Kaliar
Well-known member
System #05 (CLS IIa and Depth, Odyssey)
1. Member Name: Guy B.
2. Location: Québec, Canada
3. ML Model(s): CLS IIa, Depth, Odyssey,
4. Year Purchased: CLS IIa in 2004 / Odyssey in 2005 / Depth in 2006
5. Mods/Changes: CLS IIa panels replaced a few years back, ETC spikes. Odyssey stock jumpers replaced by Nordost WyreWizard Dreamcaster solid core wire
6. Associated Electronics and Equipment:
6a. Odyssey system
Amplification :
- Hovland HP-200 Tube Line Stage Amplifier
- Hovland RADIA Solid State Dual-Mono Power Amplifier
Sources :
- Linn Unidisk SC (Universal Player)
- Everything connected to the main headphone system listed below, under "6c. Other equipment"
Cables (speakers):
- Nordost Frey
Cables (interconnects):
- XLO Signature 2, XLO Ultra
Cables (AC power cords):
- Nordost Brahma, YBA Diamond (3), Kimber Kable PK-14
Power (surge protection and distribution): from different dedicated AC circuits
- Nordost Thor Mains Distribution Unit (Hovland pre & amp, Unidisk and CD player)
- ZeroSurge 2R15 Surge Filter (ML Odysseys)
Rack:
- Lovan Classic II Rack
6b. CLS IIa / Depth system
Amplification:
- YBA 2 Alpha Preamplifier (solid state, line stage version)
- YBA 1 Alpha HC Mono Power Amplifiers (solid state)
- Simaudio Moon LP5.3 Phono Stage + PSX5.3 Power Supply
Sources :
- Clearaudio Champion Limited Ed. Turntable / Rega RB301 / Grado Reference Platinum 1
- Harman/Kardon hk710 Analog FM/AM Tuner
- Audio PC #1 with a RME Digi96/8 PAD Audio Card
- Audio PC #2 with a Echo Audio MiaMIDI Audio Card
Cables (speakers):
- Transparent Audio MusicWave Plus
Cables (interconnects):
- Analog : Transparent, Canare, Tributaries and DIY
- Digital : Transparent, SP Glass, MIT and PS Audio xStream
Cables (AC power cords):
- Transparent Powerlink Plus, Stock cords
Power (line conditioning, on a dedicated AC circuit)
- YBA Line Filter (used for YBA preamp, amps & tuner)
Power (distribution, on a dedicated AC circuit):
- Totem Urth Power Block (TT & phono stage)
Power (surge protection & distribution):
- ZeroSurge 2R15 Surge Filter (ML Depth)
- Monster AV800 (used for powering on and off the CLS IIa)
Secondary headphone system:
- Stax SRM-313 Driver Unit
- Stax SRX Mk III Earspeakers
Rack:
- Lovan Classic
6c. Other equipment
Main headphone system :
- EMM Labs CDSA SE CD-SACD Player
- Ariston Audio RD11 Turntable / Stax UA-7M / Decca London Super Gold / Clearaudio SmartPhono
- Accuphase T-101 FM Tuner
- Nagra PL-L Preamplifier (line stage, tube)
- Stax SR-404 Signature Earspeakers
- Stax SRM-006t Vacuum Tube Output Drive Unit
- XLO Signature 2, Nordost Frey, Nordost Red Dawn, Clearaudio Smart Wire, Linn, Transparent
- Inouye SPLC Power Line Conditioner
- YBA Diamond + Line Filter, MIT Z-Cord II, Ultralink Platinum AC PowerLine® MkII
- Schroers & Schroers Focus 72 & Axiom Racks
A/V system : built around the Linn Unidisk SC (Pre/pro and Universal Player)
- Shanling CD-S 100 Mk II CD Player (used as a transport)
- Benchmark DAC1 DA Converter
- HDTV: Toshiba TheaterWide® HD 44NHM84 (DLP, 44 inches)
- Simaudio Moon W-3 Solid State Stereo Power Amplifier
- Totem Sttaf Speakers
- Transparent Audio Speaker Cable, basic
- DreamVision S/Video cable & RAM Electronics DVI cable
- XLO Reference 2 AC Cable
Power conditioning:
- AudioPrism Quiet Line AC noise filters (4)
Extra stuff: presently unused
- Nakamichi 482Z Cassette Deck
- Dayton-Wright SPS Phono Preamplifier
- Audio Design PA100 Solid State Stereo Power Amplifier
- Stax SRD-6 Adaptor
- Magnum ST-2 Antenna
- Magnum FM Power Sleuth
- Monster HTS 1000 MKII
- Audio Alchemy DTI Pro
- TARA Labs Temporal Continuum Speaker Cables
- Sony SCD-XE670 SACD/CD Player
7. Comments about my MartinLogan experience:
I have been interested in Hi-Fi for almost 40 years: I had a Lenco L75 at the beginning of the Seventies! In december 1974, my first real system was based around a Dayton Wright SPS preamplifier (still around), a Thorens TD-160 turntable and Sennheiser HD-424 headphones; after a few months, I added an Epicure Model One power amp and IMF TLS-50 loudspeakers. In the following years I replaced the turntable by an Ariston RD11 with a Stax arm and Denon DL103S MC cartridge; ditto for the headphones, replaced by Stax SRX Mk III earspeakers...
For financial reasons, I had to sell the power amp and speakers. Out went the Epicure and IMF, in came a Luxman tube amp (MQ-3600) and Rogers LS3/5a, later replaced by an Audio Design amp and Polk 10 speakers. I then bought a tuner and 2 cassette decks, one being a Nakamichi 482Z. When the DL103S cartridge needed replacement, I opted for a Decca London Super Gold (VdH tip) and had the turntable modified (Linn Nirvana mod.)...
As an impenitent audiophile, I experimented with tweaks (cables, cones, mats, clamps, equalizer, ...), always on the lookout for something better...
I was hooked that way for 12 years then my interest shifted completely to computers. Instead of listening to my gear and trying to have better sound, I just listened to music without trying to upgrade! That is till that fateful day in November 2003 when I entered one of the Hi-Fi shops I was regularly visiting prior to 1986...
That visit was the result of the acquisition of a good audio card (RME Digi96/8 PAD). I wanted to integrate one of my computers to the audio system and just needed some cable... On that particular day, MartinLogan Odyssey speakers were on display, hooked on YBA Passion equipment, and Ray Montford's "Shed Your Skin" CD was playing... I was hooked back in a flash!
Since, I have acquired a little more than a simple cable : many components, line conditioning equipment, lots of CDs and SACDs, and my pride and joy, MartinLogan loudspeakers. I first bought a used set of CLS IIa in perfect condition, then a demo set of Odyssey and finally a brand new Depth !
Now, I have fun again listening to music without thinking of upgrading loudspeakers, sources or amplification ! ;-)
8a. An image of my former main system: http://pages.infinit.net/kaliar/ml-25-ls1.jpg
8b. An image of my Odyssey system: with the A/V system behind (the two systems being completely separate)
Listening room:
11'5"W x 20'10"L x 8'H area in an unfinished basement, with a 10' opening (masked by a curtain) on one of the length's sides. Concrete floor and walls, partially covered by carpets and curtains on the front wall. One fake dieffenbachia tree in each corner of the front wall, for diffusion. The side walls are partly covered with shelves (4' high, with a depth of 14 to 16") full of books and records. The back section of the room (behind the listening position) is the electronics' section, with all sorts of hi-fi gear and computers.
Humidity is kept at 40 degrees most of the year, higher (50-60 degrees) during summer time. Temperature varies from 72°F (winter) to 80°F (during some hot summer days). Air filters (HEPA) are used to help control the dust.
On the electrical side, four dedicated and two non-dedicated circuits are used to power up the systems. Digital equipment is seperated from analog.
The Odysseys are 5' from the front wall (11'5"W) and 25" from the side walls, with a very slight toe-in. My main listening position is at about 8' from the speakers.
The CLS IIa are now placed behind my usual sitting position, facing the Odysseys, 7' from the back wall (i.e. "their" front wall). When I am sitting at the computers, the speakers are 3' from me
! For proper listening, I just move to the audio section of the room, and sit 9' from the speakers.
For both sets of speakers, toe-in and listening positions have been determined following Jim Power's flashlight technique.
In all cases, including the Depth, ETC spikes are used to anchor the speakers to the carpeted concrete.
Since this is a non dedicated room (two thirds of the space used for audio and reading, one third for computer stuff), I can also hear the computers in the background. At least the noise level is low and constant, it pretty much disappears when I listen to either system (I focus on the music and not on the possible distractions). For critical listening, I simply do the obvious and turn all computers off !
Kaliar
Life is good with ML !!
1. Member Name: Guy B.
2. Location: Québec, Canada
3. ML Model(s): CLS IIa, Depth, Odyssey,
4. Year Purchased: CLS IIa in 2004 / Odyssey in 2005 / Depth in 2006
5. Mods/Changes: CLS IIa panels replaced a few years back, ETC spikes. Odyssey stock jumpers replaced by Nordost WyreWizard Dreamcaster solid core wire
6. Associated Electronics and Equipment:
6a. Odyssey system
Amplification :
- Hovland HP-200 Tube Line Stage Amplifier
- Hovland RADIA Solid State Dual-Mono Power Amplifier
Sources :
- Linn Unidisk SC (Universal Player)
- Everything connected to the main headphone system listed below, under "6c. Other equipment"
Cables (speakers):
- Nordost Frey
Cables (interconnects):
- XLO Signature 2, XLO Ultra
Cables (AC power cords):
- Nordost Brahma, YBA Diamond (3), Kimber Kable PK-14
Power (surge protection and distribution): from different dedicated AC circuits
- Nordost Thor Mains Distribution Unit (Hovland pre & amp, Unidisk and CD player)
- ZeroSurge 2R15 Surge Filter (ML Odysseys)
Rack:
- Lovan Classic II Rack
6b. CLS IIa / Depth system
Amplification:
- YBA 2 Alpha Preamplifier (solid state, line stage version)
- YBA 1 Alpha HC Mono Power Amplifiers (solid state)
- Simaudio Moon LP5.3 Phono Stage + PSX5.3 Power Supply
Sources :
- Clearaudio Champion Limited Ed. Turntable / Rega RB301 / Grado Reference Platinum 1
- Harman/Kardon hk710 Analog FM/AM Tuner
- Audio PC #1 with a RME Digi96/8 PAD Audio Card
- Audio PC #2 with a Echo Audio MiaMIDI Audio Card
Cables (speakers):
- Transparent Audio MusicWave Plus
Cables (interconnects):
- Analog : Transparent, Canare, Tributaries and DIY
- Digital : Transparent, SP Glass, MIT and PS Audio xStream
Cables (AC power cords):
- Transparent Powerlink Plus, Stock cords
Power (line conditioning, on a dedicated AC circuit)
- YBA Line Filter (used for YBA preamp, amps & tuner)
Power (distribution, on a dedicated AC circuit):
- Totem Urth Power Block (TT & phono stage)
Power (surge protection & distribution):
- ZeroSurge 2R15 Surge Filter (ML Depth)
- Monster AV800 (used for powering on and off the CLS IIa)
Secondary headphone system:
- Stax SRM-313 Driver Unit
- Stax SRX Mk III Earspeakers
Rack:
- Lovan Classic
6c. Other equipment
Main headphone system :
- EMM Labs CDSA SE CD-SACD Player
- Ariston Audio RD11 Turntable / Stax UA-7M / Decca London Super Gold / Clearaudio SmartPhono
- Accuphase T-101 FM Tuner
- Nagra PL-L Preamplifier (line stage, tube)
- Stax SR-404 Signature Earspeakers
- Stax SRM-006t Vacuum Tube Output Drive Unit
- XLO Signature 2, Nordost Frey, Nordost Red Dawn, Clearaudio Smart Wire, Linn, Transparent
- Inouye SPLC Power Line Conditioner
- YBA Diamond + Line Filter, MIT Z-Cord II, Ultralink Platinum AC PowerLine® MkII
- Schroers & Schroers Focus 72 & Axiom Racks
A/V system : built around the Linn Unidisk SC (Pre/pro and Universal Player)
- Shanling CD-S 100 Mk II CD Player (used as a transport)
- Benchmark DAC1 DA Converter
- HDTV: Toshiba TheaterWide® HD 44NHM84 (DLP, 44 inches)
- Simaudio Moon W-3 Solid State Stereo Power Amplifier
- Totem Sttaf Speakers
- Transparent Audio Speaker Cable, basic
- DreamVision S/Video cable & RAM Electronics DVI cable
- XLO Reference 2 AC Cable
Power conditioning:
- AudioPrism Quiet Line AC noise filters (4)
Extra stuff: presently unused
- Nakamichi 482Z Cassette Deck
- Dayton-Wright SPS Phono Preamplifier
- Audio Design PA100 Solid State Stereo Power Amplifier
- Stax SRD-6 Adaptor
- Magnum ST-2 Antenna
- Magnum FM Power Sleuth
- Monster HTS 1000 MKII
- Audio Alchemy DTI Pro
- TARA Labs Temporal Continuum Speaker Cables
- Sony SCD-XE670 SACD/CD Player
7. Comments about my MartinLogan experience:
I have been interested in Hi-Fi for almost 40 years: I had a Lenco L75 at the beginning of the Seventies! In december 1974, my first real system was based around a Dayton Wright SPS preamplifier (still around), a Thorens TD-160 turntable and Sennheiser HD-424 headphones; after a few months, I added an Epicure Model One power amp and IMF TLS-50 loudspeakers. In the following years I replaced the turntable by an Ariston RD11 with a Stax arm and Denon DL103S MC cartridge; ditto for the headphones, replaced by Stax SRX Mk III earspeakers...
For financial reasons, I had to sell the power amp and speakers. Out went the Epicure and IMF, in came a Luxman tube amp (MQ-3600) and Rogers LS3/5a, later replaced by an Audio Design amp and Polk 10 speakers. I then bought a tuner and 2 cassette decks, one being a Nakamichi 482Z. When the DL103S cartridge needed replacement, I opted for a Decca London Super Gold (VdH tip) and had the turntable modified (Linn Nirvana mod.)...
As an impenitent audiophile, I experimented with tweaks (cables, cones, mats, clamps, equalizer, ...), always on the lookout for something better...
I was hooked that way for 12 years then my interest shifted completely to computers. Instead of listening to my gear and trying to have better sound, I just listened to music without trying to upgrade! That is till that fateful day in November 2003 when I entered one of the Hi-Fi shops I was regularly visiting prior to 1986...
That visit was the result of the acquisition of a good audio card (RME Digi96/8 PAD). I wanted to integrate one of my computers to the audio system and just needed some cable... On that particular day, MartinLogan Odyssey speakers were on display, hooked on YBA Passion equipment, and Ray Montford's "Shed Your Skin" CD was playing... I was hooked back in a flash!
Since, I have acquired a little more than a simple cable : many components, line conditioning equipment, lots of CDs and SACDs, and my pride and joy, MartinLogan loudspeakers. I first bought a used set of CLS IIa in perfect condition, then a demo set of Odyssey and finally a brand new Depth !
Now, I have fun again listening to music without thinking of upgrading loudspeakers, sources or amplification ! ;-)
8a. An image of my former main system: http://pages.infinit.net/kaliar/ml-25-ls1.jpg
8b. An image of my Odyssey system: with the A/V system behind (the two systems being completely separate)

Listening room:
11'5"W x 20'10"L x 8'H area in an unfinished basement, with a 10' opening (masked by a curtain) on one of the length's sides. Concrete floor and walls, partially covered by carpets and curtains on the front wall. One fake dieffenbachia tree in each corner of the front wall, for diffusion. The side walls are partly covered with shelves (4' high, with a depth of 14 to 16") full of books and records. The back section of the room (behind the listening position) is the electronics' section, with all sorts of hi-fi gear and computers.
Humidity is kept at 40 degrees most of the year, higher (50-60 degrees) during summer time. Temperature varies from 72°F (winter) to 80°F (during some hot summer days). Air filters (HEPA) are used to help control the dust.
On the electrical side, four dedicated and two non-dedicated circuits are used to power up the systems. Digital equipment is seperated from analog.
The Odysseys are 5' from the front wall (11'5"W) and 25" from the side walls, with a very slight toe-in. My main listening position is at about 8' from the speakers.
The CLS IIa are now placed behind my usual sitting position, facing the Odysseys, 7' from the back wall (i.e. "their" front wall). When I am sitting at the computers, the speakers are 3' from me
For both sets of speakers, toe-in and listening positions have been determined following Jim Power's flashlight technique.
In all cases, including the Depth, ETC spikes are used to anchor the speakers to the carpeted concrete.
Since this is a non dedicated room (two thirds of the space used for audio and reading, one third for computer stuff), I can also hear the computers in the background. At least the noise level is low and constant, it pretty much disappears when I listen to either system (I focus on the music and not on the possible distractions). For critical listening, I simply do the obvious and turn all computers off !
Kaliar
Life is good with ML !!
Last edited: