russ69

Very nice. It looks like you have some room left for a Velodyne signature series sub (18 and 12 inch in one cabinet). Crank up the Virgil Fox and shake the rafters down! Just kidding (not really, do it when the wife is out of the house, she'll never see the new sub). Thanx, Russ

No question about it. Night time is the right time! Thanx, Russ

Jay, It sounds like you are feeding the ipod a good data set and getting the most out of it. And to tell you the truth, I'm talking out of my #ss because I haven't heard your set-up. But in my mind, I have to question how your home system is resolving if a "lowly" portable sounds as good as a quality CD player. The difference would not be in the data or decoding but more in the lower quality A/D amp of the ipod. Everything has a sonic signature so your home player and cable must be matching the sound of your ipod? I'm still talking without hearing but I'm fairly certain my system would show the weaknesses of a portable player. I'm guessing? The biggest differences would be at the frequency extremes, lows not as tight and the top end losing some "air". Thanx, Russ

Jay, If you ipod sounds like your CD player, I would guess your system has some serious weaknesses. I'm not saying the ipod isn't half decent but I would question your scource and CD player. Are you saying "red book" CD's sound the same as music downloaded on your pod or compressed CD's sound the same as your pod????????/ Thanx, Russ

CD player and cables (both CD to amp and speaker) . Run your best sounding loudspeaker and place them in the room for the best sound. Thanx, Russ

Mas says, "I reject this notion that there is no accurate reproduction system." I'm on the other side. I can only remember a few times in my 35 years in this hobby that I heard music that sounded close to the real thing. I heard some fantasic system but not many are fooling me into believing I'm hearing real sounds. It's difficult to reproduce something a simple as a normal conversation! That's why we say our hi-fi systems are a long way from the real experience. Maybe the systems are "accurate" but it's hi-fi not live music. Anyway, that's my thought. Thanx, Russ

OK guys lets see who has huge horns sitting in their music room. Post your pictures guys! The guy with the biggest horns wins! Thanx, Russ

I was looking for commercial and heritage pricing. Thanx, Russ

I can't find the retail prices? It say prices are US but I can't find them? Thanx, Russ

TBrennan, "There is no accurate system, especially given that speaker designers don't even agree on what a perfect loudspeaker would do much less make one." You hit the nail on the head. We are so far away from the sounds in the real world, we have to accept that our systems are going to be a compromise. I prefer to compromise my system towards the "fun to listen to" side. Your comments are VERY insightful. Thanx, Russ

Can you go too far? Yes, definitely. You can "tune up" your system so it will just play one CD really well and most of the others will sound like crap. Been there, done that. It's tempting to get a system sounding so close to being real that we keep trying to get it closer and closer to sounding like the real thing. The problem is that there just isn't enough good software out there to support that kind of system. I firmly believe that the goal is not to strive for a super accurate hi-fi system but to make the goal to assemble as enjoyable music system as you can. I'm enjoying my music more and analyzing less and less. I'll probably be flamed for this or put in the "he's one of those guys" camp but it's really about enjoying the music and anything you do to make all your recordings sound better will work better than concentrating on just a few recordings. What I do is take out my 10 favorite CD's and change stuff around until they all sound as best they can. My top few super sounding CD's will definitely "take a hit" and you'll lose that little edge but everything else will sound much better. Thin out the silver interconnects and start plugging in some Cardis or Kimber copper units and see if the music isn't livelier and more satisfying. Thanx, Russ

mdeneen, I've heard systems that were VERY "accurate/critical". So much so that every flaw in the recording is laid bare and easily heard. Maybe analytical is a better word but that means sterile or dry to me. Critical for me means the sheets of music are shuffling, toe tapping is booming, sound suppression is pumping on and off, you can hear the tape splices and things like that on almost every record. So bad that only a very few of the very best recordings are listenable. I'm not trying to get into the discussion of musical vs. accurate but I was trying to explain the kind of sound I find pleasing for those that know what I'm talking about. Can you make an accurate-musical system? I think that's what we are all trying to do. Maybe someday we'll get there but we have a long way to go yet. Thanx, Russ

Kev313, Shall I dare go to a set amp or am I too green to try two big jumps at once? Thanx,Russ

Kev313, Yes, I've been moving away from the more sterile equipment and leaning towards a more musical sound. The Cary headed me in that direction. That being said, it's a good match with the Triangles because they can be a little lean at times and helped balance the system. But I'm ready for a bigger sweeter sound. Sweet lush tube sound.............. Thanx, your input was excellent. Thanx,Russ

Guys, I need your expert opinions. I've been an audiophile for 35 years and I have assembled many critical listening systems. I would like to know if I'll be satisfied with a pair or Cornwalls or LaScala II's? For some background, I'll be keeping my current critical music system and setting up a new system in my little used living room. To keep things simple I was going to drive them with a small tube integrated and a modest CD player. I have 2 other modest systems (all tube driven) and enjoy each one in their own way. Lately I've been more and more interested in less critical systems that are able to play all my music well rather than have a system that just plays a few recordings extremely well. I'd love your input. Maybe someone that had critical systems and has switched to the more musical side of things. Thanx, Russ Main system: Triangle Celius speakers, Quicksilver mini-monos amps, Cary SLP-98 pre, Cambridge CD. Second system: Klipsch RF-25, Jolida integrated, Pioneer Elite CD/DVD. Loudspeaker history: Folded horn coaxial-mono, Bose 901, Infinity 1001A, Infinity column, Infinity Monitor 2A, Infinity RS-2.5.........