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Post by MartinT on Mar 20, 2022 17:18:28 GMT
With about 100 hours on the new items (U18, Gustard fuse, 6D power cable with SR Red fuse, grounding cables, Blue Jeans FE) the system is performing at a high level with a noticeably calmer delivery (the AVplay still sounds hot but I'll return to it at some point), wonderful detail and a soundstage that has deepened with that signature note decay that is the sign of everything working symbiotically.
The big pay-off is the Gustard U18 with I2S connection to the DAC. An excellent component for not a lot of money.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 21, 2022 20:23:23 GMT
My 'learning moments' this year so far:
- give everything at least 100 hours to burn-in
- grounding boxes are the best step-improvement for digital replay
- reclocking is the next best step-improvement for digital replay
- beware silver cables, they can bite
- power cables and fuses are worth the money
- I2S is the best interface for a DAC
Well, for me at least. YMMV.
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 21, 2022 21:24:02 GMT
The burn in (settling ?) on grounding boxes was a very long time on my system. So long I didn't think it was going to happen.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 21, 2022 22:00:23 GMT
The burn in (settling ?) on grounding boxes was a very long time on my system. So long I didn't think it was going to happen. Agreed - I think it's a combination of the box itself and the cable, because it took 24 hours for my new cables to settle and now the system sounds better than with the old SGS green cables. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 22, 2022 8:44:06 GMT
Another observation and something that has crept into my consciousness since moving to the Gustard U18 DDC.
It's become obvious that the soundstage is much more present, and this is largely defocused. The sense of a big performance space, whether from a real hall or from artificially created reverb, seemingly coming from no fixed direction, is quite intense.
Layered on top of this is pinpoint focus of the foreground instrumentation, with its own depth and left/right positioning.
So the new effect is of a highly focussed foreground layered over a defocussed background, both adding tremendously to the overall effect.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 23, 2022 20:01:30 GMT
I've now replaced all but one grounding cable with the AliExpress ones. They have helped to reduce the noise floor and further sweeten and enhanced detail. Small differences but a cumulative effect. There is nothing special in the material: tinned stranded copper, decent 4mm plugs one end and a variety of fittings the other end. The connections are tight and impedance low, certainly at lower frequencies. Not really sure how they compare at ultra-high frequencies against the thin cotton covered cables supplied by the likes of SGS.
However, for a shipment cost of less than 30 quid, these are doing a good job.
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Post by brettj on Mar 23, 2022 20:14:57 GMT
Can you post a link to those AliExpress grounding cables please Martin?
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Post by MartinT on Mar 25, 2022 17:41:28 GMT
See my post in the Tweaks thread, Brett.
Final grounding cable swapped over earlier, the flying lead to the DAC power cable for grounding the P3 regenerator. Playing some Rickie Lee Jones now and the musical delivery flows very nicely indeed.
These cables are an absolute bargain, I just took a punt on them never thinking they'd be much good. I think the cumulative effect is to make my grounding boxes quite a lot more effective.
Really pleasing tweak.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 26, 2022 13:38:35 GMT
There is no doubt that the improved grounding box arrangements have helped with a flowing delivery while keeping harshness away. Detail and slam are up. Best of all, it's just easy to listen to for long sessions.
It's not a cure for tracks recorded hot, but it does make them more palatable now.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 30, 2022 19:04:43 GMT
I remembered my spare Aucharm grounding box at the exact same moment I spotted one more AliExpress grounding cable. I knocked up the cable to a spare mains plug and put it to use on the ring main in the music room (not the 60A radial feeding the system), on the basis of just sucking more noise from the house earth.
It'll take a few days before I hear any benefit.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 11, 2022 16:32:40 GMT
Been away for a week with the system and heating shut down. 10C in the music room. I gave it 30 mins (!) and the system sounds, not surprisingly, like it's upset with me. Need everything, especially the clocks, to warm up and be happy. Meanwhile, I'm playing 'dirty' tracks like Hozier - In The Woods Somewhere so that I don't notice  |
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Post by John on Apr 11, 2022 17:45:49 GMT
How long does it take for the system to perform at it usual level Martin
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Post by MartinT on Apr 11, 2022 17:56:00 GMT
With the room and clocks from cold? I guess it's going to need a full 24 hours to be fully warmed up.
Coming home normally it's ready to go an hour after I switch on the P10 / power amp. Everything else is left running.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 15, 2022 13:55:44 GMT
Further confirmation: my system was back up to full sound quality last night, so it took 72 hours from switched off and stone cold to reach its previous performance.
That's why I leave it all on bar the P10 and power amp.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 15, 2022 19:46:21 GMT
Another confirmation: those AliExpress grounding cables are really good. I can hear the improvement in low level detail from the system. More tiny cues, studio noise, microphone and tape hiss, players tapping stands, heavy breathing, ambience, organ pumps and air conditioning etc. Live recordings, especially, really convey the sense of being there.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 22, 2022 19:29:28 GMT
A small pile of accessories arrived today:
Two SR Purple fuses (20mm and 1") for the Gustard U18 and its power cable.
Two HDMI I2S cables: a Supra HD5 recommended by a fellow Gustard enthusiast, and a Clearer Audio Silver-line recommended by David Brook himself.
I also received a 10cm shungite pyramid weight.
Right, the two SR Purples have been in for 30 mins and I need no more time to hear their signature extreme vividness and lack of sibilance. They're only going to get better.
No more changes tonight while I listen to the system settle again.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 23, 2022 13:52:10 GMT
Could you let me know your findings on the Clearer Audio Vs Blue Jeans when you've had a chance to compare Martin?
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Post by MartinT on Apr 23, 2022 14:16:59 GMT
I will compare the Clearer Audio Silver-line versus the Supra HD5 versus the Blue Jeans (Belden) FE, Jules.
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Post by julesd68 on Apr 23, 2022 16:57:20 GMT
Excellent
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Post by MartinT on Apr 24, 2022 11:48:30 GMT
These four songs separate the men from the boys when it comes to ultimate performance. All terrific female voices with the power to leave a system harsh or gasping if it's not doing its job properly:
London Grammar - Hell to the Liars (incredible acoustic space, long sustained notes)
k d lang - Don't Smoke in Bed (long sustained notes)
Jewel - Barcelona (long sustained notes, bass accompaniment)
Brandi Carlile - The Joke (long high sustained notes)
Plus a bonus one...
Sheryl Crow - Home (harmony singing)
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