Awesome rig would love to hear this system. Have definitely been enjoying your channel. I’m new to the hobby, but starting to put together a nice system myself .I love watching videos with next level gear. Allows me to justify spending money on my gear.
Sure thing ..... I'm doing my very best to get the audio as close to how it actually sounds in the room as possible, but I reckon I'm about 60% there. It's around 40% better in the room.🎧👍
@shanestephenson8423 You'll get better results if you reduce the number of springs in each of those feet. I'd like to hear your system but I'm thousands of miles away!
Thanks for your reply. The total msrp is around $380,000 AUD, I think. I'll be getting back to playing my system pretty soon, so you'll be able to hear it when l do the amplifier shoot out that's coming up. 👍🎧
Looks fantastic, Shane! Nice walk thru. What did you have for a DAC before acquiring the MPD-8, and has the Phoenix reclocker always been in the system with the different DAC’s? Mikey suggested the MPD-8 might not benefit from an external reclocker. Thoughts?
Hi there, no, the redclocker was purchased, kind of in between Dac's. Before I had the mpd-8. I had an Aqua Acoustics formula xhd version 2, which is the current spec flagship Aqua acoustic DAC. It's funny actually the reclocker worked on some of the Dac's I had through my system, and on others, it didn't make any real audible difference. I'm good mates with Mikey, and we collaborate quite a bit and chat regularly. I agree with him the reclocker made no difference to the mpd-8. That's why it is now no longer in my system.🙂👍🎧
Looks like an older Audio Research power amp, maybe a d225 or a d450 and if so how do you like it? What brown amp or preamp is that to your left. This is going to get interesting as you unravel the equipment and the thought process behind it all.
Very observant. I like that👍 Let's go through them all for you. The audio research amp is a DS450M it's a single monoblock that I purchased with a watch controller to power my watchdog series 2 subwoofer which I have no need for in this room after I purchased the Alexia's. The two on the other side are my never will sell amplifier. It is a Rotel Michi RHB10 and the matching preamp RHC10. I use it when I'm between amplifier purchases. I've just gone through the whole amplifier, It's been recapped with new Nichicon Gold foil capacitors all the wiring has been changed over to OCC silver wire and the output stage has been redesigned to improve it from where it was which was already very good. It's an amplifier from 1994 that sounds as good as pretty much anything out there today. It was Rotel's attempt at building a cost no object amp back in the 90s. Thanks for the question and the astute observations.🙏👍🎧
Beautiful setup. Obviously each room sounds different, but I'm just wondering did you happen to try diffusion or was it straight to absorption. I'm still experimenting and I've been under the assumption diffusion would be the better option when listening within a small room 🤔
Yes, I have a combination of both in this room. I have absorption on the side walls and behind me, which delays the first reflection response. On the front wall, I have a combination of absorption and diffusion with a profiled special acoustic foam that was instrumental in helping with sound stage depth and instruments focus/separation. And obviously in the corners of a small room you need very good bass traps. I will be doing a video this week about my setup in here and I'll be giving some tips around what might work for other situations, but of course I'm not in anyone else's room to really know. I'd need to be there to be able to advise what is best. The video will just be general guidelines for everyone to consider. The general them of the video will be just getting people to think about the acoustic response in their room and how critical it is to get it as good as you can. Thanks for the question.
Yeah, I love that amp it sounds as good as just about everything that's out there today that is comparable. It's my never sell amp. I'll always have it it's a great reserve when I'm between amplifiers, and it's still impressing me every time I plug it back in.
Hi I was interested to see you have isolation feet under the stock feet, I was always told not to do that any after market feet should always go under the chassis 🤷🏻♂️
I believe you are correct in the majority of cases. There are, however, some isolators that are designed to be positioned under the component’s feet, such as the Quadraspire Qplus.
@@jamesfarrow6752 thank you for the information I will look into them I also have a Vitus based System mono power amps line stage Cd player and phono stage
@@robertmitchell6015 Oh, very nice. I have the Qplus reference isolators under my Accuphase preamp. Tried them under my Chord Electronics DAVE DAC and to me, they degraded the sound so it appears that they are component specific.
Thanks for the comment. The reason you don't see AMT tweeters in my room is I just don't like their sound. Audio is a very personal thing, and we all hear things differently. Planar technology in those frequencies you mention and above does have it's merit. But unfortunately there are compromises at lower frequencies. What I have in by room is what I believe to be a good compromise between what you are talking about and what I consider to be ideal for my taste. Again thanks for the comment. I appreciate and respect everybody's view.
@@shanestephenson8423 yep , wilson chooses too big of a driver for 700 to 2000hz region and as result is forced to use dome tweeter. Just my opinion. Alsyvox and even gr research beat them in this regard. And certainly rubanoide models from swiss audio consulting
I love those Playback Designs dacs. One of the best dacs I’ve heard to date
Yes, I agree, it's my reference it's the best conversion from digital to analogue I've ever heard.
Awesome rig would love to hear this system. Have definitely been enjoying your channel. I’m new to the hobby, but starting to put together a nice system myself .I love watching videos with next level gear. Allows me to justify spending money on my gear.
Thank you for the comment. I'm glad to have you aboard.
Great room; no wonder your sound is good. Years of hard work no doubt.
@PhilipZappala Thanks🙏 I must do an update much has changed since that video. 👍🎧🙂
If I ever make it to Australia, I'm coming for a listen. There's no discussion, it's happening lol.
Sure thing ..... I'm doing my very best to get the audio as close to how it actually sounds in the room as possible, but I reckon I'm about 60% there.
It's around 40% better in the room.🎧👍
Beautiful system!
Thanks Drago 🙏
Great system man , enjoyed your tour!!
Thanks 👍
Nice. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!🙏
@shanestephenson8423 You'll get better results if you reduce the number of springs in each of those feet.
I'd like to hear your system but I'm thousands of miles away!
Im new to the hobby my friend. Awesome looking gear. Would love a sound demo video and how much have you invested in this amazing looking system?
Thanks for your reply. The total msrp is around $380,000 AUD, I think.
I'll be getting back to playing my system pretty soon, so you'll be able to hear it when l do the amplifier shoot out that's coming up. 👍🎧
Looks fantastic, Shane! Nice walk thru. What did you have for a DAC before acquiring the MPD-8, and has the Phoenix reclocker always been in the system with the different DAC’s? Mikey suggested the MPD-8 might not benefit from an external reclocker. Thoughts?
Hi there, no, the redclocker was purchased, kind of in between Dac's.
Before I had the mpd-8. I had an Aqua Acoustics formula xhd version 2, which is the current spec flagship Aqua acoustic DAC. It's funny actually the reclocker worked on some of the Dac's I had through my system, and on others, it didn't make any real audible difference. I'm
good mates with Mikey, and we collaborate quite a bit and chat regularly. I agree with him the reclocker made no difference to the mpd-8. That's why it is now no longer in my system.🙂👍🎧
Which suburb in Melbourne r u in Shane you have some great gear.
John
I live in Geelong. 👍🎧🙂
Looks like an older Audio Research power amp, maybe a d225 or a d450 and if so how do you like it? What brown amp or preamp is that to your left. This is going to get interesting as you unravel the equipment and the thought process behind it all.
Very observant. I like that👍
Let's go through them all for you. The audio research amp is a DS450M it's a single monoblock that I purchased with a watch controller to power my watchdog series 2 subwoofer which I have no need for in this room after I purchased the Alexia's.
The two on the other side are my never will sell amplifier. It is a Rotel Michi RHB10 and the matching preamp RHC10.
I use it when I'm between amplifier purchases. I've just gone through the whole amplifier, It's been recapped with new Nichicon Gold foil capacitors all the wiring has been changed over to OCC silver wire and the output stage has been redesigned to improve it from where it was which was already very good.
It's an amplifier from 1994 that sounds as good as pretty much anything out there today.
It was Rotel's attempt at building a cost no object amp back in the 90s.
Thanks for the question and the astute observations.🙏👍🎧
Did you mean Robertson Audio cables (RAC) as opposed to Robinson ? and if so are your speaker cables the newish elites ?
Yes, my cables are the latest Elite series.
@@shanestephenson8423 nice be interesting to see how they settle into your system big fan of their gear and these may well go on my shopping list
Nice neat set-up 👍
Thanks! 👍
Great to see some Aussie gear being reviewed 👍
Thanks 👍 I hope to have quite a lot of it to review.
Beautiful setup. Obviously each room sounds different, but I'm just wondering did you happen to try diffusion or was it straight to absorption. I'm still experimenting and I've been under the assumption diffusion would be the better option when listening within a small room 🤔
Yes, I have a combination of both in this room. I have absorption on the side walls and behind me, which delays the first reflection response.
On the front wall, I have a combination of absorption and diffusion with a profiled special acoustic foam that was instrumental in helping with sound stage depth and instruments focus/separation.
And obviously in the corners of a small room you need very good bass traps.
I will be doing a video this week about my setup in here and I'll be giving some tips around what might work for other situations, but of course I'm not in anyone else's room to really know. I'd need to be there to be able to advise what is best. The video will just be general guidelines for everyone to consider.
The general them of the video will be just getting people to think about the acoustic response in their room and how critical it is to get it as good as you can.
Thanks for the question.
Except where there areas of standing waves which need absorption. Rooms should be a mixture of diffusion and absorption.
Nice system bud '😊
Thanks! 👍
I would like the Rotel Michi
Yeah, I love that amp it sounds as good as just about everything that's out there today that is comparable. It's my never sell amp. I'll always have it it's a great reserve when I'm between amplifiers, and it's still impressing me every time I plug it back in.
@@shanestephenson8423 I was in Germany and listened to this amp. What voltage is it?
@stevenburdick424 it was originally sold in Australia, so Australian stock 240 volts.👍
Lovely rig! Are you in Melbourne?
Hi Peter near Melbourne in Geelong.
@@shanestephenson8423 . Sweet, I’d love to have a listen one day. I’ve seen you selling stuff on Stereonet before I think
Fantastiše
Dude you're deep down the rabbit hole here ☺️
I think you need an upgraded isolated power supply to power your power supply. 😄
Wowee
Lol yeah it gets like that 😂
If possible could you upload a recording playing Dog & Pony Show by Shellac please? Loud!
Sure thing. The loud bit is up to you🙂👍
@@shanestephenson8423 Thank you.
Hi I was interested to see you have isolation feet under the stock feet, I was always told not to do that any after market feet should always go under the chassis 🤷🏻♂️
I believe you are correct in the majority of cases. There are, however, some isolators that are designed to be positioned under the component’s feet, such as the Quadraspire Qplus.
@@jamesfarrow6752 thank you for the information I will look into them I also have a Vitus based System mono power amps line stage Cd player and phono stage
@@robertmitchell6015 Oh, very nice. I have the Qplus reference isolators under my Accuphase preamp. Tried them under my Chord Electronics DAVE DAC and to me, they degraded the sound so it appears that they are component specific.
Yes I agree wholeheartedly with the conversation above.👍 These particular isolation footers I use are designed to go under the feet of the components.
all this effort and costly gear and you dont even use planar or amt tweeter and as a result have inferior >5000hz reproduction
Thanks for the comment.
The reason you don't see AMT tweeters in my room is I just don't like their sound.
Audio is a very personal thing, and we all hear things differently.
Planar technology in those frequencies you mention and above does have it's merit.
But unfortunately there are compromises at lower frequencies.
What I have in by room is what I believe to be a good compromise between what you are talking about and what I consider to be ideal for my taste.
Again thanks for the comment. I appreciate and respect everybody's view.
@@shanestephenson8423 yep , wilson chooses too big of a driver for 700 to 2000hz region and as result is forced to use dome tweeter. Just my opinion. Alsyvox and even gr research beat them in this regard. And certainly rubanoide models from swiss audio consulting
I think it looks awesome and it's a personal experience. Rock on my friend.