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Post by MartinT on Sept 18, 2023 10:22:37 GMT
The above is all good timing as I should receive my new cable later today, a Tubulus Concentus 50 ohm clock cable.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 18, 2023 17:21:57 GMT
The Tubulus Concentus clock cable has arrived and is in circuit. It's beautifully made, like my Argentus I2S cable, with some very nicely fitting gold-plated BNC connectors. I gave it a quick Mad Scientist graphene treatment before installation. What has taken me by surprise (I really should know by now) is how stupidly, obviously different it sounds from the Harmonic Technology DC-III cable. It doesn't even carry the music signal! These things still amaze. I shall be listening tonight but I know it's going to need a long burn-in time due to the low voltage sinewave signal. Happiness usually rewards the patient, so I shall report back much later unless anything unusual happens.  |
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Post by brettj on Sept 19, 2023 21:32:41 GMT
Tubulus Argentus i2S cable arrived yesterday.
Four days Eindhoven to NZ is an unheard of delivery time.
Installed and a listen, a major improvement already on the first track.
I think I'm in for a treat.
Cascade burn-in track now on.
Will do some listening in the evenings around each 24 hour progression.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 21, 2023 21:14:54 GMT
There was a step-change in burn-in tonight. The Tubulus cable is sounding very good indeed. This is my second cable from Tubulus and I really admire their ability to make an insightful, detailed silver cable that isn't bright, an affliction I have heard in many other silver cables. It's going well, I'll leave it a bit longer before trying to describe its sound.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 25, 2023 16:54:11 GMT
I think things are almost settled now (burn-in having gone through the usual slight shrillness and out the other side) and I can comment on the combination of the two tungsten cubes in the U18 and X26 Pro and the Tubulus clock cable to the U18 (with I2S passthrough).
- Not much change to the already substantial soundstage except in the area of focus...
- A substantial uplift in focussed fine detail, which permeates all manner of music
- A decent increase in bass weight and potency, taking it to even greater lows
- Simply huge potential dynamic swings, knockout at times and raising the excitement level
- Musical and rhythmic flow which is gorgeous to the ear
Someone on FB commented recently that streaming sounds 'flat' compared with CDs. LOL - what a laugh!
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Post by MartinT on Sept 29, 2023 15:44:53 GMT
Today is the first time I've had a decent wedge of time for a long listening session. It sounds tight, dynamic and highly exciting. nicholas describes his tungsten-cubed X26 Pro as having 'grip' and I would agree, it sounds shockingly fast on some music, with bags of low level detail, but the fluidity and flow haven't suffered. This is just so enjoyable, I'm going back in time and remembering old music, such as 10cc, in a new light. |
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Post by MartinT on Sept 30, 2023 13:09:02 GMT
Some more about the Tara Labs burn-in signal. theaudiostandard.net/post/245305/threadThis signal has a remarkable effect, which I still haven't got my head fully around although I understand some of the concepts (especially around capacitor forming). It does several things to your system over a period of time, which can be summarised as follows: 1. It takes the edges off the sound, calming it, reducing brightness and enabling more insight into the different strands of the music. 2. The very act of calming the system has an opposite effect: it brings out fine detail, more soundstage and more edge definition in transients, making it sound more exciting. If you have never tried it, I urge you to do so. It costs nothing and all you will need is some ability to stream the file into your DAC on a loop (the file itself lasts 1.5 hours). Tara Labs also recommend running it again whenever you change components, cables etc. I suggest you run it again whenever you even disturb a connection. No need to leave the power amp on, just run it on a loop through whatever streamer you have, or even just a laptop connected to your DAC. You could also burn it to disc if you have a CD player. The effect is completely different from burn-in when you just leave the system switched on. I've heard some people say it does nothing. You need patience, young Luke, it doesn't happen in one overnight session. Give it at least a week (preferably more) of constant burn-in and you should hear some quite profound changes to your system's presentation. A truly remarkable, effective and free upgrade for your system. |
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
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Post by bencat on Sept 30, 2023 13:55:29 GMT
Okay always try and stay open minded about things so have downloaded the file and put on my music system via LMS on repeat . Can I ask why it has no effect on power amps as they are turned off ?
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Post by MartinT on Sept 30, 2023 14:05:00 GMT
Oh it does, but a much smaller effect than digital components. My power amp and speakers have been well treated in the past so I leave them off these days for re-treatment as they are not disturbed.
There is also the issue of having to run low volume if left running overnight.
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
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Post by bencat on Oct 2, 2023 10:00:53 GMT
Okay just to say that using the Tara Labs burn in does something but given that it is overnight it is hard to say exactly what I just do not have the audio memory . I do know that the effect it has is positive and free well worth trying . Next time my wife is out at work I will be doing a few hours with the power amps on and see if this not only burns in the NVA but also what it does for the Quads . Thank you for the advice and link .
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 2, 2023 19:35:58 GMT
I left Tara to do the work through the night for a few days
Volume almost zero
First day maybe then gradual improvement every day
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
Posts: 357
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Post by bencat on Oct 2, 2023 20:54:39 GMT
Thank you Mike for letting me know that going to give the Tara Labs a try on low tonight with power amps and Quads . Will do this a couple of nights as well and then give it as much as I can when Linda is at work . Will give this a listen tomorrow and then after each extra session the next day . Would love to do a good four days of so but just not possible . More than anything want to hear what this does to the Quads .
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Post by MartinT on Oct 2, 2023 21:27:51 GMT
I heard more change tonight. More 'shape' and definition to detail and the soundstage behind it, as if the contrast had been increased.
I think the Tubulus silver cable is still improving, and also the tungsten, although goodness knows what's happening there.
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
Posts: 357
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Post by bencat on Oct 2, 2023 21:31:06 GMT
Martin I know that the best practice would be to play the burn in all the time for a few days without using the system but will what I am doing using the burn in over noght for a few nights in a row get the same result ?
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Post by MartinT on Oct 3, 2023 4:33:41 GMT
I am running the burn-in most of the time but stop to listen in the evenings. Sometimes the burn-in stops because Bubble stops (despite all battery savings disabled).
It doesn't seem to matter, the cumulative hours are what counts, plus a bit of music playing.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 3, 2023 8:58:38 GMT
I ran mostly at night and the odd occasion when I was out for a couple of hours
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Post by MartinT on Oct 3, 2023 20:00:14 GMT
I heard more change tonight. More 'shape' and definition to detail and the soundstage behind it, as if the contrast had been increased. And even more change as the hours pile on. The image focus is the most pinpoint I've yet known. Everything is superimposed over the backdrop, bringing it into sharp relief. Any lingering brightness has become detail, so much of it. Rhythm and slam are as tight as ever. Music at this level is simply infectious. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 4, 2023 9:49:49 GMT
Difficult for me to get out of my chair and leave the music already
What will happen with further upgrades...
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Post by MartinT on Oct 4, 2023 19:23:54 GMT
Tubulus Argentus i2S cable arrived yesterday. Hey Brett, how is the Tubulus cable coming along? |
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bencat
Rank: Quartet
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Post by bencat on Oct 6, 2023 22:00:56 GMT
Okay tried this burn in file for a few days now and I think I am getting a handle on it ,but not sure . I would agree with Martin you need to try this and see what you think . However my system has never used this sort of burn in before so I followed the advice and used it without the power amp being turned on . Yes I did hear things . But then I had two / three days so the playing at low level through the speakers and I have to say the improvements then were way ahead of it just playing without the power amp . You need to do this first get this working with power amp and speaker cables connected . Once that is done it will stay fixed and improves the sound spread to levels I have not heard . Once this is fixed I would agree that you can burn in any changes without the power amp but you do need to get this done first . I would say three to four days burn in on the whole system playing is about right after that just a single burn when you make any changes without the speakers being used .
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