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Old 01-27-2011, 09:26 PM
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Alberto Alberto is offline
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Default MDA1000->Fisher 600->SF Guarneri Homage: Listing results report

After spending several days with the very delicious 1960 Fisher 600 driving the Guarneri Homage I came to the following conclusions.

The Fisher is indeed delicious sounding and can be spectacular on some recordings (Do Nothing 'Till You Hear From Me sang by Ella Fitzgerald gave me goose bumps, Ella and the saxophone were in the room with me.)

Unfortunately, when the music was more demanding in terms of bass and dynamics the Fisher showed its age and its 'size'.

I don't know what the damping factor on the Fisher is, but it had a very hard time keeping the bass in line - at least with the somewhat demanding Guarneris. There was no question about it, the bass was sloppy. Of course I am spoiled by the 501's iron grip, but still ...

The Fisher was also showing some weakness when trying to deal with complex and very dynamic passages.

An other important factor is that I was really worried about leaving the amp on when I was not in the room. One of these days it's going to fail - which is fine if I am in the room (with a fire extinguisher), but could be a disaster if I am somewhere else.

Bottom line. The Fisher will continue to be a treasured vintage piece that I will turn to from time to time, but it won't be part of my main system because (aside from fire issues) it can't handle the range of music I want to listen to.

Next set up under test:

MDA1000->McIntosh C34V preamp->MC501->SF GH

The idea with this setup is to combine a very warm preamp (normally in my B system) that has not only a 5-band EQ but a variable loudness with a pair of monster power amps. The preamp's job is to add deliciousness to the signal, the power amps job is to deliver that delicious tone to the Guarneri with total control and power to spare. Let's see how that goes. I am rewiring the system today.

Stay tuned!

Alberto

Last edited by Alberto; 01-28-2011 at 01:04 AM.
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  #2  
Old 01-27-2011, 09:45 PM
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Vintage Pete Vintage Pete is offline
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Alberto...I didn't know (or had forgotten...?) that you had a C34V preamp. This is a very nice (and yes, very warm and delicious sounding ) preamp. When I first started getting back into McIntosh in the early 90's, one of the first setups I auditioned was with a C34V and MC7270 amp. I think the speakers were XRT18's. (?).

I'd like to one day upgrade my Florida room system from its C32 to a C33 or C34V preamp.

I'll be interested to hear your report on how the C34V/MC501 arrangement works out.

Not a big surprise to hear of the Fisher's limitations, but a very nice vintage piece just the same.

Pete
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No. 35


Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers

Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna

Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling

Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator

High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop
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  #3  
Old 01-27-2011, 09:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vintage Pete View Post
Alberto...I didn't know (or had forgotten...?) that you had a C34V preamp. This is a very nice (and yes, very warm and delicious sounding ) preamp. When I first started getting back into McIntosh in the early 90's, one of the first setups I auditioned was with a C34V and MC7270 amp. I think the speakers were XRT18's. (?).

I'd like to one day upgrade my Florida room system from its C32 to a C33 or C34V preamp.

I'll be interested to hear your report on how the C34V/MC501 arrangement works out.

Not a big surprise to hear of the Fisher's limitations, but a very nice vintage piece just the same.

Pete
My vintage collection does not even begin to approach your drool-worthy list of equipment, but I was lucky to have kept a few of the many, MANY, pieces of equipment I've tried over the years.

I always had a soft spot for the C34V because there are no recordings it can't fix. Too thin, too rich, too harsh, too bassy, not bassy enough, etc.

The variable loudness is so good that, for a while, I had the C34V in the effect loop of the C220.

I am listening to it now, firing into the MC501s and I am lovin' it. With the MDA1000's volume control I even have a very primitive remote.

Alberto
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Old 01-27-2011, 10:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alberto View Post
I am listening to it now, firing into the MC501s and I am lovin' it. With the MDA1000's volume control I even have a very primitive remote.

Alberto
I'll bet that is a sweet and delicious sounding arrangement indeed!!

Pete
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Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers

Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna

Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling

Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator

High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop
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  #5  
Old 01-28-2011, 12:59 AM
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Alberto ... I am really enjoying the HONESTY of your appraisals. Bravo!!
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  #6  
Old 01-31-2011, 06:27 PM
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Alberto,
All those experiences are fun aren't they ? It's cool when we have the time to investigate this way...
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  #7  
Old 01-31-2011, 06:41 PM
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Alberto Alberto is offline
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Originally Posted by C220MC275 View Post
Alberto,
All those experiences are fun aren't they ? It's cool when we have the time to investigate this way...
Yes, quite a bit of fun. One of the things I missed when I decided I had gotten a sound I really liked and did not want to mess around any more.

Alberto
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