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Post by MartinT on Dec 14, 2019 18:12:33 GMT
Crikey you didn't hang about getting back  I fell in behind a rather potent WRX. Two Subarus steaming along... |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 15, 2019 17:52:36 GMT
I have a new highly revealing test song. The acoustic guitar (I'm guessing with steel strings or is it something else like a lute?)* sprinkled throughout and especially at the end, differentiated between an SR Red and Blue fuse in my power amp ridiculously easily. There is also multi-vocal singing where only great resolution can stop them sounding like a homogeneous whole.
*EDIT: it's a mandolin. Great info in Qobuz.
It's Bow Your Head by Anna Ternheim and is a great song to listen to, so no hardship. I use Qobuz but this is the Spotify track.
By the way, on the basis of this song I returned to the SR Red which I prefer for my power amp.
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Post by Slinger on Dec 15, 2019 18:11:08 GMT
I like this (almost) acoustic version where the mandolin part is being played on what seems to be a mixture of a Gibson SG and Anna's nylon-strung guitar.... and there's a Cello involved.  |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 15, 2019 21:43:56 GMT
Yes, that's a rather nice version, too. I just love the mandolin's timbre in the studio recording, which is much more hi-fi in sound quality. Great song either way and nice to see her perform it.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 18, 2019 5:57:32 GMT
After having treated my newly modified XLR-phono interconnects, and all rear panel fuseholders, with the Mad Scientist graphene (tiny amounts), the system was sounding tremendous last night. This is the sound I always wanted - a combination of the SEG's big soundstage with the Ayre's dynamics and attack - to be honest, more than the sum of their abilities. I am impressed with the Burson's drive to the power amp, and also with the LKS's digital volume control being precise and apparently totally without character. And the Ushers? They just keep responding to improvements, becoming more and more my 'forever' speakers.
I am enjoying the music, following performers to different albums and through different bands. Volumio and Qobuz make it easy.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2019 21:55:55 GMT
You sound like a happy man. I predict new speakers next |
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Post by Slinger on Dec 18, 2019 22:37:29 GMT
You sound like a happy man. I predict new speakers next If we're having a sweepstakes...  I'm betting on speaker cable. |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 19, 2019 5:58:39 GMT
You'd both be wrong, my Ushers could not be bettered this side of £40k and my cables are Coherent 6D and I'm not replacing them! I only have small things left, like Tony breathing on my Mutec MC-3 to improve its performance (having heard his), and possibly a new power cable for the P3 regenerator. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2019 6:40:11 GMT
I know, I’m pulling your leg!
Sort of.
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Post by brettj on Dec 19, 2019 10:02:10 GMT
After having treated my newly modified XLR-phono interconnects, and all rear panel fuseholders, with the Mad Scientist graphene (tiny amounts), the system was sounding tremendous last night. I'm looking at finally applying Mad Scientist graphene to everything on Monday. Any tips? |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 19, 2019 10:26:07 GMT
Yes - use sparingly. It should hardly be seen, certainly not a black smear. It's only there to fill in the tiny cracks in the metal pins/connectors. Smallest brush, small amount at a time. The tiny vial goes very far.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 21, 2019 21:24:07 GMT
2019 Review
In the New Year's Resolution thread, I said that I had hardly spent anything on hi-fi this year. Strictly speaking, that's true, but it belies the number of changes I've actually made. I decided to sell equipment and reinvest, with the theme being to achieve the best single-source system I could build within the constraints of not spending any new money on it.
Source: Ayre SACD player and Technics turntable sold; Pi 3 streamer retired, replaced by Asus Tinker Board S
DAC: Beresford Caiman SEG sold; replaced by LKS MH-DA004
Reclocker: acquired a Mutec MC-3 USB
Preamp: Pass XP-20 sold; replaced by Burson AB-160 XLR buffer, with the LKS on volume duty
Power amp: Belles SA-100 left alone
Speakers: Usher Be-20 left alone but now placed on custom Townshend Podiums
Regenerators: PS Audio P10 left alone, but powering only the power amp; new P3 acquired to power the source components
Cable: much rationalisation and tuning, all Black Cats replaced by Coherent and Audioquest cables
Accessories: SGS grounding boxes, different fuses, Mad Scientist tweaks, more Black Ravioli feet
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Post by John on Dec 22, 2019 5:47:35 GMT
I think you have gone through quite a lot of system changes this year Martin
What has made the biggest difference
I really must visit next year
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Post by MartinT on Dec 22, 2019 9:25:32 GMT
They have all made a difference but I would say that the most significant change, the one that took the step up in resolution and made it highly musical at that higher level, was the Mutec reclocker.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 26, 2019 15:36:20 GMT
I had a great session before lunch and am back for more now. On Friday I connected up an MCRU No.77 sent to me by David Brook for use with the P3 regenerator, replacing the much older No.9 I had been using. The 77 is MCRU's new top of the range cable, and that about sums up all I know about it.
It's had almost 48 hours on it and MCRU recommends 150-200 hours. Even so, it has pulled the system well clear of its performance level with the previous cable. Rather than draw attention to bass, treble, dynamics, depth or any other parameter, all I can say is that it makes the music even more vivid, exciting and real. At the same time as increasing enjoyment, it has also had a calming effect, allowing me to increase volume by 1-2dB without causing any harshness or danger of headaches.
As a reminder, this cable is supplying the P3 regenerator (also from MCRU) which feeds all of my source components. The effect is quite surprising considering the total power consumption is only 60W.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 27, 2019 15:12:08 GMT
The MCRU No.77 power cable continues to do the business with the P3 regenerator. I am impressed as my system has reached the point where I'm no longer expecting much, if any, improvement.
Now onto another MCRU goodie: a Black Ravioli grounding box, or rather two. Yes, I didn't know they made them either. I have a USB and phono version to try out, which is perfect as I can try grounding the Asus streamer and the Mutec reclocker separately and together (the LKS DAC and Burson buffer are already grounded with the SGS-1 Signature and the TP-Link with the SGS-1).
I'm going to try the USB version into the 4th socket of the Asus for starters.
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Post by SteveC on Dec 27, 2019 16:33:58 GMT
The MCRU No.77 power cable continues to do the business with the P3 regenerator. I am impressed as my system has reached the point where I'm no longer expecting much, if any, improvement. Now onto another MCRU goodie: a Black Ravioli grounding box, or rather two. Yes, I didn't know they made them either. I have a USB and phono version to try out, which is perfect as I can try grounding the Asus streamer and the Mutec reclocker separately and together (the LKS DAC and Burson buffer are already grounded with the SGS-1 Signature and the TP-Link with the SGS-1). I'm going to try the USB version into the 4th socket of the Asus for starters. Pictures please Martin! |
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Post by Slinger on Dec 27, 2019 16:59:41 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Dec 27, 2019 17:04:45 GMT
I'm nervous about saying more as there is no info on them anywhere (apart from the trademark registration). No photos for the moment until I establish their release information.
What I can say is that they are playing a part in giving me the best sound ever. I've been playing music for several hours now, with huge slam and impact but no fatigue.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2019 17:11:34 GMT
Mikes seen one lol
From memory £395 each, I believe I showed one to Steve as well, back in July
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I'm betting on speaker cable.
