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Post by John on Feb 22, 2015 8:50:31 GMT
Yesterday met up with James and Steve James has a dedicated music room that he has built I guess his refugee from the world The first thing you notice with James system is the speakers. They are even bigger than mine. Lovely speakers that have a lot of detail and speed. Very well balanced, lots of detail and we managed to get even more bass micro dynamics and detail but more about that soon The afternoon was one of banter and listening to music with most of the selection being new to me. James first moved the speakers a bit more forward this helped with the bass I could hear before the bass affecting the baffles. Steve knew the music better so new it was missing some information. Just a simple adjustment resolved that. We then played with the SINNK isolation platform. It made a big difference under the TQ amp, we were hearing a lot more texture in the sound. Just allowing you to hear what the musician was doing, it just made everything more realistic. The next step for James is to change his speakers and we talked about different options, perhaps going active in the bass as it might be a way of working around the crossover issues James might face depending on what he does with his speaker build. |
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Post by steveeb on Feb 22, 2015 10:48:35 GMT
As always, hearing James' system gives food for thought and I come home to consider my own efforts with new ears. Many thanks for the hospitality James (food for the body included) and John for making the journey. Mine included a first Dartford river crossing since removal of the manual tolls and the experience is now comparatively benign. I'm familiar with the Italian toll roads where you are barely required to dip the throttle to pass. I've suffered daily use of this crossing for many years and what we have been expected to endure as acceptable in these technological times has been quite archaic and disgraceful. I suppose at least it felt like the highway robbery hold-up that it was. Now I'm only concerned that the Essex border has less deterrent to keep the Riffraff out...  James has drastically and completely changed his Dac, preamp, power amp and BPS since I last heard his system, which confirmed just how great the speakers' part plays in the presentation and signature sound of a system. His OBs major on effortlessly defined imaging and palpable presence, two traits that I prize highly and which remained unaffected. My impression from a brief few hours snapshot is that an undeniably more refined, detailed and relaxed experience has been developed at the expense of some raw energy and gravitas. I can quite understand that while these make for a more dramatic impact initially, James' development is concerned with balancing elements for longer term listening. Maybe I simply don't favour the particular virtues that a passive pre brings, as I've heard James' amp and Dac in my own system and could not help but be in awe of them both. Very impressive James, you have a system with qualities that most people strive towards. I always regretfully leave, muttering "must do better..." |
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Post by John on Feb 22, 2015 11:36:26 GMT
You both have systems that people would be more than happy with.
Listening to James systems just reinforces for me I love the Open Baffle approach and how versatile this approach is. I hard a quite a few Open Baffles now ad have loved them all, but each approach has been different.
I must go round to Steve to hear how his latest mod to the back of his speakers has improved his sound.
Both guys keep pushing their systems and you can hear the benefits
Great afternoon chaps
What is interesting it sounds like James system has changed similar to mine. All the latest upgrades have been about bringing in more refinement to our systems
Hard to say how good James LDR is but it works very well in his system, but I suspect he will get even more if he really mods the Croft pre he has
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Post by Sovereign on Feb 22, 2015 11:55:35 GMT
Yes it was good to have John and Steve for the afternoon, I have included a few pictures below, but I was careful with the camera not to include John, as what he was wearing this time was simply not suitable for this forum. It was a great afternoon and it's always good when Steve brings his hard drive as it is full of great music. It was particularly interesting hearing Johns NAD DAC and digital pre and power amp device. Then there was Steve's platform. I have always heard a difference when platforms have been placed under devices with moving parts, speakers, CD players and turntables, so I wasn't surprised to read Martins and Mikes reports when they placed Steve's platform under their TT's and CDP, however system doesn't have any moving parts at all, so I didn't expect much. We put the platform initially under my large power amp, and I noticed a greater and more accurate tonal quality, more defined bass and the top end seemed a bit louder but not hard edged at all. Surprisingly we had similar effect under the MTBPS but not to such an extend, but the effect was definitely there to hear. It will be interesting if we could have the same get together again soon as I am about to totally change my speakers, the Eminesence Alpha 15 drivers will stay but the SABA Green cones will be replaced by Altec 15" mid range and Altec horns on the treble. So watch this space. Here we are poised waiting for Steve to get out of bed......  Here is Johns digital device, sorry didn't catch what it was called   |
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Post by John on Feb 22, 2015 12:16:06 GMT
It is a NAD 7050D It a shame we could not leave it in the system for longer as I think it would of surprised you what it is capable off
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Post by John on Feb 22, 2015 12:49:36 GMT
For James
How Direct Digital works
The pristine signal from your source is sent via SPDIF or USB into the amplifier. The SPDIF signal is a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) signal, which is a type of digital signal transmission. This PCM signal is converted to a Pulse Width Modulation, which is another form of square wave containing amplitude and timing information. As a PWM, the signal is reclocked, amplified in the digital domain, reclocked again, and then demodulated to drive a speaker directly. There is virtually no analog in the signal path all the way up to the binding posts.
This technology is different from a Power DAC in so far as a Power DAC has a D/A converter and either class A/B or Class D amplifier in the same chassis. That is not a fully digital amplifier. A Class D amplifier takes an analog input, converts it to a triangle wave and then again into a square wave. In the case of a fully digital amplifier it takes a square wave at the input, converts it to a square wave, and amplifies directly. PCM to PWM conversion is far lower distortion, eliminates extra stages of D/A and A/D conversion, and provides a direct signal path for your system.
Taken from Core Audio
Basically you cutting down on Jitter and simplifying the signal path But not a great approach for analogue based systems
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Post by Sovereign on Feb 23, 2015 13:28:52 GMT
Thanks for this John
We should have plugged in your device to the MTBPS as soon as you got there, to give it time to warm up.
On the day you mentioned you could hear some baffle resonance, you must have bat ears, because I just found that the two sheets of Nordic Spruce that my baffle is made from is slightly coming apart by about 1mm or so, with a strong grip you can pinch it back together. You should sign up with the secrete service or something.
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Post by John on Feb 23, 2015 13:59:57 GMT
Lol A friend uses me as he main tester for his developments around his TT designs etc
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Post by Sovereign on Feb 23, 2015 14:12:49 GMT
I think you should star in the new XMEN film, you could make a fortune.
The only regret of the day is that we never really streched the legs of the system to show you what it can really do. Put on some full scale music, like Pink Floyd, Dire Straits etc etc and when you turn it up to 90db or so it is astonishing how the sound is BIG, BOLD and concert like. Maybe next time.....
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Post by danielquinn on Feb 23, 2015 15:13:22 GMT
Good to see a proper audiophile listening room . Power amp = £4k decoration and soft furnishings - £12.54 |
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Post by John on Feb 23, 2015 17:51:25 GMT
Lol yes values totally spot on
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Post by John on Feb 23, 2015 17:52:53 GMT
That big bold live sound is what Open baffles excel in
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Post by Sovereign on Feb 23, 2015 20:11:41 GMT
Good to see a proper audiophile listening room . Power amp = £4k decoration and soft furnishings - £12.54 Even better than that, the paint and labour was free.  |
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Post by tony on Feb 25, 2015 16:33:37 GMT
Proper hi fi man cave....
I was intrigued by Johns digital Nad amp...did a bit of web searching and it really has got me thinking!
How did it compare sonically with the tq/stereo coffee-appreciate it didnt get a lot of time but would appreciate impressions.
The OBs having heard them at Alis place a few times are maybe the best solution for sonics in a domestic environment...
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Post by Sovereign on Feb 25, 2015 17:33:40 GMT
Hi Tony
It certainly had a lot of detail and transparency and accurate bass was there too. I did find there was a slight harshness to the sound, but John says this is totally gone when the Nad warms up and gets into its stride. Thats why it was a shame that I didn't plug it in earlier in the day and give it a proper chance to compete.
Hopefully John can bring down the NAD next time.
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Post by John on Feb 25, 2015 17:55:13 GMT
Agree with what James said very opened detailed sound
I was expecting it to sound initially a bit harsh as it takes awhile for it to bed in. I think it actually the cable not the amp. As its okay when I turn off the amp and restart it the next day but if I unplug the power lead takes a day to bed back in and sound all smooth again. I think it gives you pretty much everything the TQ does except the warmth, the sound is very clean I sold my Caiman and Mini 1s as this was a good step up in SQ ( I still think the Caiman and Mini 1 is excellent and a better all round solution if using analogue sources) and managed to get a good deal on the NAD.
This approach is no good for analogue due to the extra conversations.
The idea of this approach is to limit the conversions, putting less in the signal path makes a lot of sense to me. I use the RCA outputs to power the bass via the active set up.
James to hear the NAD at it full potential I think I would have to let you keep it for a day.
Trust me if it was harsh in the treble I would not be able to live with it.
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Post by tony on Feb 25, 2015 19:04:59 GMT
I trust your ears john. It would let me simplify my set up-potentially taking a pre/dac t amps
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Post by John on Feb 25, 2015 19:31:09 GMT
Yes that one of the benefits keeps everything simple. The NAD benefits from the SINK and good clean power. The Red fuses did not work with it but I did a few other simple things like treating with extreme silver treatment.
If you have either Android or Apple you can stream Spotify direct from the Ethernet cable but cannot do this with Windows so have to use USB for this but would prefer if I could stream direct. Its my only major gripe
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Post by Sovereign on Mar 8, 2015 0:24:06 GMT
Yesterday I finished a new PSU to my DDDAC, I have taken an already good regulated PSU and made high quality unregulated one. I can't believe the difference it has made. The increased three dimentionality was the firs thing I noticed then the increase special awareness, detail and huge amounts of control and drive. I really wasn't expecting much at all. I'll try and get some pictures up soon, I just need to finalise the bleed resister rating, the 100R 12W MRA12 Mills Resistor I'm using is blistering hot and the DC at the DAC is 17.6v compared to the 12v I need. I'll probably end up doubling its rating and put it in a tubular heatsink.
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Post by John on Mar 8, 2015 6:37:59 GMT
Great result. The DDAC is an excellent DAC and responds well to power improvements
How are you getting on with your speakers I expect even bigger changes when you complete that. What will you do around the bass
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