Hi Hermann, I wanted to relay something about the Isobarik/Tundra amp combination that I learned in my system and room setup. I know you have struggled at times getting your Briks to sound the way you have heard them in the past. Your quoted post here reminds me of when I was trying to fight the urge the play with the volume soo loud because only at those volumes will the Briks seem to integrate with the room and energize it to give that full musical experience. At lower volume levels, the various parts of the music sound hazy and not cohesive. Vocals just don't sing to draw you into that magical world. So several years ago I had this idea that maybe my Tundra stereo was just not producing enough power and limiting my fun. Perhaps the Tundra monos might solve my issue because of the double power that each speaker would be receiving. The specs suggested something on the order of 23 watts increasing to 40 watts for each speaker so it sounded very promising. I thought I could offer the Isobariks more power and have them play louder for me so I could enjoy them with a lower volume overall. Well that extra power of the Tundra Monos didn't change how loud the Isobariks played overall. They still clipped at the same quite high volume and I did hear improvement in the grip of the low bass over the stereo unit. I concluded that the Tundra stereo had enough power but it was the way the Isobariks interact with my room positioned at the side walls which was the reason I needed the volume up so high. In my room there is fireplace brick behind the speakers that sticks out about 16 inches preventing them from being close to the back wall. Their proximity to the side walls dictates how much bass output I perceive and there is a slight toe in to focus the vocals towards the listening sofa. Which model Tundra stereo are you using? My stereo 2.2 model falls under the list of serial numbers which can't be upgraded any farther so I have been more focused on source and preamp upgrades instead. For me the Tundra monos can wait.Hermann wrote: ↑2022-02-03 14:48 Thanks Tony.
Despite all the enthusiasm, I do see a small drop of melancholy. As I already described, it is incredibly difficult to hear quietly and move me permanently at the limit of the Tundra stereo. So it's time for the Tundra monos.
There's a lot to say about R/2 and Ekstatik and I think you know what I mean.
Today, for example, the thought of endless discussions came up to what extent a sound image can be perceived outside of loudspeakers. So far I only had this with the briks and at times the effect was lost and only partially found again with lots of trial and error. The Ekstatik just shows how it is placed really well in the room. Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra, for example, how percussion can be perceived outside the right box. And then some opinions that the LP12 had mutated towards hi-fi as a result of the upgrade or would sound more digital. My experience there is diametrically opposed.
Also, I have been using Giella Pi as my preamp instead of the kikkin 2.2 and I still have the urge to turn the volume up even with the better volume control in use. On the Giella Pi, I like the volume to be near the 12 O clock position which is probably 0DB but it just sounds right at these elevated levels. I think the Isobarik is very picky about placement and needs the correct tune based positioning down to millimeters of change to get that extra "sound image perceived outside of the speakers." One thing I still need to do is investigate skeets instead of the spikes which go through carpet into the concrete slab underneath.