Starting from scratch... (recommendations)

[}Fear_Inoculum{]

Its been a busy few weeks for me up here in the frozen north, and I haven't had the chance to post any updates. Due to time, and two massive snowstorms that knocked down my 30x60 shop, I never did make it into the city to audition anything at all, but in the meantime, my Planar 3 finally made it into my hands. It came with the Exact cartridge, versus the Elys, and while I haven't had a pile of time to just sit and listen, my initial take is very favourable, although the only thing I have to compare against is my cheap AudioTechnica.

The AudioTechnica turntable got very muddled as music started to get involved. The Rega Planar 3 keeps the instruments distinct and accurate, without sounding clinical. I hate the 50 cent words that reviewers use, but MUSICAL just keeps popping into my head. Its like listening to the band live in your listening area, but without all the outside noise.

Since the outfit in Vancouver treated me well, including sending me a Rega preamp with the Planar 3 to borrow until I found the amp I wanted, I pulled the trigger on a Rega Brio two days ago. Its supposed to be in my grubby hands tomorrow and hopefully I'll have a quiet weekend to actually sit down and listen.

Where in BC are you? I'm in Victoria myself

 

[Push]

Where in BC are you? I'm in Victoria myself

Not in BC. Saskatchewan. But the only two shops in Sask that had Rega don't offer shipping or have a good return policy, so that became a no-go for me.

 

[3db]

Any PSB dealers near you? They are another fine Canadian speaker manufacturer that works with the NRC in their development cycle. They offer a number of towers in different price ranges as well as bookshelves and subs.

PSB Speakers

PSB Speakers has become one of the most trusted and well-reviewed speaker manufacturers, with more than 50 years of being a leader in loudspeaker design

www.psbspeakers.com

 

[MrBoat]

10 ft back, might be the worst place to be in your 12 x 14 room. Just saying, to consider a plan B for the decor/layout, just in case. If this is a 3-4 sided rectangular room we are talking about, I might would choose a more intimate arrangement with the gear. Especially with vinyl, since you are physically interacting with the turntable anyway.

Moderate levels, or ambient duty is easier and less critical, but most people I know, once they got a good pair of speakers, their threshold for SPL increased, once distortions and such were removed from their lives.

 

[Push]

Any PSB dealers near you? They are another fine Canadian speaker manufacturer that works with the NRC in their development cycle. They offer a number of towers in different price ranges as well as bookshelves and subs.

PSB Speakers

PSB Speakers has become one of the most trusted and well-reviewed speaker manufacturers, with more than 50 years of being a leader in loudspeaker design

www.psbspeakers.com

There are a couple PSB dealers within a hundred miles, so they're on my list. The salesman also asked me to consider Spendor A4s, after we chatted for awhile today. I have plenty of time to consider speakers, as I have a busy spring/summer ahead of me and won't be moving ahead with any purchases until fall.

 

[Push]

10 ft back, might be the worst place to be in your 12 x 14 room. Just saying, to consider a plan B for the decor/layout, just in case. If this is a 3-4 sided rectangular room we are talking about, I might would choose a more intimate arrangement with the gear. Especially with vinyl, since you are physically interacting with the turntable anyway.

Moderate levels, or ambient duty is easier and less critical, but most people I know, once they got a good pair of speakers, their threshold for SPL increased, once distortions and such were removed from their lives.

Unfortunately, decor is pretty much fixed. And layout is completely fixed due to french doors out to the patio, a large corner window, a door to another room and a hallway. I like my couch right where it is So I'm going to need a forgiving speaker, layout wise.

 

[3db]

Unfortunately, decor is pretty much fixed. And layout is completely fixed due to french doors out to the patio, a large corner window, a door to another room and a hallway. I like my couch right where it is So I'm going to need a forgiving speaker, layout wise.

Can you take some pics of the room and post them here? Maybe we can all get some ideas and respect the room layout as it is.

 

[Push]

Can you take some pics of the room and post them here? Maybe we can all get some ideas and respect the room layout as it is.

I've actually got a 3D sketch around here somewhere. When I have a few minutes I'll upload it.

In the meantime, my Brio amp arrived and I had a couple hours to play with it. I'm impressed with how clean it sounds, at all volume levels. My cheapo Paradigm Atoms started getting shouty at higher volumes with the Marantz I had on there before. With the Brio, they are a little more laid back, but still not where I want to be.

I did notice that I'm missing some bottom end, but just on phono. Streaming off the el cheapo Echo Dot, I have better bottom end than I did with the Marantz. Perhaps missing is the wrong term, but rather "less pronounced". Perhaps its the fault of the pre-amp built into the Brio? The preamp they lent me was a Rega Fono Mini, and I'm not sure how that compares to the preamp section in the Brio. I'll mess with tracking force a bit when I have time.

Rod

 

[Push]

Finally had some hours this weekend to play around with setup, moving speakers around and switching back and forth between the Brio phono pre-amp and the Fono Mini.

First, I am even more impressed by the Brio amp than I was at first. I don't have much basis for comparison, as all I've owned in the past are some decent mid range AV amps, but at all volume levels, the Brio is much cleaner and punchier than any amp that I've owned in the past. I am very happy with it.

Now onto the phono pre-amp. When I first hooked up the Brio, I put away the loner Fono Mini that they sent me when I bought the Planar 3. My first few albums through, I was somewhat dismayed. While it was still cleaner, more transparent than the Marantz amp I replaced, there was something missing. Vocals were clean and clear, but very forward. It was as though the singer was standing right in front of me, while the rest of the band was standing in the background. Given the types of music I listen to most, this wasn't what I wanted. I hooked up the Fono Mini yesterday after a couple hours, and was immediately impressed. While vocals are still clean and clear, they are more laid back, not so in your face. And the music! Jeff Healey's guitar took on new life that I'd never heard before. I spent a couple hours with Healey and AC/DC, then moved onto John Lee Hooker. I spent the next half hour drooling uncontrollably. The piano had a SWEET sound that rings throughout the listening area, while Hooker's guitar and gravelly voice can almost be felt. Needless to say, I am VERY happy with the purchase, and would heavily recommend an additional pre-amp be bought for anyone who plans on using a Brio with a turntable. Not sure if I'm going to stick with the Fono Mini or step up to the Fono MM Mk3, but one thing is certain, I won't be using the built-in pre-amp ever again.

Of course, YMMV and just my 2 cents.

Rod

 

[Push]

Ordered the Fono MM yesterday. Don't think it'll make it for the weekend, but can't wait to run both the Mini and the MM side by side. The salesman swears that the increase in SQ that I heard between the Brio pre-amp and the Mini, I will hear again between the MM and the Mini, but you know what salesman are like

 

[Push]

Fono MM hooked up, and a few sides put through last night, switching back and forth between the Mini and the MM. What a difference. Its like Rega took the best of Brio pre-amp and mixed it with the best of the Mini. Vocals are clean, clear and up front when they need to be, laid back when they should be, instruments ring out with passion and a liveliness I've never heard in a stereo system. Given this experience with integrated vs separate pre-amp, I don't think I'll ever try an integrated pre-amp again, although this is obviously a pretty small sample size. I am a very happy cat right now.

I was going speakers next, but I think I'm going network streamer next. The Echo Dot isn't really cutting it. Bluesound Node and Lumin D2 have been recommended as choices. What else do I put on the list?

Quick shot of my rigging, minus the Polk 8" sub. Please ignore the wood panelling. My listening area is the last of the rooms to get renovated