looks like you have a real nice system. I am considering buying a Art dio. I have read in some reviews bout its 7V output overloading some preamps input. Have you had any problems in this area? Also have you had any problems with the art unit locking onto the output? I also saw that it a moded unit, If you don!t mind what mods were made? thanks!
Thank you so much. You are right, the bass it reproduces is first and foremost more than what I like to term "pistonic" meaning a kettle drums literally sounds like a kettle drum, skins and all and not like a boom box in the back of a low-rider. The other aspect is that it moves enough air to kick a hole in your chest. The system has literally frightened me on more than one occasion with sudden unexpected bass exploding from what seems like everywhere. Thanks for looking. Holiday Wishes
Wow! With 2 LF extreme's your whole block must shake. I own Legacy 1's, I've been a Legacy fan since I bought my first pair in 1987. I bet the system sounds awesome. Congrats.
I have tried or owned a good deal of so called great dacs. I also owned the Sony SCD-1 and had the Marantz SA-1. The ART (moded) flat out destroys anything I have ever heard including the Hermes. The Kora is not in the same league at all. I have owned Kora gear since 1998 (Kora 100SB Triode) and it is good stuff, but the ART is a murderer of DACS. It totaly destroyed my SCD-1 and my former reference the Mietner Super Bidat. It also bested an audiophile associates Linn Sondek CD-12 ($20k), he sold the CD-12 and bought an ART. If you think the Hermes sounds better, that's fine. Lets see, my audiophile buddies have sold and replaced the following with the Art: DCS ELgar/Pucell combo, Linn sondek cd12, Dodoson (latest unit), 3 Meitner Super Bidats, about 5 Analog rigs, a Legend dac (Art destroyed it), and a Audio Logic Dac. People kill me with that "It's great for the money", sounds like a review I read on the Art. I don't really pay reviewers much attention, they are mostly on the take. This is underground HIGH END. It may not be pretty or wrapped up in a great chassis, but it whips the snot out of any other DA I have ever heard, including the $23,000.00 Pacific Microsonics Pro unit. Regards, Mike PS>I didn't put a fantastic system together and all of a sudden go cheapo on the DAC, it is there because it is simply the best that I have heard, period.
The Art is a great piece for its price, but with the rest of your sustem a better Dac would make a huge difference. I am now using a Muse 296 which is amazing. If you want to stay with tubes you should look at the Kora Hermes. Your source is really limiting your results.
Preamp to soon be replaced by Tube Research Labs GTP3 with built in 2 way crossover for active biamping of the Whispers. Also soon adding a pair of Tube Research Labs GT50SE amps. Regards, Mike
