Post by craigl59 on May 8, 2024 16:05:01 GMT -5
JDub: The CSS build was a "bucket list" project. Have been increasingly active with DIY components and spend my time with kits and simple personal designs used to make my larger systems operative. Have developed a process I call "Active Amp Listening" in which any of 5 amp types can be selected (in a quick process that takes only 5 seconds or so) and that amp selection is married to the media source -- e.g., 300B tubes for vinyl, Class A for TV, etc. Use these amp choices: 300B, Class A, SEPP (Pass's famous Aleph), A/B, and Specialty. Heightens my audiophile enjoyment greatly,
This is what I can say about the CSS MTM kit:
1. The cabinet kits are superb -- the milling is incredibly precise and after gluing is completely inert. The ports are handled individually for each midrange driver.
2. The Midrange drivers are high qaulity and produce a ton of bass -- so much so that I found it necessary to mute the ports
3. The upgraded Jentzen crossover parts are expensive and worth it
4. Finishing a speaker cabinet is a pain -- even if you have woodworking experience
5. More so than any speaker I have heard, these are dependant upon the source -- poor sources sound dreadful and excellent sources sound very good
6. They are somewhat pricey -- the version I got was around $1750. If you are looking for value, you might consider the same-priced Emotiva speakers. Suspect they will outperform the CSS ones
Back on topic, have now spent 3 days listening to the XDA-3 and it is proving its worth. Very clean and analog smooth -- as Keith suggests above concerning the Sabre converter. Use RME ADI-2 DACs in my living room systems and have the Ares 2 in another. The RME convertors deserve their vaulted rep and have been using RME in the studio for 25 years. They tend, however, towards analytical and tiring. The Ares 2 is a R2R DAC and sounds much more analog -- but looses a bit in fine detail.
Nicely, the XDA-3 sits right between these two. Very precise but also very analog sounding. A good blend that shows Emotiva at its finest: Rethink High End.
This is what I can say about the CSS MTM kit:
1. The cabinet kits are superb -- the milling is incredibly precise and after gluing is completely inert. The ports are handled individually for each midrange driver.
2. The Midrange drivers are high qaulity and produce a ton of bass -- so much so that I found it necessary to mute the ports
3. The upgraded Jentzen crossover parts are expensive and worth it
4. Finishing a speaker cabinet is a pain -- even if you have woodworking experience
5. More so than any speaker I have heard, these are dependant upon the source -- poor sources sound dreadful and excellent sources sound very good
6. They are somewhat pricey -- the version I got was around $1750. If you are looking for value, you might consider the same-priced Emotiva speakers. Suspect they will outperform the CSS ones
Back on topic, have now spent 3 days listening to the XDA-3 and it is proving its worth. Very clean and analog smooth -- as Keith suggests above concerning the Sabre converter. Use RME ADI-2 DACs in my living room systems and have the Ares 2 in another. The RME convertors deserve their vaulted rep and have been using RME in the studio for 25 years. They tend, however, towards analytical and tiring. The Ares 2 is a R2R DAC and sounds much more analog -- but looses a bit in fine detail.
Nicely, the XDA-3 sits right between these two. Very precise but also very analog sounding. A good blend that shows Emotiva at its finest: Rethink High End.