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1: Balanced, differential, XLR, and all that. (2.16)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2011-01-01, 11:20:58 (76.191.156.247)
These are confusing topics for many audiophiles, and the jargon does not help matters. "XLR" is a three-pin professional audio plug and jack system. The first large manufacturer was Cannon (now owned .......
2: My amp story. (2.16)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-08-25, 10:24:04 (76.191.156.247)
I had a bi-amp setup with OTL amps I built myself (patterned after Atma-Sphere MA-1) for the midrange and treble drivers, and Bryston 4B-ST (later changed to InnerSound ESL-300) solid state for the ba .......
3: What happened in 1831? (4.45)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-01-12, 10:08:39 (76.191.156.247)
Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry independently discovered what we call Faraday's Law of Induction (curl E = -dB/dt in the later formulation by Maxwell and Heaviside). Any change in magnetic flux throu .......
4: My Bryston amp was very solidly constructed, (2.32)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-11-18, 15:23:24 (71.141.242.3)
and immune to any tweaks I tried. An InnerSound ESL-300 revealed how badly the Bryston performed, and especially how constipated it was. Perhaps that explains the Bryston appeal to certain folks. ::: .......
5: My power transformer story. (5.92)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-08-24, 09:33:34 (71.131.208.87)
I once had a setup with tube OTL monoblocks driving mid/tweeter sections of Magnepan MG-20s, and a solid-state stereo amp driving the bass panels. I had a Bryston 4B-ST as the bass panel amp, and was .......
6: I see a lot of opportunities for improvement. (6.69)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-03-19, 10:20:14 (71.131.206.211)
I one had a Bryston 4B-ST power amp, and replaced it with an InnerSound ESL-300. The InnerSound was not built to the same standards as the Bryston for chassis rigidity, but was a much better-sounding .......
7: Summarize the possible sources. (7.29)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-12-15, 11:03:28 (71.131.227.91)
Lots of good observations and advice below. Before I summarize the other possible sources, please understand that many recordings have excessive vocal sibilance because of the microphone type and plac .......
8: Depending on your house, a bunch of dedicated lines. (1.90)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-04-30, 12:42:22 (71.131.249.1)
If you have room on your circuit breaker panel and the distance is not too great or difficult, you can have some dedicated AC lines installed for a few hundred dollars. These will do more to isolate y .......
9: Depends on the speakers. (4.26)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-03-17, 10:34:14 (71.132.5.184)
Coherent treble reflections from things near the speakers are bad. Whether your rack and equipment are in a position to generate coherent reflections depends on the dispersion of your speakers. The wo .......
10: Agree, Barry, a properly-damped shelf would be better. (3.69)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-02-01, 11:12:37 (71.131.203.89)
The original post indicated a valid concern with selection of shelf material, but not the experience to know how to make or find something with optimum damping. The horizontal freedom my suspension gi .......
11: Did you hear a difference? (4.46)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-01-24, 14:07:21 (71.131.203.89)
Keeping the power amp as far away from the source components as possible is a good idea. Any small impedances associated with the Juice Bar cord and plug will couple the amp's power supply noise more .......
12: Magnepan MG-20 hybrid bi-amp setup... (4.33)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-09-07, 13:25:26 (66.126.229.80)
Atma-Sphere MA-1 monoblocks with Speltz ZERO autotransformers (4:1) for midrange and treble; InnerSound ESL-300 for bass. The MA-1s include capacitors at the inputs to give the 300 Hz high-pass for th .......
13: Treat the InnerSound amp for RF pollution and acoustic resonances. (6.41)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-07-11, 12:17:39 (66.123.171.97)
I've got a late Mark I (similar to yours) as a bass amp in my bi-amped system with MG-20 speakers. While the stock amp sounded better than the Bryston 4B-ST it replaced, I found it is very tweakable. .......
14: Ripe for some measurements... (3.41)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-07-07, 15:13:55 (66.123.171.97)
All I can offer is anecdotal testimony to the effects of reducing RF resonances within my system and attenuating RF noise generation from sources under my control. My domestic situation includes a TiV .......
15: Agree if it is done right. (6.07)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-30, 12:41:37 (66.120.162.29)
My experience is limited to using an InnerSound ESL-300 as a bass amp for Magnepan MG-20s. The large number of output devices helps it control the bass panels. It can be made to sound quite a bit bett .......
16: Complementary transistors (5.24)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-20, 13:29:29 (66.123.170.135)
The solid-state equivalent to a tube push-pull stage is a complementary output, with NPN between the positive rail and the load, and PNP between the load and the negative rail. Until recently, there w .......
17: "Too soon old, too late smart." (4.27)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-05-06, 16:43:48 (64.171.6.14)
Thanks to an evolving understanding of this hobby, I have two pairs of dedicated circuits to my audio system, that were installed by two different electricians at different times. One pair is in armor .......
18: So THAT's what it is! (5.65)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-07, 12:58:25 (66.126.231.55)
I always wondered what neighborhood appliance would be used briefly in the morning. I have the same phenomenon with the toroidal power transformer in my InnerSound ESL-300. .......
19: So THAT's what it is! (6.41)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-07, 12:58:25 (66.126.231.55)
I always wondered what neighborhood appliance would be used briefly in the morning. I have the same phenomenon with the toroidal power transformer in my InnerSound ESL-300. .......
20: Easy to make significant improvements. (6.41)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-05, 10:48:13 (66.126.231.55)
I have MG-20s and live in Northern California. The easiest thing to do if you are nearby or plan to visit the wine country is to stop by and see what I've done. Briefly, you can tailor your tweeter ou .......
21: No. (2.71)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-24, 14:11:25 (66.123.170.96)
Thanks to a good friend, I received a GSIC-10 with only four uses. I tried it on three discs: _You Won't Forget Me_, Shirley Horn, Verve 847 482-2; _Danzon_, Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Vene .......
22: A real problem on many scales. Your gut-feel is wrong. (4.51)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-17, 12:24:29 (66.123.169.176)
Electric utilities have to size their transmission equipment for the load current. Bulk loads (such as factories with large motors) with low power factors make it necessary for the utilities to instal .......
23: Reduced sensitivity to mechanical vibration and RFI. (2.94)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-01-05, 10:46:55 (66.120.163.18)
All electronic gear has some sensitivity to mechanical vibration, some more than others. Solid-state gear is no exception. I compared a Bryston 4B-ST power amp to an InnerSound ESL-300 (similar size a .......
24: Nobody knows. (8.27)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-05-20, 14:22:31 (64.171.5.99)
Selection of tube or transistor active devices is one of a complex of choices conditioned by the experiences and prejudices of the designer. The resulting sound is colored by the totality of the choic .......
25: That would be me... (2.93)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-05-18, 12:23:54 (64.171.4.122)
I run the bass panels of MG-20s with an InnerSound ESL amp. This amp can tell the difference between two dedicated power circuits, one routed in armored cable with a longer path to the breaker panel, .......
26: Bryston, InnerSound, Wadia (3.88)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-09, 11:34:15 (64.171.4.166)
My parallel experience is with two solid-state power amps: a Bryston 4B-ST and an InnerSound ESL 300 Mark I (later production, with essentially Mark II innards). The Bryston is very well built mechani .......
Found 3 records in Amp/Preamp Asylum.
1: You answered your own question below, Ralph. (3.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-01-25, 14:36:34 (71.131.209.150)
Amps that use negative voltage feedback to achieve low output impedance may display a high damping factor under test conditions at low frequencies, but the time delay in the feedback and gain loop mak .......
2: Thank you for clarifying this part of it! (3.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-01-04, 18:14:43 (71.131.220.233)
Moving from the InnerSound to the Raptors made a big improvement in sound-stage localization of acoustic bass instruments with my Magnepan MG-20s. The real damping factor of an amp depends on the impe .......
3: A slightly different approach to the question... (4.28)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-01-01, 11:55:58 (71.131.220.233)
Excellent explanations below, and sometimes the power rating into decreasing load impedances is the only published information that relates to this issue. Speakers are not resistive loads, nor are the .......
Found 33 records in Cable Asylum.
1: Cable capacitance and the InnerSound amp. (4.55)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-04-02, 11:53:52 (76.191.156.247)
Something does not sound right about your comments. Roger Sander's amps are designed to drive electrostatic speakers, which are very large capacitors. Cable capacitance should be a small increment of .......
2: Excellent detailed report. (4.55)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-06-15, 15:37:38 (76.191.156.247)
I've also not been a fan of the 4B-ST since I had one and was able to compare it with an InnerSound ESL-300. It is good to learn that you found a cord that tamed some of the problems. Power amp power .......
3: Bryston amps are built like tanks. (3.97)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-01-02, 09:52:36 (76.191.156.247)
I had a 4B-ST to drive the bass panels of my Magnepan MG-20s. I got a used InnerSound ESL-300 upon recommendation of another inmate. I never opened the Bryston case in order to preserve the warranty. .......
4: Be sure the sources and loads are truly balanced. (7.30)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-10-24, 18:45:21 (71.141.242.3)
Unfortunately, not all audio equipment that has XLR connectors is truly balanced. The source has to have equal impedances to ground on both lines. In practice, this means there are two separate source .......
5: Antique wire! (4.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-11-09, 11:54:59 (71.131.178.80)
The Tara Labs site is a PITA, but I finally found a reference to their Phase 2 product. It appears to have been the original product from 1986. I have no idea why it has three conductors if it does no .......
6: Cables conduct vibration into the equipment. (3.05)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-09-18, 14:09:03 (71.131.199.227)
Vibrations within the cables may have an audible effect, but I'm talking here about their ability to transmit room vibrations into the equipment. For example, I have an InnerSound ESL-300 that I used .......
7: Consider used InnerSound ESL-300 amplifier (2.90)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-06-02, 16:02:12 (71.131.221.9)
Get a late Mark I or later, with the WBT binding posts. Prepare to put a lot of Dynamat X-treme on the inside case surfaces, and to brace the bottom panel. Put it on a dedicated AC circuit and feed it .......
8: Thanks for reminding me! (4.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-05-21, 10:41:16 (71.132.11.173)
Another possible cause of edginess in a digital playback system is interaction between the CD player and the power amp through the AC supply. Both pieces of gear may have noisy power supplies for diff .......
9: Straight in to power amps. (4.02)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-05-21, 10:35:03 (71.132.11.173)
My Wadia 861 is connected directly to my power amps in my hybrid bi-amp setup: a pair of Atma-Sphere MA-1 OTL amps for the mid/treble and an InnerSound ESL-300 for the bass. The interconnect cables ar .......
10: The benefits of multiple dedicated lines... (5.88)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-03-14, 14:38:27 (71.132.5.184)
I don't agree with the BAT claims, since my experience contradicts them. A single dedicated line, with no other outlets, is better than a typical convenience circuit, because convenience outlet circui .......
11: It keeps changing... (3.03)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-02-18, 10:48:40 (71.132.8.202)
at least in the details. Source: Wadia 861 on DIY roller-ball suspension and with Silver Audio Wattmaster power cord. IC: DIY custom Y-cables to feed stereo bass amp and monoblock OTL tube amps. Amps: .......
12: Some questions. (4.85)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-10-16, 12:03:21 (71.131.198.123)
First, though, thanks for a thorough review. How does the flexibility of the Bybee cords compare to the Wattmasters? I have Wattmasters and they are quite stiff in my experience. Also, do you have you .......
13: Depends on the setup. (3.98)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-08-31, 15:06:48 (66.126.229.80)
Your speakers are high efficiency and impedance, so using longer cables should not degrade their performance due the very small amount of added resistance. If they were 4-ohm gashogs, though, there mi .......
14: Depends on your budget. (3.99)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-08-04, 15:59:35 (66.126.230.111)
I'm reluctant to recommend speaker cables, since I only have experience with a setup that is expensive, and probably especially synergistic with my own equipment. Your Tannoys are highly efficient, so .......
15: Silver Audio Silver Symphony 48 (2.50)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-07-28, 14:32:18 (66.126.229.8)
Mine are covered with Power Wraps and further wrapped with Teflon thread-seal tape. The ends are terminated with R-C networks comprising 20-ohm Holco (old style) resistors and 0.01 microfarad silver-m .......
16: You have posed a difficult optimization question. (3.63)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-26, 11:45:04 (66.120.162.29)
I don't have experience with your equipment so I can't give you advice on specific potential upgrades. All I can do is share my perspective from tweaking my Magnepan MG-20/InnerSound ESL-300/Atma-Sphe .......
17: I mean electronic components and CD players. (2.67)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-24, 13:02:07 (66.120.162.29)
If you have not experimented with the mechanical support of your audio components, then you don't have any idea how much or little they are sensitive to vibration. IME, a Bryston 4B-ST power amp was i .......
18: Not just thin wires! (4.78)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-05-07, 09:21:49 (64.171.6.14)
Even heavy speaker cables that are not adequately supported and acoustically damped will cause diminished bass. My experience is with Silver Audio Silver Symphony 48 cables covered with Power Wraps. T .......
19: Silver Audio Wattmaster (6.74)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-15, 07:25:16 (66.123.169.170)
For Wadia 861 and InnerSound ESL-300 (solid state equipment). I've no reason to expect it would not also outperform my DIY cords on my Atma-Sphere MA-1s, but have not had the opportunity to try. It be .......
20: A few. (4.59)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-13, 12:51:27 (66.126.231.55)
Walker Silent Source, NBS Signature II modified with Power Wraps, Bob Crump's design, and Virtual Dynamics Master Series. The Wattmasters are superior to all except the Virtual Dynamics, but I did not .......
21: A few. (4.49)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-13, 12:51:27 (66.126.231.55)
Walker Silent Source, NBS Signature II modified with Power Wraps, Bob Crump's design, and Virtual Dynamics Master Series. The Wattmasters are superior to all except the Virtual Dynamics, but I did not .......
22: Depends on where you start. (4.49)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-12, 08:06:29 (66.126.231.55)
If you leave the power cords to last, and upgrade all your other equipment, cables, and supports, then I agree the improvement from even a modest power cord upgrade will be astonishing. The only probl .......
23: RF effects of speaker cables. (long) (4.28)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-22, 10:36:17 (66.126.231.55)
With my power amps, a pair of home-made Atma-Sphere MA-1 monoblocks, and an InnerSound ESL-300, treatments to minimize the RF resonances of the speaker cables have made major improvements in resolutio .......
24: Stuck in the baseband. (3.20)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-19, 08:14:53 (66.126.231.55)
The values you get by measuring "L," "C," and "R" depend on the equipment you use. One attribute of the measuring equipment is the frequency range over which it is designed to work. A cable appears to .......
25: Agree! (3.50)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-19, 07:59:08 (66.126.231.55)
Power cords interact with the entire audio system, not only the equipment to which they are connected. What is even more maddening is that power cords on RF noise sources elsewhere in the house also i .......
26: My experiences. (4.20)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-14, 09:57:25 (66.126.231.55)
I have four dedicated lines. Two were installed when we bought the house and had some other wiring done. These are in aluminum (not steel) armored cable with a steel outlet box. The other two were don .......
27: Let us know how it sounds. (3.98)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-23, 12:14:01 (66.123.170.96)
This will be an interesting experiment. I expect a simple, non-twisted pair of wires would have a lot of susceptibility to noise pickup. This is only an issue if your amp is sensitive to electrical no .......
28: Silver Audio Silver Symphony 48 (4.14)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-04, 13:44:23 (66.123.169.250)
Early versions with more capacitance and less inductance than the present versions. The maker estimates they have a characteristic impedance of 16-20 ohms, so I use 20-ohm Holco H4 resistors with silv .......
29: Re: Power Wraps For IC's (3.85)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-01-20, 18:29:35 (66.123.169.250)
Hi Duster, My recommendation for Power Wraps for ICs is ONLY for shielded designs. I tried them on a set of Silver Audio Appassionata balanced ICs, which are unshielded, and found they killed the treb .......
30: All over them. (2.00)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-12-16, 09:06:35 (66.126.230.218)
I've placed Power Wraps on all of my speaker cables (biamped setup, and jumper from Magnepan external crossover to MG-20 bass panel inputs). The cables are Silver Audio Silver Symphony 48, but an earl .......
31: Not clear. (2.70)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-10-16, 13:45:13 (67.123.181.75)
The story sounds plausible, as you don't say what power cord the big one replaced, but the amp should have some power reserves for loud brass passages. It would be more believable if you were trying t .......
32: No, but every little bit helps. (4.39)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-08-04, 10:17:39 (64.171.5.99)
Unless you are willing to learn as much as cheap-jack about different grades of wire and methods of installation, it is reasonable to have your electrician install as many dedicated circuits as your b .......
33: My experience is the opposite of yours. (2.86)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-07-24, 12:17:16 (66.120.163.90)
I've found low-resistance wire in the cables to the bass panels to be important for deep bass reproduction. Even the power cord to the bass amp (InnerSound ESL) makes a difference in the lowest octave .......
Found 2 records in Critic's Corner.
1: I've tried a few materials. (3.69)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-28, 08:31:43 (64.171.6.14)
The stiff, vinyl-like material you mentioned sounds like EAR Isodamp SD. It works well for heavier metal parts. Michael Percy sells it. Thinner chassis metal is easily damped with Dynamat X-treme. Thi .......
2: Casework and chassis damping (3.69)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-26, 12:01:16 (64.171.6.14)
I've had very good results with damping the casework and/or chassis of my InnerSound ESL-300 solid-state amp, and my home-made Atma-Sphere MA-1s. The MA-1s are built on 'DeLuxe' chassis metal I bought .......
Found 1 records in Digital Drive.
1: How much have you done to optimize what you have? (4.28)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-07, 12:05:59 (64.171.6.120)
There is little point in swapping equipment until you've wrung out the last bit of performance from your present collection. This includes, but is not limited to, reducing resonance and vibration of t .......
Found 17 records in OTL Asylum.
1: System keeps changing (5.93)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-09-01, 13:56:13 (0)
so there is no point in listing it. I used to have a Bryston 4B-ST that I used to drive the bass panels of my Magnepan MG- 20s. Travis Franklin convinced me to try the InnerSound ESL-300, so that is w .......
2: Yup! (5.93)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-07-07, 10:14:08 (0)
For those with a soldering iron and access to an electronics parts store, the network described can be assembed for about $0.50 per speaker. Of course, you are free to spend more (see link), but the j .......
3: A modest observation (2.77)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-06-29, 11:03:43 (0)
The shorter the speaker cables (or jumpers or wires), the closer to the speakers the amps must be. The closer to the speakers, the more intense the acoustic vibration to which the amps will be subject .......
4: UPDATE: SILVER AUDIO APPASSIONATA & SILVER SYMPHONY CABLES (3.40)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-05-18, 12:06:55 (0)
So it won't get lost in the thread below, this is fresh news about my Silver Audio Appassionata cables that presently connect my Wadia 861 to my InnerSound ESL 300 (for summer use). I found that a pai .......
5: Summer fun (5.45)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-03-31, 07:56:01 (0)
I've been tweaking my InnerSound ESL amp for use in hot weather. It normally provides power for the bass portions of my Magnepan MG-20s, with the MA-1s driving the mid/ treble inputs. With the heat fr .......
6: To preamp or not to preamp... (5.64)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-02-19, 09:42:49 (0)
It depends on the other components in the system. IME the MP-3 as a line stage makes my system sound better, if I put it between my Wadia 861 and my InnerSound ESL bass amp with balanced cable setup, .......
7: Wadia information (6.67)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2003-10-05, 10:16:20 (0)
Tom, Sorry, I don't have the Wadia codes. Your best bet is to call Jeff Brockmole at Wadia, (734) 975-4217. If Jeff is not able to help, I suggest contacting Steve Huntley at Great Northern Sound . St .......
8: Not a good match. (2.21)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2003-05-25, 11:00:24 (0)
This pairing will not let either the M60s or the Maggies perform properly, even with ZEROs. Sure, it will get into the 80+ dB decade, and even sound passable, but it will not generate the overwhelming .......
9: Agree! (5.85)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2003-04-14, 13:18:20 (0)
I recently had another two dedicated ac lines installed. We are now up to four. Being able to separate the InnerSound ESL bass amp and REL subwoofer onto their own circuits made completely unexpected .......
10: Field report on InnerSound ESL amp (very long) (3.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2003-03-16, 14:08:56 (0)
Don't worry, I'm not moving over to the dark side. My MA-1s are still the best I've heard and I intend to keep them. However, the solid-state guys are making progress. 16 March 2003 Field report: Inne .......
11: Re: Which Upgrade? (1.79)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2003-01-24, 08:02:04 (0)
Lew, We are all limited by finite time and a bewildering number of audio components to evaluate. Your experiences and mine have been different because we encountered different components at different .......
12: Re: Yes. (2.22)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2003-01-14, 10:58:05 (0)
Lew, That is a fair summary of the situation. I have no doubt the InnerSound amp is completely stable driving InnerSound electrostatic panels, and that the Goertz cable net capacitance is a relatively .......
13: Re: Balancing output tube banks (attn: Travis). (5.83)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2002-12-31, 14:52:08 (0)
Travis, Thanks. I guess you don't need to be pulling tubes to match your complement. I was hoping there was an imbalance to explain your unsatisfactory results with your Maggie 3.6s, but it seems like .......
14: Re: What do you use for XO's? (4.23)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2002-12-22, 09:46:59 (0)
Travis, Thanks for the update on your comparison of the InnerSound with the MA-1. I'm trying to keep an open mind about transistors. There is no reason why some clever designer couldn't make a power t .......
15: Re: What do you use for XO's? (6.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2002-12-22, 07:47:42 (0)
Tim, Very good question. The MG-20 has an external crossover box for single-amp operation. The mid/tweeter input to the speaker is fed from a single series capacitor in this external box with corner f .......
16: Re: Innersound Eros (1.42)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2002-03-27, 09:48:31 (0)
Mike, Thanks for the thoughtful response. Your first post opened an interesting topic, one that is presently on my mind a lot, so I took advantage of it to make the Beveridge audition opportunity avai .......
17: Re: Innersound Eros (1.87)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2002-03-26, 15:55:14 (0)
I met Rick Beveridge at the Innersound exhibit at CES in January, and learned that he is located in Forestville, California, about 20 minutes from where I live in Santa Rosa. Rick is the son of the in .......
Found 3 records in Propeller Head Plaza.
1: "ANY changes I now hear are attributable to the Mastersound itself" (4.40)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-04-27, 15:37:13 (71.131.187.236)
This is my point: any changes you hear are due to the way the Mastersound interacts with the system, the room, and the RF noise environment. Your results will differ from mine because these factors ar .......
2: The amps I'm using have linear supplies. (4.40)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-03-05, 17:28:17 (71.131.178.114)
I'm using the Gilmore Raptor amps, with big toroidal transformers and (I think) fast-recovery diodes in the bridges. These supplies are quiet except when my neighbor is using her hair dryer: the DC on .......
3: More context... (4.57)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-12-22, 14:05:48 (71.131.223.8)
I listened to my MG-20s with direct connection to my DIY monoblock OTL amps as well as through the ZEROs. The performance through the ZEROs was clearly superior, which is not surprising given the Magn .......
Found 3 records in Speaker Asylum.
1: Unfortunately, no. (3.58)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-05-16, 14:13:25 (76.191.156.247)
It is a shame that amp manufacturers do not get together and come up with a standard way of specifying amplifier output impedance. A beefy power supply is part of what is necessary to drive some speak .......
2: I know Roger and I am confident that he would not use a shill. (3.58)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-05-04, 14:19:12 (76.191.156.247)
I also believe he is committed to learning by experience and improving his designs. His InnerSound products made a lot of customers happy, so it is entirely reasonable to expect that his newer line of .......
3: Look closely at the power amp support. (7.00)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2008-12-16, 09:14:31 (76.191.156.247)
Heavy power transformers may vibrate at low frequencies in such chassis designs. I had this problem with an InnerSound ESL-300 amp. Direct support under the power transformer cleaned up the bass. ::: .......
Found 107 records in Planar Speaker Asylum.
1: Magnepan is giving general advice. (1.82)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2011-01-22, 14:02:05 (76.191.156.247)
All Maggies are nominally 4 ohm impedance speakers. Many receivers are rated for 8 or 6 ohm loads, but not 4 ohm loads. The power supplies in such receivers are limited in how much current they can de .......
2: Good answers so far. (1.82)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-11-22, 11:38:50 (76.191.156.247)
Maggies couple their panels to the room air and need amplifiers with low output impedance (high damping factor) to control the room modes. Keeping the room modes under control makes setup easier and g .......
3: The Bryston 4B-ST I owned was anything but transparent. (1.72)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-05-23, 14:15:46 (76.191.156.247)
I don't know if the newer models are better (I certainly hope so), but 'clinical' would be an overly kind description of the Bryston 4B-ST performance. An InnerSound ESL-300 was much better even befor .......
4: Matching speakers and amps. (3.47)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-03-09, 12:03:11 (76.191.156.247)
The basic problem with electrostatic speakers is their impedance goes down as the frequency increases, and is mostly capacitive. Amps that use feedback to get low distortion may suffer from instabilit .......
5: Everything you say is correct. (1.49)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-02-27, 14:57:21 (76.191.156.247)
However, it is beside the point. Maggies' motors couple to the room air as well as their own low-mass panels. I expect an impedance curve for a Maggie (in a proper audio setup) in a real listening roo .......
6: Not power or current, but output impedance. (4.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-02-25, 15:02:38 (76.191.156.247)
IME Maggies do best with amps that have low output impedance. This is sometimes specified in the form of damping factor, but the measurements may not be apt. It is the ability of the speaker to damp t .......
7: I've reported my findings. (2.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-02-05, 14:39:48 (76.191.156.247)
You are welcome to do the research and report your results. I recall seeing Jurassic Park in a theater and feeling the T. Rex footfalls. MY RPTV doesn't do bass like that. What bass it does got more a .......
8: "I'm thick and don't see the connection." (4.62)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-02-04, 15:50:40 (76.191.156.247)
Follow the thread. I've observed improved audio reproduction in my system by moving from an InnerSound ESL-300 bass amp (solid-state, class AB) to Gilmore Raptor monoblocks (ICE-based switching) with .......
9: Their low efficiency is precisely why Maggies need very low amp output impedance. (2.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-02-02, 15:17:53 (76.191.156.247)
If their efficiency were higher, their generator effect would also be higher and they would need a high-ish amplifier output impedance to achieve critical damping of the room air. Every room would be .......
10: IMHO, yes: the Gilmore Raptor switching amps. (2.45)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-11-25, 11:43:26 (76.191.156.247)
I replaced my home-made OTL/Innersound ESL-300 bi-amp setup with a single pair of Raptor switching amp monoblocks driving the MG-20s full range. The overall improvement in every audio attribute was im .......
11: No, I've gone to Gilmore Raptor monoblocks running each speaker full range. (1.66)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-09-23, 14:35:02 (76.191.156.247)
I had home-made OTL monoblocks similar to Atma-Sphere MA-1s (with Speltz ZERO autotransformers) for the midrange/treble, and an InnerSound ESL-300 stereo amp for the bass panels. Reverting to full-ran .......
12: It is the room air, more than the panels, that stores the energy. (2.00)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-09-20, 12:02:45 (76.191.156.247)
Maggies have large panels that couple well to the room air. They prefer amps with low output impedance, IME, in order to provide better damping of the room air. There is some benefit from damping out- .......
13: The impedance issue... (2.39)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-08-14, 11:11:17 (76.191.156.247)
Your amps should be able to drive the Maggies without suffering damage, but you may not get the best overall sound. Maggies have large panels that couple well to the room air. They are also inefficien .......
14: Wrong question. Maggies need low output impedance. (2.02)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-07-09, 15:49:55 (76.191.156.247)
Amplifiers are rated for power into a specified resistive load at a specified distortion level. This is to prevent unscrupulous manufacturers from claiming enormous power output under hopelessly unrea .......
15: The Emotiva power amp should control Maggies nicely. (1.62)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-06-05, 15:56:20 (76.191.156.247)
The issue is not so much the power rating of the amp, as the ability to source and sink a lot of current to and from the speaker. For a linear amp, this means a big power supply and a low impedance ou .......
16: Second the InnerSound recommendation. (4.37)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-06-02, 15:37:21 (76.191.156.247)
Many of the amps listed by the OP have inadequate power supplies or are harsh. .......
17: The Behringer EP1500 is a linear solid-state amp. (4.06)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-05-29, 13:44:34 (76.191.156.247)
It uses a fan to keep the output transistors from burning up under the demands of professional sound reinforcement. This is why it is small and does not have massive heat sinks. I have not heard it, b .......
18: I've owned the ESL-300 and now use Gilmore Raptor monoblocks. (5.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-04-16, 15:15:25 (76.191.156.247)
The InnerSound ESL-300 was the predecessor of the present Sanders Sound Systems amps. Built to Roger Sander's specifications by Coda, it contained a large number of output transistors to achieve a low .......
19: Something beefy and with RF suppression. (1.91)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2009-03-10, 15:28:01 (76.191.156.247)
I used the Silver Audio Wattmaster with the InnerSound amp I once owned. I can't say it was the best choice, since I mostly used the amp for the bass panels of my MG-20s. I did some experiments to lea .......
20: Preamp level and power amp support. (2.87)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2008-07-29, 13:59:31 (76.191.156.247)
Most volume controls diminish the audio quality at lower volume levels, so a setup where the normal listening is done near the top of the control range is likely to deliver better performance. The str .......
21: InnerSound ESL-300 on a dedicated AC circuit. (1.29)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2008-06-10, 14:02:52 (76.191.156.247)
When I was biamping my MG-20s, I changed a Bryston 4B-ST on the bass panels for an InnerSound ESL-300. The bass got better. It got better yet with a dedicated AC circuit and low resistance power cord .......
22: Panel damping. (5.24)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2008-04-18, 21:02:05 (70.231.133.9)
There are two phenomena here. The free air resonance of the panel is determined by the panel mass, effective spring constant of the panel tension, and the dissipation through air motion. The free air .......
23: Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt... (1.73)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2008-04-14, 10:11:46 (70.231.133.9)
In terms of the attributes you listed, there are better and worse tube and solid-state linear amps. There are also better and worse switching amps. My long experience has led me to believe good switch .......
24: Wolcott Presence monoblocks are wonderful on SoundLabs. (2.24)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-11-26, 16:06:10 (70.231.146.200)
These amps have a sophisticated feedback scheme that allows them to tolerate the impedance curves of electrostatic speakers. I expect they would also work well with the InnerSound speakers. ::: TOPIC .......
25: Worth the experiment if you already have the amps. (3.68)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-11-02, 14:47:06 (71.141.242.3)
You would be more likely to have a satisfactory setup if you used identical amps for the bass and treble, but a heterogeneous setup might work just fine. My previous setup used home-made OTL tube amps .......
26: My apologies to the seller. (3.13)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-10-22, 20:17:10 (71.141.224.33)
I went into our file and found that indeed I had to buy the crossovers separately when I bought the speakers. Mine are s/n 178, from 1994. I don't know if they reset the serial numbering when they wen .......
27: Magnepan shows with ARC. (2.48)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-10-16, 13:45:25 (71.141.224.33)
The dealer who sold me my MG-20s uses ARC to demonstrate the speakers. These setups have always left me cold. The InnerSound ESL-300 is a much better linear solid-state power amp for Maggies, but see .......
28: Best option for resolution, transparency, and control. (3.35)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-09-30, 15:05:48 (71.141.235.161)
I use Gilmore Raptor monoblocks with modified MG-20s. The source is a Wadia 861 and the cables are all home-made. The non-audio appliances and house wiring have been treated to reduce RF noise. The Ra .......
29: Perhaps your room places more demands on the amp. (1.69)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-09-28, 18:06:58 (71.141.235.161)
My room is small, 15 X 19 X 8, and I believe my preference for amps with very low output impedance for the bass (previously InnerSound ESL-300 in a bi-amp setup, presently Gilmore Raptor switching amp .......
30: An imperfect specification. (2.55)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-09-01, 14:47:02 (71.131.208.87)
What you really want to know is the output impedance of your amp under realistic operating conditions, not on a lab bench. The output impedance affects bass panel control whether or not you ever reach .......
31: Gilmore Audio Raptor monoblocks on MG-20s. (3.47)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-07-09, 16:17:17 (71.131.176.87)
The best amps I've heard on Maggies, period. I've had a Bryston 4B-ST and an InnerSound ESL-300. Even tweaked, the InnerSound cannot deliver the quiet, effortless sense of control and pristine detail .......
32: The sweet spot is a function of the speaker geometry. (4.35)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-05-06, 13:24:50 (71.131.187.236)
Planar drivers beam the sound, and the degree of beaming depends only on how wide the driver is. Maggies are incoherent, but have smaller treble drivers. This allows more flexibility and a wider sweet .......
33: 1. Room and placement. 2. Low output impedance. (3.12)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-04-21, 14:42:15 (71.131.213.178)
Not much to add to the advice about the room, except to start with the Cardas positions in a rectangular room. Amplifier power is not a guarantee of satisfaction. Magnepans need powerful amps, and als .......
34: I expect they would. (4.53)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-04-12, 13:43:48 (71.131.213.178)
The specs for your Musical Fidelity A5 show the power output does not double going from 8-ohm to 4-ohm load impedance. This is not a direct measure of the amp's ability to control Maggies, but it does .......
35: Look at the amp design and support. (3.70)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-12-18, 10:33:27 (71.131.223.8)
All tubes are microphonic to some degree, so it is possible that your tube amps are suffering from acoustic feedback through the tubes themselves. However, even solid-state amps can have a similar pro .......
36: Nope. I dropped out. (3.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-12-12, 21:22:12 (71.131.227.91)
After the CES show a couple of years ago, I realized my room was too small to show the Gilmore speakers to their advantage and terminated the relationship. There would have been no point in trying to .......
37: That was me. (2.31)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-11-28, 13:47:05 (71.131.223.125)
Yes, you missed a very good deal. Good to know that the amp went to a Magnepan owner. The InnerSound amp has low output impedance and is good for controlling Maggie panels. I used it as a bass amp in .......
38: Resolving power. (5.67)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-11-14, 17:44:52 (71.131.207.100)
This is an area where there are vast differences in audio components, but no convenient specification. The usual specs such as signal-to-noise ratio do not address the amp's ability to resolve the fin .......
39: Tweeters at risk... (3.15)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-10-27, 12:49:28 (71.131.187.2)
Other inmates have had trouble with Magnepan ribbon tweeters being destroyed by underpowered amps. It all depends on the dynamic ranges on your music, and how loud is 'loud.' If you drive the amp into .......
40: Still need to understand if your problem is headroom. (2.74)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-10-24, 13:52:18 (71.131.187.2)
Your sonic description suggests you are fighting dynamic compression. If your amps still have plenty of headroom at your preferred listening levels, then the ZEROs will help. If not, and you have to c .......
41: Yes, the amp should work without burning up. (1.65)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-10-22, 09:04:04 (71.131.187.2)
However, many older solid-state amps sound "transistory" even in good condition. The treble is artificial and airless. It wasn't until Motorola came up with some good bipolar transistors for audio ser .......
42: In plain English... (3.22)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-09-29, 14:34:06 (71.131.212.98)
it all depends on the amp design. You can have SET amps with big tubes that put out modest audio power but consume a lot of standby electrical utility power, you can have powerful SS amps like the In .......
43: Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt... (2.54)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-09-17, 15:24:56 (71.131.199.227)
Actually, my experience has been with MG-20s, but the problems are the same. I tried to match OTL monoblocks on the midrange/treble with a solid-state stereo amp on the bass panels. I had the levels m .......
44: I bought them and love them! (1.56)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-09-07, 15:50:41 (71.131.199.227)
The Raptors are so neutral and well-behaved that I've been busy upgrading the cables and power cord for my Wadia. With my previous bi-amp setup, I knew intellectually that these things could be improv .......
45: Hard to beat the InnerSound ESL-300 (used). (1.37)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-09-06, 16:28:25 (71.131.199.227)
Set aside a few bucks for some Dynamat X-treme to damp the metal work. This amp has plenty of current capacity and is only bettered by much more expensive gear for damping capability. The primary limi .......
46: Replaced the whole bi-amp setup... (3.38)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-08-15, 20:22:15 (71.131.216.177)
Back to one channel per speaker, but with my rebuilt crossovers. The midrange high-pass caps in the outboard crossovers serve only the midrange drivers. The extra R-C networks at the outputs of the ba .......
47: With pleasure! (4.99)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-08-14, 09:26:20 (71.131.216.177)
I had what I thought was the most revealing setup possible, with my own OTL monoblocks driving MG-20 midrange and treble, and InnerSound SS driving the bass panels. I got detail that I did not hear in .......
48: Not an exact match... (4.57)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-07-31, 15:30:02 (71.131.193.38)
I own the InnerSound ESL-300 and am familiar with its characteristics and limitations. It has a much smoother sound than the Bryston 4B-ST it replaced, but is not as clean and transparent as a good tu .......
49: In my limited experience, (3.43)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-07-17, 14:39:17 (71.131.221.179)
the Gilmore Audio Raptor monoblocks running my MG-20s full-range give the best performance I've had. My previous setup was home-made OTL monoblocks (essentially, tweaked Atma-Sphere MA-1s) running the .......
50: Gilmore Audio Raptors are wonderful! (1.29)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-07-08, 15:41:12 (71.131.180.136)
These are 500 watt per channel monoblocks that stay cool no matter how much power your Maggies demand. Mine are MG-20s. In order to audition them, I had to rewire my crossovers to go back to full-rang .......
51: Reputation... (3.02)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-06-13, 20:59:23 (71.131.221.9)
Unfortunately, the specification we need is not provided. Magnepans couple so well to the room air that the amp has to absorb the current generated as the room air resonates. Amps that do this have hi .......
52: That would be me... (4.13)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-05-28, 13:37:44 (71.131.192.67)
I use Atma-Sphere MA-1 OTL monoblocks with ZERO autotransformers to drive the mid/treble home-made crossovers (upgraded compnents but same filter design) of my MG-20s, and an InnerSound ESL-300 stereo .......
53: Not in my nature to stop tweaking, but... (2.02)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-05-17, 13:49:13 (71.132.11.173)
I'm happy with a hybrid bi-amp setup: Atma-Sphere MA-1 OTL amps with ZERO autotransformers for the mid-treble, and InnerSound ESL-300 for the bass, on my MG-20s with home-made mid-treble crossovers an .......
54: Used InnerSound ESL-300, late Mark I or later. (4.38)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-04-13, 14:43:13 (71.131.249.1)
Be sure the binding posts are WBT. This amp beats the Bryston 4B-ST right out of the box (I replaced a 4B-ST with one), and it responds to simple casework damping. It likes R-C networks right on the o .......
55: Now that is a bigger problem! (3.07)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-03-31, 16:31:03 (71.132.5.184)
I'll tell you what I have, but I won't recommend it unless you are really, really into tweaking. I have a bi-amp setup with Atma-Sphere MA-1 OTL amps driving the mid/treble sections through Speltz aut .......
56: Not sure I understand your question. (3.13)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-03-30, 15:04:48 (71.132.5.184)
My MG-20 bass panels do very well with an InnerSound ESL-300 driving them. Speaker cables are two lengths of 10-gauge Teflon-insulated, silver-plated stranded copper hookup wire without mechanical bin .......
57: An enthusiastic yes! (4.09)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-02-14, 10:32:39 (71.132.8.202)
I've got a hybrid bi-amp setup, with Atma-Sphere MA-1 clones on the mid/treble inputs, and an InnerSound ESL-300 on the bass panels of my modified Magnepan MG-20s. I use ZERO autotransformers to raise .......
58: Sure... (2.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-01-18, 15:01:14 (71.131.203.89)
We've previously discussed my setup, with MG-20s biamped by home-made Atma-Sphere MA-1s on the mid/tweeter DIY crossovers (coupled with ZERO autotransformers, so the speakers look like 16 ohms), and a .......
59: Stability and current capacity questions. (1.35)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-12-30, 11:47:39 (71.131.203.89)
Your amp's output stage is a very large integrated circuit. Your speakers are primarily capacitive loads and the low impedance at the top of the audio band requires almost purely reactive current. The .......
60: Matching gains. (1.81)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-10-05, 14:51:24 (71.132.5.167)
My crude approach was to use a digital multimeter with true-RMS AC voltage capability, and measure the output voltages for fixed 1 KHz input voltages. You can get 1 KHz from a signal generator, or any .......
61: I still think you should look for a more refined amp. (5.23)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-09-07, 14:50:17 (66.126.229.80)
I had a Bryston 4B-ST, and the InnerSound ESL-300 put it to shame. The InnerSound has more clarity as well as better deep-bass authority (once the power transformer support issue is resolved). I haven .......
62: Consider InnerSound ESL-300 (used). (5.33)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-09-05, 11:31:42 (66.126.229.80)
This amp is a true high-current design and sounds cleaner than Bryston out of the box. It is highly tweakable to get even better sound. The biggest advantage of bi-amping, in my opinion, is that you g .......
63: Bass resolution. (2.76)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-08-20, 11:09:25 (66.126.229.80)
I have MG-20s in a biamp setup and have rebuilt the mid/treble crossovers. There are several things that affect bass resolution with these speakers, and I think they would be similar for the MG-20.1s. .......
64: The only one I know personally is the InnerSound ESL-300. (1.56)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-07-01, 16:08:46 (66.120.162.29)
It sounds much better than the Bryston 4B-ST it replaced, and can be improved by damping the casework and providing firm support for the bottom panel. I only use it as a bass amp, as my bi-amp setup w .......
65: Sorry about that. (4.52)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-20, 15:44:53 (66.120.162.29)
You could start with Robert Harley's _The Complete Guide to High-End Audio_ for very basic descriptions of all audio hardware along with useful summaries of the technical requirements as they apply to .......
66: Both... (1.37)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-11, 12:52:30 (66.123.170.135)
I made replacement crossovers for the mid/tweeter sections, to replace the ones inside the panels. The mid/tweeter signal comes from a pair of Atma-Sphere MA-1 amps that I built and modified myself. T .......
67: RF and audio. (2.59)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-06, 14:11:51 (66.123.170.135)
I've been fortunate to meet and know Don Palmer, who formerly made cables under the Highwire brand, and who designed the Power Wraps devices for RF damping of fixed power cords. He has shared his know .......
68: Sorry, I've only heard the -ST Bryston, (1.39)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-30, 15:08:28 (64.171.6.14)
and I do not recommend it. The InnerSound is much better out of the box, and is highly tweakable. The downside of the Bryston warranty is that no one wants to void it by tweaking, so we won't know if .......
69: Sense of ease and authority. (3.62)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-21, 11:36:45 (67.123.181.163)
I can't comment on the Plinius and Krell, but I have the InnerSound and have had to tweak it to improve its sense of ease and authority on the bass panels of my MG-20s. First, be sure your power cord .......
70: Some corrections. (4.28)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-13, 12:06:39 (66.126.231.55)
The Model 3 speakers are not at all like the Model 2 or 2-SW. It is the Model 2 that is available for $65,000. The Model 3s have 160-degree lenses with some increased output towards the center, and re .......
71: Some corrections. (2.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-13, 12:06:39 (66.126.231.55)
The Model 3 speakers are not at all like the Model 2 or 2-SW. It is the Model 2 that is available for $65,000. The Model 3s have 160-degree lenses with some increased output towards the center, and re .......
72: Yes, but please don't cook your amp! (2.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-31, 16:13:20 (66.126.231.55)
Bipolar transistors have more gain when they get warmer, and sometimes the amp loses some solid-state sonic signature if it operates hot. Recall Travis' observations about the InnerSound ESL-300 amp w .......
73: Sorry, no specs available that I could find. (2.77)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-27, 10:57:04 (66.126.231.55)
What you need for best Maggie performance is an amp with very low output impedance, as found in the InnerSound ESL-300. I'm not familiar with your amp, so I can't tell you whether it has such output i .......
74: Excellent advice! (3.22)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-23, 09:14:34 (66.126.231.55)
Old electronic gear should always have the electrolytic caps checked and replaced if necessary if there a question about the sound. They lose moisture from their electrolyte paste and can lose effecti .......
75: Similar experience with InnerSound. (2.36)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-21, 08:37:18 (66.126.231.55)
Travis led me to replace a Bryston 4B-ST with an InnerSound ESL-300, and I had a similar experience. While the Bryston is certainly well-built in the sense of rugged reliability and imperviousness to .......
76: Somewhere around that of an InnerSound ESL-300. (5.55)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-10, 12:37:15 (66.126.231.55)
Sorry that I don't have a measurement technique or value to report. .......
77: I sold my REL Stentor (4.14)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-01, 19:05:50 (66.123.170.96)
after I found that the speaker-level connection cable, all by itself, was degrading the full range sound with my MG-20s. This was with the REL turned off and unplugged. You should listen with and with .......
78: Thanks to Dawnrazor for Repti-Sand tip! (2.13)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-27, 19:17:00 (66.123.170.96)
Dawnrazor mentioned in a recent thread that he filled his Maggie crossover boxes with quartz sand, called Repti-Sand. I bought a bag at the local pet supermarket and tried it. First, I put some empty .......
79: Speaker cable treatments. (1.52)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-25, 14:25:24 (66.123.170.96)
My InnerSound amp, especially, likes having the speaker cables lifted, covered with Power Wraps, and loaded with R-C networks. It seems to be sensitive to the flooring dielectric issues as well as RF .......
80: It sounds wonderful. (3.51)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-24, 15:09:13 (66.123.170.96)
The amps are phase-correct. The speaker leads could be reversed if necessary to ensure this. I'm sure the InnerSound, even after the tweaks I've done to it, is not up to the Atma-Spheres, but it is th .......
81: I am. (3.20)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-23, 13:12:09 (66.123.170.96)
Atma-Sphere MA-1s that I built and modified myself on top; InnerSound ESL-300 for the MG-20 bass panels. High pass for the MA-1s is a set of Teflon capacitors wired into the inputs to mimic the 300 Hz .......
82: AC circuit resistance (5.23)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-21, 14:42:56 (66.123.170.96)
Some amps are very sensitive to excessive resistance in the AC power feed. Noise filters with series chokes add a little resistance, and the amp and your speakers may find this to be 'excessive.' I ha .......
83: Low output impedance. (2.38)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-02-13, 16:51:26 (66.123.169.176)
Maggies do need lots of power because of their low efficiency, but what they really need for good bass is very low output impedance in the amplifiers. There is a general relationship between amps desi .......
84: Possibly. (4.28)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-10-19, 09:09:53 (67.123.181.75)
I have not tried them with my InnerSound amp, but some users report improvements in sound in using ZEROs with high-power solid-state amps. The best way to find out is to contact Paul Speltz and see if .......
85: No, these are very good questions. (3.26)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-10-11, 13:08:10 (67.123.181.75)
What you've expressed (power doubling as impedance is halved) is a rule of thumb and not required by the behavior of electronic circuits. It usually is the case that amps with beefy supplies will also .......
86: Difficult for the nonprofessional (2.04)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-10-10, 14:31:36 (67.123.181.75)
This is not a mystical concept and the measurement can be done, but would require sophisticated lab equipment to achieve a credible answer. I'm not the expert to do this, even if I had access to a lab .......
87: Agree, and tweak the hell out of it! (2.23)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-10-09, 10:08:14 (67.123.181.75)
Since used Innersound amps have no warranty, you won't feel bad about opening it up and adding some damping to the casework. .......
88: Passive R-C networks work very well for less money. (3.91)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-09-10, 11:57:21 (66.126.228.21)
Simply wire a 0.01 mFd silver-mica cap in series with a 10 to 50 ohm (match the cable impedance if you know it) Holco resistor and place it across your speaker terminals. If you like the improvement, .......
89: Sell the Bryston, get InnerSound ESL (2.45)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-09-09, 16:14:14 (66.126.228.21)
I've owned both. The Bryston -ST uses older-style power transistors, and not enough of them to give satisfactory bass with Maggies. The InnerSound ESL-300 has an overkill complement of up-to-date powe .......
90: Well, I was only off-line for a day... (4.63)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-09-07, 18:25:00 (66.126.228.21)
I don't know of better amps than the Atma-Sphere OTLs, as long as your speakers are happy with the power and your room is happy with the heat. Plan on 500 watts per chassis heat load for MA-1s. I use .......
91: Magnepan tweeter resistor comparison results (long). (1.96)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-08-23, 18:50:50 (66.126.228.244)
My ugly room treatments had to come down when we had the listening room painted recently. This left the system sounding too bright, so I experimented with different resistors in series with my MG-20 t .......
92: RFI reduction (1.16)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-08-16, 20:10:05 (66.126.228.244)
I'm on a tight budget for tweaks, but I did spend the money for a couple of Silver Audio Wattmaster power cords, one for the Wadia 861 and one for the InnerSound bass amp. The Wattmaster sounds as goo .......
93: "One single bipolar-transistor output pair" (1.45)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-08-03, 14:02:45 (64.171.5.99)
per channel. This makes me think the DarTZeel amp would be unhappy with the Sound Lab impedance curve. John Marks uses dynamic speakers, and other reviewers have mentioned the need for careful speaker .......
94: I sold my Bryston 4B-ST (2.67)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-08-03, 10:37:03 (64.171.5.99)
after I tried an InnerSound ESL-300. The -SST Bryston may be better (as per reports; I haven't heard it), but the -ST I had sounded like the tank it was built like! It was immune to power cord and sus .......
95: Wood is a bad choice... (4.49)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-06-26, 11:49:57 (66.120.161.124)
Before I built my replacement mid/tweeter crossovers for my MG-20s, I performed some simple tests to evaluate materials for holding the crossovers. I've got a bi-amp setup, with an InnerSound ESL-300 .......
96: Re: 20.X Owner Survey; Amplification & Room Size (2.43)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-06-21, 14:21:55 (66.120.161.124)
>What amps (including wpc) are you using to drive your 20.X's? MG-20s from 1995, with owner-built mid/tweeter crossovers and Silver Audio Quad Litz silver wire. Atma-Sphere MA-1s, 140 wpc (built by ow .......
97: Power is only an indirect measure (2.90)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-06-03, 19:23:30 (66.120.162.134)
of the amplifier's output impedance, which is the most important aspect of controlling Maggie bass. Maggies seem to want the lowest output impedance possible. Note that the actual output impedance var .......
98: Many thanks to Travis (3.25)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-05-22, 19:59:33 (64.171.5.99)
for helping me appreciate the InnerSound ESL amp. Unless this amp's casework is properly damped, I would agree that the Maggie tweeter would sound overly bright with it, no matter what other treatment .......
99: They also like Bryston power amps, (3.36)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-05-02, 12:44:06 (64.171.6.162)
and I don't. I had a 4B-ST and sold it after I found better sound with an InnerSound ESL Mark I. Whether the -SST versions are competitive I can't say. .......
100: Output transistor matching (more rambling) (3.84)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-04, 11:33:16 (64.171.6.127)
is more important for power transistors made with more variation in their response characteristics. The tremendous improvements in integrated circuit manufacturing technology, that permit the computin .......
101: Thanks. (2.29)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-03, 08:55:40 (64.171.5.155)
I don't have experience with the Bryston 7B. A lot of people were using the 4B for Maggies at the time I bought mine. The power rating for the 7B monoblocks/14B single-chassis stereo version is twice .......
102: "low" is very, very low... (5.30)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-02, 16:05:05 (64.171.5.155)
a small fraction of an ohm. Vintage tube amps, Atma-Sphere OTLs, and SETs can run with output impedances of several ohms. A lot of the issue has to do with how the measurement is made. I'm sure the Br .......
103: Output impedance - One More Time! (3.19)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-02, 09:53:54 (64.171.5.155)
Its not the power rating, but the amplifier's output impedance that is critical to satisfactory performance with Maggies. Since this is not often specified, or if it is, the measurement conditions may .......
104: Power is an indirect rating for what you really need. (2.22)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-03-13, 16:00:21 (64.171.6.105)
What you really need for Maggies is low output resistance in your amp. The power rating is only an indirect indication of the amp's output resistance. A general belief that the amp is "high-current" i .......
105: Depends on your SPL needs. (2.35)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-03-13, 15:38:16 (64.171.6.105)
The zero-order question for anyone contemplating a high-end audio system is how much sound pressure level (SPL) they need. Electrostatic speakers are limited in how much pressure they can generate. La .......
106: Not much in the archives... (2.09)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-03-10, 07:13:00 (64.171.5.119)
McIntosh has been favorably compared with Adcom and Hafler. I'd audition carefully, as cosmetics and weight do not guarantee either clean sound or good bass performance. Older transistor amps are defi .......
107: Maggie mods in detail (3.15)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-03-07, 08:47:57 (66.120.160.254)
My speakers presently look like something from an old Frankenstein movie. The replacement crossovers for the stock internal units are built upon ceramic microwave oven browning trays glued to rainwood .......
Found 34 records in Tweakers' Asylum.
1: Sumo wrestler on a trampoline... (3.46)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2010-07-16, 11:25:04 (76.191.156.247)
Many power amps have large and heavy power transformers mounted on thin metal plates. Even if the plate is tooling stock and not stamped sheet metal, it still flexes like a trampoline. The weight of t .......
2: Faraday's Law and Ohm's Law. (3.46)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-06-23, 15:59:49 (71.131.176.87)
There are two ways to have a voltage drop along a safety conductor: 1. Induce an emf (electromotive force) with a strong alternating magnetic field; or 2. allow a significant leakage current to flow s .......
3: Mechanical strength. (2.47)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2007-04-30, 09:48:28 (71.131.187.236)
Steel is a poor material for amplifier chassis. One thing that makes it especially bad is the way its magnetic properties turn the chassis into a microphone. Consider that all the signals conducted by .......
4: Zobels are for audio band issues. (2.50)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-11-04, 15:54:07 (71.131.187.2)
Dynamic loading of cables was invented before WWII: I saw it discussed in an old EE text somewhere. I had an InnerSound ESL-300 amp with L-R-C networks on the output leads to the speaker terminals, an .......
5: Two separate cables: 12/2 with ground. (3.61)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-06-05, 10:59:35 (71.131.221.9)
Installed at the same time by a licensed electrician, so I'm confident they are routed next to each other through the wall and over the ceiling. The cables are fed by two separate circuit breakers. Ye .......
6: Deep bass issues. (3.95)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-04-06, 11:54:52 (71.132.5.184)
Good isolation transformers can help considerably by rejecting AC noise and establishing a local AC neutral-ground tie at your amps. However, anything in series with your amps' power supplies may rest .......
7: A rule of thumb... (6.90)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2006-02-11, 15:12:48 (71.132.8.202)
I've found that it helps to check stuff for acoustic response when tweaking my audio system. All I do it hold it lightly next to my ear and tap on it with a fingernail. I first noticed a connection to .......
8: The knuckle test... (3.31)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-12-26, 11:57:05 (71.131.203.89)
I have an InnerSound ESL-300 amp. The front panel is the usual thick slab of aluminum with fancy machining. It is lightly supported and rings like a cow bell. Rather than replace the panel, I wanted t .......
9: Details... (3.51)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-12-02, 10:17:26 (71.131.203.89)
Cable lifters can introduce brightness if they cause the cables to vibrate or have their own acoustic signature. I went through this issue with my system. My present best recipe for cheap and low-acou .......
10: Beware of shipping stresses! (1.71)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-11-13, 12:38:54 (71.132.4.84)
The Nylon bolt will work fine as long as you don't have to move the amp. It will break easily if the amp has to be shipped, though. Be sure to replace the steel bolt if you need to ship the amp. The I .......
11: Not in my case. (4.98)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-11-11, 15:45:38 (71.132.4.84)
I've got two Atma-Sphere MA-1s and an InnerSound ESL-300 driven by a Wadia 861. All four pieces are separately grounded through their individual dedicated circuits. There are no ground loop issues I c .......
12: Not sure I understand the questions... (7.15)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-10-30, 19:48:53 (71.131.189.210)
The Deflex rubber is between the amp bottom panel and the butcher-block cutting board. It damps the bottom panel of the amp and prevents chatter between the amp and cutting board. The weight of the am .......
13: End-grain butcher-block cutting board with Deflex. (3.87)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-10-29, 11:44:33 (71.131.189.210)
My InnerSound ESL-300 amp has a flimsy steel sheet on the bottom, with some small protruding screw heads. I found a heavy, low-resonance butcher-block cutting board at a discount store (and got them t .......
14: Dedicated lines (3.38)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-06-26, 13:00:23 (66.120.162.29)
provide good isolation between components that interact through their power supplies, such as my InnerSound ESL-300 and Wadia 861. If you live in a typical USA single-family house, dedicated lines ins .......
15: Tweaked Lovan Sovereign rack sections (4.60)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-21, 12:00:40 (67.123.181.163)
I have an InnerSound amp below a Wadia 861, and found the following recipe to work well: The Lovan Sovereign racks are welded steel rectangular tubing with adjustable spikes set into nuts welded at th .......
16: DIY roller balls on struts; stiff paper cable lifters. (4.07)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-15, 08:02:15 (66.123.169.170)
For my Wadia 861, InnerSound ESL-300 bass amp, and Atma-Sphere MA-1 mid/treble amps. I gave up on trying the damp the shelves for my Lovan racks, so after I treated the frames, I made some beams from .......
17: A good idea with some amps. (3.10)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-06, 13:17:36 (66.126.231.55)
Putting the amp on a very stiff sub-base or plinth can help the deep bass performance if the power transformer is bolted to the bottom case panel. In my case, with an InnerSound ESL-300, I found an en .......
18: My solution. (4.09)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-04-01, 11:29:24 (66.126.231.55)
This applies only for my system in my house, and with my circumstances. If I had some real money to spend on it, I'd just get Barry Kohan to make me a support system. Being retired and without an inco .......
19: One more idea for you. (2.28)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-31, 18:05:39 (66.126.231.55)
While I commented below that I don't like the idea of adding something with a resonant signature to an audio system, there is one situation where doing this makes sense. If your power amps have flimsy .......
20: Where shall I start? (3.35)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-03-15, 12:19:13 (66.126.231.55)
1. Take the pointy feet off a Wadia 861 and suspend it on roller-balls. DIY roller balls cost less than $10 total to make. 2. Take the rubber feet off an InnerSound ESL-300 and place it on a firm, non .......
21: Recommend isolating power amp and digital source. (3.95)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2005-01-28, 08:58:48 (66.123.169.250)
I don't have experience with your specific equipment, but with my Wadia and InnerSound ESL-300, the sound is much better if these are on separate dedicated lines. Keep in mind that the power supplies .......
22: R-C filters for speaker cables; Power Wraps. (long) (3.35)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-12-19, 10:30:30 (66.126.230.218)
I sent you e-mail through the AA. Please let me know if it gets through. My R-C filters were suggested by Lloyd Walker's HDLs. A friend had two pairs of these, and one unit had broken. I offered to se .......
23: Clarification: nothing in *series* with InnerSound amp. (1.54)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-12-16, 09:37:59 (66.126.230.218)
Filters typically have inductors in series with the load and capacitors across the load. My experience with the InnerSound amp is that I can hear the bass consequences of using a dedicated AC circuit .......
24: Stabilize the power transformer. (7.85)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-12-15, 09:48:57 (66.126.230.218)
Depending on the chassis design, putting elastomer damping material between the power transformer and the chassis may actually aggravate the low-frequency vibration mode and make the deep bass worse i .......
25: Avoid anything in series with AC to InnerSound amp. (3.21)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-12-15, 09:36:59 (66.126.230.218)
The parasitic resistance will compromise the deep bass performance. These amps do make a lot of noise that they push back onto the AC line, so a dedicated AC line is the best alternative. If this is n .......
26: Congratulations! (5.29)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-10-24, 20:33:06 (67.123.181.75)
Sounds like you have found a way to damp the vibrations with judicious match of the characteristics of the wood and the number of the feet. I also use a butcher-block cutting board I found at Ross und .......
27: Resistance does matter. (4.49)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-09-12, 17:59:01 (66.126.228.21)
I know you are trying to be helpful, but your comments about wire size are wrong for some applications. I have two pairs of 20-ampere dedicated circuits, each pair installed by different electricians .......
28: Clarification (4.68)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-08-25, 20:17:03 (66.126.228.244)
The Deflex washers are as big as most toroids. See the partsconneXion catalog under damping materials. They provide cushions for the transformers, but will not prevent the large-scale, low frequency o .......
29: Do the steel bolts get warm during operation? (4.60)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-08-24, 19:44:33 (66.126.228.244)
I believe you will find they do. I replaced mine with stainless steel that is not attracted to a magnet, and installed Deflex damping rubber washers (available from partsconneXion) between the transfo .......
30: Dangerous! (3.42)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-06-29, 19:55:37 (64.171.5.143)
You can get a Deflex rubber circle to place between your transformer and cabinet metal from partsconneXion. Also, see if the bolt gets warm during operation. If so, get a replacement bolt made of stai .......
31: Shelves (3.36)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-05, 10:24:41 (66.126.228.229)
Standard Lovan shelves are 7/16 inch thick. You may be thinking of the 2 inch thick butcher-block cutting board I have under my InnerSound amp. Copper pipe is certainly a possibility. I'm fortunate to .......
32: Thanks for the update and results. (4.99)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-04, 12:00:12 (64.171.6.127)
My InnerSound amp needs a shelf of some sort to allow me to damp the motion of the power transformer, but everything else could sit on aluminum struts instead of shelves. Thanks for providing fresh id .......
33: Further improvement in sound-stage resolution. (6.11)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-04-03, 09:29:05 (64.171.5.155)
I'm still stuffing some of the rack frames, and have not yet heard the Atma-Sphere amps on fully damped frames. The Wadia/InnerSound amp/Magnepan MG-20 combination has rewarded every step in damping t .......
34: Honors to David Aiken re: Lovan rack damping (4.20)
Posted by Al Sekela on 2004-03-29, 09:41:46 (66.126.229.186)
I just added some Dynamat to the inside faces of the horizontal members of my Lovan Sovereign rack frames. Thanks and honors to David for posting this tweak a couple of years ago. Filling the vertical .......
Found total of 229 records, Query: innersound, Author: Al Sekela in All Forums, Time: 0 sec.