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Post by julesd68 on Jun 22, 2017 12:06:49 GMT
hmm - is it my imagination or does my preamp power supply buzz sound quieter with the new mains cable?
I could swear it does - I have to put my ear pretty close to it now whereas it was easily audible previously standing up in front of the rack.
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Post by julesd68 on Jun 22, 2017 12:28:53 GMT
TADs rule. They certainly do. Having my first session back with the TADs and loving it - such an open, expansive sound! I must say that rather than shelling out big sums for vintage tubes, I would always try TADs first. Not all of their tubes will outperform vintage tubes but plenty will as with the 6SN7’s! And then there is the VFM factor …
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 9, 2017 17:38:58 GMT
Jules, I'd love to see a photo of your speakers - I don't think you've shown them to us yet.
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 9, 2017 17:46:47 GMT
I'll take a pic of one of them tomorrow Chris but please don't expect much - they really aren't particularly photogenic!
They are 12" HPD's in standard Chatswoth cabs which haven't been refurbed ...
A job for next year maybe is to get some new x-overs made and also put some new wadding and bracing in the cabs ... Problem is having to take them somewhere to get that done and the only people I know for this job are several hours away!
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 10, 2017 1:01:26 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 10, 2017 4:47:51 GMT
Lower the stylus onto a small mirror and look at the stylus, cantilever and front bottom edge of the cartridge in relation to the reflection. Look at the cartridge from low down and head on. The mirror will accentuate any error by a factor of two - the bottom edge and its reflection won't be parallel. Also, the cantilever and its reflection should be aligned straight, as should the stylus.
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 10, 2017 11:35:42 GMT
That's a great idea, thanks Chris
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 26, 2017 12:13:16 GMT
I have just bought a Power Inspired AG500 on ebay - will be interested to see what it brings to the party.
My power amp will most likely appreciate the stable 230v.
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 26, 2017 12:27:59 GMT
I have just bought a Power Inspired AG500 on ebay - will be interested to see what it brings to the party. My power amp will most likely appreciate the stable 230v. Power amp on an AG500. Hmm. I used to use an AG1500 (before it blew up!). Some power amps loved it, but the more powerful ones definitely didn't and lost their whoomph. The dividing line seemed to be around 150-200wpc. Might be lower with an AG500.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 26, 2017 13:50:42 GMT
Hi Jerry - I got in touch with Power Inspired with details of my system and they recommended the 500 for my needs .. Proof will be in the listening though!
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Post by MartinT on Aug 26, 2017 14:24:46 GMT
That's what I love about the P10. It gives a power amp huge grunt in high regulation mode.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 31, 2017 11:15:48 GMT
The AG500 just arrived...
OMG I had no idea how big and heavy it is. It's a beast - don't think the mrs will be too impressed!
Will report back when I've spent some time with it which won't be till next week now.
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Post by zippy on Aug 31, 2017 11:45:42 GMT
The AG500 just arrived... OMG I had no idea how big and heavy it is. It's a beast - don't think the mrs will be too impressed! Will report back when I've spent some time with it which won't be till next week now. Couple of things: 1. I didn't figure my AG1500 was that heavy, P.I. describe the 1500 as 'lightweight', indeed checking the specs it's actually lighter than the 500 (11 Kg versus 15 Kg). I wonder why that is ? 2. I'm afraid I agree with Jandl.... I wouldn't use a power amp even on the 1500, definitely not on the 500. It may not overload the regenerator but word on the net is that it does affect the sound quality. However, when I tried my power amp through the regenerator it seemed to be sounding fine so maybe the idea that it stifles the sound is just hearsay.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 31, 2017 17:16:53 GMT
It could be that the 1500 is P10-like and uses a tracking amp which is far more efficient and needs less heatsinking.
If Jules runs the Philips power amp into the 500 it may work quite well as the Philips is class AB or B and won't draw much idle current except at high peaks.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 31, 2017 19:23:23 GMT
Thanks for your thoughts chaps...
Apart from the size and weight of the unit I hadn't realised it also does battery power. I'll be running mine off the mains at all times but presumably it would be sensible to discharge the batteries now and then to condition them?
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Post by jandl100 on Aug 31, 2017 20:27:31 GMT
The AG1500 does not have batteries, but you can buy an extra box which does as an option. Probably explains the weight discrepancy - batteries are heavy!
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 4, 2017 14:23:42 GMT
It's frustrating I can't try this baby yet! It has these silly female IEC inputs on the rear so I bought a UK mains to male IEC adapter on Amazon. It said free UK delivery so I kind of assumed it was coming from the UK - turns out it's coming from China on closer inspection. Doh. Meanwhile I decided I can't be doing with the big footprint of the unit so have ordered a pair of vertical mount supports from Power Inspired. Great service from them - ordered and despatched on the same day! This will save a ton of space and means the unit will basically be out of sight which I'm sure the mrs will appreciate ...
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Post by jandl100 on Sept 4, 2017 16:06:41 GMT
The power outlets that feed the hifi are female IEC? I have an adaptor cable I can send you, Jules. -- male IEC to female IEC. It's 1m long. I can send a rather nice mains block that the female IEC can go into as well, if that's of use. I also have a couple of these that you could borrow -->
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 4, 2017 17:01:16 GMT
That's very kind of you Jerry but I'm hoping the adapter will turn up in a couple of days or so!
Basically I need to connect my rather nice Russ Andrews mains block to the AG500. There is a UK plug on the end on the end of the block's captive mains cable but the inputs on the AG500 are female IEC. So that's why I ordered the mains to IEC adapter ...
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Post by jandl100 on Sept 4, 2017 17:24:13 GMT
Well, an order from China could turn up tomorrow or in 6 weeks!
By the sound of it one of the widgets in the photo I posted would meet your need? Happy to post one to you!
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