A little to much coffee...
It's NOT the SPL that counts, but rather the sonic quality and musicality that I'm after (and achieved).
I agree that it's the sonics and musicality that matter most however I do like to enjoy certain tracks (not all) at levels which seem realistic as if performer was right there playing or singing. At times I put myself out of the image and think about how loud that acoustic solo would really be if I were a certain distance. I compare that to what I am hearing and try to duplicate the level. I'm not talking ear splitting chronic tinitus creating levels, but track long levels of a satisfactory level that is convincing.
Trying to obtain a real snare drum transient or percussive reproduction is not possible with my current line-up of gear and it really depends on "where" the recording engineer put it in the mix. For other types of music and vocal tracks there is a close approximation that can make me feel the reverberation of the harmonics or lower fundamental frequencies in my "chest or feet" and that to me adds a whole level to the realism created by the system. Or for instance a percussive attack on a piano which could be quite loud even un amplified as in a live performance from about twenty or so feet from the player.
One of the reasons I started this thread to see just how people are sitting with their systems and what equipment is involved to make this conclusion. Lugano also has a link to his database of members systems that was started about two or three months ago. Use the following link provided. Once there, go down about halfway on the first page to a posting by Lugano dated 2/12/07, look for his link to the database and follow his directions from the post. Click
HERE
Yes, this very subjective...no doubt we all know that but I think it is good to spread the knowledge and see what yields a particular answer from each of us.
Me I am still contemplating the purchase of either a Pass Labs x250.0 or x350.0 to use with my ML ReQuests. The Plinius line changed this year and I may think about the SA-201 or 301...not sure...I'm leaning more towards the Pass Labs but not sure which model. What I do know is that I need a more capable amp with the reserve in the power supply, something over the 200 watt per channel mark and with the capacity to double power output as the impedance decreases. My current amplifiers (Kenwood L-05M Mono blocks) are 100 watts per channel and only squeeze out about 150 at half the impedance…not a great indication of the power supply section of the amp…but they did do very good for what they are and have been!
I listen to a lot of genres of music…rock from the 60’s and 70’s, jazz, classical, solo artists, piano/flute, Cello, acoustic, or electric…anything from Joni Mitchell to Metallica and oh yeah throw in an occasional Neil Young too. I also like to listen to music with synthesizers like Yes, ELP, Genesis and oh yeah Pink Floyd/David Gilmore! I like to listen to Dire Straights/Marc Knopfler, and Steely Dan also. There’s a lot of different types of music there and I admit that some of it sounds better on a low end system because of the accurate resolution of the electrostatics, but the good recordings are so worth it all!
I like bass…low bass that I can feel. I like the kind of bass that goes right through the walls of my house and ends up outside somewhere in the yard before disappearing somewhere out there into the air.
My system does double duty as a surround system also and there in comes the need for extra reserve and low bass reproduction, hence the recent purchase of the Descent sub.
Back to the subject of this thread…I like seeing what other people are using for Amplification and Speakers. Also to be reminded about some lesser-remembered brands…or as in some instances forgotten brands. Someone here mentioned Aragon, there are a few others as well that were mentioned. There’s a brand name that I have not seen in the local retailers for a while now. In fact the last time I did was more than 20 years ago when I almost bought an Aragon amp from CSA, a local audio salon I used to patronize in the 80’s.
If all goes well I should make a purchase by late spring or so….unless the garage addition to the house costs more than I anticipated.
To answer my own questions:
1.What speaker are you using in your current listening or multi-channel, or surround sound system.
Front Mains: ReQuest
Center: Snell HCC-500
Surrounds: Snell SUR500 Dipoles
Sub: Descent
2. What type of Amp: tube, hybrid, solid state, Class A, A/B, D, first watt, flea, mega watt...
Front Mains: Kenwood L-05M Mono Block class A/B 100 w/Ch into 8 ohms 150 @ 4 ohms
Center and surrounds: Marantz MA500 Mono Blocks (3) 125 w/Ch into 8 ohms 180 @ 4 ohms
3. Are you happy with the power capability or SPL (Sound Pressure Level) that you obtain with your current combination?
At my current listening position of about 10 feet, not quite for music. Although it can scare the hell out of us with some movies!
4. Are you considering an upgrade, if so what?
Yes. Pass Labs, something in the range of 250 w/Ch into 8 ohms or more.
Yes, more ML speakers for the center and surround channels. My system prior to ML’s was all Snell.
Yes there is more….but why go on….
