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Acoustat system upgrade

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Posted on June 22, 2016 at 11:14:48
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 Just got my MK2123 interfaces back from Roy Esposito in FL and my Acoustat Spectra 22s sound better than ever, wondering if upgrading my amp and/or preamp might take me to another level.

Amp is Aragon 4004 Mk II 400 wpc into 4 ohms
Pre is CJ PV10BL

Been looking at D-Sonic for awhile; anyone here using their M3 series amps with stats? Roy highly recommended the Acoustat Trans-Nova 200 but those are hard to find. Any suggestions welcome.

 

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Congrats!, posted on June 22, 2016 at 12:06:11
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37666
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 I'm quite happy with the interfaces in my 1+1s he updated including the "air" switch.

Better amplification can always make a difference, but how's your room? Use any bass traps or diffraction?

 

RE: Acoustat system upgrade, posted on June 22, 2016 at 13:20:34
Sondek
Audiophile

Posts: 9632
Location: Fort Worth
Joined: May 17, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Keep an eye on eBay. The Trans Nova amps come up for sale from time to time. They're not extinct. Set up a bot on eBay to email you when one gets listed. The 120's seem to come up more often than the 200's, but if you're not in a hurry just wait ...

I've heard from more than one source that Roy is also really good with updates and repairs to the Trans Novas. They were purpose-built to drive Acoustat interfaces.

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on June 22, 2016 at 17:12:49
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003



No room treatments or bass traps, using a Janis W-1 subwoofer with the Spectras. Also supporting a home theater so certainly not an ideal setup.

 

Is that a Kenwood "The Rock" TT back there? NT, posted on June 22, 2016 at 17:15:11
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7729
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002

 

Hmmm, posted on June 22, 2016 at 17:37:03
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37666
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Upon first glance, I'd separate the speakers a bit more. And add some diffraction.

Have you ever performed any measurements of the lower four octaves? I used a Stereophile test disk and RS SPL meter to fine tune the position of my speakers, bass traps and listening position for the most linear response.

 

RE: Hmmm, posted on June 23, 2016 at 03:48:31
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 I have not tried performing any measurements; will give that a go. Thanks

 

RE: Is that a Kenwood "The Rock" TT back there? NT, posted on June 23, 2016 at 03:48:52
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 Oh, yeah

 

Coolio., posted on June 23, 2016 at 09:46:04
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7729
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 My best bud growing up had one of those. Liked it so much he later bought a used one for back up, just in case his had issues.

 

RE: Is that a Kenwood "The Rock" TT back there? NT, posted on June 24, 2016 at 05:42:11
digda_beat
Audiophile

Posts: 1724
Location: Canberra
Joined: July 31, 2003
 How is yours for speed stability? Mine is bit wobbly in comparison with my Pionneer XLC or the bigger Pioneer Pl70 , or even my Kenwood KD700d (which I scored for $200. It might just need some caps replaced

 

RE: Acoustat system upgrade, posted on June 24, 2016 at 13:09:28
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 I had a couple of weeks with 2+2 and the Transnova 200 that mated very well.

The amp circuit design is repeated in the Haffler 9500 and similar designs at different power levels and should match as well as far as I can tell. IIRC both were designed by Strickland. So those might be another option.

 

RE: Coolio., posted on June 24, 2016 at 21:08:07
Davey
 I've had one for many many years and it's never had a hiccup.

Dave.

 

RE: Acoustat system upgrade, posted on June 25, 2016 at 18:03:49
Mendel
Audiophile

Posts: 1207
Location: GTA
Joined: January 17, 2009
 I run Spectra 22 in a small room. You can definitely spread them out more, they will not interact with the side walls much and you don't have to worry about centre fill with Acoustats.
I have commented on tweaks for Spectra 22 in this Asylum previously. You definitely want to experiment with tilt and toe in. The stock socks kill the top end, remove a few thousand staples from the top of the speaker and roll down the socks, you won't go back. While you have the speakers naked, try removing or loosening some of the panel screws.
As for amps, tubes rule with Acoustats.
Great speakers, enjoy!

 

or just clean the controls. , posted on June 29, 2016 at 20:29:51
kff
Audiophile

Posts: 1033
Location: SE PA
Joined: October 19, 2006
 I love the ergonomics of the 500/550 but ended up with a 600, no speed controls but it is a rock, too.

 

RE: Acoustat system upgrade, posted on July 1, 2016 at 01:05:18
morricab
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 9181
Location: switzerland
Joined: April 1, 2005
 Yes! Go away from solid state. The Spectra 22 and 2200 work fantastic with good tube amps.

 

RE: Hmmm, posted on July 1, 2016 at 01:07:28
morricab
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 9181
Location: switzerland
Joined: April 1, 2005
 I would agree with moving them a bit farther apart...don't worry too much on the side walls as they don't affect this speaker very much.

 

Acoustat system upgraded, posted on August 2, 2016 at 15:01:46
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 Thanks all for responding. I was able to find a recently refurbed Acoustat TNT-200 and also picked up an Acoustat MRP-1 preamp and the Spectra 22s sound just amazing!

Will be sending the MRP-1 to Roy Esposito for a revamp and then I should be all set for years and years.

 

RE: Acoustat system upgraded, posted on August 2, 2016 at 15:17:01
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 If you don't mind, what amps did you compare the TNT to?

I liked the TNT and tracked the design's incorporation into other Strickland amps in the Haffler 9300-9500 and the Fosgate 4xxx series multichannel amps - which bridge into stereo TNT like differential amps

 

RE: Acoustat system upgraded, posted on August 5, 2016 at 08:53:54
schlagelk
Audiophile

Posts: 85
Location: Midwest
Joined: December 22, 2003
 I didn't actually compare the TNT to anything, just found one that had already been modded by Roy and went for it. I am liking it so far in the limited time I have had for listening, and it seems a lot more powerful than my Aragon 4004 II.

The TNT is way better in the midrange, but I think the Aragon may be better on the low end. Have to do a lot more listening to be sure.

 

RE: Acoustat system upgraded, posted on August 6, 2016 at 05:00:22
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 That sounds right. Strickland's designs are usually a bit light on the bass, but have very good top ends and do a very convincing and tonally easy midrange. A friend called the midbass, chocolate like - meaning smooth and rich sounding. I think (but don't know for sure) that it is because of the minimal use of feedback. . .

 

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