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AUDIO FORUMS >> Member's Systems Picture Gallery >> My Modest New Zen System...
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Message started by Mark on 09/26/18 at 11:23:01

Title: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Mark on 09/26/18 at 11:23:01

Just acquired: SE 84 UFO / Betsy Baffles

Previously owned: Decware ZCD 200

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Mark on 09/26/18 at 11:25:09

Another shot...

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Mark on 09/26/18 at 11:27:18

And one more...

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Geno on 09/26/18 at 12:38:55

Nice Mark! How do you like the sound of the Betsy’s?

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Mark on 09/26/18 at 15:43:57

Hello, Geno... Just started break-in period, not only for the speakers, but for the amplifier, speaker cables and all tubes [in both the amp and CDP], but can give you some first impressions:

Of course, they sound open and airy...

The instruments in the orchestra are where they should be...

Good amount of volume from the Zen amp, so efficiency good...

Dipole speakers take some time to adjust from the back wall, so still experimenting with that... Toe-in as well... Off-axis response may mean I might have to break with convention in that respect...

Overall musicality is very good...

Bass surprisingly good...

Slightly strident on top end, which should smooth out within 100 hrs. or so... Note: May be the combination of all the new gear...

'Body and wood' of the sound, along with bloom should also get better as speakers are played...

Can't stop listening to them... And that's probably the best feature of these speakers... I want to listen to them... (m.)

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Geno on 09/27/18 at 03:48:42

That is good to hear, Mark. I love mine. I plan to add one of Randy’s 12” bass units soon to supplement the bass. I hear that the mid bass offered by these is much more natural and blends better with the Betsy’s.

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Lonely Raven on 09/27/18 at 17:22:15

That reminds me of my first Decware setup 20 years ago. When I first visited Steve at his house, he was building the amps out on the patio or in the garage or something like that. He had a $200 Denon CD player, Zen amp, and two way tower speakers with wiring hanging out of the back so he could test different caps.

My setup immediately after was a $200 Denon (used), Zen amp, and Polk LS70 speakers that I stripped out the X-Over and went just caps to protect the tweeters.

I so very much wish we had Betsy Baffles back then, I'm telling you we could have enjoyed the music much more!

You have a great looking setup! I'm sure you'll get years of enjoyment out of it. Just wait for that one day where you'll fire it up (probably after Midnight) and You'll be like WOAH! When everything settles down and the break in is past the 80% mark for all parts of the whole.

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by Mark on 09/28/18 at 01:55:34

Right, L R... I'm looking forward to that evening... There's been a lot of discussion over the years as to why our systems sound better at night, and I won't retouch on them here, but to note that it certainly seems to be so...

Title: Re: My Modest New Zen System...
Post by ossidian on 11/27/18 at 21:57:13

Nice open baffles.