Trans-Fi Audio

Home of the Terminator Tonearm

  • What I listen to music on!
    Like the rest of you, my system has been subjected to all sorts of permutations throughout the decades. I would    say only in the last few years did I start to make progress in the right direction when I began to concentrate on synergy rather than cost.
    I have simplified the system to the nth degree & kept away from mainstream manufacturers. I feel now I am  reaping the rewards.
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Speakers_________________

A lot of speaker engineers that frequent the forums would say these speakers cannot work. Let me also say I take little heed of their 'knowledge' and prefer to use my own ears, which I trust more. I get the best bass  ever in this configuration....and plenty of it! What's more, I am not using any eq! I have also learned using a baffle.....any baffle....creates artifacts and interferes with imaging. Loading the bass with H-frames, U-frames or whatever will increase the bass, but creates room modes and more artifacts. Choosing the right woofers is the  key to going 'baffle-less'.  Discussions below: 







Active Subwoofer__________

Above is a screen-grab of the  Behringer control software showing the crossover page.

















Heart of the System________
































Front End ANALOGUE______

Front end-wise, in the analogue dept is of course the Salvation/Terminator.

Latest update of Salvation features a magnetically levitated platter & plinth. Any improvement in isolation affects analogue performance in a positive way & I (& my clients) am pleased to report the magnets have made a huge difference.















I am running an AT-150 ANV MM cartridge into a PARKS AUDIO PUFFIN Phono Stage. This is a compact  unit  with built in digital processor. All functions are done within the digital domain so is virtually transparent. Will run any cartridge, has built in rumble filter & click remover, various RIAA curves and sounds amazing. It has analogue or digital out, and is the best phono stage I have heard. Has rekindled my interest in vinyl.....say no more!

You could definitely spend lots more in the cart/phono stage dept as I have done in the past...but this simple combination does it for me & I really lust after nothing else!

New update here is the Carbon Fibre wand!

AT-150ANV Moving Magnet















Front End DIGITAL_________

Had to happen. Latest update July 2021. Find myself listening more and more digital, especially my new found discovery of Bluetooth 5 LDAC codec and YouTube Music. You might laugh, but this is a hard combination to beat. And I been there with the Limetree streamer & Qutest DAC, and all the associated high tech power supplies!

In one bold fell swoop, I replaced them all (see pic) with the fabulous SMSL M400. Balanced outputs and Bluetooth 5, UAT ready, but LDAC is already great!

Am I missing Limetree/DAC? No regrets here.....would recomment to anyone.

Oh, using cheap Lenovo M5 Tablet to store file ( 512GB SD card) and stream to the DAC. Loving it. So simple and sounds superb!


Summary_______________________

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April 2022:


Major update to system. Now gone active! Wasn't a sudden decision, but gradually built up to it (see Speaker Blog here )


Still partnered with a pair of reversed Dayton  UM18 woofers (updated from 15"). Reversing the woofers adds directivity and reduces room modes.


Integration with the subs simple. Problem using passive speakers is no control of the bass roll-off. The Navis have high pass filter DIP switches. I find using the 80hz cut-off with UM18's & 65hz gives best result.



Went though a few stages to get to where I am now. The   18" AE (Acoustic Elegance) Dipole woofers were  replaced by the Dayton 15" 390s a few years back, and now UM18's. These have much heavier fiber-glass cones and a more powerful motor. Arranged in series, they give more depth and slam, take more watts and yield higher SPL's without complaining. They generally take more abuse and dont bottom out as easily as the AE's. I found I get REAL deep bass (20hz) with heavier inefficient woofers vs lighter more efficient designs.

In this F.A.S.T. configuration (FullRange Assisted Subwoofer Technology) or WAW (Woofer Assisted Wideband) there is no crossover to sap efficiency and resolution. The Navis having built in amps now connect directly to the SMSL M400 DAC via XLR connectors p & handles from 80Hz up to 20k.




I have found the UM18's need no eq to compensate for for bass baffle losses. This was a surprise to me as these units seem to deliver bass down to 20hz with amazing slam!


The disadvantage  of using inefficient woofers is they need a lot of power, but watts come cheap  with the Behringer NX6000D's. The built in Digital Signal Processor makes setting the crossover point a breeze & also iron out room modes.


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A pair of Behringer NX6000D's power the 18" woofers. This is primarily  PA concert venue Class D full range amp. Not sure what it sounds like full range, but  from 20 - 100Hz & it sounds great! Delivers effortless distortion free power, control & resolution..........everything you want in a sub amp.

The DSP section just plugs into a laptop via USB & uses software available from the Behringer site. All relevant parameters can be adjusted in real time from your listening position. The crossover page allows seamless integration with the full range unit. There is a choice of 4 variable slopes, plus crossover point & gain. There is also an 8 filter Parametric EQ page to set compensation for room modes & baffle deficiencies.

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My system no longer uses an dedicated pre or power amp. The SMSL M500mk2 forms the hub of the system acting as a preamp with digital inputs. I can connect my TV Box, Phono Stage & PC via the digital inputs. Most music listening, though, is done via the built in Bluetooth streaming from my phone.

To get adequate fidelity, Bluetooth 5 must be used with LDAC protocol at a maximum 990kbps resolution.

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I would describe the sound from this system as dynamic, musical, but full of detail. 

Using active speakers has taught me the sum of the parts amounts to more in sonic terms. Rather than having an amplifier driving passive speakers, here the manufacturer is driving their own speakers with an amplifier they specifically engineered for the job. The Navis are 3-way, and in the passive version of this speaker, the crossover was huge involving many components. They were an effort to drive with subdued dynamics. All that was rectified by going active. These things go loud, but maintain composure.


The woofers driven by the Behringers integrate seamlessly with the Navis aided by the built in HPF. They go floor-shakingly deep when the signal is present but there is no boom from room resonances such is the control from the PEQ. For serious bass I believe the woofer needs to be actively driven with  PEQ. Control of the room modes is a necessity.

I can play a wide range of music on this system from softer acoustic jazz material to pumped up Level 42 playing at realistic levels. Modern electronic music which I was never too keen on makes sense now that I can hear/feel that  bottom octave. Kraftwerk, Depeche mode never sounded so good not to mention the more modern Junior Boys and London Grammar. The system delivers it all in a musical, fatigue-free fashion.