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Post by Barrington on Nov 29, 2015 14:36:28 GMT
All quiet for almost a year then late 2013 a speaker change. The biggest thing I have learned about choosing new gear is that you must if you can try it at home , in this case I was not prepared or could be bothered doing just that. So after reading a review on some floorstanders that were ultra versatile and had the looks I was after, I got them without seeing or hearing in person. Acoustic Energy 305 : Another addition to the rack was a Cambridge Audio 752BD , the old DAC went and I fed the Sony 300 disc player into the 752's DAC.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2015 15:18:29 GMT
Do you like them though?
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Post by Barrington on Nov 29, 2015 17:07:27 GMT
Not at first , the reasons being threefold , firstly positioning , I know I said they were versatile but I was sitting far too close and they were too close together , they had to stay put for a long time because of other factors in the room , secondly the rep from AE who actually delivered them said they'd take 50 hours or so to run in and third my brain couldn't cope with all the drivers every record seemed a cacophony. Here they are today , the rack was moved , the speakers an extra 2.5 feet apart and 1 foot further back. afriend of mine who has been in this game many years has sold his Sonus Fabers and bought some after a couple of listens. I'm very pleased with them , I'd love to try them firing down the room but it would be difficult moving other items,
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2015 20:36:48 GMT
I think they look better further apart too.
I bought my Focals without hearing them, although I had heard other Focal models just not mine and was advised by a very ignorant and arrogant Hifi shop representative that they wouldn't work in my room because they're to large for my room but he was incorrect, as they work marvously. I'm sure they'd sound even better in a larger room but that'll have to wait.
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Post by Barrington on Nov 30, 2015 12:30:59 GMT
August 2014 and I thought I'd get a bigger amp to see if I could improve the sound from my speakers. S/H NAD C370 just the job but very little range on the volume so I added the matching power amp C270 and used the former as a pre into the power amps variable inputs. Great stuff lovely sound with the vinyl , big and mellow. The C370 has the same power section as the C270 and people use it to bi-amp , as my speakers only have two terminals I thought I should really sell it and get a NAD pre. The beginning of 2015 and this little fella arrived , NAD C162 : This amp would be responsible for the start of a kit frenzy in the summer and autumn. The set up at this time was now Rega P3/24-2M Black , Puresound P10 , Cambridge 752bd (for all digital duties ) NADs C162/c270 , AE 305's.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 30, 2015 13:13:53 GMT
Nice pre/power combo there. Did the pre sound better than the integrated?
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Post by Barrington on Nov 30, 2015 13:47:12 GMT
Nice pre/power combo there. Did the pre sound better than the integrated? Other people may say differently but I thought the sound was the same , the biggest difference was the Pre has a phono stage and it was this that started off my mini kit rollercoaster. I need to check on the order of the changes
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Post by jandl100 on Nov 30, 2015 18:09:03 GMT
I'm a bit late to this thread. But going back to post #1, I have a JVC JR-S200 receiver now. I've always thought they looked abfab and put a Wanted ad up on the Wigwam - and got offered it for free. It works fine and I think it is a wonderful thing. Here mine is, along with an equally treasured vintage Rotel RA-1412 amp.
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Post by Barrington on Nov 30, 2015 19:13:08 GMT
Just looking at Jerry's JR-S 200 I think the power output was increased over the 100 , but the main thing is the graphic equaliser style tone controls .
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Post by Barrington on Dec 1, 2015 11:17:04 GMT
Really enjoying my 2M Black / P10 / NAD pre/power vinyl sound , then sometime around May '15 I read a review in an American magazine about the NAD C162 Pre , the guy is full of praise and goes into detail about its phono stage (MM & MC) , "very good MM and a quite exceptional MC stage) he then does a mini review compairing the stage to his stand alone phono stages and basically he would be happy to lose his and stick with the NAD. The 2M Black was going nowhere so I thought I'd look out for an old cheap T/T and get a MC cart to try. I found a Systemdek XII 900 in very nice condition for £160 , gave it a new belt , bearing oil , reset the springs and arm board and fitted a Goldring Eroica LX Time for a listen , placed it on the wall shelf as its a suspended deck and put the Rega below on the rack . It was good , it was very good the music was alive a real buzz to it . I stopped using my Rega it just wasn't the same , a decision to make . A Linn Linto MC stage became available to try and I spent a whole weekend comparing the Rega 2M Black/p10 against the Systemdek Eroica/ Linto and NAD MC stages. I tried every combination even swapped carts on the decks. The result was the Systemdek / Eroica / Nad mc stage , just one small thing the Eroica had more surface noise than the 2m Black but the music was better. Rega deck upgrades removed and sold , 2M black sold , Rega sold and Puresound P10 sold. Linto went back. Time to address the surface noise - AT33 EV arrived , Eroica departed , can the NAD MC stage be beaten? Yep , Graham Slee Reflex C , and then I made a mistake. As I no longer needed the NAD I shopped around for an integrated amp. Copland CSA-29 S/H but for me a big spend , gorgeous piece of kit , I'd never heard percussion like it , I marveled at the sound , but then I realised the vocals had disappeared , I stuck with it for 2 weeks but it just didn't work , put the NAD combo back and everything was great again , oh dear. Took a long time to sell but when it did I tried another (a lot cheaper integrated ) Roksan Kandy LIII I loved the NAD/combo but this amp was a revelation , every type of music sounds fresh , unveiled . So in the space of three months my beautiful Rega had gone replaced by an old black crate however I'm delighted with the sound of my "new" vinyl set up .
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Post by MartinT on Dec 1, 2015 18:20:27 GMT
The AT33 series is rather good and considerably better sounding than the OC9, in my opinion. I have an AT33PTG version.
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Post by SteveC on Dec 1, 2015 19:07:05 GMT
Lovely photographs of your kit Barrington!
Have you tried bringing the speakers forward into the room to enhance imaging?
Your hi fi blends well with the decor (particularly the Laura Ashley rug and lamp!)
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Post by Barrington on Dec 1, 2015 19:21:42 GMT
Lovely photographs of your kit Barrington! Have you tried bringing the speakers forward into the room to enhance imaging? Your hi fi blends well with the decor (particularly the Laura Ashley rug and lamp!) Ha brilliant Steve I know where your missus drags you round at a weekend Imaging - my mate who has a bigger room and the same speakers says he cannot get his imaging as good as mine , its just as well because if I brought them forward I'd be able to touch them
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Post by Barrington on Dec 2, 2015 12:34:58 GMT
All the CD's I listen to are ripped to FLAC , I had a quick flirtation with DVD-A using a Toshiba SD9500E during the summer but thats it. October'15 and I bought a tuner a lovely champagne Sony , so pleased with the looks I bought a champagne Sony CDP , I had to dig some CD's out of the loft , wow fabulous sound. Within two weeks I had an Exposure 2010s CDP (sorry no photo) even better than the Sony , I was loving this CD sound and decided to have a think and put my digital quest to bed. The Exposure draw was noisey no problem but it got me thinking about the Toshiba in the loft which I believe retailed at £2400 (cost me £175), I noticed the Arcam D33 had been discounted by two thirds so got one. So here it is to date my journey , the Tosh as a transport and the CA 752 also into the Arcam DAC. My analogue and digital sound fab and I enjoy them both equally. I haven't posted in the "Changes in 2016 " thread because fingers crossed it a'int changing
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Post by MartinT on Dec 2, 2015 13:49:22 GMT
Did you compare the Tosh and Sony as transports, Barry?
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Post by Barrington on Dec 2, 2015 14:05:53 GMT
Did you compare the Tosh and Sony as transports, Barry? No I didn't as the Exposure had already replaced it , I know you should listen with your ears but I'd read a lot about the Tosh being a great transport and its draw mech is to die for , plus its one of those "battleship build " , copper bottom pieces of kit and a shame not to put it to use.
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Post by DarrenHW on Dec 6, 2015 10:16:59 GMT
Looking good Barry, Its only in the last six years I've actually regarded Hi-Fi as a sort of hobby and thats purely because of the forums , up till then I've had little in variety of kit. Early 70's and my very first purchase , JVC JR S 100 Receiver : It looks like my brother has the matching tape deck for your original receiver: Seeing your old TD160 has inspired me to get mine up and running, it's currently in pieces waiting for some attention, so many toys so little time!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2015 23:06:09 GMT
Loving the thread and the pics. Very tasteful and relaxing environment which makes me envious. Harmonious surroundings are essential for me to enjoy music. Masses of untidy boxes and wires, or awkward placement just end up spoiling the experience.
The Kandy looks like a very well built amp for the money, never heard one but hope to some day, as I generally like Roksan's sound.
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Post by Barrington on Dec 7, 2015 11:46:43 GMT
My Systemdek came with a glass platter and felt mat , I don't like felt so I bought an acrylic paltter that Audio Note sell for the Systemdek's probably the same one that goes on their own T/T's. There is a bit of adjusting of the clearance height which upsets the belt / pulley (also adjustable) positioning and the belt is forever coming off on start-up . I got there in the end but felt the glass platter should go back on , the weight of the glass seems a better balance with the suspension , I sold the acrylic and got a Funkfirm Achromat. I couldn't notice any difference in SQ btw.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2015 20:10:48 GMT
Just goes to show how people's experiences can differ and be equally valid. In 2009 I had a Systemdek IIX 900 with RB250. I tried an achromat and had a "who stole the bass" experience. I later tried the Achromat on an Axis/Akito, and LP12 and a Xerxes. Every time I found a big lack of bass and also rhythm. Despite its really classy looks and feel, I sold it in the end and bought an Origin Live mat. I still have that mat and it's been a significant improvement over any mat on any deck I have tried.
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