I have been considering a set for my speakers.
Hegel Integrated
- Thread starter MikeT.
- Start date
I have been considering a set for my speakers.
The Primare has a nice MC stage, too, with various loading options. Depending on the cart I liked it with or without a SUT. Just let me know when you’re around, we can figure out a meet up. I really like the Primare…I think it’s the equal of the Lehmann, it’s just different. More “musical” less detailed.You nailed it. I’m sold on SUT’s but it sure would be nice to have that simplicity integrated amps can offer, one with a good phono stage.
My daughter lives in Evanston and I would love to borrow your Primare. I know we have something coming up with her and husband soon. I’ll plan it out with a couple of dates for you to consider. I’ve been looking at that Musical Surroundings Phonomena ii.
I had to buy some tripod screw adapters so they would fit the threads on the bottoms of the speakers (as I didn't get in touch with them to get the proper threaded studs--they are available through their distributors apparently). And being on carpet, I had to buy the Carpet Disc adapters so the Gaia IIIs could sit on top of them (it's like a metal cup with spikes underneath). Gaia in sets of four (per speaker) have these capacities: I (220 lbs), II (121 lbs), III (70 lbs), and Titan (620 lbs).
They do need to be purchased based on the weight of the speaker, as they work best when loaded between their weight limits. That is for any of their products. Too little weight on the pucks will cause them to lose their effectiveness, where too much will overload them.
With my components, I use either three or four of the Iso-Pucks (from their Pro Audio line) depending on component weight (Mini - 6 lbs, Puck - 20 lbs, "76" - 40 lbs). The Mini pucks are under most components, but I need the Pucks for the power amp, using three. I have a 3-inch maple block (from Butcher Block Acoustics) supported by four Pucks as a turntable isolator and it works well.
There is a more expensive series beyond the Gaia called the Orea (and the different weight capacities are colors--graphite, bronze, indigo, bordeaux), but too rich for my blood. As it was, I got mine all as B-stock/demos.
I auditioned the Hegel 90 extensively when I got my first system. It was okay, but there wasn't anything special about it or its presentation to me. In the end I went with a Croft Phono Integrated, which was a bit more expensive, had the better phono stage. The Croft was more euphonic, less neutral. The sense of space was also a bit better on the Croft. The Hegel was a good, convenient integrated, but kind of unexciting for me - visually and acoustically.
Harbeth speakers arent *that* amp sensitive in my experience, they do their thing if you provide enough watts and an at least decent design (which most amps are these days).
Harbeth speakers arent *that* amp sensitive in my experience, they do their thing if you provide enough watts and an at least decent design (which most amps are these days).
Finally came across a couple of sets of used Gaia 1's at a 'somewhat' reasonable price to put under the 'somewhat' heavy Acoustic Zen Crescendos
Installed them this evening and I am 'somewhat' surprised at how different the speakers sound when 'floating' on this 'somewhat' mysterious material.
I am 'somewhat' considering another set for under my tubed integrated amp.
Haven't seen you post recently. Hope all is 'somewhat' well.
TBS, someone at AK recently asked if I might be dead.
So you really heard a 'somewhat' (subjective) difference for the better? (BTW I'd love to hear a pair of those AZ crescendos, and/or the Adagios). I've got the Fyne 501SPs, with spikes on a tile floor. Some day I'll probably try the Gaias with them, but I'm currently bogged down comparing wires (one pair is AZ) and dialing in a new REL this month..
- What sounded different?...
Yes, I really heard a 'somewhat' (subjective) difference for the better.
Hard to put into words, but what I am hearing is much more clarity and nuance. Listening to the song Temptation by Diana Krall, a song I have heard hundreds of times, and for the first time I am hearing how nice the organ sounds in this tune.
Another thing that is obvious is there is more separation between kick drums and low bass guitar notes. It is much easier to follow the bass and hear that there is a kick drum keeping time.
It is like comparing a great remaster (Steve Wilson's work comes to mind) of an album that you have listened to for years, and now you hear so much more...micro detail, fingers on strings, rasp of a horn, or the signal to noise ratio was greatly increased.
That being said, the speakers were previously sitting on some stick-on floor pads. I was pretty excited to get them home, moved into the basement by myself, and then set up. I have spikes for them, but since they are on a QLVF (Quality Laminate Vinyl Floor) I never installed the spikes.
The speakers are also 2-3 inches higher than they were previously so my ears are now 2-3 inches more inline to the lower midrange speaker than the tweeter.
Still, I am 'somewhat impressed' with the Gaia1's.
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I'm tempted by the Gaias.
BTW - VINYL was a Wordle word last week. It was a tough one.
Ya gotta know the game. It's fun. We have a daily family competition.
The Gaia-2's pop much more frequently on the used market, the Gaia-1's not so much.
I assume more speakers are made in the weight range that the Gaia-2 supports.
(Maximum weight 120lbs (54kg) per set of 4)
More luck than skill.
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I got a 4 or a 5 on that one..
