Tír Na HiFi

Just caught up on this thread. Congrats on the new speakers! Photos are way cool too. Great when everthing comes together.

Maz65 wrote:Hi Simon,
I see the photos you posted and i had the impression of a deja-vu... something familiar, really don't know ;)

But I have a little -very little- suggestion: don't move from your Graaf so fast, wait at minimum six months of deep listening of these beauties :)

-Max

Welcome on board Max it's good to have you with us.
Can I ask what system you are using now the SF's have moved on?

Hi everybody, remaining time today is not so much but let me thanks for your hospitality...
I added my actual setup in the signature, and to not be off-topic we will discuss my next steps in other threads.

So.. let's celebrate Simon new toy !
I read almost the entire thread and if you have any question about these speakers, I'm here for you.

A question: which is your first reference parameter when you evaluate a device or a setup ?
Mine is "emotion", because a good hifi system must (imho) accomplish the usual therms like "image","timbre","coherence" and so on.
And "emotion" is the holy graal of every Hifi manufacturer.
In that way, Elipsas SE -or Red Violin- are "emotional products" and, for a strange astral conjunction, you don't need to be crazy to drive them (any B&W 802Diamond owner over there ? ;) ), even if there are some amplifiers that can magnify their personality due to impedance module and angle: an example is when some audiophile friends came in my home and listened for the first time my setup, sometimes they told me "I never listened a SF sounding like that before".

I am simply happy for Simon and I wish him a lot of hours of listening pleasure.
Mine? Is another story, I believed I have reached the maximum of my actual setup, and it's time to evolve it to another level, I hope to not regret the past solution, this is what I am afraid of in these days :)

Maz65 wrote: A question: which is your first reference parameter when you evaluate a device or a setup ?

That's an interesting question actually, because it probably mirrors my hifi path. The thing for me used to be "clarity". I wanted clarity at all costs, if the sound was clearer it was by definition better in my mind. In recent years that's changed a bit, and now I am coming around to the "emotion" idea as well. The problem of course is that it's very hard to say what it means for components to transmit emotion, but you know it when you hear it. With this latest speaker change, I was also looking for a more gorgeous tone, even if it wasn't quite as accurate. As it turns out, I don't think I've had to give up on accuracy to get the gorgeousness. Still, I've realised over time that my goal for hifi is enjoyment first and foremost, and that even trumps accuracy to source now.

Maz65 wrote: Mine? Is another story, I believed I have reached the maximum of my actual setup, and it's time to evolve it to another level, I hope to not regret the past solution, this is what I am afraid of in these days :)

I can't wait to hear about your new speakers when they arrive. I'm pretty sure you'll be very happy!

Welcome aboard Max I think you have made Simons year and probably next year also! The speakers really look incredible Simon. I think we are all feeling your 'pain! Really seemed to have hit pay dirt on those speakers and it looks like they are getting the best out of the Graafs also.

Did somebody post recently things were getting quiet around here??

tony wrote:Did somebody post recently things were getting quiet around here??

In Italy we call it "the monkey" :-)))
When the monkey arrives, no way, you have to change ah ah

Look what happens you're away for a while! I can't imagine any brand I'd be happier to buy unheard than Sonus Faber! But what a risk, Simon: they might just not have sounded right in your room. You'll obviously want me to check them for you!

Ciaran, I didn't recognise you without your avatar's clothes on! And yes, I'll be very interested in your opinion in due course.

I borrowed a Devialet 200 from the shop on Friday evening to see how a little more grip might sound. Initial impressions were very mixed, but improved significantly when I wired the left channel in the correct phase...

So, with the caveat that I'm taking analogue outs from the CD player (pointless with a Devialet but necessary in my system) it would seem that I gain some control but lose some valvey magic. No surprise really, but my gut says I'm not ready to give up the valves yet.

Diapason wrote:Ciaran, I didn't recognise you without your avatar's clothes on! And yes, I'll be very interested in your opinion in due course.

I borrowed a Devialet 200 from the shop on Friday evening to see how a little more grip might sound. Initial impressions were very mixed, but improved significantly when I wired the left channel in the correct phase...

So, with the caveat that I'm taking analogue outs from the CD player (pointless with a Devialet but necessary in my system) it would seem that I gain some control but lose some valvey magic. No surprise really, but my gut says I'm not ready to give up the valves yet.

My old avatar seems to have disappeared. The new one is ready to move speakers around!

My head sometimes tells me that solid state makes a lot of sense, but any attempts I've made to try them at home have resulted in me being dissatisfied, turning up the volume because that sounds a bit better, then quickly being dissatisfied, turning up the volume because that sounds a bit better, then quickly being dissatisfied, turning up the volume because that sounds a bit better, then ... realising my ears are ringing and still not enjoying the sound!

I was intrigued by the review of the Benchmark AHB2 Power Amplifier in the current Stereophile. 100W into 8 Ω, and among the lowest noise and distortion John Atkinson has measured (he had to use special tricks with his measuring equipment to measure it, it was so low!), for $3000. Also much less wasteful of energy than a valve amp: 12W idle. Bridgeable into mono if you want more power (and to spend twice as much!). That has to sound good, right? OTOH, I had several forum members over about ten years ago when I bought the Benchmark DAC1 on the strength of a very enthusiastic review by JA (he wasn't the reviewer this time, just measuring), and it was a flop: we all thought the sound straight out of my Copland CD player was similar and just a little better.

I have the strong sense that I need to change speakers to get a worthwhile improvement in sound quality, but I'm still really enjoying my system, I still put discs on and feel "That really sounds great!" even though the system has been unchanged for a long time. So that itch seems to have abated. Plus I can't think where I found the money for my heroic hifi purchases. Of course, being a public servant, I'm paid a lot less than I used to be!

Would it be safe to go and listen to the Elipsas? But how can I resist!?!

Diapason wrote:
So, with the caveat that I'm taking analogue outs from the CD player (pointless with a Devialet but necessary in my system) it would seem that I gain some control but lose some valvey magic. No surprise really, but my gut says I'm not ready to give up the valves yet.

Doubt that's any sort of a test, was there anything else maybe like a one thing well amp in the shop?

Racking up a sole purpose dual mono valve amp setup vs a multifunction device that is rather appealing to the eye ;)
Might not be that fair