leo1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by leo1 on Apr 2, 2010 15:45:54 GMT -5
well, i received the amps and the XLR and speaker cables (X-series) last week. I've had the ERC-1 connected to the a Peachtree iDecco (I sold my Mastersound DueTrenta int amp to fund the puchase of the cd player and the iDecco)...i also replaced my AntiCables interconnects and speaker cables with the Emotiva X series ones...  I always wanted a little bit more power for my Escalante, although they're doing great with low power...i just needed some power reserve for some transients when listening to Mahler 2nd...  ...so, i sold the player and the iDecco and got a Resolution Audio CD55 cd player with volume control (no need for a preamp) and 2 UPA-1's monoblocks... So, after about 10 hours of listening the sound is a little bit on the "metallic" side...not thin or screechy...just metallic...but, the pinpoint imaging and the soundstage are FANTASTIC!...the bass is under control and hitting right in the chest (the Fremonts are rated down to 18Hz!)... Maybe after few more hours, the sound will improve...anyway, for the money, i don't think that there is a better value in the world of audio!... The cables are notbad either...couldn't tell a difference between these ones and the Anticables, but i like the Emotiva look better... some pics...     |
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Post by sanjaygolf on Apr 2, 2010 17:08:15 GMT -5
Wow, those speakers are gorgeous. Congrats on the purchase of the UPA-1s. Just curious if you considered the XPA-1s at all.
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hemster
Global Moderator 
Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
Posts: 51,951
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Post by hemster on Apr 2, 2010 17:14:01 GMT -5
Nice setup dude... I bet it rocks!
Enjoy...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2010 19:32:45 GMT -5
Thanks Leo for your thoughts on the UPA-1's. That is pretty impressive praise for a pair of monoblocks that run under $700 driving some very fine speakers (near $20,000). I look forward to more of your impressions after you have had more times with these amps. ;D
I read the reviews on the Fremonts in Stereophile and Stereo Times. Very interesting design and build on those speakers. I would love to hear them. Sounds like a speaker Artie K would enjoy.
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cgolf
Emo VIPs 
Posts: 4,615
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Post by cgolf on Apr 2, 2010 20:04:33 GMT -5
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Post by artiek on Apr 2, 2010 22:07:54 GMT -5
That's a gorgeous system you put together brother! Even if it IS transistors...
;D ;D ;D
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Post by Porscheguy on Apr 3, 2010 8:00:08 GMT -5
VERY nice!!
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Post by bongteo on Apr 4, 2010 11:14:39 GMT -5
Hi Leo1, nice setup you have there, nice listening room too . Have the upa-1 cook further for another 50hr++ and u will hear its potential, the edgy sound or "metallic" sound will be gone. |
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leo1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by leo1 on Apr 5, 2010 9:21:52 GMT -5
thanx for the nice words guys!...yes, i do plan to let the amps break-in for another 50-100 hours and then i'll report back... and yes, the system kinda rocks... ...and if you ever find yourself in the Central NJ area and would like to come in to listen to the Escalante speakers, please let me know... |
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Post by zwalls on Apr 7, 2010 12:53:45 GMT -5
awesome system you have there.very clean!!if I'm ever in the NJ area I "WILL" be sure to stop in a have a listen!!
looking forward reading your review after you've finished the breakin period!!
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Post by asterisk * on Apr 15, 2010 18:55:18 GMT -5
Any updates on break-in ? I am interested to find out about this "metalic " sound and if it clears up in time. thinking about pulling the trigger on some upa-1 for my mains.
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leo1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by leo1 on Apr 19, 2010 8:43:26 GMT -5
nope...no updates yet...i didn't have time to play the system for long periods of time...i did try to listen again on Friday afternoon and i didn't like the sound...  ...i played few CD's and the sound seemed thin again....i'll give it a try again this coming weekend.... |
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Post by moovtune on Apr 19, 2010 15:30:29 GMT -5
How will you know if it's the amps or the new Resolution CD player that's metallic?
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Post by briank on Apr 19, 2010 19:33:31 GMT -5
Hey Leo1, Have you tried RCA cables instead of the balanced cables. There have been some reports of harshness with the Emo Balanced cables(I have not tried the balanced cables myself). I have the UPA-1's and they sound very smooth with both the X-series RCA's and the Blue Jean LC-1 RCA's. I did have some harshness and shrillness when using the Ultra interconnects with my UPA-2 that I started with.
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leo1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by leo1 on Apr 20, 2010 8:13:11 GMT -5
hmmm...good suggestion...i will replace the Emotiva cables with the Anti-cables RCA's and the Anti-cables speaker cables...maybe the sound will "smooth"-out...and i'm pretty confident that the "metallic" sound is from the UPA-1's...i've owned Resolution Audio cd players before and they're very transparent and melodic...nothing like what i'm hearing right now...
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Post by jackfish on Apr 27, 2010 14:23:41 GMT -5
leo1, I see that you have your UPA-1s stacked in a rack. Any problems with heat build up under that top shelf? I was thinking of stacking mine with about 2" between the top unit and the shelf above it, but the manual says to leave 8" above the UPA amplifiers.
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leo1
Minor Hero
Posts: 29
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Post by leo1 on Apr 28, 2010 13:00:24 GMT -5
nope, no problem with heat build up...they're just a little bit warm...nothing to worry about...
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Post by solidstate on Jun 3, 2010 17:01:02 GMT -5
Those speakers cost $20k !!! INSANE... THANK GOD I'VE LEARNED SOME DIY AND AM AWARE OF THE GREAT KITS/DESIGNS AVAILABLE ONLINE! For that kinda money I could build a speaker with Aircirc, Accuton and Clarity Cap MR on the entire xover... owhh and with the change I could coat the cab entirely in gilded gold leaf. I could also place some precious stones in there or something... perhaps some luthier style inlays... in 24kt gold with diamonds? The cab is bamboo no? PS what a KOOKY looking waveguide on that R2904/700000 ROTFL PSS The R2904/7000 is basically an aircirc XT25 I believe and zaph rates it as poor value considering you can purchase an XT25 for about $60 bucks and the 7000 is $400 www.zaphaudio.com/tweetermishmash/ |
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Post by solidstate on Jun 3, 2010 18:06:34 GMT -5
www.madisound.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=45_229_427&products_id=1580$345 One look at the surround and you know it's an Eminance ODM part. I think it's a KAPPA PRO-10A by the looks of it. www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=290-426&source=googleps$119.97 As for the internal 12" for 6,816,598 TM ROTFL I'd bet it's source from Eminance as well. $120 bucks ? Even if you used Clarity MR (those crazy expensive blue ones) and Mundorf resistors with Erse FoilQ air inducts etc I can't see the xover costing more than $1500 to $2000 bucks. I guess patent #6,816,598 use requires an royalty payment of $15000 per pair of speaker ehh Escalante Design LLC according to my math. And sheets of bamboo plywood cost around $300 bucks for the Plyboo or Teragren product. With all that being said I sure bet it's a fine sounding loudspeaker!
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Post by solidstate on Jun 3, 2010 18:19:47 GMT -5
Listen to Larry Greenhill spew... www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/208fre/index.htmlThese two quotes make me laugh... LOL "In the phase-check and channel-ID tracks on Test CD 2, Richard Lehnert's voice sounded more nasal than I recall it sounding when I spoke to him in person, as if he had a slight cold." and "The midrange frequencies are handled by the external woofer's 4.35", convex black dustcap, a compound of three different low-Q materials." I guess those three hi tech low-q materials would be manila paper, glue and sealant on the paper? PS What's the deal with the special dust cap... Do they have a patent on it as well? ROTFLMAO |
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...so, i sold the player and the iDecco and got a Resolution Audio CD55 cd player with volume control (no need for a preamp) and 2 UPA-1's monoblocks...
: SR6003 
...i played few CD's and the sound seemed thin again....i'll give it a try again this coming weekend....
