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_________________

      Please Note: Alot 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. Chosing the right woofers is the  key to going 'frameless'.             

Active Subwoofer__________

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











Full Range Amplification____

Internals of the amp showing the the user replaceable input capacitor to control bass output to FR driver.   












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 TEMPLE AUDIO HARMONY MM Phono Stage. This is a compact  unit, UK made 'with love' using state-of-the-art SuperCaps in the powerstage to effectively isolate from the mains. This betters my previous Benedict Audio (no longer in production) in all departments retaining a powerful bass performance with depth, focus & resolution, a huge soundstage with SS detail but tube-like warmth.

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!


AT-150ANV Moving Magnet


Front End DIGITAL_________

JK Ciunas ISO-DAC (link)

Unique LiPo battery power


Been a fan of the JK stuff from the first purchase of the JK32DAC a number of years ago.


Files are played from an Audio PC via BugHead.


When Ciunas came out I updated right away. Immediately noticeable was the improvement in focus  and soundstage width & depth.  As the unit bedded in, detail became more apparent as did the refined analogue quality  and musicality.

 

I had this unit in my system for several years never feeling the need to update. As I improved the system around it…..PC /Software  upgrade, amplification, speakers etc., the Ciunas always had more to give.

 

Summary_______________________

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April 2017: Recent update regarding speakers. Gone from ladder frame to 'Scaffold Frame' ! Not to everyone's taste, admittedly, but after going bafferless as an experiment. I was so shocked by the result, there is no going back!


The metal scaffold transfers much less energy into the old  wooden ladder frame which I was always struggling with. Careful isolation was needed for the full range units. (See OB Speakers TAB above for other creations) With this new design, the weight of the magnets (heaviest part) is now supported by a simple cable which provides the best isolation. Construction is also very simple.


I am using a pair of PRV 5MR450-NDY 'full range' (rolls off 150Hz) drivers partnered with a pair of reversed Dayton 390 15" woofers. Reversing the woofers simply makes construction easier, and seems to increase bass & slam.


I swapped over from the Alpair FR mainly because the PRV's have a rigid surround and only extend to 150Hz meaning they dont flap about trying to reproduce the lower frequencies. They also go much louder than the delicate Alpairs, are more efficient & dynamic.


The unobtainable  18" AE (Acoustic Elegance) Dipole woofers have been replaced by the Dayton 390 15", which have heavier aluminium 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. 

In this F.A.S.T. configuration (FullRange Assisted Subwoofer Technology) there is no crossover to sap efficiency and resolution. The FR connects direct to the main amp & handles from 250Hz up to 16k.


Dispensing with the baffle has resulted in a clearer more open sound. I guess the baffle was contributing to some muddying. Also imaging has improved, and the bass couples better with the room creating fewer modes. As as a result I was able to push the speakers back closer to the rear wall.


I have found the 390'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 woofers are actively controlled by a dedicated sub amp, a Behringer NU3000DSP with built in Digital Signal Processor to fix the crossover point & also iron out room modes.

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The Behringer iNuke NU3000DSP powers the 15" woofers. This is primarily  PA concert venue Class D full range amp. Not sure what it sounds like full range, but  from 20 - 250Hz & 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.

The stock fan is noisy, so I have throttled back with a resistor in series. I have also customised my unit spraying the fascia black & adding LED fan.........

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The PRV full range drivers are powered  by  the new Temple Audio Mono2 amps housed in custom case with Bent Audio remote autoformers. Power supply is bespoke made by Temple Audio. This amp is so good I replaced my longstanding 300B monoblock Signature Lady Day valves years ago and haven't looked back. Review here says it all!
This amp has the added feature of a user replaceable input cap which acts as a selectable high pass filter stopping unecessary low frequencies (already handled by the woofer) from reaching the Full Range driver. This has a dramatic effect of cleaning up the sound, I think mainly because the amp isn't having to work so hard reproducing the lower frequencies.
One the back are outputs linked directly to the volume control to drive the sub amp.

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ISO-DAC is the latest upgrade, which is basically a Ciunas paired with a USB isolator. This cleans up the noise from the computer. The immediate effect of this was even more detail & refinement in sound quality and a holographic soundstage that is scary as it takes you by surprise.


Early days yet in the running-in process, but I suspect this unit will  be in my system for a long time!

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I would describe the sound from this system as dynamic, musical, but full of detail. Also unforgiving of poor recordings..........
The small PRV cones are very light & fast, especially with percussive instruments. They produce an incredible amount of treble.....hard to believe there isnt a tweeter in the system.  If I listen to a tweetered system now, it sounds disjointed!

The twin PRV's have improved efficiency, dynamics, image focus and detail. Also seem smoother.

The woofers driven by the Behringer integrate seamlessly with the PRVs. 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 accoustic 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.