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Post by John on Dec 19, 2015 15:49:04 GMT
Cool that a good uplift
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 19, 2015 16:15:44 GMT
I also have a Statmat that could be tested.
I upgraded from thie to a Marigo
Statmat is well worth having and noticeably better than no mat
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Post by jazzbones on Dec 20, 2015 19:12:39 GMT
I have been using the Marigo Audio Lab ULTIMA high definition signature mat in my Naim CDX2/XPS2 swing draw cd player for quite some time now.. in fact just before Martin did a write up on AoS of his findings. I did not agree with him at the time so kept quiet and carried on using the mat which is easy peasy to use in Naim's swing draw and top loading players. Nowadays, I aligned the mat on the cd whilst the latter is still in its case then transfer the two to the player. I would not be without mine but it does cost alot of money which when just looking at the mat is hard to justify, (I spent that on this  !) still its easy to sneak into the house  . What does it do? Well for starters it makes me want to listen to my cds more although I'm still very much a vinyl man. I'd be interested to know of anyone who has circularly trimmed the outer edge of their cds for true balance on one of the machines (EXPENSIVE AGAIN !!!) that RA sells?
Others see us as nutters and who would dispute this when they observe our antics. eh?
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Post by MartinT on Dec 20, 2015 21:00:32 GMT
it does cost alot of money which when just looking at the mat is hard to justify Glad you're enjoying your Marigo, Ron. By the way, I disagree with your measure: It's easy to justify when looking at the sound quality improvement. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 24, 2015 13:04:42 GMT
Why not with the Pioneer Mike? I was considering dragging my PD703 out for an airing and I have only tried a Statmat, but it was easier on the stable platter. I gave up balancing one on discs in the Consonance' regular drawer. Tried it out. Or more like I didn't The Pioneer central spindle will only take one CD high. I'm not risking a Marigo and a CD as I could destroy something |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 24, 2015 13:59:34 GMT
I doubt if you'd have any trouble with an Ultima, it's much thinner than its predecessors.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 24, 2015 14:16:02 GMT
Would be interesting to try that
Do you think the CD will be clear of the laser head ?
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Post by MartinT on Dec 24, 2015 14:50:37 GMT
Most likely, we're talking only 1/5 of a CD thickness.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 25, 2015 10:48:59 GMT
I'll check very carefully before I fiddle.
Cheap CD player to buy but I like it !
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 26, 2015 18:57:34 GMT
Marigo Audio 3-D Stabilizer Series 2 with Accuphase DP-67 CD player: First Impression
Hmm, interesting.
Martin sent me his mat and I received it on Christmas Eve. Being a bit preoccupied with other goings on, I've just got around to trying it out.
I've played selected tracks from 2 CDs so far and the results for the first one were rather inconclusive, but I've just read Martin's original post above and discovered that there is a top and bottom side to the thing (the light in this room is terrible at the moment!). So, we'll write that round off as a potentially flawed trial for now.
The second CD was rather more obviously affected by the use of the Marigo. I played Jeff Buckley's 'Grace' and the whole thing just sounded what I can only describe as 'cleaned up' and more focused.
Now, I know what I'm doing, I'll play some more discs!
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Post by MartinT on Dec 26, 2015 21:02:21 GMT
Green side up on that one!
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 26, 2015 21:32:21 GMT
Actually, it's a really good thing that I discovered it this way, as it absolutely confirms that the improvement is not imagined.
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Post by Stratmangler on Dec 26, 2015 22:24:51 GMT
Any chance of a borrow of the mat at some point?
I'd like to see if there's any audible difference in performing a secure rip.
Theory says not, but practise may say different.
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Post by pre65 on Dec 26, 2015 22:39:01 GMT
It would be good if Chris (Stratmangler) could borrow said mat.
I trust Chris's judgement and would like to hear if it helps the quality of rips as well as CD replay. 
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Post by MartinT on Dec 26, 2015 23:30:29 GMT
If ChrisB doesn't mind sending it on to Stratmangler for me when he's done, then it can do the trip there before coming back to me. |
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Post by ChrisB on Dec 26, 2015 23:37:03 GMT
Yep, I can do that.
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Post by Stratmangler on Dec 27, 2015 0:14:34 GMT
Thanks Martin & Chris.
I could make excerpts of the files available for blind testing/scrutiny, should anyone wish to participate. It would be interesting to compile the results to be honest, as a proper blind test.
It would certainly be of interest to find out whether a drive that doesn't utilise Reed/Solomon error correction is affected by the use of such a mat.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 27, 2015 0:43:02 GMT
Can you find a drive which doesn't use Reed/Solomon, or disable it?
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Post by Stratmangler on Dec 27, 2015 0:52:10 GMT
I was of the impression that yer standard issue PC optical doesn't do it - secure rips are done by multiple pass comparisons, and subsequent checksum comparison against a database.
Because it's not necessarily a CD drive or a CD player there is no requirement for Reed/Solomon error correction function in the device firmware. A PC optical drive should just read what's there, and shouldn't attempt to correct and reconstruct the data in any shape at all.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 27, 2015 3:30:15 GMT
Ok. Maybe it's a configurable option in EAC. You can certainly see it working hard on poor discs where it cannot reconstruct the data and drops to concealment.
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!) still its easy to sneak into the house 
. What does it do? Well for starters it makes me want to listen to my cds more although I'm still very much a vinyl man. I'd be interested to know of anyone who has circularly trimmed the outer edge of their cds for true balance on one of the machines (EXPENSIVE AGAIN !!!) that RA sells?
