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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 23, 2014 12:53:30 GMT
I've had Mana for years and I'm sold on the 'effect'. The recent support mods have improved SQ even more.
With the upgrades I've done the kit I now have doesn't fit well and looks very much dogs dinner being on racks designed for short height Naim kit.
New to me racks arrived last week. They fit the new kit quite well if a bit tight on a couple of shelves.
Worked out with the boss yesterday where it will go.
We came up with the same plan separately, wanted to see if I'd missed owt.
Still 2 racks, as now with a different order
Rack 1, LHS
Top will be Technics, next down VIDA, next Pass Pre, next P!0 with some airspace above so hopefully not interfering with the Pass.
Think the P10 has to be here to reach the mains socket although rack 2 probably better
Rack 2, RHS
Isis CD on top as a top loader, Technics PSU, hmm possibly VIDA PSU too, Pass PSU, Chord at the bottom with airspace to breathe.
All sat on a few Mana sound bases, probably a Reference top on the top of each
Worked out yesterday this is a lot of work so I will set about it making the racks and soundbases as ready as I can make them before taking down the existing racks.
This is a total strip down and will take a while, although a thought now occurs <ting> - Soundbases on the RHS for Rack 2 may raise enough so the P10 can stay on the right hand side, as now, which then means I can strip out then set up one rack at a time rather than the whole lot at once. This may be heavy duty work so if that allows me to go over 2 weekends I'll be a happy bunny.
Then a photo or 2....
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 29, 2014 20:59:17 GMT
Well part 1 over today.
Looks very nice, especially as only part done.
More work than I thought but semi expected. Our floor not level, very unlevel.
Next one should be quite a bit easier and then, all being well I will have more 'Mana effect' and more music.
I'll wind up the camera and take a pic or two when done
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Post by MartinT on Jun 29, 2014 21:00:15 GMT
Need photo now!
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 29, 2014 21:01:32 GMT
What half way dogs dinner and good ?
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Post by MartinT on Jun 29, 2014 21:08:37 GMT
Yes, both! Full photo sequences should be a doddle for a man of your calibre...
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 30, 2014 9:29:17 GMT
Hmm Should have started with the dogs dinner and racks and soundbase all over the place. Not too sure how I got away with all of this, bit of fast talking maybe  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 30, 2014 9:37:39 GMT
'Course I was so focussed on the moving about, (my body knows about that today) then how much better it looked I forgot there was a sound upgrade reason for doing this too.
Listening to Stan Ridgway - The Big Heat early it seemed more detailed. This is only about the 4th play of an LP fairly new to me so I put on the well known Bop til you drop before coming to work.
Top end, background percussion more pronounced, mid range fuller and more detailed, possibly a bit more oomph in the bass.
Kit changes made in this interim stage:
One Mana rack out for another different size so should be neutral there.
Pod supports *removed* from under Chord. Something will go back
4 Mana soundbases under the rack - which seem to have made a very nice upgrade.
Didn't try to do a before and after comparison as I knew I could be some time
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 7, 2014 9:30:09 GMT
Part 2 yesterday.
Revisited Part 1 as rack not straight on soundbase and one soundbase also skew.
With a big heavy item like a P10 going onto glass, sitting on spikes you need 3 people. 2 to lift and maneouvre in and one to hold and adjust the glass and stop the rack moving. Part 1 now complete !
Part 2 was hard work and threw up the expected unexpected.
Strip out old rack, remove old sound bases, good vacuum around, back in the a total of 5 soundbases, rack and
kit starting at the bottom with the Chord power amp, then the Pass Pre and connect the Tivo back up to listen and sort of watch the Tour de France !
Chord is a pain with the deep seated mains connection of the Ultimate. Always a pain to get in and stay in.
First surprise - the Isis CD, when sitting on the top of the right rack cannot connect to the Pre using the Yannis .75m leads. Damn.
Ok put the Isis on Rack 1, nope mains cable won't reach the P10. Damn.
Ok use 1m Tellurium leads, just fits. Horrible on/off sound - groan, continued in Source Components....
Now connect up the Vida and Technics.
Do a listening test. Not good - groan, continued in Source Components....
Take a look at the overall.
Not bad.
<Later>
It is rather high.... Actually it is too high at the top.
Part 3 beckons where I will reduce height between sound bases and drop an inch or 3.
Much tidier looking now, but will see what happens in use
Took photos at the midway, tried to register on Flickr, via Yahoo, waiting for another go.
Me and computers and similar.....
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Marco
Rank: Trio
Banned
Posts: 242 
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Post by Marco on Jul 7, 2014 12:32:09 GMT
Looking forward to seeing what the state of play is now, Mike! Marco. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 7, 2014 14:55:40 GMT
It's better, just a bit high
Some minor tweaks to come I think
Thrown by the problems I had with the Isis and the Tech and a long day
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Marco
Rank: Trio
Banned
Posts: 242
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Post by Marco on Jul 7, 2014 18:54:35 GMT
We want piccies!  Marco. |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 7, 2014 21:34:35 GMT
What's the state of play of the Technics and Isis, Mike?
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 8, 2014 8:48:50 GMT
The Isis is back ! see Sources
The Tech sounds and works fine I just need time to work out what is happening.
No tingling from the phono sockets when all connected.
More important is the sound !
First real test today as I was listening first to Eric and There's on in every crowd, LP and a Mercury Rev CD I don't know that well, both seemed much better.
Call for Mavis, into the Isis
Too me a while to work out if I was imagining it. Don't think so and I hadn't taken a placebo.
Last time I heard this was Sunday
Great separation, *space*, more midrange detail, slower, better high end percussion.
I need she of the one golden ear to have a listen tonight to confirm.
First thought - only change was the Isis sitting on a rack with an extra 2 soundbases.....
Then I worked it out better. The whole system has taken a few steps up.
Isis + 2 soundbases and sitting on a Reference Top
Pass Pre + 2 soundbases
Pass PSU + 5 soundbases
P10 + 5 soundbases
Tick in the box for Mana
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 10, 2014 8:29:11 GMT
Listening to the Isis and the Technics last night
Superb, just superb.
I am delighted with the sound. I hadn't really thought much about it, concentrating on getting the whole lot set up.
The multi layers of Soundbases are just wonderful
Pics to come once I've sorted out Flickr/Yahoo/not having a mobile
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 10, 2014 13:36:25 GMT
and here are the midway pics with any luck Nope I'll be back 10th try. I have a postage stamp you have to click on to see farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/14433191080_69f678a884_s.jpgI'm lost and not at all enthusiastic Can I have an easier way that I can use sensibly, or clues for this ? 12th try  and another view  |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 10, 2014 14:11:44 GMT
Fixed! You need to ensure that you don't strip out the [ img] and [ /img] tags from the BBCode. See the How To article for Flickr! |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 10, 2014 14:24:24 GMT
Fixed! You need to ensure that you don't strip out the [ img] and [ /img] tags from the BBCode. See the How To article for Flickr! "and including" Yes I have some additions to run by you for the hard of learning and Flickr novices I'll try and put another in |
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 10, 2014 14:34:23 GMT
After 4 more goes....
Had to look at the code you had and cut and paste to make it work
Needs to be easier than this
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Post by MartinT on Jul 10, 2014 14:45:30 GMT
Just paste the Flickr code in then trim it back to the section inside (and including) the image tags. Then flick to BBCode and back to Preview and it will display if you've got it right.
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Post by danielquinn on Jul 10, 2014 14:50:31 GMT
OMG MORE MANA THAN MARCO
PS - Gents , I haven't actually counted so lets not turn it into a competition . I have seen how you mana men get . |
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