Hi all,
I'm relatively new to this adventure in HIFI.
I have Sachem Pure preamp and Sachem mono blocks that feed Audio pro SW450 sub with twin Audio Pro Black Vector V3 speakers.

Sources I have an Onkyo NS6170 network streamer that is ported into a Metrum Acoustics Octave mini dac with upgraded power supply. I also have a Pioneer Blue ray player that handles SACD.

I am mostly interested in upgrading the sources and room treatments.

Welcome aboard jeb950

Sachem amps have a great rep. Not familiar with your speakers, but are you using two centre speakers?

My Octave mini has a nice smooth NOS sound.

What is it about the current sources that you would like to upgrade?

Hello jeb950
a warm welcome
I read a review of a Sachem amp setup (witchdoctor?) some time ago. It was very complimentary and convincing indeed! 
Looking forward to your contributions. In time, let us known your music preferences & recommendations.

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

Aug 2, 2021 17:40:17 GMT 12 Citroen said:

Welcome aboard jeb950

Sachem amps have a great rep. Not familiar with your speakers, but are you using two centre speakers?

My Octave mini has a nice smooth NOS sound.

What is it about the current sources that you would like to upgrade?

Yes I am. This was recommended in Sir Franco himself. He said that speaker manufacturers put a very high level of parts into centre speakers relatively and these also have the Woofer, Tweeter, Woofer placement that gives a specific profile (I forget which one).

Basically I trusted him blindly and have not been disappointed. He mentioned he uses this very setup himself.

I've not heard a lot but mostly what I have heard I have found mine to be better. Except I do have a friend in chch who has a system worth around $50,000 second hand (Sonos Fabour speakers). It's a beautiful system. While I think mine equals his in clarity and imagining I did think mine was better at base due to the sub.

I was around the other night at his and I noticed the sound was more exciting than mine. Just had me taping my foot more. I was impressed. We were listening to vinyl mostly which I don't have.

I'd like vinyl but not sure it's worth it and would like an upgraded Dac and possibly SACD player.

Aug 2, 2021 18:06:05 GMT 12 foveaux said:

Hello jeb950
a warm welcome
I read a review of a Sachem amp setup (witchdoctor?) some time ago. It was very complimentary and convincing indeed! 
Looking forward to your contributions. In time, let us known your music preferences & recommendations.

Thank you. I Like a range at the moment. I grew up on rock/metal in the 90 so am a rocker at heart but at the moment I'm loving the Blues. Moodier the better. But also have learned to appreciate Jazz and Country.
The genre I struggle with the most is Classical. This will take me a while to appreciate bur cannot be bothered yet.

What is it about the current sources that you would like to upgrade?

[/quote]

That is interesting as my Onkyo has a dac in it and I can do an A B test with my pre amp of both the Onkyo and the Octave. But I have struggled to hear a difference. That being said I do prefer to listen on the Octave but I honestly cannot say why or even hear a difference.

I'd love to know if it's my setup or room. That is holding it back. Thoughts?

Welcome jeb950,

There's no problem using two centre speakers as long as they aren't next to each other, otherwise you can be in for some interesting sound effects.



If you don't have any records, I wouldn't bother starting from scratch,
Yes they can sound amazing but it's also a right royal pain-in-the-ass and buying a turntable is only the start of the $pending



Stick with the digital stuff.

As for room treatment, how's your system setup now ?
Proper setup can do a lot more than fancy room treatments.

As much as I'm a vinylophile, have to agree with the above, esp with current prices for vinyl software and hardware.

The Octave is very easy to listen to, non-fatiguing yet is also clear and concise.

PS the speaker configuration recommended by Sir Franco is the MTM/D'Appolito arrangement perfected by speaker designer Joseph D'Appolito.

However not all MTM speakers are D'Appolito,

MTM has been around since the 1960s, largely unsuccessful until D'Appolito sorted out the lobing, crossover and time alignment issues inherent in MTM designs.

I've always just thought of Centre speakers as excelling at midrange to emphasize vocals and to "centre"/cement the image for videos.

But reading now about the D'Appolito MTM design I can only guess as to its merits if properly implemented.

Aug 2, 2021 19:21:20 GMT 12 michaelw said:

Welcome jeb950,

There's no problem using two centre speakers as long as they aren't next to each other, otherwise you can be in for some interesting sound effects.



If you don't have any records, I wouldn't bother starting from scratch,
Yes they can sound amazing but it's also a right royal pain-in-the-ass and buying a turntable is only the start of the $pending



Stick with the digital stuff.

As for room treatment, how's your system setup now ?
Proper setup can do a lot more than fancy room treatments.

You might have just won me over there. I have come across the option to buy a good condition Michell Transcriptor for $2,000. An absolute work of art but I think you are right. I don't have time to muck around with that.
My friend who had been trying to get me into it has only just mentioned about thr deep money pit they are.

Aug 2, 2021 19:37:24 GMT 12 michaelw said:

PS the speaker configuration recommended by Sir Franco is the MTM/D'Appolito arrangement perfected by speaker designer Joseph D'Appolito.

However not all MTM speakers are D'Appolito,

MTM has been around since the 1960s, largely unsuccessful until D'Appolito sorted out the lobing, crossover and time alignment issues inherent in MTM designs.

That is the one. Thank you.

Aug 2, 2021 19:53:23 GMT 12 Citroen said:

I've always just thought of Centre speakers as excelling at midrange to emphasize vocals and to "centre"/cement the image for videos.

But reading now about the D'Appolito MTM design I can only guess as to its merits if properly implemented.

I guess that is what Franco is going for. He is a very unique fellow. I had a stereo to start with but after listening to it for 6 months there were several things that annoyed me about its sound. After reading Francos website many time I decided to just trust him. Bit of a leap of faith but I'm not disappointed so far.

Aug 2, 2021 21:27:50 GMT 12 jeb950 said:

Aug 2, 2021 19:21:20 GMT 12 michaelw said:

Welcome jeb950,

There's no problem using two centre speakers as long as they aren't next to each other, otherwise you can be in for some interesting sound effects.



If you don't have any records, I wouldn't bother starting from scratch,
Yes they can sound amazing but it's also a right royal pain-in-the-ass and buying a turntable is only the start of the $pending



Stick with the digital stuff.

As for room treatment, how's your system setup now ?
Proper setup can do a lot more than fancy room treatments.

You might have just won me over there. I have come across the option to buy a good condition Michell Transcriptor for $2,000. An absolute work of art but I think you are right. I don't have time to muck around with that.
My friend who had been trying to get me into it has only just mentioned about thr deep money pit they are.

On the other hand...

If you know its a money pit and can spare the cash, you like records/the art work/the physicality/the ritual, the sound, like turntables and setting them up/fiddling with them, swapping cartridges, cleaning the records, sitting down and engaging in listening to a whole album...

Then why not!?

That's what attracts me

For a first turntable I would not buy a Michell Transcriptor !

Go for something new and more user friendly,

eg, Project, Rega, Technics

For ANY turntable I would not buy a Michell Transcriptor!

Unless you just want to look at it...

Aug 3, 2021 14:29:40 GMT 12 Citroen said:

For ANY turntable I would not buy a Michell Transcriptor!

Unless you just want to look at it...

How come? Do they not sound very good or are they just unreliable?
Already taken your advice and stopped the sale.

There are better sounding turntables for the money, IMHO.

For $2000 there are many better choices, some of which michaelw has mentioned. Even at half that...

I agree, the Transcriptor just doesn't sound that good.

A friend recently sold one for a fair wad of ca$h, perfect eye candy for those who buy records but don't play them.

Interesting! Thabk you. So even the new turntables that look flimsy and cheap are better performers than these?
Ps they certainly do look good sitting there.

Depends which "flimsy and cheap' turntables you're referring to.

Project Rega et al are NOT flimsy.

Crosley et al are flimsy and cheap and nasty sounding.

Compared to a new Technics they are

Jeb, pop into your local Listening Post, they carry a wide range of turntables.

Hmm I have an issue with Craig. I appreciate the advise all. I have stopped the purchase of the Michel.
If I venture into Turntables I shall start that on another thread for your advice.
I'd be interested in hearing more systems. Then I can know what's good and what could be improved on mine.
If you ever venture north of Auckland you should drop in for a listen in Francos system. I'm sure he will happily take you through its paces.

haha visiting the website will keep you at a safe distance