Making baby steps into Hi-fi

[hydra]

Yesterday, I pulled the Rethms into the room by 4 feet from the wall behind them. The distance between the speakers and sidewalls was changed to 20". I think more distance from the rear wall will probably make things better, but then I would end up sitting right against the rear wall, which makes things sound a bit off.

I moved the Divan to the side, so that my listening position could mostly remain the same. I'm now sitting 6 feet from the midpoint of the line formed between the speaker baffles now.

This seems to a very sweet spot overall, with the bass sounding just perfect (levels of the subwoofers are at 1 o'clock), with taller and deeper staging, and with everything seeming to have locked in just perfectly. I'll keep things here for a while and do any more moving about only after a month or so, so that I'll be more sensitive to any changes in position. I need to enjoy the music for a while without worrying about any of the "technical" considerations!

 

[hydra]

In the interest of science, and to whet my curiosity, I have half a mind to try this out sometime:



Maybe I'll try this out when the honeymoon period is over, and when I have more time (and inclination) to mess about and experiment more . This would give enough room behind the speakers, between the speakers and my chair, and enough room behind me. The corner to my left could be a problem, but I wouldn't know until I try this out. But it would not let me watch movies properly, so I'm not likely to keep this setup if at all I try it (even if it sounds good).

 

[arj]

I used to use this configuration with my Merlin's and it is really good as sidewall reflections and back wall reflections. Only problem is you lose space

 

[hydra]

My amp woes have been resolved, at least for the time being.

The Rethm folks have graciously given me a standby amp for use with the Trishnas :yahoo:

The standby I received is a prototype of a hybrid amp that's going into production very soon. For the time being, it is referred to as the Gaanam Hybrid Amp. It has a tube buffered Preamp stage (6922 tubes), single ended class A power stage with no feedback, and two output transformers (one per channel) in the output stage. It's a very unconventional design. And the Trishnas and the Hybrid Gaanam make beautiful music!

The Trishnas have had excellent imaging, a deep, wide and tall sound-stage right out of the box. The presentation of music has not changed substantially with the change in amp -- all these features were present with the earlier amplification also. But the tone and character of the sound has substantially changed for the better with the new amp.

The combination plays music with great detail, that's non-fatiguing at the same time. I can actually hear the cliched "details and instruments I've never heard before". Vocals have excellent depth and presence. Drum sections have a kind of visceral slam that I've never experienced before in my room. And cellos and trumpets sound so real! Also oddly enough, the Trishnas have very even bass throughout the room now, even in corners! I'd always thought this came about with careful speaker placement, but I'm certain this change came about after I started using the Hybrid Gaanam Proto.

You might say I'm having a late honeymoon with the Trishnas, as I've barely slept the last one week since this amp came in. My neighbors have not started complaining yet, but I have been disturbing their sleep well into the early morning hours. And I still can't get enough music.

I've been enjoying music with these two since Monday. I'm posting this information with permission from Rethm: I'd been very excited about this and unable to share it till today. Since the amp is an internal prototype, I'm afraid I can't share pics. There's no cabinet to admire anyway, and the proto consists of just the bare innards arranged (very neatly) on a plywood platform.

I'll most likely buy the final production version of this amp when it goes into production. It makes an excellent partner for the Trishnas.

 

[prem]

Great. In fact I was talking to Jacob today and he was mentioning he is developing a hybrid amp and that the prototype is ready

 

[Naturelover]

Wonderful!!. So nice of the Rethm folks to do that :clapping:

 

[himadri]

My amp woes have been resolved, at least for the time being.

The Rethm folks have graciously given me a standby amp for use with the Trishnas :yahoo:

The standby I received is a prototype of a hybrid amp that's going into production very soon. For the time being, it is referred to as the Gaanam Hybrid Amp. It has a tube buffered Preamp stage (6922 tubes), single ended class A power stage with no feedback, and two output transformers (one per channel) in the output stage. It's a very unconventional design. And the Trishnas and the Hybrid Gaanam make beautiful music!

The Trishnas have had excellent imaging, a deep, wide and tall sound-stage right out of the box. The presentation of music has not changed substantially with the change in amp -- all these features were present with the earlier amplification also. But the tone and character of the sound has substantially changed for the better with the new amp.

The combination plays music with great detail, that's non-fatiguing at the same time. I can actually hear the cliched "details and instruments I've never heard before". Vocals have excellent depth and presence. Drum sections have a kind of visceral slam that I've never experienced before in my room. And cellos and trumpets sound so real! Also oddly enough, the Trishnas have very even bass throughout the room now, even in corners! I'd always thought this came about with careful speaker placement, but I'm certain this change came about after I started using the Hybrid Gaanam Proto.

You might say I'm having a late honeymoon with the Trishnas, as I've barely slept the last one week since this amp came in. My neighbors have not started complaining yet, but I have been disturbing their sleep well into the early morning hours. And I still can't get enough music.

I've been enjoying music with these two since Monday. I'm posting this information with permission from Rethm: I'd been very excited about this and unable to share it till today. Since the amp is an internal prototype, I'm afraid I can't share pics. There's no cabinet to admire anyway, and the proto consists of just the bare innards arranged (very neatly) on a plywood platform.

I'll most likely buy the final production version of this amp when it goes into production. It makes an excellent partner for the Trishnas.

congrats
way to go, the right approach
cheers

 

[mpw]

good for you hydra and good stuff from rethm too.. they will get useful feedback and a possible first customer

njoi !!

mpw

 

[hydra]

Thanks guys!

Yes, this is indeed a very nice gesture from Rethm's side. Depending on how fast I can recharge my Vitamin M levels, I will definitely be picking up the production version of this amp from them.

 

[gobble]

It has a tube buffered Preamp stage (6922 tubes), single ended class A power stage with no feedback, and two output transformers (one per channel) in the output stage. It's a very unconventional design.

All that is standard. Do you have more details of what exactly is unconventional about this new design?

Drum sections have a kind of visceral slam that I've never experienced before in my room. And cellos and trumpets sound so real!.

NOw this is always something to clap about !
Reading your account of the listening fever,I envy you..! It must really sound special

G0bble

 

[mpw]

hydra,

please post pics of the amp too..



mpw

 

[apk]

Congratulations! Nothing better for the Trishnas than something from Rethm's own stable......

Now all you have to do is to 'beg, borrow or steal' for the essential vitamin 'M'!!

Best,
APK.

 

[magma]

Hi Hydra

I do not know what room treatments you are using but keep absorption to a minimum

is this a blanket/general recommendation in your opinion?
or only wrt to the trishna's ?

P.S
off the 6 walls which walls do you recommend treating with absorption and which walls diffration

 

[denom]

Good going Anup

Enjoy what most of us here don't (listen to music to ones hearts content)
I don't really need to say this to you as you've already been doing so as you have written in an earlier post

:cheers:

 

[hydra]

Thanks guys!

gobble, I'm not too much a technical/specs guy in terms of knowledge, and I was under the impression that the use of output transformers along with the solid state Class A power stage was quite uncommon.

mpw, I really can't post pics of this amp. It's their internal prototype, and they've trusted me with it. There's no body or cabinet, really. Just the bare components laid out on a plywood board. It would be very uncool if I posted pics.

magma, for some reason, all Rethms (particularly the previous generation) seem to sound better in rooms with minimum or no treatment. This might be what Prem was saying.

The current gen Rethms are a bit more detailed on the top end (than the previous gen) and might do fine with a little strategically-placed absorption (my personal opinion only), but even these do really well without any room treatment. To me, they seem to prefer live-sounding rooms.

I'd also be interested in hearing Prem's opinion. His Saadhanas (and the way he's set them us) are definitely considered to be a reference setup!

Dave, yes! After all, that is what all this is about!

 

[prem]

Hi Magma

It's with reference to the Rethm speakers only. The side walls are not an issue with the Rethms. Would recommend a rug or carpet on the floor and maybe some simple silk panels on the wall behind the listening chair. Again this is only for the Rethms.

 

[sidvee]

I had a few e-mail xchanges with Jacob couple of years ago, when I was considering Trishnas/Maargas for my listening room. Right away he mentioned that his speakers perform better in untreated rooms, and his biggest caution was against drop ceiling with acoustic tiles. Subsequently I dropped the idea as my room is treated both with drop ceiling (armstrong tiles) and carpeted along with GIK and echobuster panels on the walls. OTOH perhaps these speakers work well in living room based systems where acoustic treatment is not always desired or easy to do.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Nikhil]

gobble, I'm not too much a technical/specs guy in terms of knowledge, and I was under the impression that the use of output transformers along with the solid state Class A power stage was quite uncommon.

....

+1 .. Congratulations Hydra. Good stuff happens to good guys!

 

[rikhav]

I had a few e-mail xchanges with Jacob couple of years ago, when I was considering Trishnas/Maargas for my listening room. Right away he mentioned that his speakers perform better in untreated rooms, and his biggest caution was against drop ceiling with acoustic tiles. Subsequently I dropped the idea as my room is treated both with drop ceiling (armstrong tiles) and carpeted along with GIK and echobuster panels on the walls. OTOH perhaps these speakers work well in living room based systems where acoustic treatment is not always desired or easy to do.
Cheers,
Sid

Hi Sid
In a way that's a boon for audiophiles who can't have a dedicated listening roomhyeah:

Makes me wonder what things were incorporated in the design of the speaker which makes it what it is

It's like a sports car which goes more faster on broken Tarmac

 

[mpw]

rikhav,

most music afficionados ( or audiophiles ? ) do not have the wallet to afford the MRP of the Trishna's either :lol:

sorry hydra .. a bit OT ..

mpw