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Post by MartinT on Nov 18, 2022 10:33:00 GMT
Are you trying them out one at a time?
Cat 8 is really about shielding, which may or may not give you an improvement in SQ. Beware the ones that connect the plug chassis (metal) to each other, they can not always work in your favour if they connect ground planes together.
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Post by mattspl on Nov 18, 2022 11:58:36 GMT
Hi Martin,
Yes, QED quartz Toslink installed and this has brought a subtle but noticeable improvement in clarity. The sound is cleaner, with less grain or glare.
I also ordered a couple of AliExpress Nordost Odin Cat 8 cables which I will compare when they arrive.
Next up to test is the Wireworld Aurora mains cable.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 18, 2022 16:20:28 GMT
Hi Martin, ...Yes, QED quartz Toslink installed and this has brought a subtle but noticeable improvement in clarity. The sound is cleaner, with less grain or glare... I use a QED Reference Optical Quartz cable between my Volumio/Pi4/Digi2 Pro and my DAC and it improved things greatly. I liked it so much that I bought the equivalent digital co-ax cable (Reference Digital Audio 40) to hook up my new Audiolab 6000N streamer alongside it. I was late in coming to the belief that digital cables can make much of a difference, if any, but I'm a true believer now.
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Post by mattspl on Nov 18, 2022 19:52:51 GMT
Hi Martin, ...Yes, QED quartz Toslink installed and this has brought a subtle but noticeable improvement in clarity. The sound is cleaner, with less grain or glare... I use a QED Reference Optical Quartz cable between my Volumio/Pi4/Digi2 Pro and my DAC and it improved things greatly. I liked it so much that I bought the equivalent digital co-ax cable (Reference Digital Audio 40) to hook up my new Audiolab 6000N streamer alongside it. I was late in coming to the belief that digital cables can make much of a difference, if any, but I'm a true believer now. Yes, they seem to be good quality cables. It’s amazing how all these things have such an impact on a hifi system, yet a lot of people still call it snake oil.
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Post by mattspl on Nov 18, 2022 23:16:43 GMT
So I connected up the Wireworld Aurora fig.8 cable to the sky Q box. Really tight push fit onto the 2 pins at the back of the sky box, so looks like a very good connection there now.
I bought the Aurora with a Schuko plug as it’s going into my Yaqin power filter that has those universal sockets. I also decided to swap out one of the universal sockets for a Schuko to get a better fit and support for the plug.
This has proved to be a bass upgrade, giving really noticeable improvements in bass power. So far so good.
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Post by mattspl on Nov 25, 2022 20:01:47 GMT
Bit of an update on my system.
I installed the Cat 8 patch leads from the fibre box to router and router to the super high end Sky Q box for Spotify duties.
There’s been a few upgrades lately, the main one being the Fidelity Audio noise filter which is probably just about ran in now. The noise filter has been one of those upgrades where I took a chance on it being worth the outlay and it has paid off in a big way. No matter how loud I play music now, it’s like being in a treated room. Literally no boom or glare from high frequencies.
I spent a few hours yesterday dialling in the subs as I still hadn’t got that quite right since the PMC AML’s were installed a few months ago. The subs get some nasty cancellation around 80hz, possible from floor reflections, so I’ve found the best solution is to use a 45hz crossover, so the speakers are almost full range. I’ve got perfect integration and the speakers aren’t trying to play 20hz anymore, so get a much easier load.
My neighbours are probably beginning to hate me again after a fairly quiet previous year or 2.
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Post by mattspl on Nov 25, 2022 22:34:57 GMT
Here's an REW graph of the bass response of the speakers on their own and then with the 2 subs. AML1 and Subs
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Post by mattspl on Dec 10, 2022 23:45:51 GMT
The 2 AliExpress Nordost Odin Ethernet cables arrived today.
Really impressive construction and huge connectors on the ends. More flexible than Cat 8, but the first few inches including the connector aren’t flexible due to shrink wrap etc.
I didn’t really expect much from these being about €25 each and Ethernet, rather than signal cables as such. I’m pleasantly surprised though that inner detail has improved, allowing me to hear more of what’s going on including extra notes between notes I hadn’t noticed before. I might give the XLR’s a try in the new year.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 11, 2022 11:08:30 GMT
I think 'Nordost' should be in quotes, don't you? I did buy a 'Nordost' USB cable from AliExpress some years ago. It's ok but nothing special.
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Post by mattspl on Dec 11, 2022 14:39:55 GMT
I think 'Nordost' should be in quotes, don't you? I did buy a 'Nordost' USB cable from AliExpress some years ago. It's ok but nothing special. What attracted me to these was their construction with the solid core conductors wrapped in a thin spiral of some sort of insulation to minimise contact from the actual insulation sleeve of the cable with the conductor. These individual conductor cores are then separately wrapped in a metal foil, just like the Genuine ‘Nordost’ cables. I think this method works. The first mains cables I bought were Nordost Vishnu. I bought 2 of them at a show and got a great price on them. When I removed them from my system to sell them, they were greatly missed.
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Post by mattspl on Jan 9, 2023 14:34:21 GMT
I brought my PMC AML1’s to a Hifi repair place this morning to see about getting them recapped. The left speaker had also developed a quiet, intermittent crackling from the tweeter which they said is probably a transistor issue, so they may get replaced too.
I’ll get a call hopefully by the end of the week with an estimate.
In the meantime, I’ve setup my previous speakers, one of which made a loud pop and went into protect. It powers up and works fine so far. I spoke to them about it today and they think it’s probably a poor bond between an output device and heat sink. He explained how to go about fixing this.
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 10, 2023 10:26:04 GMT
Two pairs of speakers down?
That's frustrating...
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Post by mattspl on Jan 10, 2023 11:31:39 GMT
Two pairs of speakers down? That's frustrating... I’m back using the Digidesign RM2’s. So far so good…… I like the AML1’s, they are so much better than the RM2’s despite being virtually the same size and both made by PMC. I planned on getting them recapped as they are 20 years old and I got paranoid hearing the crackling from the tweeter on one if them, so decided to bring them to get serviced. Hopefully they’ll be like new after.
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Post by HD Music & Test on Jan 10, 2023 12:55:52 GMT
Would you like to borrow a pair of speakers Matt I have couple of suitable stand mounts if you wish, just PM me if you are interested.
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Post by mattspl on Jan 10, 2023 13:17:27 GMT
Would you like to borrow a pair of speakers Matt I have couple of suitable stand mounts if you wish, just PM me if you are interested. Thanks for the offer, that’s very kind of you. Unfortunately I’m over in Dublin though and only really setup for active speakers these days. I’m hoping the RM2’s hold out for a couple of weeks while the AML1’s get refreshed. Cheers Matt
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Post by HD Music & Test on Jan 10, 2023 16:27:17 GMT
Hi Matt
Still have some Adam's some where, then there is Irish customs from ther UK the less said about that the better!
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Post by mattspl on Jan 10, 2023 18:46:27 GMT
Hi Matt Still have some Adam's some where, then there is Irish customs from ther UK the less said about that the better! Yes, the whole customs thing has really made Hifi purchases from England a difficult choice.
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Post by mattspl on Jan 28, 2023 13:17:43 GMT
My PMC AML1’s have been assessed and parts ordered. They will be getting recapped, new Gain pots and 10 semiconductors in each speaker replaced. Only 1 semiconductor was found to be leaking, but they will replace the ones around it(due to their location near a heatsink) and mirror the repairs on the 2nd speaker. They will also tighten one transformer to the chassi and clean out the EQ switches.
In the meantime, I’ve been getting used to my modified Digidesign RM2’s again that have held up well so far.
I went on a fairly thorough system application of the Mad Scientist Graphene contact enhancer over the last couple of days. I have applied it all the connections and fuses of my Dac, dsp, noise filters, LPS, router, Ac plugs. I haven’t done any connections at my speakers as I’ll wait for the other ones to come back from service. I also still need to do all the connections at my Mains Regenerator and consumer unit and internal connections of any IEC connectors between cable and terminals.
The effect is quite profound and an absolute bargain system tweak.
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Post by mattspl on Jan 29, 2023 15:41:45 GMT
Today I did a bit of work on my fuseboard with the RFI tape and Graphene contact enhancer.
I removed the main Switch fuse and cleaned the terminals, holder and fuse with Isopropyl alcohol. I then applied the contact enhancer. I did the same with the Gigawatt silver mcb that feeds the ring main.
I also treated the Schuko socket in the fuseboard that the ifi ipurifier goes into.
I treated all associated neutrals and lives, including crimping new ferrells(treated inside and out) onto the panel flex feeding the Gigawatt mcb. I also applied the RFI tape to the sides of the Gigawatt mcb. Just 1 strip each side.
The system noise floor has lowered even further, letting detail through I didn’t know was there before trying the RFI tape and Mad Scientist Graphene Contact enhancer. I think these qualify as the two best value for money tweaks I’ve ever tried.
Edit: I also treated the ring main earths too. I forgot to do the main earth, I’ll get that another time.
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Post by John on Jan 29, 2023 15:54:59 GMT
Great result
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