My HT and HiFi setup using my McIntosh MX122 A/V Controller Pre-Amp as the central unit for all my HiFi and Home Theatre system.

My system...
1) Rega RP8 turntable fitted with Denon 103R MC cartridge
2) Rega Aria Phonostage (MC and MM)
3) M2Tech Young DSD DAC
4) Oppo HA-1 Headphone Amp & DAC
5) Oppo BDP-105D Player
6) Oppo BDP-95 Player
7) Rega Apollo-R CD Player
8) Richard Gray RGPC (UK, 3 units)
9) Primare A32 Power Amplifier (250 watts @ 8 ohms) : For front main speakers
10) Audiolab 8200MB Monoblock Power Amplifier (250 watts @ 8 ohms) : For centre speaker
11) Audiolab 8200P Stereo Power Amplifier (100 watts @ 8 ohms) : For 2 surround speakers
12) 2 Monitor Audio Gold GS200 Floor Stand speakers (Front Left and Right main)
13) Dali Lektor LCR Centre Speaker
14) 2 Monitor BX2 Bookshelf Speakers (Surround Left and Right)













Sorry for the poor picture quality from my android phone.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 3 2016, 07:20 PM

Yes, I agree. Actually I am already thinking of upgrading my Center speaker to a bigger one but the size must not be too big that can "fit" on my AV rack.

Ban Leong was previously the distributor for MA and have dealer in KL but too bad its no longer the distributor. Eng Siang International Ltd in Singapore have just recently taken over as distributor for MA but don't have dealer or agent in KL yet. I called to them in Singapore enquiring about this. I know that speakers rarely have problems but have to send back to Singapore for warranty claims. Also, I prefer to audition first before I buy and the distributor still not yet have dealer here.

Also looking into changing my MA too. Have auditioned floor-stand models from Sonus Faber, Focal, Usher, Mission and Dynaudio. Still not sure which one fits my taste.

I agree. There are too many factors which determines the sound quality. The number of drivers is just ONE of these factors. After determining many of these factors, at the end of the day, we try to squeeze out as much as possible for the money we pay and THEN let our own ears listen based on our own tastes and preferences. Its not easy to choose. Auditioning at showrooms are NOT the same as listening in our own rooms due to the acoustic differences. Anyway, my personal preference is 2 woofers, 1 mid-range and 1 tweeter but its up to each person to choose differently.

All options are open so B&W will be another one to audition too. Unfortunately the distributor at Jaya One, Petaling Jaya was moving out to another location and they had a "clearance sale"... when I went there about a week ago, all better models have already been sold off and also no high end speaker model to test.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 4 2016, 03:48 PM

Hehe... the guy at Jaya One old showroom told me. Will give them some time to settle down first. Thanks.

Also using my Intel NUC i5 computer connected by USB to my M2Tech Young DSD DAC + Van de Graaf Power Supply. My M2Tech DAC is output using XLR to my McIntosh MX122.


My blue WD External USB harddisk connected to my NUC PC.


MY M2Tech Young DSD DAC and Van De Graaf Power Supply.




Using Foobar set to DoP to play DSD64 audio file.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 4 2016, 05:15 PM

Bought it from the dealer in Amcorp Mall in 2014 at RM 8495 for both the M2Tech DAC and M2Tech PSU.

I agree. I don't know whether this M2Tech DAC works without any driver setup on Debian Linux OS because I have not tried it yet. Also haven't tested Music Player Daemon (mpd) and also to find out on how to configure it to play DSD and DSF files. I can do it but I "think" its not so easy for people who is not tech savvy in Linux.

Have a look here for info on setting up Music Player Daemon...
https://lacocina.nl/audiophile-mpd

I also prefer to use my Apple MacBook Pro (13.3in) notebook to play through M2Tech DAC and also Oppo HA-1 Headphone DAC too.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 4 2016, 05:41 PM

Yes, Mr Lim. Hehehe... you DO know many hifi/av dealers in Klang Valley. You must be an audiophile kaki.

Yea, also a hobby for me and more towards Home Theatre with emphasis on audio. Thanks for the link. Good site for reading and getting more relevant info for Linux based audio playback.

I checked mine last year after about 1.5 years. It was only slightly loose so I tightened it until its not loose.

Be very careful. Just make sure NOT to over tighten the rear bolts as it may damage the threads that hold the bolts. Not necessarily a 90 degree turn.

A few years ago, I had a friend who over turned the bolts till it becomes "forever loose" and he had to send the bookshelf speakers back to the distributor, Ban Leong, for parts replacement. Eng Siang International Ltd in Singapore is the new distributor.

Since your optical to rca converter only support 2 channel output, the audio has obviously been changed by your AV Receiver. You don't have sub-woofer for LFE channel.

You also said that your AV receiver don't display input status so its not easy to find out why your receiver sometimes output 2 channel and sometimes 5 channels. Look at your receiver remote to see if there is/are any buttons that changes the 2 channels audio to emulate 5 channels. Usually most Denon, Marantz and Onkyo AV receivers have 4 buttons which are coloured in "Green, Red, Blue and Yellow" which can change the "Sound Mode" from original 2 channels to emulated (not true) 5.1 surround.



In my case, when I play a video with only 2 channel audio, I can press the remote "Green" Movie button to change from Stereo to Dolby Surround (5.1).

Since your AV receiver is a different brand, I don't know whether your receiver supports such features or not. If it does support such feature, your receiver may do it in a different way and probably you may have pressed one of your remote button which caused the 5 channels emulation.

If there is a Manual, you can check it to find out. You can also post a picture of your remote here to show the buttons that it have so that I can at least "guess" the reason.

Yaloh. Each bolt is for holding one driver to the rear of the cabinet. MA bookshelfs with 2 drivers only have 2 rear bolts. My MA Gold GX200 have 4 drivers so it has 4 rear bolts.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

I assume you bought it used. The new MA distributor in Singapore don't have agent or dealer in Malaysia yet.

I was using MA Bronze BX6 in 2011 which sounds great for floor-stands of similar price range. I have already upgraded in 2013 and gave away my BX6 to my bro-in-law.

Included as standard accessories are an Allen Key for tightening the rear bolts and a pair of Port Plugs sponge for inserting into the speaker rear reflex port as shown below...



You can try inserting the "plugs" into the reflex ports to test whether you like the sound or not. No harm trying. I tested mine but I prefer without the plugs. In my opinion only... I feel the inserted plugs made the bass sound too tight and more like aiming the bass directly in front of me. Without the plugs, the bass seems wider and less tight. I did not hear any difference for the vocals and trebles, with or without the plugs. Whether there is any difference for you will depend on various factors such as your room acoustics and how far you placed your floor-stands away from the rear wall.

Hehe... you can custom make the sponge plugs if you do not have the MA Port Plugs.

I will be upgrading from my present MA Gold GX200 and I have to be patient and take my time to audition before I take the plunge.

Addition...
Oh... almost forgot. If you do test with the plugs, do NOT insert too much into the port because it will be difficult to remove the plug if it "drops" inside the "hole".

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 11 2016, 05:33 PM

Oxygen Speaker Cable

I called Acoustique Systems at Amcorp Mall, Mr. Lim and asked about the specs for the Oxygen Speaker Cable.

http://acoustiquesystems.blogspot.my/

Oxygen Speaker Cable is manufactured by a Taiwanese company.
AWG 16 Copper RM 7 per metre
AWG 16 Multi strand Copper RM 10 per metre
AWG 14 Multi strand Copper & Centre Solid Core Copper RM 20+ per metre

* The smaller the AWG number, the thicker the cable.

I am thinking of using AWG 16 Multi strand Copper speaker cable for my soon-to-come pair of Atmos speakers.

Monitor Audio

I bought my MA Gold GX200 and my M2Tech Young DSD DAC from Mr. Lim.

In 2011, I bought the MA top model for the Bronze Series, BX6 at RM 2600 from a guy in Penang who imported a few sets at a cheaper price for sale. At that time it was actually retailing at around net RM 3300. At today's prices (with GST), I guess it should be at around RM 4K+.

This BX6 model have been replaced with the Bronze 6 model which is almost exactly the same as its predecessor.

http://www.monitoraudio.co.uk/products/bronze/bronze-6

So the Bronze Series prices are NOT at the 5 figure price range. I did not check, maybe the top model of the Silver Series should just touch 10K.

Later in 2013, I upgraded to my present Gold Series GX200 (one step below the top GX300) at RM12K+ in 2013 so I believe the Gold and Platinum Series are at 5 figure prices.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 11 2016, 08:59 PM

From the photo file name you have shown here, its Audiovisio AV8815 Digital Karaoke HiFi Amplifier and I could not find any info on this Amp model using Google Search.

From your photo, I cannot identify all the amp buttons that are on this amp so without any more detail info on this amp's functions, I will not be able to find out the reason... and at the most, I cannot even make any guesses too. Unfortunately you do not have the remote and the remote on the photo is too small to see too.

By using the "Audiovisio" as the detailed search name, I suspect that this amp was made by a local Malaysian company, Audio Phonar Electronics Sdn. Bhd. However, I am not sure about this. Mmm... I suspect that its not made in Germany but I may be wrong.

Below is the link for a different model...
http://www.audiophonar.com/index.php?optio...=property&id=80Link to AudioVisio Home Amp

Here is another AudioVisio Digital Karaoke Amp posted in Mudah.my at...
http://www.mudah.my/Amplifier+AudioVisio+D...e+-46093466.htm
... and unfortunately the buttons identification are also blur.

You can contact Audiophonar at their website "http://www.audiophonar.com" IF you wish to find out more. Hehe... I will let you do all the work yourself to find out whether they sold this model or not AND what is the reason that caused the 5 channel output.

Your amp is a Karaoke HiFi unit so I do believe that there are functions on the amp which changes the Vocal Keys to slow and fast AND also can turn a Stereo source to Surround 5 channels. Although I am guessing, this is what I believe so a press of a button or a turn of a control knob on your amp can change this.

Probably you can take a clear photo of the front face of your amp to show the printed words for all the knobs and buttons which look similar to this below...


I know that I did not help much because of lack of any detailed info. This is as far as I can do to help and only giving my guesses.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 12 2016, 05:27 PM

Unfortunately, I don't want all the trouble to buy from the Distributor in Singapore and then deliver to me. As I have said before, I do prefer to buy it from a local Malaysian dealer with local support for any issues and warranty claims. Yea, usually speakers don't have much issues during the warranty period. Even Acoustique System (who previously sells MA) do not want to order it for sale because of reasons that I don't know. Mmm.. probably the profit margin is too low.

I did call Eng Siang Singapore and the price for MA Platinum PL200 is net SGD 14,000 (not yet include GST).

I am now thinking of upgrading to the German made speakers, ELAC FS 409 floor-stands.

I have auditioned it at Acoustique Amcorp Mall and it has a wider sound stage with better wider bass and more detailed clarity in the upper high frequency range. You can go to Acoustique Systems to listen as the ELAC FS 409 is already there for demo. It has a different character covering a wider range of the audio spectrum compared to the more relaxed and not aggressive nature of MA.

For the ELAC FS 409 at 28 to 50,000 Hz range, I found that it does perform admirably with better low bass which are tight enough without emphasizing it too much. Whereas the MA Gold GX200 is not as powerful in bass which is also tight but somehow lacking in emphasis and strength. This is to be expected because GX200 has 35 to 60,000 Hz frequency range. On paper, even the MA Platinum PL200 only ranged at 35Hz - 100kHz with only better high frequency compared to GX200. Obviously, paper technical specs should only be used as a rough guide because there are many other factors that determine each person's perceived audio quality.

I usually let my own ears decide for me and I have listened to the ELAC FS 409 and loved it BUT, unfortunately I cannot go to Singapore to audition the MA Platinum PL 200 there. Anyway, the ELAC FS 409 at RM 29800 is within my budget range. The Platinum PL200 is around RM 41000 (SGD 14K) which is over my budget preference. The RM 10K saved can go towards a pair of Atmos Speakers with a 50 watt (8 ohms) Stereo Parasound Power Amp.

This post has been edited by jamesleetech: Jul 12 2016, 07:06 PM

The first thing you need to decide is where to place the projector away from the screen area, AND how big is the screen area you have on your wall to use.

If you decide to place the projector around 2.5 metres away from the screen wall, then look for a projector with specification that have a Throw Range distance that covers that 2.5 metre distance. For example, the BenQ HT2050 projector has a Throw Range of 3.7m to to 4.8m so you cannot place this projector at 2.5 metres away from the screen because sharp focus image cannot be obtained... by moving the projector to 4 metres away from the screen wall then a sharp focused image can be obtained.

A Long-throw projector requires it to be placed quite far away from the screen. A Short-Throw one has range nearer to screen and an Ultra-short Throw one can be placed very near to the screen. When you use an Ultra-short Throw projector, do make sure that the projection light coverage is wide enough to spread to the entire width of the screen.

Because of the size of your room, I think you should look for Short-Throw and Ultra-short Throw projectors which stays within the distance that you want and make sure the light coverage is wide enough for your screen size.

If the maximum width for your screen is around 8ft, then the screen size should be around 80inch (diagonally) or 39inch high x 69inch wide for Home Theater 16:9 ratio.

https://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/how-to-...n-home-theater/

In a completely darkened room, a projector with a lower Ansi Lumen should be enough to light the screen with proper brightness and black levels. Ansi lumen of 1500 should be bright enough to cover a screen size of 45inch x 80 inch in an almost darkened room. When the room have lots of ambient light from the room lights or windows, then a much higher Lumen is needed. Usually the higher the Lumens, the more expensive the projector cost.

http://www.projectorpeople.com/resources/lumen-guide.asp