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Post by MartinT on Oct 11, 2018 17:22:40 GMT
Thanks, Mike.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2018 15:18:39 GMT
Discovering even more today with a visit from Tony. Existing setup RTZ is connected to Isis - Digital output and one XLR output (2) Belles Pre. - One RCA input and one RCA output (2) Mavis obliges with the superb Eyes on the Prize. Sounds good to me. Tony not totally convinced I'm getting blase now about connecting stuff to a lump of metal .... Connect the second XLR output from the Isis to the RTZ. More of everything, soundstage bigger, more bass, greater detail and midrange. Connect the USB input from the Isis to the RTZ. Same again, perhaps a greater effect. Instruments and vocals becoming even more separated. From two connections to four on the same box. Big difference Try different channels of inputs and outputs of the Belles. Some are noticeably better, others about the same or maybe subtly different. Pick the best and end up with a total of 4 connections into the Belles left and right channels of output and input 2. Up from 1 each. Sound quality is wonderful. Tony leaves me to it Put on Alex Harvey - The Impossible Dream. Played a few days ago. Much more than was there before. More testing to follow to make sure I haven't had a mental episode. If you want to hear for yourself let me know. Trek to North West Surrey. Vegetarian food as offerings is quite acceptable Refreshments may be available. You may be in danger of being licked to death and covered in dog hair.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 13, 2018 16:53:34 GMT
DYou may be in danger of being licked to death and covered in dog hair. I still have the hair from my last visit I think we need reciprocal visits to learn more about these boxes. Can't do anything for two weeks. After that?
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2018 17:39:01 GMT
More or less any time for me
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 13, 2018 19:44:29 GMT
First thing this morning I played Gomez - How we operate Great album, very well made.
Playing now after the added cables to the RTZ Sounds like they made it even better. Surprisingly good even though I expected it to sound better. Some treats ahead for this punter
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 15, 2018 9:13:34 GMT
Great day yesterday, continuing into today. CDs that had not been on this system sound better than I could have believed. John Hiatt Live at the Budokan extraordinary. CDs I know well and played recently have so much more immediacy, body, weight, slam across the range. Dave Sharman -1990 delivering more than a compressed album should be able to Mekons - Fun '90 like a remaster of what I previously had done properly now. Philip Glass - Powaqqatsi. The *thump* of the bass notes and the utter clarity of the treble reveals detail I didn't know was there. There's way more vocalists at the start than I thought. The atmosphere on track 3 was wonderful before. Now even better. The rain is good timing for once as I won't be out on the bike. Not sure I could leave the music anyway. You need to try one of these boxes. I'm steeling myself to test removing the cables. If I visualise the sound when they all go back maybe I can do it
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 15, 2018 10:36:56 GMT
Powaqqatsi peaking at 83db. Sounds so much louder with all that detail. Track 17 there are dogs barking in the background. I now hear one further away howling
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Post by MartinT on Oct 15, 2018 12:36:33 GMT
These grounding boxes are a bit good, aren't they?
They take their time to make their presence felt. I'm not sure what it is but even after getting the best connection points mine took an extra day to settle into its best sound quality. Uncanny, but I'm not complaining.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 15, 2018 15:14:13 GMT
Really surprising to me is having 4, yes four cables each to CD player and Pre Amp
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 15, 2018 20:11:44 GMT
The amount of information and forwardness of the music is something to behold.
Hybrid - Y4K now has such a huge dynamic range
Jeff Beck tomorrow if I don't interrupt myself with something else, hmm Mahavishnu......
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Post by MartinT on Oct 16, 2018 8:20:30 GMT
Try these two for dynamic range on voice with the grounding box.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 16, 2018 8:24:44 GMT
Went for Mahavishnu, currently on The Inner Mounting Flame
Early Mahavishnu not so well made but I am now hearing much more in spite of the production / engineering.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 16, 2018 15:00:59 GMT
Mahavishnu - Birds of Fire. Not a well made album I used to say.
Never sounded so good. Terrific separation of the instruments never heard before. The interplay and call and answer is clear at last. Peaking at 96db and very detailed rather than as loud as I would have thought.
Discoveries to be made with albums previously assumed to be badly made
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Post by MartinT on Oct 16, 2018 19:18:32 GMT
OK, I took the challenge and played Birds of Fire at my normal volume. Pretty loud, peaking at 89dB. Would not want it any louder.
Sounds very good but it would hurt my ears to play music of this energy this loud for prolonged periods.
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 17, 2018 9:00:17 GMT
Measured the db as curious.
The system is delivering sound without that feeling of being as loud as it measures - if that makes sense !
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 2, 2018 19:14:50 GMT
The RTZ (or something !) keeps improving the sound of the system. Doesn't seem to have any explanation, but I love the all round improvements I'm getting.
Anyway Tony hasn't sat on his laurels
I have an RTZ 2. Tony brought in an RTZ 3 today.
Higher, same footprint. 20 outputs. Tweaked formulation of unobtanium inside.
Played some music. Better than a few days ago. Which I still find mad.
Swapped the cables over to the RTZ 3 Instantly better. Bigger soundstage, more detail, lot much more oomph in the bass.
More madness
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 5, 2018 12:17:26 GMT
Been meaning to try out another tweak on the RTZ for a few days. Haven't done anything mad for a couple of days and just me and the dogs so volume up.
Black Ravioli pads stuck to the bottom of the RTZ already. How about granite placemats on top ? Technically why would that work ? No idea. The RTZ already weighs a lot. Worth a few minutes to see if I can dig more music out of the CD and the system.
Test as is. Sound quality continues to improve (!?)
Two granite placemats on top. Play track again. Subtly better isn't it ? More openness, detail, bass power, music smoother. Really ? Back to naked RTZ Slightly diminished.
Granite placemats back on. Yes. Subtly better
Whatever next ?
Easy enough test. I'll have the boss and her magic ear on the case later
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Post by MartinT on Nov 5, 2018 14:20:36 GMT
That's interesting, Mike. I'll order a couple of Black Ravioli Pads to go under the SGS and put a granite coaster on top.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 5, 2018 14:51:13 GMT
As the Black Ravioli were already stuck on I didn't test that. Assume they work or Tony would not have stuck them on. Try a couple from elsewhere first to be sure ?
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Post by MartinT on Nov 5, 2018 15:22:58 GMT
Don't want to unstick Pads. No problem, just ordered a couple (no room for three).
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