SE Phono with the new EXRD HRS rack. My Sevens are also now using the Bedrock bases. I LOVE the naturalness of Vandersteen speakers and treasure every minute I listen to them. SO addictive! System details updated below and also a pic: Vandersteen Model Seven loudspeakers with Vandersteen Bedrock bases dCS Puccini SACD/CD player & DAC dCS Puccini U-Clock Brinkmann Balance turntable with acoustical systems Axiom tonearm with Brinkmann Ront III tube power supply with HRS M3X custom made Brinkmann isolation base Lyra Atlas cartridge Ayre KX-R Twenty Pre-amp Audio Research REF 3SE Phono stage on top of HRS M3X isolation base Ayre MX-R Twenty Monoblock amps Audioquest Niagara 5000 Power Filter Melco N1ZH Network Streamer HRS EXRD 4 shelf audio rack Cables: Audioquest FireBird High Power, FireBird Source, Hurricane Source and Thunder 72V DBS power cables Audioquest FireBird Mythical Creatures 72V DBS speaker cables in bi-wire configuration (FireBird ZERO and FireBird BASS) Audioquest Firebird balanced interconnects 144V DBS Audioquest Diamond 72V DBS USB cable Audioquest Wild Blue Yonder 72V DBS 75 Ohm digital cable Audioquest Eagle Eye 72V DBS BNC 75 Ohm digital cable Misc: Ayre myrtle wood blocks used under selected equipment and also under interconnect and power cables to ensure they are raised above floor Silent Running Audio "Ohio Class" Audio isoBASE custom made amp stands for the Ayre MX-R Twenty Monoblock amps Cardas XLR and RCA caps on unused inputs/outputs Audioquest Edison 20A AC duplex power outlet connected to dedicated 20Amp circuit Audioquest FMJ Jitterbug’s Furutech NCF Booster with extensions Home Theater (in addition to above): Denon AVR-3312 surround sound receiver Panasonic DMR-BW750 Blu-Ray player/recorder XBOX ONE Pioneer PDP-LX509A Plasma monitor (ISF calibrated) Cables: Audioquest King Cobra balanced interconnects Audioquest HDMI cables, rear speaker cable 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Great upgrades and thanks for the very detailed update 😉 So many music loving Vandersteen owners are busy listening to music !!!!! Best to you ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oregon Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Gosh. Holy Cow! Well, I'm impressed. Thanks for sharing, Cody 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratocaster Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Awesome… kick ass system.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Loving it. Great stuff. Please share what the AQ jitterbugs. I’ve thought about putting them in all unused usb ports. How do you use them? Also, I’ve loving my Waversa EXT Ref to clean up the Ethernet and HDMI connections. For my system it’s working better than the optical isolation I used to use. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomicTime Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 I can comment on the use of AQ Jitterbug ( older version not the newer FMJ ( full metal jacket ) I use 4 of them typically in line with cables connecting drives or streamer or server in to DAC. The do seem to be quite variable on impact - for example the Aesthetix DAC which has internal optical isolation and fantastic low jitter and noise filtering doesn’t seem to benefit much if at all. Other gear does seem to benefit. I also use them in open USB ports on my streamer / preamp. I haven’t YET tried the newer FMJ. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darthlaker Posted December 12, 2023 Author Share Posted December 12, 2023 8 hours ago, ctsooner said: Loving it. Great stuff. Please share what the AQ jitterbugs. I’ve thought about putting them in all unused usb ports. How do you use them? Also, I’ve loving my Waversa EXT Ref to clean up the Ethernet and HDMI connections. For my system it’s working better than the optical isolation I used to use. 4 hours ago, TomicTime said: I can comment on the use of AQ Jitterbug ( older version not the newer FMJ ( full metal jacket ) I use 4 of them typically in line with cables connecting drives or streamer or server in to DAC. The do seem to be quite variable on impact - for example the Aesthetix DAC which has internal optical isolation and fantastic low jitter and noise filtering doesn’t seem to benefit much if at all. Other gear does seem to benefit. I also use them in open USB ports on my streamer / preamp. I haven’t YET tried the newer FMJ. I haven't compared before and after use - I have them plugged into my Melco streamer. I listen to vinyl when I get a chance for a listen! 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsooner Posted December 15, 2023 Share Posted December 15, 2023 Thanks guys. I may buy one to start. I have very low jitter on my server and all the streamers I’m testing out. I do want to try them as I’ve heard nothing but great things about them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DividedSky Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 Congrats on the upgrades darthlaker! Sounds like quite the step up on the analog rig! Frank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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