Nice to see system update pics. Added a second HRS rack in anticipation of the Olympus and I/O (!)…
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Taiko Audio Systems Gallery
- Thread starter nenon
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Nice! Are these the AG Mezzo? They replaced your Alex’s. How do they compare? And presumably you wanted to keep the sub stacks…how well do they keep up with the beautiful new horns?
Thanks very much for your interest.
These are AG Duo SD G3, full iTron amplification. I've been using a Sunvalley SV-S1645D amplifier (45 or 46 output tube) for mid and HF horns, but I've got the option of going full on-board amplification if I choose. The bass drivers of course with AGs come standard with their own 500 watt amplifiers.
I like the Duos better than the Alexx both for sound quality as well as for some practical concerns. The Duos are very transparent, very dynamic, image extremely well, and play with saturated tone and weight even at very low volume levels, something the Alexx didn't do. Though not a priority for me, they will play very loudly without a lot of power being required. That opens up a lot of possibilities for tube power amps without having to go to heroic expense or running high power tubes like 211s or 845s or multiple pairs of KTs in push-pull.
I wasn't a big AG fan, particularly their first generation and to an extent, their second generation models. I always heard them in demos as being wonderful with perfect material, but without a lot of careful selection of partnering electronics and cabling, they could be bright. The G3 are really a big step forward in taming this tendency, in my opinion.
The practical matters are that the Duos don't require massive amplification (the Sunvalley amp is 1.5 wpc) and should I desire to eliminate the separate amp completely, I have full on-board amplification with AG's "current drive" amplifiers.
The subs integrate really well. I actually had to turn down the sub stacks' level 1-2dB lower than what I had them set at for the Alexx. It's hard to believe, but the AG's single 12" drivers per side sound more articulate and go lower than the Alexx' pair of 12" and 15" drivers per side.
A key indicator for me how well subs and main speakers integrate is how Leonard Cohen's voice sounds from his early and middle-period albums. No hint of overly chesty or plummy sound at all with the SVS SB16 Ultras. They are very clean and articulate.
Somehow SVS has the rep with 2-channel audiophiles of being "home theatre" subwoofers. However I think if someone is considering REL or JL Audio or other "music" subs for more $$$ they really should take up SVS on their 30 day money back trial and hear them for themselves.
Nice thing too, the AGs are about half the price of the Alexx. More money for music!
Best regards,
Steve Z
Hello Steve,
You've made me reconsider SVS. A few times I have seen a few sales on SVS but always dismissed them as for HT use or at least not in the same realm as REL etc. May give them another look.
Thank you,
Arun
You've made me reconsider SVS. A few times I have seen a few sales on SVS but always dismissed them as for HT use or at least not in the same realm as REL etc. May give them another look.
Thank you,
Arun
Here is my living / listening room. Some compromises had to be made but I am pretty satisfied about how it turned out ... and I am still happily married 
Thanks! I have one sub for now, planning to go 2x in the future.
With the Aura, the sub is gently kicking in at about 60Hz, a sweet-spot I selected also helping myself with a series of measurements with the help of REW.
Thanks! Same on 1 for now and really looking to go dual in future. Front runners are either Todd’s PureLows or the Funk 18.2s.
Mozzafiato, Simone!Here is my living / listening room. Some compromises had to be made but I am pretty satisfied about how it turned out ... and I am still happily married
View attachment 141999
Moglie felice vita felice!Here is my living / listening room. Some compromises had to be made but I am pretty satisfied about how it turned out ... and I am still happily married
Buon Natale a tutti!
Steve Z
Regarding your use of the word, "humble," in relation to your system, methinks you need a new dictionary
Lovely setup!
And a beauty it is.
And we see what has priority -- Olympus, top shelf. Turntable two shelves down.
Thomas Mayer preamp and amps, oh my!
Steve Z
Looks very nice....although the turntable position might work better if it occupied the top of the rack, and then move the Taiko to that lower position...Just a thought..... Amazing system....
this configuration is very new.. I received my Olympus just a few days ago and shuffled things around while I still have people to help me lift the Olympus. I will definitely move it to the lower shelf so that it is not top heavy, and make the use of the TT and the top loading SCD1 a little easier.. although admittedly I just listen to digital now..
the speakers are Sierra Audio Masterpiece, made in the Philippines by my friend Victor Sierra.. Vic used to live in the US and to the be one of the duo who distributes ALE drivers.. he used to collaborate with the guys like Jeffrey Jackson
Sierra Audio Masterpiece
wooden horns are solid mahogany
I remember Victor Sierra. I had wondered where he went. When I was building my DIY Edgarhorns more than twenty years ago I seriously wanted some ALE compression drivers.
I enlarged the picture to make out that the preamp is a Thomas Mayer 10Y but I can't tell what the Mayer mono block amps are. Not the 46 drives 46, with those big Elrog tubes. Tell us more!
Steve Z
Vic went back to the Phils to help family run numerous family businesses (medical school is one of them)..but he still build a few pairs of horns, mostly for friends.
The preamp is 10Y , amps are 300B.. all Elrog tubes are TM level
horns are 105db
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