Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2016 0:48:20 GMT
Mike (MikeMusic ) came over to hear my system for the first time on Wednesday and to my delight, with a combination of listening and tweaking, he left, leaving it sounding significantly better.
When Mike first arrived, I played him a couple of tracks on the Naim NDX streamer that I knew worked well on the system, but then asked if I could play him something he knew well to get a true picture of the sound. He chose the song 'Eyes On The Prize', track 2 on the album 'We'll Never Turn Back' by 'Mavis Staples'.
I knew the track pretty well myself as I'd bought the album on Mike suggestion a few months earlier and had got to like it a lot, the opening sequence is a Ry Cooder solo which shows off his marvellous playing so, so well.
Anyway, Mike commented that the sound was good, but a little bit bass heavy and boomy (which was something that had always bothered me too on this song). I added a MCRU No. 9 power cable which Mike had lent me (and I shall now luckily be purchasing) and it did wonders straight away. The sound-stage opened up, the bass became deeper but a lot more controlled and it was significantly easier on the ear.
Next Mike asked to hear my CD Player (Naim CDX2) which consequently I had purchased from Mike last year. I thought it was only fair to use the MCRU power cable, so I plugged it in and off we went.
Wow, I'd not heard the MCRU cable with the CDX2 before, and it was quite a revelation. Fortunately, or unfortunately dependant on your view, it easily saw off the NDX (which up until that point had never happened before IMO).
Next up, Mike had also lent me some supports, which I'd tried on the NDX and whilst I thought they'd made a difference, I wasn't overly convinced (and honestly I'd only done a quick test). We put the Black Ravioli supports under the CDX2 - wow again an improvement, bass had further tightened up from our earlier experiences, the sound appeared warmer and vocals had become more prominent.
Following on from this, Mike suggested putting something under the amps too, he had lent me some Russ Andrews Oak Cones, some Stillpoints and the above Black Ravioli. We put the Stillpoints under the CDX2, and moved the Black Ravioli to the Pre-Amp and added the Oak Cones to the Power Amp in that sequence (but stepping through individually). Again wow, every incremental change had made a difference, some bigger than others, for instance the Stillpoints under the CDX2 over the Black Ravioli was quite a big improvement, but then adding accessories to the amps seemed to make further improvements.
Well, Mike pointed out that this was a bit of a miss mash, but it worked a treat and has improved my system no end (Now to convince wifey I have to purchase these accessories from Mike ).
Moving back to the MCRU cable, I was already using a reasonable Russ Andrews cable (Mike, you'll have to help with the model name) which again I had bought from Mike when I purchased the CDX2 and it is a lot better than the stock Naim cable.
Mike had lent me the MCRU No.9 and another Russ Andrews (the Reference?) cable, and I had tried them both and whilst the Russ Andrews cable was a lot better than my cheaper Russ Andrews, it isn't a patch on the MCRU cable, which is a seriously good cable considering the comparatively reasonable retail price. The difference it makes to the two components I have tried it on (Naim CDX2 and Naim NDX) is astounding, really really significant, and as Mike would put it, sound wise it is a black box difference.... and to me value of say circa £1000 not it's actual value (if only Mike had more than one of the No.9's)
Anyway, first and foremost, I'd like to say a big thanks to Mike for coming over to hear the system, but also for the advise and guidance he has given me (oh and for the loan of the supports and cables ) it has made a huge positive difference to my system.
Secondly, I'd like to say that when Mike, Martin and Tony used to talk about power cables and supports and other accessories making huge differences, I genuinely thought they were a few sandwiches short of a picnic, or had been taking some rather potent drugs. There was just no way it was possible... but I was 100% wrong and I am glad to say that I will never again doubt what sonic improvements can be made by accessories in a system.
When Mike first arrived, I played him a couple of tracks on the Naim NDX streamer that I knew worked well on the system, but then asked if I could play him something he knew well to get a true picture of the sound. He chose the song 'Eyes On The Prize', track 2 on the album 'We'll Never Turn Back' by 'Mavis Staples'.
I knew the track pretty well myself as I'd bought the album on Mike suggestion a few months earlier and had got to like it a lot, the opening sequence is a Ry Cooder solo which shows off his marvellous playing so, so well.
Anyway, Mike commented that the sound was good, but a little bit bass heavy and boomy (which was something that had always bothered me too on this song). I added a MCRU No. 9 power cable which Mike had lent me (and I shall now luckily be purchasing) and it did wonders straight away. The sound-stage opened up, the bass became deeper but a lot more controlled and it was significantly easier on the ear.
Next Mike asked to hear my CD Player (Naim CDX2) which consequently I had purchased from Mike last year. I thought it was only fair to use the MCRU power cable, so I plugged it in and off we went.
Wow, I'd not heard the MCRU cable with the CDX2 before, and it was quite a revelation. Fortunately, or unfortunately dependant on your view, it easily saw off the NDX (which up until that point had never happened before IMO).
Next up, Mike had also lent me some supports, which I'd tried on the NDX and whilst I thought they'd made a difference, I wasn't overly convinced (and honestly I'd only done a quick test). We put the Black Ravioli supports under the CDX2 - wow again an improvement, bass had further tightened up from our earlier experiences, the sound appeared warmer and vocals had become more prominent.
Following on from this, Mike suggested putting something under the amps too, he had lent me some Russ Andrews Oak Cones, some Stillpoints and the above Black Ravioli. We put the Stillpoints under the CDX2, and moved the Black Ravioli to the Pre-Amp and added the Oak Cones to the Power Amp in that sequence (but stepping through individually). Again wow, every incremental change had made a difference, some bigger than others, for instance the Stillpoints under the CDX2 over the Black Ravioli was quite a big improvement, but then adding accessories to the amps seemed to make further improvements.
Well, Mike pointed out that this was a bit of a miss mash, but it worked a treat and has improved my system no end (Now to convince wifey I have to purchase these accessories from Mike ).
Moving back to the MCRU cable, I was already using a reasonable Russ Andrews cable (Mike, you'll have to help with the model name) which again I had bought from Mike when I purchased the CDX2 and it is a lot better than the stock Naim cable.
Mike had lent me the MCRU No.9 and another Russ Andrews (the Reference?) cable, and I had tried them both and whilst the Russ Andrews cable was a lot better than my cheaper Russ Andrews, it isn't a patch on the MCRU cable, which is a seriously good cable considering the comparatively reasonable retail price. The difference it makes to the two components I have tried it on (Naim CDX2 and Naim NDX) is astounding, really really significant, and as Mike would put it, sound wise it is a black box difference.... and to me value of say circa £1000 not it's actual value (if only Mike had more than one of the No.9's)
Anyway, first and foremost, I'd like to say a big thanks to Mike for coming over to hear the system, but also for the advise and guidance he has given me (oh and for the loan of the supports and cables ) it has made a huge positive difference to my system.
Secondly, I'd like to say that when Mike, Martin and Tony used to talk about power cables and supports and other accessories making huge differences, I genuinely thought they were a few sandwiches short of a picnic, or had been taking some rather potent drugs. There was just no way it was possible... but I was 100% wrong and I am glad to say that I will never again doubt what sonic improvements can be made by accessories in a system.