Charles System

[cleeds]

Fantastic! I'd bet that it sounds even better than it looks, and that's saying something!

[prepress]

Originally Posted by Charles

prepress, you have hit it on the head. That's what AA is all about. My music and gear wouldn't be ten percent without my AA buddies. Same with skating or church. Who wants to skate in an empty rink or a church devoid of people?

Best

Charles

p.s. I'll be lacing up at about 8:10 pm cst tomorrow. I expect I'll do it next to Chris. He is so good. His skates are identical to mine in every respect, except the toe stops. He's from Detroit and has been skating all his life. I think the Snyder plate a bit heavy so I'm going to try a modern plate. Chris says never to switch from Snyders. He employs huge toe stops. I'm going to cut mine down even more. I identify with Antonio in skating style.

And each of those friends has been over to enjoy a concert on my system. One even helped me rearrange my equipment racks a few years ago. And you're right about the gear. My setup's not on the same level as yours, but it's no slouch either, and part of why I've gone as far as I have is to share the fun with friends. We don't spend on this kind of gear to be selfish with it, I think.

[Charles]

Thanks everybody for the kind comments. I really do appreciate them.

Best

Charles

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cleeds

Fantastic! I'd bet that it sounds even better than it looks, and that's saying something!

cleeds, these 3500's are so special. First on just regular music the resolution is amazing. And there is zero harshness. Just a beautiful delicate presentation. Significantly better than my 1.25's. The 1.25's have superb resolution. Some think Mac lacking in resolution. However, add WEL Signature/Dragon solid silver throughout and you find otherwise. Let me just say I would not trade these 3500's for any other amp.

Their dynamic capabilities are amazing. Last night I was listening to a Phil Collins concert Live at Montreux BR. I started out a 50% volume. I wound up at 65%. The brass was simply amazing. The Thor was kicking out 120 watts and the XVX was requiring over 200. It was louder than the front row. No harshness or compression at all. No feeling you were reaching a limit.

It's simply amazing. The quality of the XVX is in its dynamic capability. They have no upper limit. The 3500 easily handles them. You have to be careful. I had the system at 91% on Paul Simon and friends. All of a sudden there was a crescendo of sound in the left channel. The 3500 hit 350 watts. I got scared but the amp never missed a beat. I turned it down to 85%

Best

Charles

[cleeds]

Originally Posted by Charles

cleeds, these 3500's are so special. First on just regular music the resolution is amazing. And there is zero harshness. Just a beautiful delicate presentation ... dynamic capabilities are amazing ... No harshness or compression at all. No feeling you were reaching a limit ...

Charles I haven't heard your system but I understand exactly what you mean from your description. It is awesome to have a system that is capable of both subtle delicacy and powerful, full range dynamics, and it's something that's very, very difficult to achieve.

[Formerly YB-2]

Charles - do miss your 'signature' line listing your equipment. I enjoy all signature lines (even Ivan's ). For me, the signature lines listing our gear is like reading "Stereophile". While I don't have the space nor inclination to own much of the gear that works for others, I do like to see, read & learn about it. You should bring it back.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

Charles - do miss your 'signature' line listing your equipment. I enjoy all signature lines (even Ivan's ). For me, the signature lines listing our gear is like reading "Stereophile". While I don't have the space nor inclination to own much of the gear that works for others, I do like to see, read & learn about it. You should bring it back.

I'll try to post it more often and thanks for the suggestion.

Best

Charles

__________________________________________________ _
Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
New gear on order:
Most recent updates: Latest is the last one posted: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; Wilson Pedestals; heating and cooling completely reworked and reinsulated resulting in a much quieter, cooler, and more efficient room (cost about 10,000.00). McIntosh MCT 500 SACD/CD transport; Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode for XVX Chronosonic; WEL Signature digital Coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection replacing the optical connection; New plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes; Thor is now off my floor; MC3500MKII mono block amps (2) and two custom granite slabs; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover; new 75-ohm multi-directional FM antenna for tuner
Amps: McIntosh MC3500MKII mono blocks (2), McIntosh MC1.25KW’s (3). All amps set on floor on custom made granite slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCT500 SACD/CD Transport, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; custom made Wilson Acoustic Diodes
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie; custom plinth of X material with Wilson Acoustic Diode feet; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); WEL Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from ActivXO crossover to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to ActivXO; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals for D1100; MVP881 BR player; MCT500 transport; MR87 tuner; plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.

[Antonmb]

Hi Charles - is there some reason you don't put your signature in the User Signature field? That way it is automatically appended to all your posts.

[Formerly YB-2]

Excellent. Thx. Fun to read.

[jfray]

Just saw the new amps OMG that’s sooooo nice

Originally Posted by Charles

I'll try to post it more often and thanks for the suggestion.

Best

Charles

__________________________________________________ _
Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest
New gear on order:
Most recent updates: Latest is the last one posted: AQ Diamond USB replaces AQ Coffee; Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx replaced by Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; new subwoofer crossover; new Galaxy Grey Thors Hammer; Wilson Pedestals; heating and cooling completely reworked and reinsulated resulting in a much quieter, cooler, and more efficient room (cost about 10,000.00). McIntosh MCT 500 SACD/CD transport; Wilson Audio Acoustic Diode for XVX Chronosonic; WEL Signature digital Coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection replacing the optical connection; New plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes; Thor is now off my floor; MC3500MKII mono block amps (2) and two custom granite slabs; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover; new 75-ohm multi-directional FM antenna for tuner
Amps: McIntosh MC3500MKII mono blocks (2), McIntosh MC1.25KW’s (3). All amps set on floor on custom made granite slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCT500 SACD/CD Transport, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties XVX Chronosonic; custom made Wilson Acoustic Diodes
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie; custom plinth of X material with Wilson Acoustic Diode feet; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); WEL Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/D1100 digital connection; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from ActivXO crossover to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to ActivXO; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals for D1100; MVP881 BR player; MCT500 transport; MR87 tuner; plinth for Thor subwoofer made of X material with the Wilson Acoustic Diodes
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 11 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet recently installed Ruud split system 3-ton heat pump.