That was quick! Congratulations! (I bet I personally would like those amps on those speakers.)
Zanden 8120 looks great! I was not familiar with it.
Just out of curiosity how did you choose the Zanden 8120 over other similar push-pull designs in the 80 watt to 100 watt range (for example, ARC REF75 or Reference 80S, Jadis JA120, conrad-johnson Classic 120, VTL ST-85, VAC Signature 200iQ, VAC Essence 80, etc.)?
I have heard ARC amps: mostly 160S and REF 75. Not with my set up though. While they are good (very good actually), I was mostly trying between C-J ART 150 and Zanden. Both of these instill some fine clarity that is hard to explain. Very linear and right amount of magic in the mids. I listen mostly female vocals, and I think they do the magic I need. I have heard them in in shows for very long time and have had my eyes on them. I think Zanden is very under rated for what they offer. I am hoping it makes Fyne sound with my set up. Have not heard Jadis or VAC or VTL. May be in future. Honestly, my end goal is to go with Aries Cerat ianus essentias. and change pre-amp to Impera ref or ageto. Till I get enough funds, I will play around with other amps.
I have heard ARC amps: mostly 160S and REF 75. Not with my set up though. While they are good (very good actually), I was mostly trying between C-J ART 150 and Zanden. Both of these instill some fine clarity that is hard to explain. Very linear and right amount of magic in the mids. I listen mostly female vocals, and I think they do the magic I need. I have heard them in in shows for very long time and have had my eyes on them. I think Zanden is very under rated for what they offer. I am hoping it makes Fyne sound with my set up. Have not heard Jadis or VAC or VTL. May be in future. Honestly, my end goal is to go with Aries Cerat ianus essentias. and change pre-amp to Impera ref or ageto. Till I get enough funds, I will play around with other amps.
That you for explaining the background! Zanden's 9600MkII looks very interesting, too!
Out of all of the amplifiers Keith auditioned in his system (and there were many) my personal favorite was Jadis JA30 Mk. II. I, too, listen mainly to female vocals. I bet you're going to be very happy with that 8120!
And, yes, it makes sense to eventually complete your suite of Aries Cerat electronics with Ianus.
I have heard ARC amps: mostly 160S and REF 75. Not with my set up though. While they are good (very good actually), I was mostly trying between C-J ART 150 and Zanden. Both of these instill some fine clarity that is hard to explain. Very linear and right amount of magic in the mids. I listen mostly female vocals, and I think they do the magic I need. I have heard them in in shows for very long time and have had my eyes on them. I think Zanden is very under rated for what they offer. I am hoping it makes Fyne sound with my set up. Have not heard Jadis or VAC or VTL. May be in future. Honestly, my end goal is to go with Aries Cerat ianus essentias. and change pre-amp to Impera ref or ageto. Till I get enough funds, I will play around with other amps.
I have heard ARC amps: mostly 160S and REF 75. Not with my set up though. While they are good (very good actually), I was mostly trying between C-J ART 150 and Zanden. Both of these instill some fine clarity that is hard to explain. Very linear and right amount of magic in the mids. I listen mostly female vocals, and I think they do the magic I need. I have heard them in in shows for very long time and have had my eyes on them. I think Zanden is very under rated for what they offer. I am hoping it makes Fyne sound with my set up. Have not heard Jadis or VAC or VTL. May be in future. Honestly, my end goal is to go with Aries Cerat ianus essentias. and change pre-amp to Impera ref or ageto. Till I get enough funds, I will play around with other amps.
Having been a 20-year owner/fan of CJ equipment and an owner of Zanden 4-box digital for 15 years...I am enormous admirer of both designers. I find them exceptional, in that rarified class of performance where magic is concerned.
Ron - I have heard the 9600s before though not in a rigorous test. Magic making and have often wondered whether you would like them.
Having been a 20-year owner/fan of CJ equipment and an owner of Zanden 4-box digital for 15 years...I am enormous admirer of both designers. I find them exceptional, in that rarified class of performance where magic is concerned.
Ron - I have heard the 9600s before though not in a rigorous test. Magic making and have often wondered whether you would like them.
You are so lucky to have experienced both of them in your set up. I am fan of CJ too. Every time I am about to change, I always consider them as the top contenders, and never bought one. I will keep my options open on CJ ART-27 or ART-150.
I took a closer look. Sadly the design doesn't do much as a diffuser. You'd have to get the creator to add more varied depth at least. Still even if you had that done, it actually looks good.
You are so lucky to have experienced both of them in your set up. I am fan of CJ too. Every time I am about to change, I always consider them as the top contenders, and never bought one. I will keep my options open on CJ ART-27 or ART-150.
I really would love to hear the latest flagships from CJ...ART 88 and the CJ ART 27A or ART108A...I am intrigued by their Triode designs. At 160 watts per channel, the 108A is particularly intriguing.
I took a closer look. Sadly the design doesn't do much as a diffuser. You'd have to get the creator to add more varied depth at least. Still even if you had that done, it actually looks good.
Well, no response to a thicker art diffuser so I've pivoted to Vicoustic Multifusers in natural wood. I'm going with the shallower, 36 version which also looks less studio-ish. I've decided not to attack the ceiling, and my wife is pretty anti-ceiling treatment anyways. My room opens up in the back to the kitchen/living space so is a good 15' from the rear wall, so no reason to treat that windowed area. The acoustic area is ~18' x 13' x 8'.
So it's looking like my final room treatment includes:
3 GIK Art panels (that I've had since 2009) for first reflections and to the side of the L speaker
2 6' sets of Hunter Douglas honeycomb blinds to solve window reflections as well as to the side of the R speaker
4 Vicoustic diffusers in a 4'x4' configuration on the front wall
The Stressless power recliner is really nicely made and looks great in the room. It’s the Consul (L) version which happens to have the lowest total height, but highest seating one.
The Stressless power recliner is really nicely made and looks great in the room. It’s the Consul (L) version which happens to have the lowest total height, but highest seating one.
So what's up for 2024? My current system is pretty much done, just a diffuser install when they arrive in January and final speaker placement. After that is complete, my analog rig will be installed. I am very impressed with this new room thus far - has alleviated many concerns moving. Also, the Nagra/WestminsterLab combo has proven to be elite.
As far as speakers I'm interested to hear in 2024?
Diesis Roma
Acora Acoustics SRC-2
Kef Blade 1 Meta
YG Sonja 3.2 (the new version, curious how the new engineering team has upgraded the sound)
