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AUDIO FORUMS >> Member's Systems Picture Gallery >> My SE34's
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Message started by miller88 on 09/26/14 at 14:44:56

Title: My SE34's
Post by miller88 on 09/26/14 at 14:44:56

Pretty happy so far:)

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by deucekazoo on 09/26/14 at 15:07:14

Nice setup. I like the custom HDT MKII.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by beowulf on 09/26/14 at 21:10:50

+1 those speakers are beautiful! 8-)

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by miller88 on 09/27/14 at 01:30:51

Thanks, they are done in teak. I just replaced the drivers with Steve's new phase plug mod version, not really sure I like it as much as the old ones but I'm trying to let them settle for at least a month before I give up on them.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by hdrider on 09/27/14 at 20:49:30

Nice set up! I am wondering if you started with one amp and added the second or just ordered two. I am about ready to order one Rachel and ZPE and still wondering about the 5/6 watts into 90dB speakers. My little 2watt Zen drives them ok, but doesn't totally rock out but sounds amazing. Why two with those speakers if you don't mind my asking? Thanks, Chris.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by miller88 on 09/29/14 at 18:09:01

I did start with only one and it was great, but I live in a big concrete loft with very high ceilings. It is a very bright room and hard to fill. I got the second one for that reason, while its not a huge volume difference it has much more punch or authority than just the one in my room. My boyfriend has just one and uses the HDT's in a more normal room setup. His sounds amazing and fills the whole room beautifully. I think two SE34's in most peoples situations is just indulgent. But it does look cool!!

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by hdrider on 09/30/14 at 03:07:34

Miller88- thanks for the insight. My room is normal so I would guess that one should do ok, but I can see changing speakers or using Rachael to drive the mid/twt/ribbons of my Sequerra's. Happy listening, Chris.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by marky on 09/30/14 at 10:17:36

Thats a really nice system miller88, apart from the speakers, which have a wow factor, it`s similar to mine. The amps are much bigger when you get close up. Actually I do feel a little self indulgent with 2 Rachaels but they did come in at under the price of theTorii which had a bit too much power than I needed. It`s great that the price structure seems to work that way. You must have a lot of power in reserve using the higher efficient HDT`s than my 89db stats. One Rachael just cant get them into gear and kick on. The pair of them is my `dream team` :) (and I just love the `big boys toys` aspect of having leads everywhere and making it all look complicated )
Great listening and as well as your speakers I`m a little envious you`ll be visiting the mothership soon !

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by Core32 on 10/04/14 at 01:11:17

Very nice setup and very much like what I have been contemplating.
I'm sure this is a silly question but that never stopped me before :-/
The Rachaels are integrated amps with a volume control and such if I am not completely off base.
I want to also put a pair, in mono mode, on my 90dB speakers.
How does the preamp section of the Rachael play into these when in mono setup? Any special connections required?
Or did you buy these without the volume control?
I also have separate powered subs that can take line inputs. Would the line out option for the Rachaels be a good choice to run these off?
Hopefully I didn't jack your thread too much :)

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by miller88 on 10/04/14 at 21:11:32

They say integrated just because there is a volume control, they really are not a true integrated amp/there is no preamp function. If you order it without a volume control you would have to have a preamp in the system. If you want to drive a sub you would have to have a third se34 or use one for the speakers and the second for the sub.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by Core32 on 10/05/14 at 03:15:38

Thanks for the clarification.
I'm sure before I purchase I will actually call in but one more question.
This paragraph in the ad:
"Outputs -
If your configuration has a volume control, then you have the option of adding variable line level outputs. These outputs can be used to driver a second amp (bi-amping) or a subwoofer(s). The signal coming from these outputs will match the signature of the amplifier. That means you could run this amp on mids and highs and a "slave" amp on the bass that takes on the signature of the tube amp for a more coherent sound."
Wouldn't that seem to say I could use this for line level input to subs?

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by Lin on 10/05/14 at 03:51:22

"Wouldn't that seem to say I could use this for line level input to subs?"

Yes

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by miller88 on 10/05/14 at 19:39:42

Thanks Lin:)

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by hdrider on 10/05/14 at 20:15:50

Miller88- Off the subject of this post, but with your set up how much heat are you getting off the amps and pre-amp in your rack shelves? I am looking at my options for the gear closet I use and I am wondering how much space I should allow above the Rachael and the ZP3? Thanks for your help, Chris.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by mark58 on 10/05/14 at 20:35:16

Chris, I'd be careful about putting your tube gear in a closet. In my 11 by 11 foot Listening Room with 8 foot ceilings, the temperature increases 7 or 8 degrees if I don't have the air conditioner on. This comes in handy in the winter here in Dallas...not so much the other nine months of the year.

I have my gear all in the open...TT, Taboo MK III and CSP-3 on a coffee table in the middle of the room and the Torii MK IV on an end table directly behind the coffee table. The ZP3 sits below the coffee table on a carpeted floor. None of this is ideal, I know. So if I get a rise of 7 or 8 degrees after 3 or 4 hours of listening in my closed room... I can only imagine how hot your closet would get.

In regards to the height...you should have a minimum of 3 inches of air space above your tallest tube for each component and it would be best to have back, front and sides open as Miller88 does. These Amps do put off some serious heat. Just my two cents...an opinion only. Mark.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by hdrider on 10/06/14 at 01:31:27

Mark- Thanks for your insights. Good or bad, the closet is where the audio gear has gone for over a dozen years. Tube pre-amps, Hybrid power amp, Fisher 500C receiver and the closet does get warmer than the living room, but the door is cracked a few inches when the systems is on. I guess the height above the tallest tube is the guideline I am looking at. Thanks again, Chris.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by mark58 on 10/06/14 at 02:01:15

Chris, you should check out how high the temp gets when you add your new tube gear. When I noticed how the temperature increased dramatically during my listening sessions, I moved one of those inexpensive atomic clocks with a Temp function into the Listening Cave. The longer the listening session the greater the increase. Today I spent 2 1/2 hours and the Temp increased a little under 5 degrees. I'm sure Steve's gear can withstand high temps. If I were you, I'd talk to him about it after you know what temps occur during your typical listening sessions. Mark.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by Lin on 10/06/14 at 03:42:58

Maybe you can vent it out the back with a small fan.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by Lonely Raven on 10/06/14 at 07:38:56

Tube gear is like running a bunch of 60 to 100 watt bulbs in an enclosed space. If they are in a closet, I would absolutely vent it out with a small fan, or at very least have an open air vent at the top and make sure it can draw cool air from below.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by hdrider on 10/06/14 at 12:51:50

All good points, something I will look at tonight when I get home. Again, Thanks,Chris.

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by miller88 on 10/06/14 at 20:32:43

Well I have good 4 maybe 5 inches above the amps. When I fist had this rack made I only had one se34 on the right side. The top is a 2" slab of white oak and within two weeks it had dried that end enough to shrink it noticeably. I put tin foil on the bottom of the slab and it solved the problem. I live in a loft so I don't notice a room temp issue but it does really make the bottom of the slab really warm if not protected. I don't have that issue with the ZP3 on the shelf below, it puts out much less heat. All that being said I also listen to and have my amps on much more than the average person probably. I rarely watch TV and listen at least 3, usually 5 hours a day. If I'm home they are making music. Two Rachael's in a closet would be pretty warm!

Title: Re: My SE34's
Post by marky on 10/06/14 at 22:00:45

I remember putting tin foil on the underneath of rack shelves to keep them from getting too warm. Now everythings on a 4x2ft single platorm made from 4 thick hardwood ply bolted together. On a Summers evening the room gets quite warm, on a cold day theres no need for the central heating to be on. 12x9ft room.