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Post by MartinT on May 15, 2019 7:36:16 GMT
I'm leaving the Fractals in place for a while to get to know them better, and because I detest making constant changes for comparisons. It also gives them a chance to settle down.
Meanwhile, when I receive the Fractal XLRs, they will go in to replace the DCT-300 XLRs (DAC to preamp).
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Post by MartinT on May 15, 2019 16:32:30 GMT
Meanwhile, back at the DAC to preamp link, my Townshend Fractal F1 XLR cables arrived earlier today, to replace the DCT-300 XLRs. Beautifully made, easy replacement, on with the music.
This makes the system, temporarily at least, an all-Fractal interconnect setup. It was apparent immediately that the Fractals upgrade the sound quality from the DCT-300s in pretty much every respect. I have always found differences between balanced cables to be much smaller than single-ended, but even so these new cables have all the hallmarks of a high end component.
There is more detail, especially in the leading edges. Drum strikes are better defined (Dire Straits - Water of Love). The bass is tighter but seemingly more plentiful. The most impressive difference is in multiple vocal parts where the individual voices are better differentiated, and overall vocal purity is quite superb (London Grammar - Strong). Listening to Sade - Smooth Operator, I can hear her slight croak when she's giving it her all. Meanwhile, the percussion really picks up the sense of rhythm and the sax solo sounds rather good right next to her.
Turning to classical, I've been listening to Gloria Coates' dense orchestrations and the 2nd movement of her 7th is mesmerising. I am hearing more strings, more going on but without any harshness even in the cymbal strikes. The orchestration is so much easier to unpick than when I listened last night.
At some point I'll turn this into a review. I can't see me taking them out of the system.
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Post by The Brookmeister on May 15, 2019 18:59:32 GMT
Surely when you get your custom made podiums that must be it, THE END, no more cable swapping, no more isolation, no more fiddling/tweaking. LOL
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Post by John on May 15, 2019 20:08:38 GMT
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Post by MartinT on May 15, 2019 20:30:10 GMT
I'm getting there, David. It must be obvious to anyone that I'm in the end game. Selecting cables is pretty much the last thing to have some fun with.
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Post by julesd68 on May 15, 2019 20:43:13 GMT
It's never the end Martin. Soon it will be MartinT: A New Beginning II  |
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Post by MartinT on May 15, 2019 21:30:28 GMT
Nah, it's just tweaking.
Other than a new DAC, I haven't replaced a major component in years.
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Post by julesd68 on May 15, 2019 23:35:40 GMT
Maybe, but you have moved on your turntable and cdp - big system changes, making your new streamer & DAC the heart of the system.
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Post by John on May 16, 2019 3:55:40 GMT
I think the biggest surprise for me is how quickly the pi took over as your main source I know it makes sense but I used to think you would never sell the Ayre
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Post by MartinT on May 16, 2019 6:42:16 GMT
It's really straightforward - the streamer started to sound better than my other sources, so I put all my efforts into it. Then one day I realised I wasn't listening to the other sources any more.
I can't spend much new money on it these days because of house costs, so reinvestment made a lot of sense.
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Post by MartinT on May 17, 2019 18:31:17 GMT
I've switched back to the Black Cats now. I think this combination is the best so I'll leave it and keep listening. The Mountain Goats sound wonderful at the moment, highly communicative and vivid.
DAC > Fractal F1 XLR > Preamp > Airwave 3202 > Power amp
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Post by petea on May 17, 2019 18:45:18 GMT
Black cats, mountain goats... What have you been drinking, Martin?!  |
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Post by MartinT on May 17, 2019 19:41:39 GMT
Now I fancy a beer!
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Post by MartinT on May 20, 2019 16:41:44 GMT
So many old favourites sounding superb: Rosie Vela - Magic Smile, Minnie Driver - Invisible Girl, Jon and Vangelis - I'll Find My Way Home, Steely Dan - Black Cow, The Beloved - Sweet Harmony, Dead Can Dance - Rakim, Low - Words, Mazzy Star - Fade into You, The Beatles - Come Together.
So tight that you can feel the performances right there in front of you. I'm back where I was with the SEG, only with vastly more insight. Bliss.
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Post by John on May 20, 2019 17:14:35 GMT
Really good to hear
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Post by MartinT on May 20, 2019 17:20:22 GMT
The trick was to combine the virtues of the Fractals and Airwaves. Each slightly off perfection, the combination is spot on.
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Post by petea on May 20, 2019 17:22:51 GMT
Phew. I'll be getting my Fractals back then! |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2019 2:26:22 GMT
Hi Martin, with the new found resolution you have unearthed, have you considered Coherent cables?
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Post by MartinT on May 21, 2019 4:59:50 GMT
Hi Martin, I do use Coherent power and speaker cables.
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Post by MartinT on May 22, 2019 5:40:59 GMT
Hi Martin, with the new found resolution you have unearthed, have you considered Coherent cables? Ah I see, you meant the interconnects? Stand by on that one as I'm evaluating them right now. |
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