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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2018 15:15:38 GMT
The best system tweak I've done recently didn't involve doing anything with the system. These things are all over the house, but not one is connected to my audio equipment.  What is it ? |
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Post by Stratmangler on Feb 25, 2018 15:19:04 GMT
You could probably do an entire house full for under £20. I'm gonna get some. Thanks for the tip. I realised just how many cheap & nasty SMPS we have here, hence the exercise. I'm going to be getting a stock of them in for new arrivals. My system's sounding great. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2018 15:20:51 GMT
Very easy for anyone who does not want to beleive to *say* no difference Here's an observation that came to me yesterday whilst sat through a couple of demonstrations at Bristol, by two very personable and clearly passionate demonstrators, not just for what they had on show, but also a very clear passion for music. Two really nice guys who were very good at their job, in fact they put a lot of the other rooms to shame, but don't ask me to identify anyone as that's not the point of this post. They were demonstrating high-end USB cables between a Macbook and DAC and later equipment supports and cable enhancements. Now before they started I already liked the system and it's sound and as they progressed through the demonstrations, you were able to notice differences when the item was there and when it was taken away. But what occurred to me was this - I liked both, because I liked the system in the first place. Yes there was a difference, but I could actually live with either, so would question the value of an investment against buying music. It was a very good illustration though of what is possible. I suppose the difference for me is not needing to keep going and being able to enjoy the music for what it is - I'm content to not always need more I also don't have a bottomless wallet  So there's a subtle difference for me Mike in your quote above, I often do hear a difference, sometimes I don't - but it's not a case of not wanting to believe, it that's it's not important to me once reaching a certain level. All fine. You heard a difference but not enough of one to persuade you to hand over dough. I have heard differences for expensive kit. Preferred the sound of the expensive kit. Too much money so I stayed as was |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2018 15:21:27 GMT
I have plug-in filters and snap chokes all over the house. Reducing mains-borne noise has been vey successful for me over the years.
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Post by Stratmangler on Feb 25, 2018 15:23:07 GMT
A clip on ferrite sleeve. It reduces EMI and RFI on the mains, both picking it up and emitting it. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2018 15:23:48 GMT
Any specific areas must have ?
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Post by Stratmangler on Feb 25, 2018 15:26:37 GMT
Anything that has a SMPS, so chargers, TVs, all sorts of stuff.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2018 15:27:30 GMT
Also called snap chokes. You can get them from eBay. Put them on the cable of anything generating noise, they are very effective at suppressing it. Good for most things powered by SMPS. For wall-warts, you'll need a plug-in filter next to it, like the Tacima. That's why it's best to have both around the house.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2018 15:33:14 GMT
A clip on ferrite sleeve. It reduces EMI and RFI on the mains, both picking it up and emitting it. Thanks. Wondered if it was that sort of item. Do you concentrate them anywhere or deliberately scatter them willy nilly ? |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2018 15:35:21 GMT
Also called snap chokes. You can get them from eBay. Put them on the cable of anything generating noise, they are very effective at suppressing it. Good for most things powered by SMPS. For wall-warts, you'll need a plug-in filter next to it, like the Tacima. That's why it's best to have both around the house. Any better than others ? Just mains or TV aerial lead, phone leads and what other ? |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2018 15:43:12 GMT
Just different sizes, get a few of each. Mains, interconnects, digital all good and worth trying.
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Post by Tim on Feb 25, 2018 15:46:46 GMT
All fine. You heard a difference but not enough of one to persuade you to hand over dough. Well that's the rub isn't it and no, just hearing a difference would never be enough for me, especially if I liked the inherent sound in the first place. Been said many times already, difference = better nope it's just different. Now put me in the Mission room at Bristol and then walk into the Quad room, well that probably could be described as a night and day difference - I loved what I heard in the Quad room, right up my street on all fronts really, sound-wise and aesthetically. It was an interesting day out, not been for maybe 10/12 years, so good to see how things have changed . . . the demographic is the same though |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2018 15:55:31 GMT
All fine. You heard a difference but not enough of one to persuade you to hand over dough. Well that's the rub isn't it and no, just hearing a difference would never be enough for me, especially if I liked the inherent sound in the first place. Been said many times already, difference = better nope it's just different. Now put me in the Mission room at Bristol and then walk into the Quad room, well that probably could be described as a night and day difference - I loved what I heard in the Quad room, right up my street on all fronts really, sound-wise and aesthetically. It was an interesting day out, not been for maybe 10/12 years, so good to see how things have changed . . . the demographic is the same though Different is a decison, most likely stay as is. Improvement at the right price is buying time for me. |
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Post by Tim on Feb 25, 2018 15:57:12 GMT
I may regret walking into that Quad room . . .  Haha, all good fun eh. |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2018 15:58:50 GMT
Electrostatics or their smaller speakers, Tim?
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Post by Tim on Feb 25, 2018 16:15:28 GMT
ESL-2912 Martin. The Quad Artera All-In-One System was probably the most impressive new product I saw regarding sound for pound - £1,500 for one box seemed astonishingly good value. CD/DAC/75W Pre-power combo. Paired with the £8,000 ESL-2912's. Firstly I liked the simplicity and that it's aimed at digital audio, but the sound was totally my thing. Lot's of folk saying the same thing too. Personal I know, but for me it was my favourite sound/room of the show. The acid test would be what does it sound like paired with other equipment? I suspect it would continue to impress, however, paired with those Quad ESL's you had a 9.5K complete system that sounded wonderful and punching way above it's weight cost wise. I think they could have a killer product there - I liked it a lot. Artera Solus if anyone is curious to know more and can't believe the price - there were systems there with cables and equipment stands that cost more! In fact I tallied up the two rooms I liked the most soundwsie, just gear cost alone; Room A = £9,500 Room B = £45,000 I could live with both, but Room A was the clear winner and just the rack/cables/power treatment in Room B would be more than Room A in total - go figure? I have no idea what the total cost of Room B would be, but I'm guessing north of 65K. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 25, 2018 16:31:20 GMT
Just different sizes, get a few of each. Mains, interconnects, digital all good and worth trying. Thanks Will go looking |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 25, 2018 16:43:59 GMT
Thanks. My last in-depth experience of the larger Quad panels was 989s and then a little experience of 2905s. They do some things extremely well and I can imagine that the 2912 have moved on even further. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 2, 2018 20:27:31 GMT
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Post by John on Mar 2, 2018 20:39:56 GMT
For cable to the pi and Caiman this will work. But need bigger size for main cables. Go for you first link for the pi/caiman cable. The second link you would need to remove your plug
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