MC275

The LaScala's & Cornwalls are both good, but different. The CW bass sounds better to me - every bit as clear as the LS, but more prominent. I've always been happy with the bass output of the LS's btw, but the Mac amps help there. Midrange is deeper & more prominent on LS's, which is both good and bad. Good in that great recordings are awesome, bad in that everything else (I mainly listen to classic rock with some blues & female vocals thrown in) can be a little too prominent. The CW's just plain sound good. They don't play as loud - but at age 50 I've gotten some hearing loss, so maybe thats another good thing. Michael, yes that is a KLF-C7 center speaker. It integrates nicely with both the LS & CW's & is underrated as a Heritage match IMHO. Actually, the LS's aren't as much overkill as I thought they'd be for surrounds. The trim needs serious adjusting to get the level down & I've got to go change the setup menu on my processor. Too bad they aren't on wheels so they could be flipped around based on mood. Maybe I should just spin my chair?? Andy

Here's another pic.

After enjoying/tweaking LaScala's for the last 5 years, I broke down & bought a pair of Cornwalls. Got them last week from the original owner, who bought them on or about 1979. Found them on Craigslist, one mile from home..... They were CWO's in good shape, but dusty with a few nicks & spots. After getting them lugged idown to the basement & wired up - seemed like music was coming mainly from left channel. All drivers appeared to be working, so I took the backs off to poke around. The insides were pristine - but the input wires were reversed inside the right speaker, i.e. out of phase. Felt sorry for the poor dude listening to these all that time. Fixed that & sound improved, i.e. channels were balanced & bass was tighter (duh...) but sound still thin compared to the LS's. After exchanging emails with Bob Crites, the B crossover rebuild kit & mid-horn gaskets were on the way. In the meantime, I followed the directions from some old posts on the forum & applied Watco walnut danish oil with fine scotchbrite pad. So they look & smell like new. Bob's stuff showed up a couple days later & yesterday I got around to putting the new caps on the networks & putting the gaskets in. I am amazed & surprised at the difference. Midrange & bass both sieem improved, maybe just better balanced. Couldn't stop listening yesterday. LS's are moved to rear channel for now - they make spectacular surround sound btw. Hopefully a pic is attached, if not I'll try again. Andy

Dean, I think this questions been asked, but I don't recall the answer.... Is it possible to modify your networks ("SuperAA") to crossover from mid to tweeter at 4500hz as Daddy Dee suggests above? I'm using CT-125 tweeters & trying to squeeze the last bit of brightness out of the squawker. Thanks. Andy

I put Crites Tweeters in my 2001 LaScala's yesterday. These replaced K-77M's. I find the new tweeters more revealing, but without adding any harshness. With this upgrade and the DeanG crossovers I put in a few months ago, I think the LaScala's are world class. Moving on to tweaking sources...... Andy

Wow, beautiful Sapphire! What kind of cartridges do you use/have you tried?

The Robin seems to be a good value ($645 retail new). I found a Stereophile review that was very favorable (when aren't they?). There was, however, a response by Mr. Graham that was interesting. He said these arms were built in Japan to keep costs low. He also said they used parts that had long since been amortized. I assume he was refering to the anit-skate mechanism which is similar to my 35 yr old PL-12D. Anyway, it looks cool with very solid, machined stainless steel bearing & sounds great - at least in combination with the TT & cartridge.

Here's my new toy. SOTA Satellite w/ Graham Robin tonearm and Benz Glider high output. Replaces my MMF-5, which is going up for sale soon.

I use an Orbitrac 2 that I bought from Music Direct for about $40. Its quick, cheap, & effective. Using this cleaner & switching to a moving coil cartridge has all but eliminated surface noise for me.

Question for Dean: I've been using your Super AA networks for a few months now in my LaScalas (& love 'em). Would they need to be modified to work with Bob's tweeters? Would be interested in opinions from others using Dean's networks with these tweeters. Thanks!

I'm very happy with the Denon 2900 for both stereo & multi-channel audio. Will keep it until the next generation format issues are resolved. I see them on audiogon for around $400.

How much do the Pro Series Jubilee's cost? Do they need to be placed in corners like Khorns? Thanks.

I went to the show & it was even better than last year. Got to demo a number of great systems. Lots of beautiful & unique speakers. I am spoiled by my LaScala's however. I prefer to them most of the other speakers there (some costing 10's of thousands). The new B&W 802's sounded good. The best of show (for me) was the $20k Avantgarde Duos.

I agree! Keep your HT all Heritage. Here's a picture of one of my Heresy surrounds. I put them on cheap, somewhat matching oak boxes from Oak Express. Point 'em right at the listening postions. Crank & enjoy....

My two-channel system (Mac C2200, MC275, MMF-5, Denon DVD2900) shares space with home theater (MHT-100, Mits 65 RPTV). There is a Niles amp switch. Speakers are stock LaScalas.

I've been using a C2200 with an MC275 for about 7 months. For me - this will be the last preamp I buy. Been very happy with it, no trouble (knock on wood). I use this set up with LaScalas. The phono preamp got only a fair review from Stereophile. For me - I think its great. I will never have a vinyl rig that is worthy of something better/more expensive. Turning on the tone controls makes no difference in the sound to my ears. There a few LP's that require their use. I did hear a slight sound improvement changing to unbalanced cables - probably because it bypasses the gain stage in the MC275.

I've had an MMF-5 for a year & 1/2. Use it almost daily. I think it sounds great - my cd player is dusty. Changed the cartridge to a shure V15 - but there's nothing wrong with the stock Goldring. Not a tweakers table, but has a lot of features for the money.

I also listen to most SACD's in 2-channel. The redbook layer of DSOTM SACD sounds pretty similar to the original. The multichannel SACD layer was remastered/re-engineered by Pink Floyd's producer (current one, not Alan Parsons) with input from the band members. It is truly awesome & well worth the price of an SACD player all by itself.

Is it really possible to eliminate/reduce the sibilance with vocals by changing crossovers? I have relatively new LaScalas with AL-3 networks. I have tried everything tame the sibilance - worst is male vocals. Even the tone controls on my pre-amp don't cut it that much.

You might check the Vinyl Asylum. You'll find lots of opinions on all 3 of these cartridges. Shure carts have a reputation for neutral sound, i.e. not bright, i.e. good mix with Klipsch.

I am using the MC275 IV with a C2200 preamp. This combination is awesome with LaScalas (makes the speakers seem 3 times their actual size, if you can imagine). I don't find the sound to be dark at all - but haven't been able to compare with any other Mac tube amps. Depending on the source and recording, I sometimes use the tone controls on the preamp when playing at high SPL levels. I put GEC KT88's in the amp, but Mac claims changing output tubes has little effect on sound. I never used ths stock tubes, so can't compare....

I've been using an MMF-5 for a year. Upgraded to Goldring 1042 cartridge. Very pleased with it. I find vinyl playback to be more responsive to amp/tube tweaks than my DVD/CD player.