slowGEEZR
Well-known member
1. Member Name: Steve Truett
2. Location: Round Rock, Texas
3. ML Model(s): Aerius
4. Year Purchased: 1995
5. Mods/Changes: None
6. Associated Electronics: Jolida JD 1000RC integrated tube amp., VPI Scout turntable, Soundsmith - The Voice Ebony cartridge, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge, Clearaudio Aurum Beta S (wood) cartridge, Balanced Audio Technology VK-P5 tube phono amp., Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai DVD, SACD, DVD-A, CD player, Musical Fidelity X-CAN V-3 tube headphone amp., Sennheiser HD-535 stereo headphones. All receive power via the Monster HTS 5100 MK II, which is located in the room directly behind the main system. There are sliding doors separating the rooms, which make it a snap to move connections! Also on that rack is a VPI HW 16.5 record cleaning machine and a Krell 400xi integrated amp. (unplugged at the moment).
Interconnects: Tara labs reference, Straightwire Maestro II, Straightwire Rhapsody S. Speaker cables: Audioquest GBC 15 ft. biwired.
7. Comments and/or stories about your Martin Logan experience: For many years I listened to the MLs via a Yamaha surround receiver. I knew that one day I would get more power for them, but my main hobby has always been motorcycling and I spent a lot of time and money on that hobby instead for a long time. As I’m getting older, I’m finding I’m listening to more and more music, so I‘ve been building up the system. When I put the Krell in the system, the difference in sound from the Yamaha was incredible. I thought I had reached audio nirvana. I then started buying various interconnects and speaker cables and with each purchase I could determine different sound. I went through many interconnects and cables before I was happy. I then got the bug for vinyl and decided on the Scout. I figured that I didn’t even care if it sounded as good as Cds or SACDs, I missed the involvement of spinning vinyl. The sound quality is just a bonus. I enjoy the sound quality that I get with Cds, SACDs, DVDs, and DVD-As. With vinyl you have to live with the occasional pop, but there are moments with vinyl that the sound is so real it’s spooky. My first phono amp was the Bellari VP 129, it sounded very good for the money, but was soft on the edges; it just didn't give it all. What it did deliver was very good, though. I totally agree with Michael Fremer that its only sins are those of omission. The BAT however, is in a totally different league! But, I'm getting ahead of myself. In listening to the Musical Fidelity headphone amp and the Bellari phono amp, I realised that I really liked the sound coming from those tube units. What pushed me over the edge was that I had visited a friend, who had just purchased a tube amp to drive his Apogees and the sound was amazing. He had been using a Classe amp, which he relegated to a second system. I then decided to try a tube amp myself. I'm glad I did, for the Jolida amp simply sounds "better" to me than the Krell. Don't get me wrong, the Krell sounds wonderful, as a matter of fact, I can't describe anything that it does "wrong", but the Jolida just does something magical to the ever important midrange. Acoustical instruments just sound more real, as well as the human voice and electric guitar.
8/15/07...I moved my speakers toward the listening area by about two feet. The difference in sound quality is stunning. I now have depth of field and imaging that I didn't before. If possible, the sound is even clearer, with it being easier to hear into the recording. Of course, whenever the grandkids come over, I'll have to move them back, but it is easy to move these speakers back and forth.
7/23/08...See page two for my new room in the new house. Also, I updated my cartridge to a Clearaudio Virtuoso a few months ago. It is even better than the Aurum Beta S. I've also added a new Adona audio rack and new record bookcase.
10/26/08...See page three, post 39 for new pics. I've added acoustical treatments and rearranged.
8/23/09...Updated pics in post 42.
8/23/10...I've moved the Aerius from my main system and added Wilson Watt Puppy 8s. I'll leave these pictures on this page and post a pic of the new Wilson a few pages down.
11/22/11...I sold the Aerius to a member of this site, Narvarr. So, for the first time since 1995, I don't own Martin Logan speakers.
03/05/12...Added the Soundsmith - The Voice Ebony cartridge. Wow, what an upgrade!
05/01/12...Added Pass Labs XA100.5 amps and XP-20 preamp. Went completely balanced and all interconnects, except phono is Straightwire Maestro, are now Mogami, with Neutrik XLRs. Some new photos on page 4, post 51.
05/02/12...I've been rearranging the audio room and have moved the records, record cleaning machine and CD's into a spare bedroom. Some new photos on page 4, post 53.
07/23/12...Posted some new photos of the front wall of the system on page 4, post 59. I've moved the rack of equipment to the right side wall, so that all that is between the speakers are the amps.
07/26/12...Added SRA amp bases. There are over 80 moving parts within each base! They transfer vibration into heat. Pics on page 5, post 64.
02/20/13...Added twenty year old audioquest Diamond silver balanced interconnects between DAC and preamp. These cables are fantastic!
02/24/13...Pictures of system with Purist Audio Design interconnects. Pics on page 5, post 69.
06/10/14...Upgraded Ayre QB-9 DAC to Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC.
07/15/14...Added pictures of new TTW GEM V2 turntable. Pics on page 5, post 73.
10/28/15...Added picture of new Spatial Isoplane. Pic on page 6, post 79.
11/05/15...Added picture of new Keith Monks Discovery One record cleaning machine. Pic on page 6, post 81.
12/31/15...Added eight new sound diffusers to my audio room. Absolutely killed any slap echo. Details on page 6, post 89.
6/21/16...Added pictures of room showing new diffusers and traps/absorbers. Post 91.
8. An image of your system…
2. Location: Round Rock, Texas
3. ML Model(s): Aerius
4. Year Purchased: 1995
5. Mods/Changes: None
6. Associated Electronics: Jolida JD 1000RC integrated tube amp., VPI Scout turntable, Soundsmith - The Voice Ebony cartridge, Clearaudio Virtuoso Wood cartridge, Clearaudio Aurum Beta S (wood) cartridge, Balanced Audio Technology VK-P5 tube phono amp., Pioneer Elite DV-47Ai DVD, SACD, DVD-A, CD player, Musical Fidelity X-CAN V-3 tube headphone amp., Sennheiser HD-535 stereo headphones. All receive power via the Monster HTS 5100 MK II, which is located in the room directly behind the main system. There are sliding doors separating the rooms, which make it a snap to move connections! Also on that rack is a VPI HW 16.5 record cleaning machine and a Krell 400xi integrated amp. (unplugged at the moment).
Interconnects: Tara labs reference, Straightwire Maestro II, Straightwire Rhapsody S. Speaker cables: Audioquest GBC 15 ft. biwired.
7. Comments and/or stories about your Martin Logan experience: For many years I listened to the MLs via a Yamaha surround receiver. I knew that one day I would get more power for them, but my main hobby has always been motorcycling and I spent a lot of time and money on that hobby instead for a long time. As I’m getting older, I’m finding I’m listening to more and more music, so I‘ve been building up the system. When I put the Krell in the system, the difference in sound from the Yamaha was incredible. I thought I had reached audio nirvana. I then started buying various interconnects and speaker cables and with each purchase I could determine different sound. I went through many interconnects and cables before I was happy. I then got the bug for vinyl and decided on the Scout. I figured that I didn’t even care if it sounded as good as Cds or SACDs, I missed the involvement of spinning vinyl. The sound quality is just a bonus. I enjoy the sound quality that I get with Cds, SACDs, DVDs, and DVD-As. With vinyl you have to live with the occasional pop, but there are moments with vinyl that the sound is so real it’s spooky. My first phono amp was the Bellari VP 129, it sounded very good for the money, but was soft on the edges; it just didn't give it all. What it did deliver was very good, though. I totally agree with Michael Fremer that its only sins are those of omission. The BAT however, is in a totally different league! But, I'm getting ahead of myself. In listening to the Musical Fidelity headphone amp and the Bellari phono amp, I realised that I really liked the sound coming from those tube units. What pushed me over the edge was that I had visited a friend, who had just purchased a tube amp to drive his Apogees and the sound was amazing. He had been using a Classe amp, which he relegated to a second system. I then decided to try a tube amp myself. I'm glad I did, for the Jolida amp simply sounds "better" to me than the Krell. Don't get me wrong, the Krell sounds wonderful, as a matter of fact, I can't describe anything that it does "wrong", but the Jolida just does something magical to the ever important midrange. Acoustical instruments just sound more real, as well as the human voice and electric guitar.
8/15/07...I moved my speakers toward the listening area by about two feet. The difference in sound quality is stunning. I now have depth of field and imaging that I didn't before. If possible, the sound is even clearer, with it being easier to hear into the recording. Of course, whenever the grandkids come over, I'll have to move them back, but it is easy to move these speakers back and forth.
7/23/08...See page two for my new room in the new house. Also, I updated my cartridge to a Clearaudio Virtuoso a few months ago. It is even better than the Aurum Beta S. I've also added a new Adona audio rack and new record bookcase.
10/26/08...See page three, post 39 for new pics. I've added acoustical treatments and rearranged.
8/23/09...Updated pics in post 42.
8/23/10...I've moved the Aerius from my main system and added Wilson Watt Puppy 8s. I'll leave these pictures on this page and post a pic of the new Wilson a few pages down.
11/22/11...I sold the Aerius to a member of this site, Narvarr. So, for the first time since 1995, I don't own Martin Logan speakers.
03/05/12...Added the Soundsmith - The Voice Ebony cartridge. Wow, what an upgrade!
05/01/12...Added Pass Labs XA100.5 amps and XP-20 preamp. Went completely balanced and all interconnects, except phono is Straightwire Maestro, are now Mogami, with Neutrik XLRs. Some new photos on page 4, post 51.
05/02/12...I've been rearranging the audio room and have moved the records, record cleaning machine and CD's into a spare bedroom. Some new photos on page 4, post 53.
07/23/12...Posted some new photos of the front wall of the system on page 4, post 59. I've moved the rack of equipment to the right side wall, so that all that is between the speakers are the amps.
07/26/12...Added SRA amp bases. There are over 80 moving parts within each base! They transfer vibration into heat. Pics on page 5, post 64.
02/20/13...Added twenty year old audioquest Diamond silver balanced interconnects between DAC and preamp. These cables are fantastic!
02/24/13...Pictures of system with Purist Audio Design interconnects. Pics on page 5, post 69.
06/10/14...Upgraded Ayre QB-9 DAC to Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC.
07/15/14...Added pictures of new TTW GEM V2 turntable. Pics on page 5, post 73.
10/28/15...Added picture of new Spatial Isoplane. Pic on page 6, post 79.
11/05/15...Added picture of new Keith Monks Discovery One record cleaning machine. Pic on page 6, post 81.
12/31/15...Added eight new sound diffusers to my audio room. Absolutely killed any slap echo. Details on page 6, post 89.
6/21/16...Added pictures of room showing new diffusers and traps/absorbers. Post 91.
8. An image of your system…
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