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D'Agostino Audio Master Audio Systems |
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#11
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conrad johnson GAT drives the S250 wonderfully.
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#12
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All- here is my new dilemma-
I currently use a Mcintosh MEN220 in the chain (between the pre-amp and the power amp). The active crossover in the 220 is awesome (I run 4 subs), and the room correction makes a big difference which sounds better. I spent a lot of time today playing with my setup- and took the MEN220 completely out of the chain. It sounds way better in the chain- I expect an upgraded preamp (read D’agostino Momentum HD) would improve the sound - but having the MEN220 between the preamp and amp seems like I’d miss out on impedance matching etc. What’s a guy to do- (Room treatments are on the horizon, so ideally I could eliminate the need for the 220…but it really sounds better in the chain.
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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
#13
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From afar, I would suggest you prioritize your room treatments over anything else and if you haven’t already, take steps to insure your system has adequate and clean power (dedicated lines, etc).
I have had both the C2300 and an MEN 220 when I was running Infinity IRS Betas. The MEN220 was a necessary surgical instrument. However, as I progressed and moved to the Strads and one Sub, I found the MEN220 was adding a layer of haze/noise into the sound. I moved to a JLAudio CR-1 crossover and it was night and day. Much cleaner sound and just as good if not better mains/sub integration. I have not heard the D’Ag pre but would assume being solid state, that at a high level it will have less noise than the tube based C2300. Get your fundamentals right first then move on major electronics.
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Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2 X 2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server, Clearaudio Performance SE. Satisfy tonearm & Maestro Wood MM cartridge. Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Sigma NR v2, Block Audio PCs, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - 4 X Alpha CGS cables, Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches, Keces P3 LPSU, Cables: Wireworld Platinum 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Speaker cables, 6M & 1M Tubulus Concentus ICs, Other:Two PSI Audio AVAA C20, Multiple GIK products, Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Minis and Ultra SS, Three 20 Amp lines, Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona Rack |
#14
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Quote:
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McIntosh MA8000; McIntosh MC1502; Canton Vento Reference 1 DC; E.A.T. E-Flat; Soundsmith Paua Mk II; Technics SL 1210 MK5; Audio Technica AT-150 MLX; Tascam BR-20; Teac X1000R; Pioneer RT-707; Oppo UDP 205; Denon DCD A-100; HP All-In-One Touchscreen Server; JRiver MC 28; Woo Audio WA6; Shure SRH 1840; SVS SB 1000; Jolida 502BRC; Jolida JD9; VPI 16.5 RCM; Wireworld Oasis 8 Speaker Cables; Audoquest Columbia 72 DBS IC's; Panamax PM-5400 (source components only) |
#15
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I’ve spoken to that seller. Have a couple others I’m also looking at. Wifey says “no” to the black as she wants it to match . Thanks for sharing.
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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
#16
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Wise words!
I may be trying to do too much at once. (It doesn’t hurt that my wife is on board with the spending right now). Quote:
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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
#17
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Quote:
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Stereo: Hegel H590, Grimm Audio MU1, Mola Mola Tambaqui, Burmester 948 - V3 & V6 racks, Vivid Audio G2 Giyas, REL Carbon Special (pair), Silent Angel Bonn N8 Ethernet Switch & Forester F1, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse IC and SE SC, Furutech Digiflux AV: Hegel C-53, Marantz AV8802A, Oppo BDP-203EU, Pioneer Kuro 60", Vivid Audio C1 & V1w's, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse, SE & E Second system (veranda): Halgorythme preamp and monoblocks, Burmester 061, Avalon Avatar, Sharkwire & Wireworld cables |
#18
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For what it's worth, we just finished our basement. In doing so, I added 10 dedicated 20 amp circuits.
I also have a PS Audio P10 which feeds my entire front end (other than my amp, which is plugged into a dedicated 20 amp direct). All of my subs are each on their own dedicated line. I'm pretty well set with clean power. We are going to get a thick area rug, and some corner bass traps, and a few panels to bring down the slap echo as I have a lot of hard surfaces. Treatments are on the top of my list. And coming soon- Where I'm still torn, is once I get the treatments right - I expect some improvement, but I know I have some weak links in my system. Source and Preamp are the clear weak links. I am very much in the mode of finding the right pre-amp (even if I have a lot of tweaking to do)- My concern dilemma is integrating 4 subs the best possible way. The MEN220 does a great job taking the lowest frequencies away from the mains and offloading that to the subs. I can imagine the JL Audio CR-1 may do this well (and possibly be cleaner). My concern is, does having either the MEN220 or the JL CR-1 between between a reference preamp and reference amp water down the connection. Everything I have read about components is the impedance matching between preamp and amp is the secret sauce for good sound. Does the MEN220 or JL-CR1 mess with this "perfect matching", or are they designed to pass that through? (I can certainly get XLR splitters out of the preamp, and keep the signal "pure", but that would result in sending a full signal to the Aidas {which ultimately they can handle}, and working the crossover in the subs alone. Being able to take the lowest frequencies away from the mains, and using an active crossover cleans up the sound and takes some pressure off the amp as well). Quote:
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Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
#19
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Holy crap! That’s a lot of dedicated lines. You don’t mess around.
I can’t comment about the synergy. I do know the CR1 is more invisible than the MEN220. It is only a crossover and keeps the signal in the analog domain. The MEN 220 passes the signal through its AD-DA conversion all the time.
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Main Equipment: Kharma Elegance dB11-S, JL Audio F113v2 X 2, Block Audio Line & Mono SE Amplification, Bricasti M21 DAC, Antipodes Kala K-50 Server, Clearaudio Performance SE. Satisfy tonearm & Maestro Wood MM cartridge. Power: Shunyata Everest 8000, Sigma XC v2, Sigma NR v2, Block Audio PCs, Defender, ADDPowr Wizard Grounding: Shunyata Altaira CGS - 4 X Alpha CGS cables, Network : Supra Cat 8+, Twin (Nenon) Modified Buffalo GS2016 Switches, Keces P3 LPSU, Cables: Wireworld Platinum 8 USB, Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 8 Speaker cables, 6M & 1M Tubulus Concentus ICs, Other:Two PSI Audio AVAA C20, Multiple GIK products, Stillpoint Apertures, Stillpoint Minis and Ultra SS, Three 20 Amp lines, Furutech GTX - Gold outlets, Adona Rack |
#20
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Lol- I erred on the side of too many rather than too few. My electrician though I was nuts- we totally maxed out the sub panel I’m intrigued at the CR1 I’ll look at adding one of those in the mix after I tame my room. I’m listening now, and it sounds pretty dang good—-I just know it can be better
__________________
Main > Aurender N10/N100 / Antipodes K50 > Aries Cerat Kassandra mk2 - Playback Designs Dream DAC > D'agostino Momentum HD > PS Audio P10 > D'Agostino S250 > Sonus Faber Aida / REL S812 Six Pack + 4 JL Audio F113 Fathoms > B&W Signature HTM > Anthem Statement D2v > Mcintosh MC205 > Focal 1000 (side surrounds) > Bryston TIW (rear surrounds) Secondary System > Aurender N100h> AMR777SE > D'agostino Momentum Integrated > Wilson Sasha DAW |
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