|
|
Post by MartinT on Sept 24, 2020 20:25:18 GMT
I never want to move, let alone every 2-3 years. It takes me that long to get the hi-fi system settled  |
|
|
|
Post by user211 on Sept 24, 2020 21:04:15 GMT
When I retire I am traveling everywhere. Need to spend our wealth before we die!
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Sept 24, 2020 21:08:06 GMT
I'm taking mine with me.
|
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Sept 25, 2020 7:57:01 GMT
I don't anticipate trying a modern DAC again for quite a while. In fact I rather fancy the idea of trying some more oldies. Just a thought but seeing how much you liked that Marantz amp, what about their HD-DAC1? I like the fact it has a high quality headphone amp as well ... |
|
|
|
Post by brian2957 on Sept 25, 2020 8:04:40 GMT
How are you getting on with the Nobsound preamp Jerry ?
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Sept 25, 2020 8:51:53 GMT
How are you getting on with the Nobsound preamp Jerry ? Fabulous. I really like it. The on board Bluetooth DAC is pretty good, but not up to Rega standard. But the preamp function seems really transparent. Detailed and open sound. Good, fast remote volume control. I think it's noticeably better than the 2310 chip preamp. Recommended. Shame you can't seem to get it in black. And it's got tone controls, which may come in handy occasionally. |
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Sept 25, 2020 8:55:02 GMT
I don't anticipate trying a modern DAC again for quite a while. In fact I rather fancy the idea of trying some more oldies. Just a thought but seeing how much you liked that Marantz amp, what about their HD-DAC1? I like the fact it has a high quality headphone amp as well ... Yes, I'd like to try one. But they seem popular and used ones don't seem to go for that big a discount from rrp. Mind you, the Amp1 had an on board DAC, not as good as the stand alone one, I'm sure, but it fell a fair way short of the sq standard of the amp. |
|
|
|
Post by brian2957 on Sept 25, 2020 9:24:49 GMT
How are you getting on with the Nobsound preamp Jerry ? Fabulous. I really like it. The on board Bluetooth DAC is pretty good, but not up to Rega standard. But the preamp function seems really transparent. Detailed and open sound. Good, fast remote volume control. I think it's noticeably better than the 2310 chip preamp. Recommended. Shame you can't seem to get it in black. And it's got tone controls, which may come in handy occasionally. Thanks Jerry , Think I'll be pulling the trigger on one of these . |
|
|
|
Post by user211 on Sept 25, 2020 14:51:33 GMT
Mine was the much older D-T1. Of course it would sound completely different in my current system. Build quality was great but never got on with the sound of these two.  I had a VRDS 10 but it left the house pretty quickly... I didn't like it either. |
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Sept 29, 2020 12:56:04 GMT
Bit of a reshuffle today. Got the valves I'd loaned to Oli (Big man) back so decided to resurrect from retirement my Primaluna Prologue 5 power. Tbch (to be completely honest) I'd more than half expected the Temple Audio Monos to kick the sh#t out of it, and I was kind of looking forward to selling it and having some fun choosing and buying something else, as one does.  Whoops. Wrong! It sounds fabulous, and has that extra bit of valve vibrancy compared to the class D Monos. Seriously enjoying the toob sounds again.  .... Hmm, trying and failing to use imgur from my phone!  But it works when I do it from my laptop.   |
|
|
|
Post by brian2957 on Sept 29, 2020 16:12:10 GMT
Looks fantastic Jerry |
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Sept 29, 2020 16:20:28 GMT
Thanks Brian - it looks a right old mess to me.  It sounds OK, though. |
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Oct 4, 2020 5:51:11 GMT
The iMeister Bluetooth in ear headphones have been in use for a week or so. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/iMeister-Bluetooth-Headphones-Wireless-Waterproof-Earphones-for-Android-iPhone-/292497107312 I'm impressed. Sound is very good indeed, and for 30 spondoolies they are a real bargain imo. Getting the ear tips right is crucial. They come with a choice of 6 pairs, 3 of the silicon shell type and 3 highish density sponge. I prefer the sponge type. Insertion pressure is critical, it's basically a tone control. To get Beats-like bass overdrive insert them very firmly. For a more neutral presentation a lighter fit does the job. The soft rubber earhooks work well, and keep the ear tips in place even when quite lightly inserted. Sound is open, detailed and very enjoyable. Bass is fairly deep with decent control but loses definition a bit when it gets loud. Overall they are up there with conventional over ear wired cans priced in the £hundreds, imo. Very listenable. Imo, these sound way better than the far more costly wired Sennheiser Momentum IEMs that I owned a short while ago. Bluetooth functionality works well. There is a slight background hiss but I don't find it intrusive. Most of the time it's not audible at all. Very pleased with these. |
|
|
|
Post by brian2957 on Oct 4, 2020 9:13:38 GMT
I know these are a very different type of headphone , but how do they compare to the H7s SQ wise Jerry ?
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Oct 4, 2020 10:16:28 GMT
I know these are a very different type of headphone , but how do they compare to the H7s SQ wise Jerry ? The presentation is rather different, more in your head for the IEMs,more spacious with the H7. Similar levels of hiss, although the iMeister is more 'pumpy' in that it tends to mirror the music dynamics which will likely bother some people more than others. Actually, now that I'm focusing on it it's starting to get a bit annoying! But when the music is reasonably busy I don't hear the hiss at all. Overall clarity is very good for both, the H6 and H7 are firm favourites here and I am happy to listen to the iMeister instead, which speaks volumes as far as I am concerned. If anything the H7 sounds a bit murky in comparison. There really is very good clarity and definition from the IEMs. |
|
|
|
Post by julesd68 on Oct 4, 2020 13:14:06 GMT
Doesn't surprise me how good those IEM's are Jerry - mirrors my experience with the wired ones I got some months ago. Crazy VFM for the sound quality delivered!
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Oct 4, 2020 13:21:28 GMT
Ah, I'd forgotten you had those.
Yes, bloody good!
|
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Oct 5, 2020 16:20:47 GMT
A pair of Brimar 12au7 valves have arrived to compete with the TADs in my Primaluna Prologue 5, and to my surprise have shown the TADs a clean pair of heels. More lucid, they've deconvolved the sound picture, noticeably improving the focus. Especially when the music gets more complex I can hear more of what's happening. They just sound more natural and involving to me. The TADs are good, no doubt about that, but I like the Brimar even more. Suitably impressed I scuttled off to ebay yesterday only to find a pair of Brimar 12ax7 on auction and ending a few hours later. They were posted to me this morning. TAD and Brimar have been my 'go to' valves for years. They always seem to suit me. Sometimes I prefer one, sometimes the other. And there's also a pair of Matsushita 12ax7 quarantining in the garage. Still, it's nice to have choices. |
|
|
|
Post by jandl100 on Oct 5, 2020 19:14:57 GMT
Ongoing DAC Madness. I still love the Rega DAC. But out of quarantine today came a Chord Mojo. It has 3.5mm mini jack digital coax input and stereo analog outputs, which necessitate adapters - but that's fine, I'm not a purist about that sort of thing. Mmmmm, I like the sound. Pure, would be the 1 Word Review. Nicely focused. Dynamic. I generally find Chord DACs either very musical or totally sterile and uninteresting. The Mojo is one of the former. I'm enjoying it so much that I couldn't resist a Chordette Gem DAC that came onto ebay this evening as a BIN listing. It only accepts USB and... Bluetooth! Perfect. It's red. I'm really excited about it for some reason. Terrible review from the late Art Dudley in Stereophile, but good to great reviews from everywhere else I looked. www.hifiplus.com/articles/chordette-gem-high-definition-bluetooth-decoderusb-dac-playback-24/Also en-route is a Micromega DAC from the mid 1990s. DAC Madness. |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Oct 5, 2020 19:33:47 GMT
For years I wanted one of those yummy Micromega CD transports. Never did find one.  |
|
