Building Started...

[drewh1]

Congratulations, nice system! - Streaming is the way to go - I only stream digital with J-River. I have found 24 bit recordings to always be significantly better, even at lower sampling rates. The only problem is you then get into the whole DAC Dilemma, and I have tried a few before settling into my current one.

Enjoy, and get on HD-tracks, I am listening to a 24/96 khz recording of Brazilian singer Rosa Passos with Ron Carter on Bass - fabulous sound.

[Jim R.]

Hi Randy,

Glad you are liking the Orcas!  If you like them now, just wait until you get over 400 hours on them -- and the steromour as well.

One way to get really decent sound from streaming is to use the MOG service and sign up for the primo subscription ($10/month) and check the box for high quality streams (320 kbps MP3), still not even CD quality, but far better than the other streaming services out there and a HUGE selection of music.  And I've never had a glitch or drop out, even streaming over wifi to my iPad.

Congratulations!

-- Jim

[rlyach]

I currently stream from my own music library using CD quality or better. I was not even aware of HD source websites. I have noticed that the speakers are getting louder as I listen to them. I assume that is normal. Also, my son played a very large dynamic range song and it actually over drove the amp. That really surprised me. everything else I have played I have been able to play at full volume, but now that the speakers are getting louder and full volume is beginning to be a little too much. I am amazed at the Orca's ability to play drums. I can't say enough about this system, and I would recommend the amp and speakers to anyone.

[drewh1]

Randy -  I use a couple of hi res music sites - HDTracks is one, HDTracks has a lot of classic rock and some great jazz recordings.  Bowers and Wilkins has a really great music club that gives you two or more free hi res downloads every month for members. I have gotten some really cool music through them and some not so good.  HighDefTapeTransfers is great for classical and now has a lot of 192 khz. I still don't hear that much difference in the sampling rates but have little high frequency hearing left so maybe that is why.

I really only buy 24 bit now because I always notice the difference from 16 bit. I think as your amp and speakers break in, you will really value the transparency and musicality of the high res material.

It is so cool to hear about your experience, sounds like you are really enjoying it!

[Jim R.]

Randy,

Ok, thought you meant you were streaming internet radio or something like Pandora.  Depending on how your streaming from your own server and the configuration of the dac and playback software, you should be getting great quality sound so I'm not sure why you said "just" streaming. or something like that.

Anyway, yes, the bass in particular on the Orcas starts to really fill in at about the 30-50 hour mark depending on how loud you play them.  The spider and suspension need to work and loosen up a bit and ths accounts for a good bit of this.  I'm running mine 24/7 now and will until later this month when I'm at or past the 400 hour mark.  With my listening room being at the opposite end of the house from the bedroom, and down one level, I can get away with this, though it still can't be too awfully loud.

Continue to enjoy them and the amp!

-- Jim

[drewh1]

If you want to run your speakers at volume to break in without listening, wire them out of phase and place them facing each other about a foot apart. You can even through a blanket over them, then just let them rip.

[Grainger49]

Or even closer.  You would be amazed how much sound you cancel, not as much bass.  Also, make it Mono somehow.

[Jim R.]

Well as I'm working on break-in I'm also working on placement and its a real PITA for me to keep moving things back and forth, even with tape markers and such.

However, today there was a nice improvement in bass and the soundstage is evening out even more and gaining in depth.  Plus I don't know which part of the system -- preamp, power amps or speakers are opening up even more, but my max volume is even better today and I was able to crank things all the way up with some live music and it sounded fantastic -- no break up IM distortion and no glare whatsoever.  It was so good that i decided to leave the KK teflons in for another day before I replace them with the CuTFs in the SR-45s.  I'm loving this!

-- Jim

[rlyach]

Ok... I connected the Orcas to a K12 amp using a radio receiver as the source. I disconnected the antenna and used a weak signal so the receiver would only play mono. Then I reversed the leads on one speaker and put them about 5" apart. The sound cancellation was very effective. I will leave this setup running every day this week to get a head start on breaking in the speakers. I was amazed at the difference when the receiver was limited to mono. I will give a report at the end of the week. 

Update: I found a splitter so I changed the setup to play only one channel from the receiver to both channels of the amp. Much cleaner than using a weak fm signal. I suppose i could have used an AM station (duh).

[rlyach]

I now have over 40 hours of break-in and already the speakers are loosening up. I think I will let them break in rest of the way just by listening to them. I have noticed that the bass response is much louder. I am now wrestling with speaker placement. Just minor movements gives a totally different sound. After many placements I have finally found one that balances the bass. Thanks for all the newbie help. Now on to my Tode. I have already purchased all I need for putting tolex and corners on the cab. I even purchased a router table to do a cleaner round-over. Wish me luck.