After using Krell Amps, Mark Levinson Amps, B&W Matrix 800 Loudspeakers, Avalon Eidolon Diamonds and several others i fell in love with the Wilson Sound when i heard Wilson Grand Slamm's with Audio Research Amps at my dealer.
I could not believe what i was hearing the sound actually sounded real. I purchased the Grand Slamm's on the spot but have since upgraded to Alexandria's.
Now upgraded to Audio Note Dac 5 Signature.
2012 upgraded to Gryphon Mephisto Pure Class A Mono's weighing 240lbs each and Audio Research Reference Anniversary Pre-Amp.
Hi Statman & Roxy 54, Yes the Pendragon is coming! Lloydelee21 has been banging on about active Bass for years and I have given in. I just have to try the 4 towers, active bass with a peak of 4000 watts, no crossover point in the crucial main listening range etc....... Very nervous leaving the Wilson sound I love so much but should be worth it. Thanks Statman for the kind words should be delivered within 2 months.
Hey Lloyd, That's great I hope your happy with the Burmester. My system has changed alot I just have not bothered posting the changes. New DAC, new Turntable, Arm & Cartridge, new cables and one of the hardest decisions I think I have ever made in my life definitely in Hi-Fi I have sold my beloved Wilson Alexandrias. I have not had a good nights sleep since doing so! Kind regards Bigpond
Hi Glenfihi, Many Thanks for the kind compliments, I rarely listen to Audiophile recordings I mainly listen to CD from the 70's, 80's & 90's so my hunt is really for a system that can help some of these trashy recordings sound a bit cleaner and more revealing. What music are you into? Once again thank you
Hi Lloyd, Not sure what I want to do yet as you know I am a Loudspeaker Nutcase but don't know if I want to go there or maybe look at DAC or Tonearm upgrade! Kind Regards Bigpond.
Played a song tonight I have been playing for nearly 35 years and for the first time ever I could hear the artist who sings whilst playing piano moving his feet on the piano pedals as the song starts. It has to be the Gryphon Class A resolving power!! Regards Bigpond
I could just about tell how thick the Drumsticks were tonight when listening to Paul Simon on the fast moving and very underrated song "Late in the Evening" due to ARC, Wilson & Gryphon Mephisto!!!
Hi Downunder, You are so right about been easy to spend too much money but when you hear good music on a good system it is very hard to beat in life!! What are the actual dimensions of your room? Do you still use your Linn Sondek much? Kind Regards Bigpond
Hi Audioblazer, At over 230lbs for each amplifier it is hard to experiment but I believe the modified Silent Running Stand I am using is better than Maple Wood with my Wooden floorboards. Kind Regards Bigpond
Hi Knghifi, Thanks for the compliment I have Nordost Valhalla for power cables on everything except the power amps were I am using Nordost El Dorado. I will probably update the power amp leads soon! Regards Bigpond.
Hi Lloyd, These monster power amplifiers are so incredibly polite!!! Never sound harsh even with poor recordings. Kind Regards from a very, very happy Gyphon Audio owner.
Hi Lloydelee, I just hated the thought of having tubes in a big Power Amp and not knowing if they had degenerated to a degree that they still work okay but not getting the optimum out of them. I heard the Colosseums awhile ago with Alexandria's on a friends system and was very impressed, when the Mephisto release was announced I ordered them straight away safely assuming they would at least be as good! It has been a nervous wait going back to Transitor from Tubes but would you believe in alot of ways the Gryphons are more polite than the ARC Amps I had. I have just listened to them for the past 10 hours straight and continue to be impressed with their subtle bass, clean clear highs and magnificent soundstage!
I note on your review of the Wilson X1/Grand Slamm virtually all the points you raise are the same reason I love big Wilsons, no other speakers compare for me. With reference to your Zanden DAC I believe it is a similar sound to Audio Note anyone else feel welcome to correct me on this.
Kind Regards and many thanks for your kind compliments.
Hi Jfrech, Love your Maxx 3's in that color, for the last 8 years I have owned Audio Research Reference 600 MK3's which I have been very happy with but as you know the Tubes wear out and I absolutely hated the idea of spending as much money as we all have and not quite know if the Tube wear is degrading the sound or not!!! The Gryphon amps with Wilson seems an incredible match in the short time (3 days) I have been using them together. Talk again soon. Regards Bigpond
Hi Tzh21y,I live in the Land Down Under and I purchased the Record Stand from someone nearly 1000 miles away because as you can see,it fitted perfectly into a certain spot in the confined space I had for it! As I stated above now I'm moving and will have a much larger room what's the bet I won't find another to match as I currently have records all over the floor!! Kind Regards Bigpond.
Kodg,Just to let you know I am moving house and the room for the Alexandria's in the new house is nearly twice as wide thank heavens!! I sometimes like to listen LOUD and no speaker I have ever owned comes close to Big Wilson's when you want to do this!! Kind Regards Bigpond
Hemisferik,Would you consider selling your DAC 5 Signature if so why would you sell it? Oneobgyn,We are all sweating on your report after you receive your New Alexandria's! Regards
Hey Hemisferik, How are you? Have you sold your Rockport? I think i will get to Series 2's at some stage by selling my pair and looking out for Genuine Series 2's not an upgraded pair. Kind Regards
Hi Microstrip, Not that long ago in my home i briefly compared my Audio Note Dac & CEC CD Transport to a full Esoteric CD set-up and overwhelmingly preferred the Audio Note & CEC combination. I just think the approach Audio Note use with their filtering (or lack of) suits my ears. Will still listen to a CD7 as soon as convenient. Kind Regards
Hi Microstrip, Thank you for the kind words can't wait to see the pictures of your system when you post.What country do you live in? Do you have any issues with your room size or are you resonably happy with it? No i have not auditioned the CD7 as yet although i have read so many good reviews on it i will as soon as i can. By the way why is it your second CD7??
Oneobgyn, Well spotted i am obviously no good at converting from our measurements we use the metric system here you know.(Ha-Ha) Actually 13 feet wide not 15 feet.I measure just under 8 feet from tweeter to tweeter with my listening position about 11 feet back. With my room i am a bit restricted with how much i can play around with all this,although i am going to play around with some more traps myself at some stage. I'm sure you have fantastic sound!!
Mikeduke,Thank you for your kind words,Room size is an issue as it is only approximately 15 feet wide & 30 feet long. Funnily enough when i upgraded from Grand Slamm's to Alexandria's i started to get a Bass Boom problem that was not present with the Grand Slamm's i assume this was due to the front port in the Woofer cabinet in the Alexandria but some corner traps have since fixed the problem. I would prefer a larger room but do not particularly want a room separate to the house although i'm sure it has it's benefits.I like a very fast dynamic sound and Wilson has this in spades.
No i have not heard the Lamm's,do not have easy access to all High-End equipment as i live in the Wonderful Land Down Under.I do intend to try and hear them as soon as i can!
