This is also helpful. I don't plan to move away from tubes but I do try to look out for SS gear that can perform most like tubes -- if for some reason I had to go SS down the road. Heat, for example.
Thanks, I'll be interested to hear how the JL CR1 works out. I've never tried an external crossover, nor have I daisy-chained the mains off a sub, because one of my greatest fears is signal degradation. Though I freely admit that that is at least partly irrational. |
I'll keep you posted on my JL CR1 outcome. Need to move some things around and possibly get some ic's to make this work.
I value a big soundstage with immediacy and dynamics. The Bhaava's are all that with finesse and grunt all at once. It's a meaty dynamic sound and I don't find myself tilting my listening towards any one genre or another which is always a sign to me that something is lacking.
I always go back to SETs for the immediacy/palpability and high efficiency/horns for dynamics. I think the CR1 with my Triode Labs 2A3 might do the trick. The 2A3 with the Vibe/Pulse really does that cool elasticity thing that you rarely hear. Right now, I'm also using a Kinki EX-M7. The Kinki is really good. I'll likely keep it just to have it in the quiver. If I wanted uber simple with reference sound, I'd go Vega G2 direct into the Kinki. I love tubes, but this combo gets dangerously close to a really good tubed amp, but with much better bass. The Kinki has mondo resolution but never sounds etched or presenting things artificially. Basically, the tonal balance seems dead-on and the leading edge isn't too exaggerated but the trailing notes last a long time. I'm also using an EtherRegen into my Auralic which works wonders.
I'll keep you posted on things. The good news is I know the sound I like and it hasn't changed too much over the years. I've been at this since 2000 and have cycled through an ungodly amount of gear. I always seem to migrate back to a core set of designers (Pass, Berning, Tom Evans to name a few) that always produce the sonic landscape I prefer. |
"I always get sucked into the downsize/simplify mode, but then you have those magical music experiences where the system sounds so good and immersive that the experience is imprinted in your memory. And that's why I can never consistently downsize my rig."
I know exactly what you mean. Over the course of several years, I ride that wave up and down. I build out for several years, chasing a particular sound. And then I realize I've got a room full of equipment and can't remember what I was looking for. And all the cords and cables start to give me the heebie-jeebies, |
The Bhaava's have an 8" driver, the Trishna's a 5". The Bhaava's energize the room in a way that the Trishna's simply do not. I'd expect the Maarga's to be a slightly fuller sounding version of the Trishna's.
A dealer told me he preferred the Bhaava's to the Trishna's. I can understand why. You could get a Rel sub and just use the speaker-level outputs from the Cary. That's what I'm doing now since I haven't yet incorporated the JL CR1 into things.
I would think that the smaller the driver the more meaningful the JL CR1 would be. Srajan at 6moons seems to be going down this path now. I'm also trying to downsize and simplify things. I'm using a Vega G2 going direct and the sound is really good, but when I put my Tom Evans Vibe/Pulse into the mix, the delta is immediately apparent and not that subtle.
Hope this helps. You can get some good deals on the Rethm's now since they're updating the line and going to forward facing bass drivers, rather than the existing downward.
I always get sucked into the downsize/simplify mode, but then you have those magical music experiences where the system sounds so good and immersive that the experience is imprinted in your memory. And that's why I can never consistently downsize my rig. |
Thanks, eaglejo! That's very encouraging. Silly question maybe, but does it seem like the driver is working harder? Like, is it trying to produce the bass that the bottom unit is not producing?
I've also spent a lot of time thinking about how to integrate a sub. I have a Cary 300b integrated with no sub output. Frankly it's been quite frustrating. I like the Rethm concept, but alas, the cords . . .
The Trishna/Bhaava comparison makes sense. Maybe the Marga offers a little of both. |
Missed your last question. The Trishnas are more refined. The Bhaavas more fun. |
Sorry for the delay. I turned off the subs on the Bhaavas and also disconnected my subwoofer. Better bass than I would have expected. I'm listening to some electronica right now and the bass is quite good. I get what you're saying with the powercords though. With all subs off, I realize that I need to do some more work on integrating the Rel 212-SE. It's likely too big for my current listening room. I picked-up a JL CR1 crossover which I was hoping to introduce into the equation. This would let me high pass to my 2A3 SET at 60Hz or so and then send the rest to the sub. I think this will likely be the best outcome. A friend who I trust has done this with stunning results.
Running the Bhaavas with an external sub and not using their internal subs is my preferred mode. |
eaglejo, thanks. Also curious, how do you feel the Bhaava compares to the Trishna? |
rfprice, I'll try it with the sub off today and report back. |
The name of the game these days is Simplify! I don't have a sub output, so the sub solution wouldn't be much less cumbersome than the power cords. Maybe I need to go in a different direction. |
"And, what is wrong with power cords anyway? They are an ancient druid symbol of male virility."
Sign me up! |
"...Eaglejo, with the bass modules disconnected, do the drivers produce any bass at all?..."
My guess would be no. |
We have a demo pair with boxes 2000 they are excellent loudspeakers just not fitting in well at our store can ship in the usa |
It would seem to me that if you did not want to run more power cords these would not be the speakers for you. eaglejo hooked up a subwoofer so he has another power cord. And, what is wrong with power cords anyway? They are an ancient druid symbol of male virility. |
Eaglejo, with the bass modules disconnected, do the drivers produce any bass at all? |
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Funny you should ask that. I've got 2 pairs of Rethm's, Trishnas and Bhaavas. I've been running the Bhaavas with the bass modules turned off and a Rel 218se sub with really good results. I'm doing it for the same reason as you. Didn't feel like running more power cords. |
I'm not familiar with Rethm loudspeakers but speakers with powered woofers need to be powered. No way around that. |
