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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2018 7:30:55 GMT
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 3, 2018 10:36:56 GMT
Lovely. That is a very handsome selection of decks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2018 12:09:32 GMT
I bought 3 Rocks within a short space of time. I wanted a mint, boxed one and I thought I could mix and match to achieve that. The idea was rendered pointless when I tried them up against the Xerxes. I'd never have another Rock after that comparison. They just sound dead, even with the same, arm and cart.
I have had Rocks in the past but I hadn't been able to compare them side by side with another good turntable.
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Post by southall1998 on Mar 3, 2018 22:38:01 GMT
Exposure X integrated amplifier. This example shown was shot in 2012, and was my first ever X. Must have had at least 4 X's in the past. They are good musical sounding amps with ample power. Sometimes the X can sound a tad ragged depending on the music. S.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 4, 2018 1:40:06 GMT
I bought 3 Rocks within a short space of time. I wanted a mint, boxed one and I thought I could mix and match to achieve that. The idea was rendered pointless when I tried them up against the Xerxes. I'd never have another Rock after that comparison. They just sound dead, even with the same, arm and cart. I have had Rocks in the past but I hadn't been able to compare them side by side with another good turntable. That really surprises me! I have very fond memories of auditioning Rocks in the 80's, they sounded superb on a number of occasions. I never compared one with a Xerxes though ...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 11:53:50 GMT
Having had both decks separately on previous occasions, I had a feeling that comparison wouldn't be flattering for the Rock, but the gulf surprised me. I had owned a few Rocks up to that point but I cannot see me owning another after that. It's not like the Rock could've had a fault, because I had 3 of them to hand.
I did the same comparison at another time between a Xerxes/RB300 and an Alphason Solo/Ittok with similar results. The Solo/Ittok was a lovely sounding combination but the gap is clarity and stability was vast. Surface noise was also a big win or the Xerxes over both of these decks.
The Rock(s) didn't have a Merlin and that would probably have closed the gap a bit. The Solo had the more expensive Alphason PSU though, yet it was still "nowhere" in comparison.
I did other comparisons with the Xerxes and other decks. The Analogue Works deck (heavily based on the more expensive Fletcher decks) was better in some respects but not as lively and dynamic. The Sony PS6750 was at first noticeably inferior, but changing the platter mat to an Origin Live (same as the Xerxes) left the pair sounding almost identical. I've never heard two decks sound so close and it's even more remarkable when you consider the different construction, drive systems and arms (a Xenon MCs on the Xerxes).
Just my own experiences though: Someone else on a different day in another system will likely have their own results.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 4, 2018 13:38:09 GMT
The Xerxes was a very good sounding deck and you're right about low surface noise, Andrew. I ran mine with an SME IV and Ortofon MC20 followed by an AT OC-9.
I'm sad that the sagging top plate made me start to dislike it, because its virtues were very good if not its build quality.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 4, 2018 14:51:38 GMT
I wonder how good the Xerxes decks are post-sag era ...
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 14:52:49 GMT
I'm perplexed by the sagging of some Xerxes. There is a claim that the weight of SMEs in particular Increased the risk of sag, but I'm still a bit sceptical. My Rosewood Xerxes had an SME V on it for almost 30 years before I got it and it had almost no sag. Roksan themselves didn't help by saying the sag was "normal". The "shim" they supplied wasn't ideal either because it didn't address the warping and inevitable alignment issues.
I did read that the MDF they used at one stage was responsible and the issue only affected a certain vintage of decks. Lots of people just put a bolt through the back edge to breach the cut out and hold the deck level. Whilst it does work, it also undermines the engineering principles behind the cut-out. The one I had with minimal sag was cured by driving a screw through, which actually secured the cut-out slightly above level. I then ran a steam iron over the stress-point of the back to add heat and moisture before leaving it to "cure" for a couple of months. It remained perfectly level for the years I had the deck.
I long ago came to the conclusion that the Xerxes should've been made from acrylic and then Touraj did just this with his Vertere deck.....at £30k. Ouch!
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Post by MartinT on Mar 4, 2018 14:59:50 GMT
Did the planned Cambysses (sp?) arm ever see the light of day?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 15:06:21 GMT
I wonder how good the Xerxes decks are post-sag era ... I only have my mate's word to go on. He had his Xerxes upgraded to Xerxes 10 or 20 spec (i forget now). It was relatively cheap because you traded in your deck, and they re-used the bearing, platter and (I think) motor. He reckoned it was as big an upgrade as he experienced next when he bought a TMS. I bitterly regret not buying a TMS from "2nd Hand Hifi". I think it was only £1200 or thereabouts and I was in the shop with my card. One of the few times I've resisted. They go for a lot more now, so it wasn't even a smart move financially. Who knows? I might trade my Orbe if it doesn't float my boat.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 15:08:51 GMT
Did the planned Cambysses (sp?) arm ever see the light of day? Id forgotten all about that until you mentioned it. I'm sure I recall a full preview in a magazine so I don't know what happened after that.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 15:22:11 GMT
Her are a few speakers I've not posted yet. They are so many speakers that I have owned and no longer have pics for. I'd gladly pay to have those pics back.things like Spics Angelus, the insane amount of Kans, multiple Saras, many SBLs including Malcolm Stewards's pair tha I fully restored, Impulse H6 and 7, various Snell J and K, Cambridge R50, Townshend Glastonbury's, Loads of Proacs, almost every Royd, various Monitore Audio and Ruark.......and many more. Anyway, here's what I still do have pics of.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 4, 2018 15:36:20 GMT
I wonder how good the Xerxes decks are post-sag era ... I only have my mate's word to go on. He had his Xerxes upgraded to Xerxes 10 or 20 spec (i forget now). It was relatively cheap because you traded in your deck, and they re-used the bearing, platter and (I think) motor. He reckoned it was as big an upgrade as he experienced next when he bought a TMS. I bitterly regret not buying a TMS from "2nd Hand Hifi". I think it was only £1200 or thereabouts and I was in the shop with my card. One of the few times I've resisted. They go for a lot more now, so it wasn't even a smart move financially. Who knows? I might trade my Orbe if it doesn't float my boat. Yep you missed out on an opportunity there but c'est la vie! I must say, I do love the aesthetics of the later decks ... Just a subtle development of the earlier generation.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 4, 2018 15:39:29 GMT
Here's my old PL-71 which I never heard at its best sadly.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 4, 2018 15:40:42 GMT
The Technics with various upgrades. Never got on with it so sold quickly.
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Post by julesd68 on Mar 4, 2018 15:44:44 GMT
Truly, this Icon Audio Passive Pre was pants.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2018 20:27:45 GMT
The Technics with various upgrades. Never got on with it so sold quickly. Love the look of that Kuzma Stogi, still very much on my wish list.
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Post by ChrisB on Mar 5, 2018 7:42:09 GMT
Do I spy a pair of Alexander speakers ↑ up there?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2018 8:03:05 GMT
Yes, those ones were the SE2, but I also had a pair of the larger 566 which were wonderful. The 566 are still a small speaker and I was surprised to find that they more tan held their own in every way with a pair of SBLs I had at the time. They seemed to defy the laws of physics somehow.
I first came across Alexander at the Heathrow Penta show in 1992. They had a Rega 2, Creek 4040 and a pair of SE2s playing, and the sound was captivating. It was definitely in the top two or three best sounding rooms and far more enjoyable than the £147,000 Mark Levinson/Martin Logan room.
It took me years to find Alexander speakers on the Used market, but it was worth it.
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