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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 29, 2019 17:37:39 GMT
Mine was the almost impossible to read
"Exposure Electronics"
Bought with late Isobariks, so late 80s/early 90s
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Post by petea on Mar 29, 2019 17:48:49 GMT
Same as mine then I guess. The later ones were more clearly embossed it seems.
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Post by petea on Apr 6, 2019 16:23:06 GMT
Back to speaker cables. After the best part of a week living with the Isoldas and enjoying the naturalness of the vocals and extension to the bass, I switched back to the 'vintage' Exposure cables. This immediately re-created the slightly more distant, and slightly better-defined sound-stage and the whole feel was more open and energetic. But, that slight shimmer was back that was missing with the Isoldas. One thing that I was keen to try was adding a Zobel network to the speaker ends of the cables (which I guess is what Max is sort of doing with his high capacitance, impedance matched design and this appears to eliminate high frequency refections) - I think you have one on your speakers don't you, Martin? Having failed to find a SPEC RSP-901EX (there is someone in London with a pair for sale, but he hasn't responded to my emails) I came across the Speaker Enacom from Enokido in Japan and bought a pair from David (I actually discovered he stocked them via an eBay search!). When installed they actually did most, if not all, of what I had hoped for. The soundstage and energy remained very 'Exposure', but the shimmer was gone and with a naturalness pretty much equal to the Isoldas; only occasionally do I think that they were bettering the Enacom plus Exposure combination, but that is tricky to be definite about.
Although I am now very happy with the solution I have (which can also retain the RHExposure cable that is installed in an under-floor duct and would be a challenge to replace), OCOS cables are interesting and have a Zobel network in their speaker-end adapters, and they can be built asymmetrically like the Isoldas, are at only 6mm in diameter would be relatively easy to route through the duct. I have managed to track down a 5 m pair of cables with amplifier-end adapters (the cables are coaxial) and found a company in Germany that still had a couple of new speaker-end adapters / filters. Once they turn up, I'll given them a go and report back.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 6, 2019 16:29:29 GMT
Yes, the SPECs have been a part of my system for a while now. They definitely help integrate the speakers with the power amp by helping to reduce load reactance. I like what they do in my system - midrange smoothness, air and depth.
I've never come across Enacom, do report on them when you get a moment!
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Post by petea on Apr 6, 2019 16:41:52 GMT
My impression is that the Speaker Enacom is basically the same device as the SPEC one but housed in a copper cylinder rather than the nice wooden enclosures that SPEC use. The website that appears to be associated with the manufacturer (although not Enokido as is listed on the packaging) is www.combak.net/enacom/EnacomSeries.html. There is a nice review etc of them, and the OCOS cables, here: www.6moons.com/audioreviews/ring/ring.htmlAs I mentioned above, I am very impressed with what they have added to the 'vintage' Exposure cables (or rather maybe what they have taken away). |
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Post by petea on Apr 15, 2020 10:31:44 GMT
Right, I thought I'd jump on the system schematic 'bandwagon', especially as I have made a few significant changes to the main system here in Germany. My source of files has switched from MinimServer on a Synology NAS to a Fidata server and my DAC has changed from a Teddy Pardo one to the Lab12 DAC1 Reference. The CD transport has been moved out of the system for now to save space and because all of the CDs have been ripped to FLAC files. I have also swapped speaker cables from Townshend Isolda to Townshend Fractal and added a Rel S/5 sub-bass unit. I am currently using a Lab12 Pure passive pre-amplifier, but this will change to an Allegri+ soon I suspect, even though it is doing a superb job. I have a Teddy Pardo pre-amplifier as well as a vintage Onix pre/PSU still though in case I get bored. The Townshend Enigma will be off to Max for repair / modification soon. One of the consequences of adding the Fidata server is that it does the main job of rendering files to the DAC via USB. It also means that the network feed to the streamer comes from the AQVox switch and then through the filtering etc in the Fidata unit. All of the source components and amplifiers are on Townshend Seismic platforms and the AQVox switch and Teddy Pardo PSU are on Black Ravioli pads. Speaker cables are supported on Furutech NCF Boosters and the power cables are supported similarly where they enter the DAC and TP PSU. The Fidata one will be too soon. The speakers are on Seismic Podiums and the Rel will go on Seismic Speaker Bars soon (rather than a Podium as it has a down-firing passive 'driver' in addition to the front firing 'active' one). For grounding I am using a single Black Ravioli Eflos for the AQVox Switch and two Eflos units for the Rel ('cos I had one that was intended for the CD transport going 'spare'). The DAC, pre-amplifier and NDX are coupled to a Black Ravioli Black Hole Signal Module (L). Mains to the source components is supplied from an Isotek Nova unit (Schuko) and the power amplifier is supplied from an Isotek Titan (Schuko). The Rel is supplied from a second Titan. This is my old one from the UK after I sourced a black one to match the rest of the system there (the ones here are silver, but tucked out of sight). All mains cables are custom builds from MCRU and are Schuko asside from the one from the ex-UK Titan to the Rel unit. Changes to come shortly are the addition of the speaker bars and a custom cable for the connection between the power amplifier and the Rel S/5. I will replace the Teddy Pardo USB and digital cable for 'Blaze' ones from AQVox as although the TP ones are excellent, experience in the UK system suggests that the AQVox ones give an improvement in SQ. I also plan to first change the connector on the Royd Apex speaker for WBT ones and to try some alternative jumpers and have sets from Siltech and Black Cat ready to go. I might also just eliminate the bi-wiring option altogether. We''l see. Internal fuses will be changed to SR Orange once they all arrive (I have also just remembered that the Shahinian Arc speakers have internal fuses as well: I'll changes these as well even though I don't use them that often at the moment). Here is a schematic diagram of the system.  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Apr 15, 2020 10:58:09 GMT
Ooh posh petea setting the standard for system diagrams ! |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 15, 2020 12:40:40 GMT
I went with the London Underground map convention of not to scale, pure diagrammatic representation  |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 15, 2020 12:41:32 GMT
petea why do you have what look like two BR Eflos on your subwoofer?
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2020 12:49:35 GMT
Peta, can I ask why you went from the CAD grounding system to the Black Ravioli one?
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Post by petea on Apr 15, 2020 14:20:45 GMT
London Underground style, yeah, yeah, yeah! I did mention that in the text, Martin. It was simply that I had a second that was not doing anything and I simply popped it in there as I didn't want to mix it with the other unit. I really cannot tell if it made any difference and won't try a comparison until the unit is on the Speaker Bars and the new cable is in though. I have a second spade terminated one as well and I might add that to the Fidata server when I can figure out the best place to connect it. I'm relying on the grounding in the Cat. 7 cables back to the AQVox switch at the moment. I still have the CAD units, but they are on the UK system, although there is an Eflos on the sub there as well. I decided to try the BR system here though after reading of Martins's success and a few other discussions: it is more compact and, if as effective, much better value for money. I think they look a lot nicer too to be honest. When I go back to the UK I will take the Black Hole with me and do a comparison. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 15, 2020 15:19:10 GMT
Thanks, Pete. I've ordered another Black Hole/Eflos (I'm confused with their naming) for the EtherREGEN when it arrives.
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Post by petea on Apr 15, 2020 16:35:03 GMT
As far as I can see, the Eflos are the single units with a fixed cable and the Black holes have various modules in them and removable cables.
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Post by petea on May 2, 2020 21:41:37 GMT
A small update to the main system here in Germany. I have now substituted the Lab12 Pure pre-amplifier with a Townshend Allegri+. These things are capable of amazing clarity I find. Also the Rel standard cable has been replaced with one from MCRU as in the UK system (but with banana plugs this time). I wasn't really expecting this to make any real difference (I had nothing to compare with in the UK as the unit came without a cable), but I was wrong and there is a definite improvement is clarity / texture. I have updated the schematic accordingly. The main speakers stand on Townshend Podiums and the sub-bass is on a pair of Townshend Speaker Bars. The Server, NDX, DAC and Allegri+ are either on Townshend Seismic Platforms or sets of Pods. The TP PSU is on BR pads as is the AQVox Swicth and Supertweeters. Cables are supported by Furutech NCF boosters.  |
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Post by petea on Mar 13, 2022 17:35:35 GMT
I thought I'd better update this before I make any significant changes to reflect the small 'drifts' that have occurred over the last couple of years. As you will see the changes have been in interconnects, a bit more grounding, some Mad Scientist tweaks (not convinced I can hear anything from them or the additional grounding, but there is nothing negative at least) and tube dampers (significant improvements). The suspension etc has not changed at all. The change to the main network switch had nothing to do with the audio system (and had no impact), but was simply because I changed the whole German network to Unifi, including their protect system. The reason I have updated this now, aside from it being due, is that I managed to track down another Lector VM200 power amplifier in Italy. I have one of these in the UK (as well as a Suono which has never made it into the system due to logistical issues) and want to try the comparison. I'm sort of hoping there will not be too much difference from the Suono as I like the aesthetics of the current system. I also have a Gustard X26 Pro coming. All of my DACS have been R2R with the exception of an elderly Meridian Delta / Sigma and I am curious to do a comparison with the Lab12 DAC1 Reference and, possibly the Lector Digicode S-192 in the UK. Then there will be more fiddling with fuses no doubt, but not SR Orange.  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 13, 2022 18:24:10 GMT
Love the look of that peteaHow did you do it ? Can a technically lazy punter do the same ? |
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Post by petea on Mar 13, 2022 18:58:20 GMT
It was done in Powerpoint. I used a mixture of screenshots of the actual kit from the manufacturer's websites and simple shapes to create the items that I could not find, eg the Speakers and the Eflos units. Then used lines to connect the bits together.
I must do one for the UK system at some point, but that will be rather more challenging!
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 13, 2022 21:18:46 GMT
Thanks. Powerpoint the tool of choice of the cognoscenti !
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Post by MartinT on Mar 13, 2022 21:19:54 GMT
Thanks. Powerpoint the tool of choice of the cognoscenti ! Um, I told you to use PowerPoint ages ago! Why you no risten? |
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Post by MikeMusic on Mar 13, 2022 21:22:00 GMT
Thanks. Powerpoint the tool of choice of the cognoscenti ! Um, I told you to use PowerPoint ages ago! Why you no risten? They look utterly different My experience with Powerpoint was zero FoxPro for DOS didn't do picturrs |
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