Mid Life Hi-fi Crisis and philosophical discussion

[Brent]

Oh and glad to hear you appreciated the GMA design concepts. It is a noticeable difference to move the tweeters into a time aligned position. The imaging of vocals becomes very accurate, just like the singer is standing in the room.

I have heard GMA speakers a time or two at Rocky Mountain Audiofest several years ago. They are spooky, almost like listening to headphones but with spatial effects that headphones can't provide.  The only speakers from which I've heard a similar effect is a pair of 4" fullrange drivers (the old CSS FR125) in smallish ported boxes that I owned several years ago and listened to fairly nearfield (6 to 7 feet).  That was before I moved to a SEX 2.0 and more sensitive speakers, but I still think sometimes about that sound and how I could get that along with the responsiveness and effortlessness of higher sensitivity drivers. 

Point being, hopefully you can work it out with the EOS HDs, since I am guessing they have a similar unique and special sound to the ones I've heard.  Either way, good luck and enjoy the journey.

Brent

[drewh1]

Hi Brent - Thanks for your post - the GMA's are quite unique, I am planning on sticking with them. In fact, I just got a phone call from Roy, the designer. He called because he noticed my post about finishing my Stereomour. Since I have had the EOS HD, he has redesigned and improved the crossovers, upgrading resistors and changing some values. He is sending me a pair for my speakers. Talk about service, Roy is a great guy and really a pleasure to work with. 

So here is the philosophical piece:

I went through a period of swapping out speakers and amps every time I wasn't satisfied. Not only was it expensive and time consuming, it also never got the results I wanted since no single piece of gear is perfect, it is all about trade offs. The reason I turned to DIY was so that I could tweak and change things, try different interconnects without paying for marketing hype, build power cords, and now roll tubes. etc.

I am very pleased to be a part of the BH community because that is what this is about. Start with a solid, reasonable design, build it and then tweak it for your individual tastes (and budget). This is awesome.  Although I am starting to eye those Paramounts, damn.

[4krow]

So here is the philosophical piece:

I went through a period of swapping out speakers and amps every time I wasn't satisfied. Not only was it expensive and time consuming, it also never got the results I wanted since no single piece of gear is perfect, it is all about trade offs. The reason I turned to DIY was so that I could tweak and change things, try different interconnects without paying for marketing hype, build power cords, and now roll tubes. etc.

I am very pleased to be a part of the BH community because that is what this is about. Start with a solid, reasonable design, build it and then tweak it for your individual tastes (and budget). This is awesome.  Although I am starting to eye those Paramounts, damn.
[/quote]

   I couldn't have said it better myself.

[Jim R.]

Drew,

This sounds like a good plan -- let us know how the new x-overs work out.  Aside from getting more powerful amps (not at all saying to not keep the paramounts in mind for the future), but you could always actively crossover to the subs and relieve the GMAs of some loower bass duties.

-- Jim

[earwaxxer]

Hey Drew - I'm coming in a bit late on this, and I, as well, have had some libations. Not continuously since the first post mind you.. but bear with me (Greg stop it). IMHO - take what you can get from the Bottlehead experience and go on with your life. Sure there will be some cognitive dissonance. Thats a good thing. The Bottlehead kit will open your mind to things of audio to help course your way. Not the answer. But the question will be more clear. It takes you down some paths that you may not have thought of without it. What I found is that the Bottlehead kit helped me focus my quest. On what is wrong, and what is right. Thats huge. Most posts that I read about folks who dont know what way to go with their system. They just know that its not good. - I guess I better quit while I'm ahead... Or have another scotch.

[drewh1]

Glad you chimed in Eric. Great comments, I had to look up Shiit gugner.

Well, right now, the sh((*)t sounds pretty damn good. So maybe I am wrong about caps breaking in. I am happy to admit when I am wrong.  I have tweaked my sub settings and moved things around a bit, but I do think the amp is settling. Bass seems better, vocals and imaging are fabulicious.  so screw the cognitive dissonance, this is fun!

Gonna roll an inexpensive driver tube, add a remote volume control and wait for my new crossovers.  Might have to go back to the dating sites again, though this project has been an excellent distraction from that.

my gratitude to everyone for your interventions!

[drewh1]

Ok - Today my driver tube failed - amp just started sounding like a fuzz tone -  presciently I had ordered a JJ ECC81 Gold Pin that came in the mail today.

So after scratching my head and remeasuring everything (it was all good). I thought I would try swapping in the new driver tube - worked.

It is incredible - this is a different amplifier. My theory is that the driver tube was always faulty and not working to spec ever.  The bass is incredible with this tube, rivals my Ayre, there is more volume and clarity at the same time. I am really happy with this development -

I guess I would have discovered this anyway.  This is what I can an amplifier, now I can sit back and really listen.