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New to Audiogon. selling my whole system

EVERYTHING. I've never done this before. It's time to start fresh. I'll soon be posting everything as I learn to use this site. I have everything from Proac Supertowers to studio 100's to studio 1 mk2 to Quick silver monos and full function pre with all MIT wire to Stax Lamda's to two Onyx integrateds etc...

Not sure how much I'll fetch for everything, but I've been listening to everything from 15k speakers to the newest integrateds. I have found a few dealers who have been ultra helpful and very nice. Many years ago I met Richard Vandersteen at Stereo Unlimited in SD and fell in love with the 'new' 2's. After a 4 year stint driving the USS Kitty Hawk, I moved back to CT and set out to finally get my new system. I sold off my moscode amp, CJ pre and Polk 10's (Sandy Gross' design) and found a Vandy dealer in RI> I became close friends with the owner and we are still in touch even though he's been closed for years. I walked in with my wife prepared to walk out with Vandy's and a new amp. Instead I walked out with the Supertowers, Quick mono's and his personal pre amp.

I have loved this system for many years and have had new drivers put in and it sounded even better. Problem is, my new wife needs a remote so I had to buy an NAD integrated. I still love the speakers, but I was told to check out the new D series of Proacs. I was led to Audio Connection and John (he posts here). I went in to audition the Pro Ac's and they were nice, but I wasn't blown away as what I have is still pretty darn good. Then John told me to listen to the Vandy's along with the Ayer 7x integrated and a cheap Music Hall DAC.

Keep in mind, I had recently heard the Focal BE line, Paradigm Signatures, B&W (never have liked them), Dynaudio, PSB T I think it was, Wilson, Dali and the list goes on. Nearly all the contenders (I"ve left some out). I have head the NAD Master series and the new NAD 390 digital. I heard the Krell, etc....

I never expected to have one system blow me away, but it did. I was in SHOCK and still am as it's the reverse of the last time. I really wanted to hear the Hegel integrateds as they have a nice DAC built in, but they aren't out yet. That said, the Ayre would be hard to beat. I like John's approach in that he puts systems together and we have similar ears. He carries the lines I have and have had other than the MIT I have been using (770 MH CVT and shotgun etc..) I also didn't think the Audioquest would impress me, but again, I was dead wrong.

I read reviews, but nothing beats listening. NOTHING. I think the Vandy Treo's , ayre 7x integrated, Music Hall DAC and Audioquest with those DBS deals are the way I'm going to go as soon as I'm able to share some great stuff with folks.

I look forward to reading more threads in the forum as it seems like a nice community.

I wonder how many have been in my boat (starting fresh for the first time after all these years)? Any stories to share?
ctsooner
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
I play all kinds of music; classical, jazz, pop, rock, dance, electro.
ctsooner OP
2,480 posts
 
what a thread, lol. My MIT 770 cables were voiced for tubes. They sound great on tubed gear and are still as good if not better than most cables I've heard, however the comparisons aren't fair because I'm listening to many different systems. That's the biggest problem in all of audio. The ears win and I trust my ears. I have been hearing so many different brands of cables recently that it blows my mind. I have a friend who use to be in the industry and in the beginning it was much smoke and mirrors for many companies, including some well known ones. things are different. Grain structure and skin effect are very real. RF interference is HUGE in all electronics. Some companies have figured out ways to fix some of these problems.

I remember so well when Transparent and MIT had their falling out. They went after each other's dealers with venom. Guys, I've been around the audiophile block a few times and have lived on the block since 71. There is more corruption with reviewers than the payola scandals of early radio. That's reality. Many reviewers even use different names. The most obvious is Tom Gillete/Sam Tellig. So many didn't realize it was the same person, lol. That takes nothing away from his/his reviews.

I was just looking for folks input for price vs performance of speaker cable only in the AQ line. I am buying a system. In the end, I'll listen for myself and figure out what I like best, but was curious as to what others like and why they didn't spend more or the reason they DID spend more. So far I have been forced to trust John at AudioConnections, Verona NJ. I'm a new customer there, but I've agreed with everything he's shared with me so far. He's similar to my old friend Bruce from Ocean State Audio. Our ears must be similar because we are sensitive the the same things. I do know that once you get into the DBS line of AQ, it's HUGE for a quiet noise floor.

The biggest irony going into all of this was that I was open minded, but felt I would end up with ProAc D2's (I love monitors) and MIT cables. I wasn't sure what electronics I could afford and would sound great. I knew that I wasn't interested in auditioning Vandy nor AQ products and I never liked what I heard from them many years ago.

This just shows how much products and lines have changed over the years. I have not heard Vandy's under the Treo, but I love the new Quatros, Treo and 5's. I have yet to hear any other speaker that comes close for me. I have auditioned most of the speakers out there that are real companies that sell for 5-35k. There are a few I haven't been able to hear, but most are much more than I can/will afford even used and I won't waste someone's time listening to a speaker that I can only afford used. That's not fair to a dealer IMHO.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
" I do know that once you get into the DBS line of AQ, it's HUGE for a quiet noise floor.
"

Well, yeah, I'll confirm that my noise floor in my room where it matters the most is pretty much dead quiet. AQ cv6 with DBS (two 12' runs picked up for ~$300-$400 used on ebay as I recall) are in play there. So I can say at a minimum that they do not hurt. The sound in there overall is more than I could have ever asked for and I am a very happy camper.
mihorn
467 posts
 
Hi Bo,
Could you please pick a couple of popular songs in pop or jazz and describe what you hear? It will be helpful to me and other readers' listening skill. Thanks!
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
Janos Starker/ Bach Suites; I use it to demonstrate the sound realism of a cello and also the small proportion and palpable image of the cello.

Diana Krall/The girl in the other room/ Almost blue; again for the sound of the Steinway she uses and for the 3D image of her voice. She is standing in front of you so palpable.

Departure Bay; I can let people hear her lips during singing ( in most sets you do not hear it at all) And again the extreme level of blacks and touchable image.

Kraftwerk/tour the France/La Forme; I use it for the speed and drive. But also for the extreme holographic image in general. You hear the depth, but also like you use surroundspeakers ( Q sound effect)

Bruce Springsteen/Trackscd-4/Brothers under the bridge; articulation of his voice. The way how I use Audyssey with Volume and EQ you hear a lot more details. Bruce is standing in full 3D in front of you. You hear all his words endings so clear. Endings like ssss, ttt or th.

Jacintha/Jacintha is her name/light my fire; this one I use to let people hear the high level in blacks and also for depth. Crossflute is playing about 3-4 metres behind her voice.

I/m in the mood for love from the same album; I use this one to show people that the energy and drive of the Contrabass is coming from the left. My sub is standing on the right side. Almost all subwoofers are not able to let you hear the energy and drive from the left side where the contrabass is recorded. The instruments stay very small in dimension. With many subwoofers who do not integrate like the PLW-15 does the focus of instruments become less sharp and often bigger in proportion.

These are just a few. I use many different numbers to make things clear. Do not forget that my system makes this very easy. When I use this music on many sets, you miss so much. The sound realims, timbre is of another level. Most sets do not have the drive and speed. You hear often a lot les details.

I use my set to make clear what is missing in sets of clients. After this I change parts in there set to get it to a higher level.
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