My (SMT) room

[jeff1225]

Absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on a well thought out system. Are you adding Zanden power amps as well?

 

[amadeus]

Seeing the photo of flyer's SMT room in another thread, I would like to share with you two pro photos of my room that better show the beauty and high WAF of SMT treatments.

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Very beutifull integration of living and listening room!

 

[Birdwatcher]

Marcus, what a wonderful system.
Would you please tell more to the two changes with the Kuzma: from XL4 to XLDC and from 11 to 14” 4Point?

I use the Zanden 1200 and 3000 as well, have had Kuzma Airline and 11 4Point on Stabi Reference, sold them all, but now I am interested in a 14” for my Lyra Atlas. (Alternative choice would be an AS Axiom.)

 

[Marcus]

I wrote a few words about the differences between 11” and 14” 4Point on AN:

Kuzma 4Point 14 inch - Audionirvana.org

Before I purchased 4Point 14 inch tonearm, I used the regular 4Point more than 6 years, so what it brings to the table is quite clear to me. I ordered the “14”

www.audionirvana.org

Re. XL4 and XL DC I can say the DC has more precise transients. Authority, speed and dynamics are considerably improved. Also DC better controls sudden bursts of energy and is timbraly richer. Once you hear the XL DC there is no going back to XL4.

 

[christoph]

Thanks Jeffrey for reminding me. A lot has changed since 2013, only Finite Elemente MR racks remained untouched.

If my memory serves me well, the first thing I changed was Kuzma XL drive system from 4 AC motors to one DC and upgraded Magnum Dynalab MD-108T to Signature. Then I sold Karan KAM 2000 monos and bought conrad-johnson ART monos and invested in Tripoint Troy Elite NG and Emperor grounding cables. Soon after that, the standard 11 inch Kuzma 4Point made a place for 14 inch ruby bearings version and all Cardas Clear rev1 were substituted for the Clear Beyond. Then the Conrad-Johnson GAT S2 left its place for the Zanden 3000 Mk2.

A decision to sell Avalon Time was quite hard but Time simply became the weakest link and a pair of used Isis was my only wish. Unfortunately I wasn’t successful in getting a pair for almost two years, so had to find a substitute and chose AlsyVox Botticelli.

Since then, my Benz LP-S became quite old and was in need for retipping. Instead of that, I decided to buy Kuzma’s flagship CAR 60. I didn’t plan to change my most beloved phono stage Zanden 1200 Mk3 anytime soon but when I got an enthusiastic feedback from my friend, I could not resist and bought the Signature.

Future Plan is AlsyVox Botticelli external crossovers and new power amps (conrad-johnson ART monos are already for sale if anybody's interested...).

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What a wonderful room and system
I guess the AlsyVoxes have a massively different presentation than your former Avalons
What amps are you planning to replace the CJs with?
I'm pretty sure the CJs have more than enough juice...

 

[Marcus]

What a wonderful room and system
I guess the AlsyVoxes have a massively different presentation than your former Avalons
What amps are you planning to replace the CJs with?
I'm pretty sure the CJs have more than enough juice...

Yes, cj ART monos have more than enough juice but that’s not the reason I decided to sell them. Looking for a solid state or hybrid alternative but not yet decided...

 

[Marcus]

Absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on a well thought out system. Are you adding Zanden power amps as well?

Thanks Jeffrey. Zanden is certainly in the game but waiting for a new higher power model in the modern line. Unfortunately I don’t know when it’ll hit the market, so I’m considering some other options too.

 

[Marcus]

Very beutifull integration of living and listening room!

Thanks Amadeus.

 

[christoph]

Yes, cj ART monos have more than enough juice but that’s not the reason I decided to sell them. Looking for a solid state or hybrid alternative but not yet decided...

Thanks for your answer, Marcus.

Did you also consider a powerful (P)SET for the AlsoyVoxes with their easy to drive impedance and their quite high sensitivity?
Also considering that your room is not very big.

I would love to hear the AlsyVoxes with excellent powerful (P)SET like the KR Audio Kronzillas or the Aries Cerat Concero 65

 

[howiebrou]

Thanks Jeffrey for reminding me. A lot has changed since 2013, only Finite Elemente MR racks remained untouched.

If my memory serves me well, the first thing I changed was Kuzma XL drive system from 4 AC motors to one DC and upgraded Magnum Dynalab MD-108T to Signature. Then I sold Karan KAM 2000 monos and bought conrad-johnson ART monos and invested in Tripoint Troy Elite NG and Emperor grounding cables. Soon after that, the standard 11 inch Kuzma 4Point made a place for 14 inch ruby bearings version and all Cardas Clear rev1 were substituted for the Clear Beyond. Then the Conrad-Johnson GAT S2 left its place for the Zanden 3000 Mk2.

A decision to sell Avalon Time was quite hard but Time simply became the weakest link and a pair of used Isis was my only wish. Unfortunately I wasn’t successful in getting a pair for almost two years, so had to find a substitute and chose AlsyVox Botticelli.

Since then, my Benz LP-S became quite old and was in need for retipping. Instead of that, I decided to buy Kuzma’s flagship CAR 60. I didn’t plan to change my most beloved phono stage Zanden 1200 Mk3 anytime soon but when I got an enthusiastic feedback from my friend, I could not resist and bought the Signature.

Future Plan is AlsyVox Botticelli external crossovers and new power amps (conrad-johnson ART monos are already for sale if anybody's interested...).

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Beautiful. May i ask what you have supporting your amp stands?

 

[Marcus]

Did you also consider a powerful (P)SET for the AlsoyVoxes with their easy to drive impedance and their quite high sensitivity?

Actually no. Never had the opportunity to try any of them in my system.

 

[christoph]

Actually no. Never had the opportunity to try any of them in my system.

Any other high(er) power (P)SET?

 

[Marcus]

Any other high(er) power (P)SET?

No. Same reason. Any suggestions?

 

[christoph]

No. Same reason. Any suggestions?

How about the Zanden 9600 monos?
Too obvious?

 

[Marcus]

How about the Zanden 9600 monos?
Too obvious?

Yes, maybe but would prefer more power. I tried once 8120 which is more powerful on paper than 9600 but didn’t like the result...

 

[christoph]

Yes, maybe but would prefer more power. I tried once 8120 which is more powerful on paper than 9600 but didn’t like the result...

Ok.
I'm curious with what you will end up

 

[Marcus]

Beautiful. May i ask what you have supporting your amp stands?

Thanks. Also Finite Elemente Master Reference.

 

[howiebrou]

Thanks. Also Finite Elemente Master Reference.

Sorry I meant what feet do you have under your FE Master Reference amp stands? I use cerabases under mine but yours look very close to the floor?

 

[howiebrou]

No. Same reason. Any suggestions?

Unison Research Single Ended Monoblocks. 100W per channel.

 

[Marcus]

Sorry I meant what feet do you have under your FE Master Reference amp stands? I use cerabases under mine but yours look very close to the floor?

Cardas Myrtle blocks. Cerabases didn’t work well in my “new” room (solid parquet on concrete floor) although they were a match made in heaven in my old apartment with solid wood floor.