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Post by MartinT on Dec 30, 2020 18:11:48 GMT
once I sell my Pioneer PD-91 cdp Shed a tear for the old '91 - I did!
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Post by MartinT on Jan 2, 2021 12:34:49 GMT
For me, it's to keep refining what I already have. The basic system is making music like never before, so I don't want to do anything to harm that. More specific plans as I've had a lot of time to cogitate over it. I commissioned the 2nd QP-1 supercap power supply from Tony, reversing the priority with the Mutec upgrade, which will follow a little later. This will power my EtherREGEN and OCXO master clock, taking over from the Chinese LPSU. I also ordered a Mad Scientist Black Magic USB 0.8m cable to compare with the Wireworld. I should have no trouble selling the loser of that contest. Also on their way are 12 Magic Tubes as I'm impressed with the two I already have. Finally, I'm waiting for two solid tantalum caps to arrive from Mouser in order to perform a couple of upgrades to the LKS DAC. I'm going to replace the I/V resistors with Vishays and the two Vcom electrolytics with tants. This should tighten up and extend the bass even further and make the midrange slightly more lush. I'm nervous about doing it as, unlike the SEG, the LKS PCB is a 4-layer jobbie and an absolute bastard to work on. I don't have professional equipment but will give it my best shot.
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Post by brettj on Jan 2, 2021 19:22:54 GMT
My plans?
Firstly, sell, sell, sell. Have 7 amps I really need to pass on. A Bushmaster II Dac. Nakamichi tape deck. M2Tech HiFace Evo M2Tech Hiface2.
Then I need to buy a reasonable amp for work.
My big need though is to replace my speaker cables, but these are fixed into the wall (Merlin Scorpio). Seemed a good idea in 2009, but now I'm stuck.
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Post by tarzan on Jan 6, 2021 21:50:02 GMT
First 2021 purchase arrived and installed..... JJ Electric 5751 Gold pin valve.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 6, 2021 22:07:28 GMT
It looks like my Magic Tubes will arrive tomorrow.
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Post by John on Jan 7, 2021 5:35:08 GMT
I have ordered a Mutec MC3+ non USB version as I do not use USB anymore. Also it gives a dedicated coax input the USB version I have to use the BNC input and a adaptor.
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pingz
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 10
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Post by pingz on Jan 7, 2021 6:43:33 GMT
I just ordered a Schiit Saga+ Preamp and am going to pair It with none other than a 1979 vintage Harman Kardon 730 Receiver. Well, just the amplifier side, which I recapped. Too many scratchy pots and switches on the pre side, but the twin powered amp section is simple and solid. A 40 year spread between technologies indeed, but I had previewed the amp with something less than the Schiit, and it was quite airy. We will see.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 7, 2021 10:12:55 GMT
Mutec reclocker incoming soon..
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 21, 2021 9:57:02 GMT
Well, that didn't turn out quite as expected. Before 2021 started.
I had planned a reclocker, ended up sending both of them I tried back.
Instead I upgraded the I2S connections between my Kali RPi reclocker and DAC. I won't bore you with the details they can be found on my blog.
Anyway, nice upgrade and 0 £££'s spent.
Other out of nowhere was discovering there's a Volumio Android app!👍
I played Spotify exclusively last night. A playlist an artist I chat with sent me. I get what John means about it having a softer (correct me if that's the wrong word you used John), vs say Qobuz or Tidal.
I then did an A/B comparison - pros and cons.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 21, 2021 10:44:50 GMT
Spotify is slightly softer but is still capable of tremendous sound quality.
Qobuz can deliver more detail but is more demanding of the DAC to deliver the resolution without harshness.
Tidal goes even further, sounding glossy/sheeny to my ears and not as good as Qobuz.
That's my summary of 2 years of playing with the streaming services.
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Post by ant on Jan 21, 2021 11:54:12 GMT
Plans...... Nothing springs to mind, im not unsure about or unhappy with anything. The only related plans i have are to add an input to the switching box i made for the sony reel to reel i bought, and to service the r2r. Ive got some belts already, just waiting for cleaning stuff (isopropyl, cotton buds, rubber renue for the idlers)
Oh and to do some more work on the arm i designed. I started the design work a couple of years ago and worked through various prototypes. The design is sound, im onto trying different materials for components. I bought a small milling machine specifically for this about 2 years ago and havent actually used it for what i bought it for. For loads of other things, but not this. Other things have got in the way
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Post by MartinT on Jan 21, 2021 12:10:26 GMT
Oh and to do some more work on the arm i designed. It would be great if you started a blog in the Blogs and System Photos area, maybe showing us a photo or two of where you're at? Tonearms are always fascinating things.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 30, 2021 13:08:33 GMT
I commissioned the 2nd QP-1 supercap power supply from Tony, reversing the priority with the Mutec upgrade, which will follow a little later. This will power my EtherREGEN and OCXO master clock, taking over from the Chinese LPSU. I also ordered a Mad Scientist Black Magic USB 0.8m cable to compare with the Wireworld. I should have no trouble selling the loser of that contest. Also on their way are 12 Magic Tubes as I'm impressed with the two I already have. Finally, I'm waiting for two solid tantalum caps to arrive from Mouser in order to perform a couple of upgrades to the LKS DAC. I'm going to replace the I/V resistors with Vishays and the two Vcom electrolytics with tants. This should tighten up and extend the bass even further and make the midrange slightly more lush. I'm nervous about doing it as, unlike the SEG, the LKS PCB is a 4-layer jobbie and an absolute bastard to work on. I don't have professional equipment but will give it my best shot. 1. The 2nd QP-1 is now in and running. I don't need any lessons about the importance of power, but again it's staggering the difference it can make. 2. The Mad Scientist Black Magic USB cable is superb, giving the proceedings more punch and vividness and some unexpected bass potency. 3. Deferred until I get to know the system sound better.
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Post by speedysteve on Jan 30, 2021 15:31:22 GMT
A quick update here.
Having improved my I2S streamer to DAC connections, and as a bi-product of the improved clarity and dynamics then trialled valve damper rings on my 3 valved amped channels.
The next things I will focus on are better or improved interconnects (x5) and speaker cables (x10) - Glup!
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Post by MartinT on Feb 15, 2021 6:34:37 GMT
Finally, I'm waiting for two solid tantalum caps to arrive from Mouser in order to perform a couple of upgrades to the LKS DAC. I'm going to replace the I/V resistors with Vishays and the two Vcom electrolytics with tants. This should tighten up and extend the bass even further and make the midrange slightly more lush. I'm nervous about doing it as, unlike the SEG, the LKS PCB is a 4-layer jobbie and an absolute bastard to work on. I don't have professional equipment but will give it my best shot. This is now done. My final target this year is to have Tony at Coherent breath on my Mutec MC-3+ USB by removing the built-in SMPS (no longer used, it gets its power from a QP-1) and replace some other strategic components to improve its performance. Since the LKS is performing even better than before, it makes sense to give attention to the component directly feeding it.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 15, 2021 7:30:59 GMT
Ooo Ooo, I've got a Plan for 2021 after all.
Investigate Quad electronics.
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Post by John on Feb 15, 2021 7:41:11 GMT
My plans mostly changed Went down the route of a BT receiver and got rid of the Limetree. I did not see that one coming. I got a Mutec MC 3 + which was on the cards but went for the upgrade to the internals which was not. The next step will be to remove the PSU and upgrade my QP1. I got a better ASU cable. Thanks Martin. Adds a bit more refinement, detail and bass impact compared to the pro cable I was using.
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Post by robin5 on Feb 15, 2021 12:19:46 GMT
Trying to resist the itch to buy another set of headphones
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Post by tarzan on Feb 17, 2021 20:00:56 GMT
l loaned a set of speaker cables and not expecting much..... let me say my tickle has been fancied!! Hope to purchase a set later on in the year- took my system to another level.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 18, 2021 3:35:51 GMT
l loaned a set of speaker cables and not expecting much..... let me say my tickle has been fancied!! Hope to purchase a set later on in the year- took my system to another level. You are a tease.
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