Neil Andrew is 45 years old and living in the UK. He is married and is employed as a civil engineering quantity surveyor.

Avid Acutus t/t

Triplanar MKVII arm with Koetsu Urushi cartridge

I have been involved with hi-fi over 25 years. Early systems included Naim (32/snaps/250) with Linn Sara speakers fed by a Dais with a Sumiko tonearm and a Koetsu rosewood. Later inclusions and changes were Quad ESL63 speakers, Audio Research Classic 60, SP14 (only recently replaced with LS25II & VT100III) and then onto Martin Logans.

Sources & A-R gear on custom made granite and walnut units

Martin Logan CLSII electrostatics

Earlier CD players include Marantz CD/CDA 94 system (still in perfect condition and used in another room) and Accuphase DP70V.

In my record collection I have: 1620 Lp's, 2530 CD's etc., listening almost exclusively to electronic music. The records (Lp's,CD's etc.) used for evaluation are the following:

A descent sub in the corner, helping the pannels...

• Sarah McLaughlin Breathless (CD)
• Mike Oldfield Crystal Clear (songs of distant earth) (both)
• Al Stewart Midas Shadow (year of the cat)(both)
• Redshift Ether (redshift)(CD)
• Vangelis Irelande (opera sauvage)(both)
• Paul Nagle Going grey (earthshaper) (CD)
• Michael Jackson Human Nature (thriller) (SACD)

Interesting questions:

Q.: How would you describe your system's sound?
A.: Full range frequency response with excellent imagery and depth.

Q.: Do you think there is room for improvement?
A.: As with Martin Logan hybrid types, bass from descent sub slightly disjointed due to speed of panels and differnece in amplification type.

Q.: Have you got plans for upgrading?
A.: Wilson system 7 on order. Whilst I never believed I would change from ELS-type, integration of full range is exemplary, plus the size benefits in my small room, currently dominated by my CLS's.

---

Page follow-up... (info entered on 20 April 2005)

Recently, I have made the following changes to my system:

My previous set-up, with the M-L CLS II

Wilson system 7

- Substituted the PH3SE phono stage, with the Reference Phono.
- Substituted the Martin Logan CLS II speakers, with the Wilson system 7, but keeping the sub.
- Mains cables updated from Kimber Reference to Silver Signature.
- Mains distribution block also changed to silver reference.
- Speaker leads changed from Siltech SG180 to custom made Kimber Select KS3038.
- Custom marble plinth and burr walnut top for descent sub-woofer.
- Cera-ball feet installed under the Accuphase DP85 SACD.

One major change is to remove my previous CD storage area, which increases the room size by an additional 0.4m depth...

Here are some comments, and listening impressions:

I still use the Descent sub. It adds a slight additional depth and fullness to bass notes, without being quite as 'clinical' as the system 7. (The additional 400 watt amplifier may be contributing here...)

The Reference phono stage has far more presence and detail than the PH3SE it replaces, using the koetsu Urushi into the moving magnet input, rather than the high gain transformers which sound somewhat harsh and coarse (although they may require a lengthy running in period which has not occured due to sufficient gain from the "low" setting)

I am now running the DP85 in balanced mode, using a Siltech SQ110 classic ic. No real improvement has been noticed between single ended and balanced.

The speakers have a wider image than my CLS's and tends to be sharper focussed. The presentation is quite different too, sounding more lifelike though lacking the ethereal quality I admire in electrostatics. The system 7's are also less kind to poorer recordings, highlighting faults ruthlessly. The bass integrity is where the system 7 has improved my system most, due to a previous lag with the Descent bass drivers to the ELS panels, whilst the top end has slightly more 'sparkle'. Mid band voices/speech is remarkably realistic, with no noticable colourations.

Another definite improvement was silver wiring the mains distribution block and mains leads, and changing the pre and phono stage valves with RAM labs ultra-low noise ones (23 in total). The system is now completely silver wired from mains to cables.

Having now got used to my system, it has advanced my listening pleasure, and I am more than happy, with the presentation and involvement. I have no more immediate upgarde plans, although the Reference 3 has just been released...

---

Page follow-up... (info entered on 28 October 2007)

Recently, I have made the following changes to my system:

My previous system set-up

Audio Research Reference 3 pre, Reference Phono and Reference 210 monoblock

Avid Acutus reference

Avid Acutus reference p.su.

Koetsu Blue Lace close-up

Wilson System 8

- Substituted the Wilson System 7 + Martin Logan Descent sub-woofer, with the Wilson System 8 speaker. Sub-woofer, no longer required, due to a tighter and more controlled bass response, more realistic treble and increased stagewidth in all dimensions (in collaboration with all the other changes).

- Substituted the Accuphase D8 85, with the Accuphase 800/801 SACD player. Transformed soundstage width and depth with amazing levels of increased detaliing and believability.

- Substituted the Audio Research REF2 MkII/VTM 200, with the Reference 3/Reference 210 amplifiers. Increased dynamics and spatial detailing Requires about 200 usage hours before coming into reference class upon which there is an almost "chalk and cheese" difference. Amplifiers show tighter control and increased dynamics over VTM200's precise height, depth and width of soundstage.

- Substituted the Avid Acutus, with the Avid Acutus Reference turntable. 50 pound power supply, precise adjustment of suspension from above makes setting up and maintenance of same easier. Supremely stable imaging, dark backgrounds and increased dynamics over previous power supply.

- Substituted the Koetsu Urushi, with the Koetsu Blue Lace cartridge. Platinum coiled, diamond cantilever (half previous output of Urushi) removes the (apparent only in comparison) slight "warmth" with improved dynamic range, even lower evidence of surface noise and a final ideal match for the ARC Reference Phono.

Other changes are as follows:

Kimber KS1030/1130 replaced with KS1036/1136 and Krystal Kable Jupiter silver mains leads (with Furutech mains plugs) replacing balance of Russ Andrews Signature copper cables. The Krystal mains leads are excellent vaue, when compared against other silver mains leads at 5 times the cost. Final change is sale of Stax Omega /007 earspeakers for Mark II energizer for late night listening.