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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2017 20:35:42 GMT
It takes a while to adjust, but I prefer it now. The new touch sensitive remote on the other hand is as annoying as hell, far, far too sensitive.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 30, 2017 22:14:14 GMT
I've had yet another lesson in the importance of clean mains today - as if I needed any more, being a fully paid up member of the 'mains quality is all-important' brigade. As a result, I have on loan an Audio Magic Nexus active mains conditioner (but neither a filter nor a regenerator). It's up against my trusty PS Audio P10 regenerator (which is not really a regenerator either, but a waveform repairer) and I'm going to be listening carefully over the next few days. What I discovered is that the MCRU DC Blocker is not as effective any more since my village was re-cabled 6 months ago, so there is less DC on it now. What did surprise me was the improvement gained by using a BD cable into the P10 despite being plugged in rather than hard wired into the dedicated radial. However, the Nexus seems to be doing something with microdynamics, impact and naturalness that at the moment I cannot explain.  More on this intriguing device when I've listened further. |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2017 11:27:10 GMT
I'm listening this morning, first to the Nexus with BD cable to the input and BDs supplying SACD, Pre and Power amps, then to the P10 using 6D cables. I can hear what's happening: an improvement in the natural flow of music and better microdynamics.
I've set myself the task of seeing if I can get the P10 to perform closer to the Nexus. It seems that noise is the key, more than waveform integrity (since the Nexus doesn't do anything to it). I've removed the DC blocker and I'm changing the P10's settings to the diametric opposite to what I've been using: Multiwave off (back to sinewave) and low distortion rather than regen stiffness.
I'll report back later. Certainly the Nexus is superb and so are the BD cables, of that there is no doubt.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 31, 2017 11:39:33 GMT
Those BD cables are a big step up from the wonderfully good 6Ds
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Post by dsjr on Dec 31, 2017 11:51:31 GMT
Now you need to reference it all. Remove all the mains 'stuff,' use a new six-way block with 13A fuse in the plug and plug everything into that with normal IEC kettle leads to really see how much worse it is - or not... Then, when you put all this expensive mains treatment 'stuff' back, you'd get a better hang of what it's doing. I worry though that some gear seems so sensitive to all this when perhaps it shouldn't be... I'm not peeing on the thread, honestly guv'nor, but I still think we all need a reality check on occasion (I have one daily with my ancient gear...) just to keep our faculties on the right lines. Not that I regularly remove the BMU from the workroom system. I just feel (and with apologies) that we can chase our tails a bit  |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2017 12:11:30 GMT
You're right, Dave, and I do reality check from time to time. The mains stuff always works as I have removed it all when reconfiguring so I know what goodness it does to the system. I've always said the system has to be good to start with. Mains treatment comes afterwards, but boy it does make a fantastic difference.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2017 12:46:34 GMT
Those BD cables are a big step up from the wonderfully good 6Ds They certainly are, and the BD into the P10 was superb. I never stop being amazed at what improvements mains treatment can bring to a system. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2017 14:01:16 GMT
Now you need to reference it all. Remove all the mains 'stuff,' use a new six-way block with 13A fuse in the plug and plug everything into that with normal IEC kettle leads to really see how much worse it is - or not... Then, when you put all this expensive mains treatment 'stuff' back, you'd get a better hang of what it's doing. I worry though that some gear seems so sensitive to all this when perhaps it shouldn't be... I'm not peeing on the thread, honestly guv'nor, but I still think we all need a reality check on occasion (I have one daily with my ancient gear...) just to keep our faculties on the right lines. Not that I regularly remove the BMU from the workroom system. I just feel (and with apologies) that we can chase our tails a bit Thing is i doubt very much that Hi-Fi enthusiasts would still not admit it if the run of the mill mains stuff was no different. Just sayin' |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2017 14:16:39 GMT
Who am I going to lie to? Myself?
The ONLY thing I'm interested in is sound quality.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2017 15:02:49 GMT
You telling me if i gave you a cheap £500 system that sound better than yours you would not opt for the cheap system.. Not a chance.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 31, 2017 16:05:07 GMT
Often what is forgotten. Can we be seen as obsessive ? To most people yes, about improving sound quality. The kit and accessories only enable. Put in context : Total value of system £100. Worth trying out a £500 mains cable ? Prob not  Total value of system £ alot. Worth trying out a £500 mains cable ? Yes, have a listen. Mains, interconnects, racking, supports, weights on the kit, room treatment Try it and listen ...... maybe buy it. With the amount of money to be made there will be snake oil peddlers. So buyer beware. Context check: I had a customer who paid £3000 on a complete surround sound system. All his family and friends were convinced he had lost his marbles |
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 31, 2017 16:06:28 GMT
You telling me if i gave you a cheap £500 system that sound better than yours you would not opt for the cheap system.. Not a chance. I'd jump at it. Yes please. I'd flog all this and be happy. How likely ? Not |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 31, 2017 16:32:30 GMT
Not a chance in hell that a £500 system will sound better than mine. Not even close.
If it existed, of course I'd buy it!
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 31, 2017 16:37:59 GMT
Atcherley I have a system around £500 new value.
S'ok in the kitchen diner when doing other things or having breakfast.
Such a long way off the main system it would be painful to *listen* to it or for any extended period
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Post by MartinT on Jan 1, 2018 13:02:27 GMT
Some more findings based on what I hear from the Nexus unit.
I've decided that the P10 set to Sinewave gives a clearer rendition over Multiwave, despite the latter's design intent to provide longer PSU charging each cycle. The system hum, virtually inaudible, is further reduced, too. It's probably a lowering of mechanical noise from the various toroids.
High Regeneration stiffness versus Low Distortion is a closer run thing with higher regeneration being marginally preferable for impact in drums.
I also found Phase set to 2 and have returned it to 0.
The excellent DC blocker is no longer doing anything so I've taken it out of circuit.
All of these things have stepped the P10 closer, but not all the way. The final change is that BD cable, which is significantly better than the 6D into the P10. There is no choice here, if I want this level of sound quality I'm going to have to buy one.
The Nexus itself is another consideration and is a lot of dosh. That's going to have to wait.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2018 13:33:00 GMT
It has been a long time since I have visited Martin especially the last time it had been at his previous place of residence in fact it had been very close to eighteen months.
So over the weekend I dropped in to say hello and have a catch up with Martin and Ruth.
What a lovely location they now reside in coupled with a beautiful spacious home plus Martin's very own man cave. I suspect the great road links also had a hand in the selection of the property to.
I know both Martin and the good lady have put a lot of effort in to making it their own testing Martin's DIY skills out some what as well.
Martin has made great strides with his own listening room, both in decor, sonic improvements and generating a great atmosphere which puts the listeners at ease.
Martin has now a space where his beloved speakers can breathe virtually unhindered a significant step up from his previous space. The linearity, cohesiveness and tonal quality demonstrated quite obvious major gains, but above all the listen-ability of the system is now very nice indeed, the occasional forwardness that the system used to demonstrate in the previous room has totally disappeared leaving a more engaging and natural sound. Now the speakers have room to breath for large enclosures they do a decent job of disappearing, a credit to Martin's perseverance.
Interesting point of the day, how a fused cable running from a non dedicated wall socker supply easily upstaged a hardwired quality cable being feed from a dedicated feed.
How much lower the noise floor dropped when the P10 was switched out, along with much more evident background layering, more solid imaging and greater stage boundaries.
Could have stayed much longer without effort, Martin has a zero stress listening room with some great sounds though the thought of the disappearing time syndrome that effects the M25 from J12-J16 was not on the cards so a little detour through Ascot and Windsor redressed the balance.
A great afternoon with good company and music not a bad way to pass the time.
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Post by dsjr on Jan 2, 2018 15:23:29 GMT
The thing with me now is that if I hear an expensive flash stereo, I EXPECT great sounds from it - and often this doesn't happen as I experienced recently. A far cheaper system doesn't come with this kind of expectation so the delight at being musically entertained comes as a far more pleasant surprise. Martin, your stereo HAS to sound good, all the money and effort you've put into it should make that a given, but for fun, maybe one of us with the funds should resurrect the 'cheap-as-chips' challenge, with new gear too, to see how good a sound could be made for a few hundred quid. Richer Sounds could be a great place to procure such gear and a cheapo Cambridge amp and CD player with one of the bargain-bucket speaker deals they have (JBL Control Ones for eighty quid and the possibly beefier smaller Q Acoustics for not much more) could make for a wonderful musical stereo set for a few hundred quid? Small scale compared to a giant speaker system, but surely worthy too and sometimes, these things can show owners of huge systems what's wrong with the latter...
I have to say that I'd personally ignore the slim bling-boxes out there in Top-End land and look for some pukka big JBL's or similar, even if WAF is in negative figures... |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 2, 2018 15:40:13 GMT
We're hoping we can do a cheap-as-chips build at the next The ASBO, Dave. Could you make the next one? Likely to be April-May in Farley Hill as last year.
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Post by TheMooN on Jan 2, 2018 16:32:27 GMT
Martin or Mike....I have gone back through several previous pages without finding information regarding this mysterious 'BD' cable of which you speak?
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Post by MikeMusic on Jan 2, 2018 16:37:43 GMT
Tony, Fluxed in time will be happy to talk to you about one Send him a PM Looks much the same as all the Coherent cables but sounds so much better. I swapped a few times on various kit to check I wasn't going mad |
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