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Post by SteveC on May 2, 2023 11:33:13 GMT
"My latest system diagram represents how it stands and I don't expect any further changes until the EtherREGEN Gen 2 arrives mid-year."
Ahh! but which mid-year? 2023, 2024, 2025?...................
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Post by MartinT on May 2, 2023 13:12:47 GMT
Hah - according to Alex Crespi of Uptone, it's slated for June 2023. It may slip a little (which is why I fuzzed it to mid-year), but it should happen.
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seanm
Rank: Trio
Posts: 169 
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Post by seanm on May 3, 2023 9:58:54 GMT
The first album is Natalie Merchant's Live in Concert New York City (1999). Carnival starts with a heavy drum beat and then her voice is dead centre, Crikey!!! Martin, I followed this recommendation and I love it straight off the bat.... real toe tapping, genre defying stuff... While I often favour live over studio recordings for such tracks... thus far, I prefer the studio version (this may change). OK, now I need to follow the other tracks you mentioned... Thanks Martin Sean |
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Post by MartinT on May 5, 2023 19:17:46 GMT
Let's discuss the Neotech NEVD-2001 pure silver core 75Ω cable here so as not to pollute the Improving Your Digital Sound thread. This Neotech is available in the UK (and presumably in other countries) off the reel, and perhaps made into complete cables if you look hard enough. 0.5m of cable cost me £45 and two BNC crimp plugs (don't even think about soldering a cable like this) another £5. For a sum total of £50 this clock cable is an absolute steal. There, I've said it now. With only 24 hours of Tara Labs burn-in (although, to be clear, no music signal goes through a clock cable), it's starting to show its real high end attributes. Against the Harmonic Technology DC III cable, it has a beautiful, subtle, presentation of extreme fine detail and lightning fast transient impact including in the bass, which is a surprise on first hearing it. Elsewhere, it has the same large soundstage and spatial cues as the HT. Only in bass extension is the HT still the bassmeister, but I sense there is more to come. I'm already very impressed that it sounds this good this soon. |
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Post by speedysteve on May 5, 2023 20:08:25 GMT
Yeah solder - variable impedance..
I have the crimp tool.
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Post by MartinT on May 5, 2023 20:21:40 GMT
That's right, using a crimp tool keeps everything co-axial even at the cable-plug interface. Solder tags ruin that and introduce yet another metal into the joint.
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Post by MartinT on May 5, 2023 22:42:13 GMT
The Neotech NEVD-2001 pure silver core cable (on right), connected to clock.  |
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Post by Tim on May 6, 2023 7:54:22 GMT
I don't know how you find the time Martin . . . . you need to retire so you can enjoy it all  |
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Post by Clive on May 6, 2023 10:43:33 GMT
How do you connect what look like 3 shields? Are all connected at both ends or is there a different arrangement?
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Post by MartinT on May 6, 2023 11:21:39 GMT
It's awkward. I prepared the shields to overlay the inner rubber layer so that they both connect. The conductive foil is in contact anyway. Then slide over the crimp tube, then the plug with just enough room for everything, having already crimped the centre pin to the silver core. I made up the cable symmetrically, not outer shield at one end only.
I used the red taped end as source and the black taped end as destination after listening to it both ways and deciding it sounds better that way. As marked by HiFi Collective when they sent me the cable.
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Post by MartinT on May 7, 2023 13:32:29 GMT
The Neotech NEVD-2001 clock cable burn-in continues, but to my surprise, it's proceeding very slowly and gently. This is especially noticeable as my experience with silver cables has been mostly not good (the wonderful Tubulus Argentus I2S cable aside).
The Neotech started off well and has improved a tiny bit, but there hasn't really been much change. This is a good thing, as it sounds absolutely spot-on in my system.
The fine detail remains as does the astonishing dynamic speed. Bass has filled out a little to pretty much match the Harmonic Technology. Vocals are wonderfully fluid, there being no tonal tilt and absolutely no harshness. In fact, in spite of the additional detail, it's the smoothest clock cable I've ever tried.
How to rank the Neotech versus the Harmonic Technology? The NEVD-2001 cost less at £50 landed versus the DC III at £120 landed.
Does this make the HT poor value for money? Not at all. Remember also, you have to make up the Neotech yourself.
It still makes the Neotech stunning value for money.
Both are highly recommended.
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Post by John on May 7, 2023 14:02:33 GMT
Will you upgrade all your clock cables to NEVD-2001
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Post by MartinT on May 7, 2023 14:07:14 GMT
I'm not sure, John. I like the balance as-is and I'm not in a hurry to mess with the sound:
HT as 1st clock cable; Neotech as 2nd clock cable.
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Post by MartinT on May 8, 2023 9:36:45 GMT
Another thought: the NEVD-2001 has the 'sparkle' to exactly counter the Cisco AOC's lushness, so it works very well in my system. These things are a fine balance between fantastic detail and too full-on.
I remain happy to recommend both the Harmonic Technology and Neotech clock cables. Select according to your system balance.
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Post by MartinT on May 8, 2023 17:52:20 GMT
Rainy day job: now that I'm happy with my two clock cables, it's time to give them the connectors they really deserve. The Neutrik BNC connector range is a minefield, not helped by having no product selector available. I've finally found the right models with gold contacts to fit the 7.6mm diameter of the NEVD-2001 and 6.5mm diameter of the DC III cables, so I've ordered four.  |
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Post by mattspl on May 8, 2023 18:53:19 GMT
Rainy day job: now that I'm happy with my two clock cables, it's time to give them the connectors they really deserve. The Neutrik BNC connector range is a minefield, not helped by having no product selector available. I've finally found the right models with gold contacts to fit the 7.6mm diameter of the NEVD-2001 and 6.5mm diameter of the DC III cables, so I've ordered four. They look good Martin. |
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Post by MartinT on May 13, 2023 11:21:24 GMT
I know what I'll be doing later...  |
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Post by MikeMusic on May 13, 2023 12:37:21 GMT
Lucky you
I would hate to have to do what you are about to do
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Post by MartinT on May 13, 2023 15:09:36 GMT
Actually, I'm going to wait for this to arrive...  A proper co-ax wire stripper that puts no stress into the cable, for the perfect impedance-matched joint. |
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Post by MikeMusic on May 13, 2023 15:28:44 GMT
Now I do know that coax is awkward - from TV aerial leads
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