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Post by keramat8 on Sept 13, 2016 0:41:10 GMT
Sorry for the delay in responding. I am very glad to hear that you are now in the pink of health. Thanks for the account of how you got 'exposed'...most interesting. I am not at all familiar with your speakers...would you mind telling me more of about them? I may have an opportunity for another IVDR, at least to borrow if the owner's reluctant to sell. As rare as XVI monos are, I wonder how bi-amping with two IVDRs might sound like, given my positive experience with biamping Super VIIIs? Thanks for the heads-up on the German and US eBay! Kind regards Thank you Keramat - I am indeed that person. When I wasn't in great shape, I spent a lot of time in that room, attempting to play everything I owned (never touched the surface), because, well, you know... I've owned (or borrowed/heard) just about every iteration of Exposure amplification. The love affair started during a listening session at Cleartone Audio in Bolton, early 80s. The VI, VII & VIII was clearly better than a Naim combo it was set up against, and when I eventually had some dosh I bought the shop dem set up. The only ones I 'bought blind' were my first pair of XVI Monos, but I'm so glad I did. As good as a IVDR can be, the XVIs are simply in another league. They don't appear for sale often (the last pairs I saw for sale were Farlowe's own), but it does happen. Look out for eBay in Germany & the US.
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Post by boxoffrogs on Sept 13, 2016 8:58:42 GMT
Hi Keramat
The speakers are Jamo R909 Dipoles. Before these I had a pair of Neat Ultimatum MF7s, which were absolutely wonderful with the XVIs, but the bass sometimes got out of control. Sometimes you just have to look for a speaker which works best with the room, and after hearing the Jamos at a show I fell in love with them. I bought a 2nd hand pair in mint condition at a third of RRP, and thankfully, they gelled with both the room and the amps.
I've had two IVDRs before, but in two separate systems, and never took the opportunity to bi-amp them: sorry, I can't help you with this. Obviously if you can borrow another one you can come to your own conclusion.
All the best Theo
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 13, 2016 9:52:33 GMT
here is a lot of Classic Expo gear at the moment, but they are going for really stupid prices. I bought my IX PSU for about 370 I think, not what is being asked at present.
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Post by keramat8 on Sept 21, 2016 2:03:19 GMT
Theo...those Jamos, they are looking great and I am sure that they sound glorious! I've got too many sound of music-emitting boxes in two separate spaces. The Royd Abbots and Epos ES11's put out really great sound pressure, foot-tapping and quite prodigious bass with the bi-amped Super VIII's in my small home office...the speakers located around midpoint along the length of the room. The IVDR doesn't seem to put out that much more bass but seems tighter and more textured and colourful. Using the IVDR in my main large listening space in the loft upstairs, with Proac Response 2.5's, I dont hear more output or bass but a larger image in depth and breadth, a little bit more insight...better when played loud. Sources in that loft are a Voyd/Helius Orion/Musicman turntable and CEC T02 CD transport/Musical Fidelity Trivista DAC. I use a Meridian 602 transport/Bel Canto DAC2 downstairs in the office. Planning to bring a LP12 later after I get the Ittok replaced with a Zeta arm. Lots of other stuff that I switch around upstairs...including Leben CS300X tube amp going into Impulse H2 or Living Voice and Tube Technology Unisis going into Impulse Lali's...you might see that I am quite partial to EL84 tube integrateds going into high sensitivity speakers. With the Exposure stuff I seem to be going in a different direction but all the facets of sound and presentation that I value and enjoy are there, but in different proportions...of course they all sound different but enjoyable all the same. Waiting for my friend...going off on a 2 week overseas assignment in October, so I'll see how that second IVDR sounds in a bi-amped 2xIVDR arrangement...looks like a worthy experiment. Best regards! /Lan Hi Keramat The speakers are Jamo R909 Dipoles. Before these I had a pair of Neat Ultimatum MF7s, which were absolutely wonderful with the XVIs, but the bass sometimes got out of control. Sometimes you just have to look for a speaker which works best with the room, and after hearing the Jamos at a show I fell in love with them. I bought a 2nd hand pair in mint condition at a third of RRP, and thankfully, they gelled with both the room and the amps. I've had two IVDRs before, but in two separate systems, and never took the opportunity to bi-amp them: sorry, I can't help you with this. Obviously if you can borrow another one you can come to your own conclusion. All the best Theo
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 21, 2016 6:48:34 GMT
Great, do keep us posted
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Post by yomanze on Sept 22, 2016 8:02:50 GMT
Due to living room works have been sitting with just the Exposure III/IV, a Vista Audio phono stage, Pioneer PL71 / Reson Reca into Royd RR3s.
The speaker cable was a worry, but turns out the Van Damme HiFi @ 2.5mm is just right - my LFD cables are half thick ribbon... Ultra-low capacitance is important for these old amps. You could separate the wires too by making a cut and tearing down for even lower capacitance - inductance not a worry here.
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Post by yomanze on Sept 22, 2016 8:36:30 GMT
The combo has some of the positive attributes that you would associate with tube amps, a very liquid midrange, a touch of warmth and no hardness at the top end. At the same time it is propulsive and dynamic. Just good rollicking fun really.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 9:34:48 GMT
YMMV but I found the III and IV loved the cable Chris discovered. That was using Spicas, Royd Minstrels and both Cubetts and my own DIY cubes. I'd agree entirely with your description of the sound. They never cease to entertain.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 10:27:08 GMT
I am very keen on hearing a later (Face-lift) IV DR in my system. I have been told by Tony at Exposure that it should be a significant upgrade on my XVIII but would remain harmonious with the XVII pre amp and be a better match for the speakers I now have. He suggested that the earlier IV DR was good but wouldn't necessarily work as well with my XVII as the later model. If anyone hears of one of the later IV DR's becoming available, please, please let me know. Or even better I'd like to hear the XVI monos Paul.
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 22, 2016 11:06:31 GMT
The IVDR comes up on ebay from time to time, but Farlowe Expo gear is going for rediculous sums of money at the moment. A few years ago I paid about £400 for my IVDR. I know these things appreciate but not that much. If your patient you can get yourself a good deal. It was funny, when I bought my IVDR I had no idea where in Britain is was coming from; it ends up being in the village next to mine. i.e. 2 miles away
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 20:27:12 GMT
I'm going against the grain here, but I actually prefer the Dual 4 non-regulated. I've compared them side by side on two occasions when I owned both and I found the regulated one a bit less "free" in its music delivery. I also compared a late Dual IV and a VI Preamp fed from an IX PSU against the ancient III/IV Yomanze has. To me the vintage model with its massive frame transformer and the Dumpy little III preamp were significantly better. They were less "flat earth" in their delivery, with much more openness, yet they still had all the muscle, grip, pace and warmth of the best Exposures. They are all great amps though and I'd happily live with any of them indefinitely.
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Post by southall1998 on Sept 22, 2016 22:36:10 GMT
The Exposure III/IV does fascinate me slightly. Maybe someday, I'll give this combo a go!
How much does the early (square frame) Exposure IV weigh approx?
S.
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 22, 2016 22:48:09 GMT
I'm going against the grain here, but I actually prefer the Dual 4 non-regulated. I've compared them side by side on two occasions when I owned both and I found the regulated one a bit less "free" in its music delivery. I also compared a late Dual IV and a VI Preamp fed from an IX PSU against the ancient III/IV Yomanze has. To me the vintage model with its massive frame transformer and the Dumpy little III preamp were significantly better. They were less "flat earth" in their delivery, with much more openness, yet they still had all the muscle, grip, pace and warmth of the best Exposures. They are all great amps though and I'd happily live with any of them indefinitely. Your not alone here, word on the street is that many would agree with you.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2016 22:49:25 GMT
I'd guess about 20kg. The dual IV is a bit heavier but they are all beautifully built. I have tried a 3 preamp up against a 6 a few times and the 3 is on another planet AFAIC. Not may of them about though and Yomanze's is even more rare in that it connects to the 4 via Exposure's equivalent of a SNAIC. Only the very earliest amps did this. Later one used a 5 pin domino DiN lead for power and pano leads for signal. This should be better but I loved the earlier amps and I'm sure teh SNAIC style lead was part of the sound they produced.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2016 16:08:34 GMT
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 24, 2016 18:34:12 GMT
That's a lot more like it. I see it's sold, did you go for it?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2016 19:01:24 GMT
Nah, I can't use it right now and I'm using up all my available goodwill with people storing stuf. I VERY nearly bought a KSA50 about 10 days ago but the hassle of storing or shipping would've taken away the pleasure of having it. My time will come again but for now it has to be "small is beautiful".
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ians
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Post by ians on Sept 25, 2016 8:54:23 GMT
Morning all. I''m new to the forum but a long time Exposure user. I bought an integrated X in 1989. I then went in various different directions before buying Grommits IV dual but non reg. I use these with a IX & XI complete the set up driving fettled and new cone surrounds on Gale GS401C. Always hankered after a IVDR so I jumped in quickly and have bought the one linked off eBay for £490. I pick it up on Tuesday. I need to take the lid off it as I do have a couple of reservations about the unit (no captive mains lead and the back showing IVR mk2 but no 'dual reg' below the front Exposure logo) but we will see. Its worth a punt. I'll let you know how I get on.
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Post by ChrisB on Sept 25, 2016 9:17:26 GMT
Hi and welcome to The Audio Standard. That sounds like a unique amp speaker combination. What do you use as sources to play through it? Here's hoping that the new amp turns out OK for you!
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Post by Sovereign on Sept 25, 2016 9:30:26 GMT
Fantastic set up mate. That was the Exposure set up I had before is sold it all to go down the NVA , mistake? Not really but I would have loved to have stayed on the Expo journey. I had my Exposure gear playing music through Epos ES 11 speakers, Heco Celan 700 speakers and ATC 35s all sounding lovely. I would have loved to have had the Expo gear to play through the open baffles I have now, I think that would be an interesting combo.
As I'm sure your aware if the IV power amp is not as advertised you have a case for compensation etc
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