New Stuff on Order...

[InfernoSTi]

It has been great to spend a week listing to the MiniWatt amp and then the next week to the Jolida FX-10 amp. They sound that different yet I love each in it's own way. Since one of my goals was to learn what I like and dislike, I really like having some combinations to try.

To that end, I have two new additions arriving next week: Hawthorne Open Baffle 10" PSI speakers and a Nuforce Icon Mobile DAC.

The Hawthorne OB speakers couldn't be more simple and I'm wondering how they will sound compared to the WAFs in my small home office.

The Mobile DAC is meant to pair with my iPhone to provide a better mobile headphone experience (should I ever get around to purchasing a decent set of headphones...that is on my reading list for the future). Additionally, it will let me run an iPod directly into my MiniWatt.

What with the two sets of amps, DACs, and speakers, each system with a unique niche and sound. I know I could have a nicer setup if I had put that into one system, but my learning curve would have been pretty flat.

I'm making an understatement by saying I'm looking forward to next weekend!!!

[Mike_TX]

Cool.

Mike

[InfernoSTi]

Well, here is how it all has shaken out:

My living room now sports the Jolida paired with the WAF-1s and the Paradigm PS1000 connected through the DVD player for movies and CDs and through an Apple Airport Express to play iTunes. I have not yet missed HT surround but realize someday this might have to go to five or seven WAFs! The Jolida/WAF combo is fantastic...they are crisp and musical with a beautiful midrange. Vocals are silky, but they really shine with rock from Supertramp to The Ramones. The extra low end really creates a room full of music and these are perfect for watching a movie...very quick and detailed when needed.

I can't say what a huge difference moving the WAF's into a much larger room and adding a subwoofer has made to their overall sound quality. My home office is small and has hardwood floors and wood plantation shutters so you can imagine how reflective and bright it gets in here. Using the WAFs in the living room shows off their imaging and detail...just perfect. It did take some time playing with the sub crossover to find that spot where I couldn't tell where the sub started and the WAFs stopped. Did I mention in another post that the better half prefers the Jolida/WAF combo to all the other combos? Just lovely...

My home office now has the MiniWatt/Hawthorne Audio 10" PSIs which are starting to really grow on me as a combination. A very open sound (well, they are open baffle) which helps in the tight office space. The MW is detailed and quick and the Hawthorne's are every bit a match for the amp.

[InfernoSTi]

And so my journey continues:

I have MAC Ultrasilver+ interconnects and compared to the off the shelf RCAs that came with my DVD play five years ago, they really make a huge difference. I also switched out two of the tubes in the MiniWatt for Western Electric NOS 403b tubes. This combo made a huge and very noticeable difference.

Much more bass extension. The highs are smoothed out yet still expressive. The midrange is full, clean, and deep if that makes sense. Big words but it sounds more natural and better.

Having fun!

[tesseract]

And so my journey continues:

I have MAC Ultrasilver+ interconnects and compared to the off the shelf RCAs that came with my DVD play five years ago, they really make a huge difference.

It is so cool that you can say that in here and not get bashed.

[InfernoSTi]

Ain't that the truth. Much love (patience? pity?) for us newbies! This has got to be the most welcoming audio forum in existence!

I remember posting for the first time saying I was just getting into this a little and wanting to learn by getting some test equipment that was reasonably priced and finding out what I actually liked instead of spec jockeying! Folks here were very encouraging...maybe a large part of why I bought the WAF-1s over other speakers I was looking at. In the end, those are the speakers my better half likes best and so they are now in the living room (were originally going to the office but they stayed home!).

And yes, I'm so green at this stuff it is ridiculous. Of course I'm having more fun than most because every little thing is fun still!

[Steve_vai_rules]

It is so cool that you can say that in here and not get bashed.

naw we just target you ;)


Matt

[InfernoSTi]

Note to self: avoid cable talk so I don't :stirpot:

OK, now I know I've gone nuts. I found a Glow One Amp shipped for $355 and it arrived last night. So in two months I have gone from no amps to three amps.

The Glow arrived with 30 hours per the previous owner, so just burning in. Of the three, this is the head of the class (oh, this is the sub $450 class we are talking about...not very exclusive). I can see what the fuss is about on this amp, and at half the price of a new unit, I couldn't pass (be happier)! I really think the MiniWatt is going to the office soon...

The Glow is so smooth and rich. Much better bass extension than the MiniWatt and less grainy than the Jolida. And it looks great in pearl white!!!

[corndog71]

Note to self: avoid cable talk so I don't :stirpot:

OK, now I know I've gone nuts. I found a Glow One Amp shipped for $355 and it arrived last night. So in two months I have gone from no amps to three amps.

The Glow arrived with 30 hours per the previous owner, so just burning in. Of the three, this is the head of the class (oh, this is the sub $450 class we are talking about...not very exclusive). I can see what the fuss is about on this amp, and at half the price of a new unit, I couldn't pass (be happier)! I really think the MiniWatt is going to the office soon...

The Glow is so smooth and rich. Much better bass extension than the MiniWatt and less grainy than the Jolida. And it looks great in pearl white!!!

Before completely discounting any tube gear be sure to try different tubes.

[woofersus]

Before completely discounting any tube gear be sure to try different tubes.

The Glow One is a tube amp, isn't it? I know it's gotten raves from a few owners I've seen writeups from. Definitely a winner for that price, although for somebody needing a little more power, the used sp3's out there are ridiculously overachieving for their price point as well. You're right though, many tube amps come with relatively cheap tubes and can be enhanced significantly with upgrades. Not all are this way, but it's worth a try. You can usually resell good tubes.

[Uncle Paul]

I have a SP3 available if anyone is interested. $395.

Magnificent tube amp. "thumbsup:

[InfernoSTi]

I also switched out two of the tubes in the MiniWatt for Western Electric NOS 403b tubes. This combo made a huge and very noticeable difference.

Much more bass extension. The highs are smoothed out yet still expressive. The midrange is full, clean, and deep if that makes sense. Big words but it sounds more natural and better.

Well, I finished my MiniWatt tube roll: I had ordered some Svetlana 6P1P-EV NOS Russian military tubes. I didn't realize the were actually coming from Russia but they just arrived in a little box from across the world!

They really help out but in a different way: the upper end is much more musical than before. mid-highs "ring" in a very lifelike way...makes me want to get an Easter bell-ringing recording to listen to, if that makes sense. The upper-highs are much softer, less bright and one dimensional than before. The overall affect is another significant improvement over the stock Chinese tubes that came with the MW!

Oh, and I picked up a set of pearl white Usher S-520s on Audiogon to make a true bookshelf system with the Glow One Amp (also pearl white). They should arrive this week!

[Cheeseboy]

Keep up the good work. I really appreciate your posting on this.

[tako_tsubo]

Nice set up. I have always liked the sound of Ushers.

Now to complete the theme....need a AKG 701 for headphone use, a Kennsington white ipod dock, ipod classic filled with some Barry White.:scratchchin::yes:

[InfernoSTi]

Ha! I'd have to be a little more OCD to keep that much white clean!!! Sadly, I'm now thinking a Mac Mini would be a perfect music server for this setup!!!



Well, I can say the Ushers are really enjoyable and satisfying, even in a near field setup. Lots of imaging, soft, detailed highs, very musical and surprisingly deep bass and smooth mid-range. I haven't really spent enough time with them to fully know their weaknesses yet...still in enjoying just listening to them! They seem to be the complete package, really.



I'm going to have to rearrange the desk a bit and just have this be my everyday computer setup!