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Post by MartinT on Jul 3, 2023 13:37:12 GMT
I used to love perusing those TCR hi-fi shops, including the giant Lion House (previously Lindair) and Laskys. I actually bought my first SME arm (a 3009-II) in Laskys. I later bought my JBL speakers from another shop there.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 3, 2023 13:49:33 GMT
I used to love perusing those TCR hi-fi shops, including the giant Lion House (previously Lindair) and Laskys. I actually bought my first SME arm (a 3009-II) in Laskys. I later bought my JBL speakers from another shop there. Laskys...That's a blast from the past Martin. The good old days, when Jpn manufacturers like Pioneer JVC would even have 5 tuners in there range,let alone amps and cassette decks etc |
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Post by Slinger on Jul 3, 2023 14:12:06 GMT
Have you been down to Tottenham Court Road recently D? It's totally unrecognisable and I don't think there is a hifi dealer left anymore! The tech shops hung on a bit longer but there is only a handful of those left now. Visited a few years ago, and yes ...They have all gone.. l remember being 18 years old, and was my 1st visit to London, l actually had a physical headache, l had never seen ,and l guess l never will, so many Hi Fi components in my life...l was in heaven 😆 I don't think l pressed so many cassette eject doors in my life...looking for thar smooth action I remember buying a cassette deck from Sevenoaks Hi-Fi, (actually in Sevenoaks) and eventually settling on a Kenwood - a KX-660HX I think - because in the sea of similarly specced players, for the price I wanted to pay, it seemed to have the smoothest soft eject. That was literally the deciding factor.   I actually liked it so much I went back and bought a matching Kenwood FM tuner., and both served me well for many years.  |
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 3, 2023 16:17:07 GMT
One could say you were the original "Smooth Operator" Even before Sade sang about you 😆
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Post by Slinger on Jul 3, 2023 16:51:06 GMT
One could say you were the original "Smooth Operator" Even before Sade sang about you 😆 Well, I don't like to brag, but...  |
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 3, 2023 16:55:17 GMT
Which of those fine looking young men are you in that photo then Paul? |
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 9, 2023 22:57:03 GMT
For a change... Just a simple post,no changes this weekend... Just been enjoying the performance of the TFLEX 405 has brought to the table.
Had two fantastic listening sessions,with certain tracks, Kepa Junkera and Dire Straits 'Your Latest Trick" sounding incredible.
Next week, a new NUC, slower but fanless Gigabyte Brix 4500.. If the connectors land in time a new, tail for the R26 with TFLEX 405.
My birthday coming up soon, so l should have two fibre optic converters.
I actually was listening tonight, and was saying to myself, how can it get any better... I can't wait to share my journey with you, as it unfolds.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jul 10, 2023 8:15:09 GMT
Great to hear the system is sounding so good
There was a point a year or two ago when I thought the same
How can the sound possibly get better ?
Still we keep on with the improvements and reap the rewards in more music- wonderful
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 17, 2023 8:42:49 GMT
So todays task,went really well.
Swapped over my NUCs to the fanless Gigabyte Brix 4500 unit, incredibly, apart from the CPU on the 5150 and a fan, the motherboard is exactly the same.
This meant, l simply had to just swap my Nvm drive and Ram over,get rid of the internal WIFI, and simply just switch back, yippee no need to reinstall anything, you couldn't do that on a Windows based PC, so another advantage on Linux Dabian.
The good news, there is no operational difference in the speed on the 4500, that l can tell. Its silent.Now l be honest with you l wasn't expecting a difference in audio terms, being the NUC are similar, the 4500 has a lower wattage draw about 6 watts, where the 5150 is 10 watts and has a fan, small margins really. However, l am stunned, as there is a audible improvement, more inner detail, and stereo effects details are more apparent.
l read on many sites, that it really doesn't make much of a difference so much what NUC PC you use as a endpoint, but this in my view clearly debunks that theory.
Now ...time to get back to enjoying some Camel..I can recommend l Can See Your House From Here, a great album, as Punk was at it's peak, and it's sounds like the band wanted to change direction,but musically couldn't
Have fun chaps, going to delay the TFLEX 405 tail for a bit, and just enjoy the music.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 17, 2023 14:28:44 GMT
Minor update... l will purchase a tail lead, l simply don't have the eye sight and skills to work with such a small connector (MCX)
On a more positive note, l disconnected my BT antenna inside the R26, and sheilded the BT connector.
Firstly there is a slight improvement, which l am kind of struggling to reason with.
Apprantly the BT antenna is only powered when the input is selected, and l don't use BT,so l am surprised that there is an improvement, l know Rodders and some the Head Fi forum have experienced the same improvement, so it's a bit of a strange one
BTW,the improvement is placement and image, a gain is a gain l guess.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 23, 2023 11:00:57 GMT
Well it was my Birthday last week, so the better half asked what l wanted. We'll l may had well be talking in a Foreign Language...l'm sure you chaps have seen that glazed look from your partners face,trying to explain Graphene or your recent clock upgrade 🤣
Thankfully all it took was a ebay item to be passed to my younger son, and present delivered...actually on my birthday.
So this morning l went over to a Fibre to Fibre, using a Finisar FCBG110SD1C03 SFP cable, l haven't a clue how they rank in listeners opinions. Both units are power with good psu's, Zero Zone 01 Ultra cap and a ifi Elite psu.
Before the Fibre starts,l run a triple cascade of Netgear GS108E units also on Zero Zone 01 PSU
Well having spent over a hour with the changes, l understand what the fuss is all about. A lowering of the noise floor, placement of performers, reduction in harshness, but not at the expense of clarity, a clarmness that is highly enjoyable,a velvet glove....😀 Sorry couldn't resist the last one.
I guess the natural progression will be a streamer for myself,l was considering a Holo Red, however I may save and push the boat out for Mano Ultra MK3.
On the tweek front, l am awaiting a TFLEX 405 patch lead for the Gustard R26, l am hoping l can return the unit to its standard format, but if direct sounds better, l'll stick to that method.
l also have to thank Matt, as he posted be a sample of 3M EMC noise absorbing sheets,with the suggestion of placing them on top of my Gustard R26 chips, l know Matt has had some success with this method, so l look forward to playing around.
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Post by MartinT on Jul 23, 2023 12:02:19 GMT
Good stuff, more isolation for noise reduction in the digital chain works well.
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 23, 2023 16:36:34 GMT
I may save and push the boat out for Mano Ultra MK3. I remember considering the MK2 version - am I right in thinking they use a Raspberry pi in these streamers? |
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 23, 2023 18:46:26 GMT
I may save and push the boat out for Mano Ultra MK3. I remember considering the MK2 version - am I right in thinking they use a Raspberry pi in these streamers? I believe so Jules, that's the reality, all streamers are computers in some shape or form, it's a balance between less noise vs cpu performance. l kinda of feel your paying the psu and output board,and software. Like the Holo Red, what attractive about Mano Mk3,is the ability to just let it sit there just a rendering away Volumio or another program via DNLA. And in my case just use Jriver remote to send the data to it. That Tim has a lot to answer for! 🤣 |
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Post by mattspl on Jul 25, 2023 18:04:49 GMT
The Mano Ultra Mk3 does look very good, I’d be interested to hear what you think if you end up buying one.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 29, 2023 23:46:00 GMT
l have been burning the midnight oil...
So good morning chaps.
So my TFLEX 405 patch lead arrived.. After swapping back and forth from direct to patch, l felt there wasn't much in it, was l listening to hard...possibly,l was sideing with direct.
However l then decided to add some additional copper tape for further shielding on the patch lead,and it definitely sounding the same...result. l would suggest just adding the copper and some insulation tape over it, and your laughing 😅
O...And there's more....
Ever since l have had the R26, l could never get it to show on my network, so l tried to get to the bottom of it. l knew something was up,as l wasn't able to flash my hardware, and it seems the SD card was corrupt, although the unit would work, but not on LAN.
Thankfully l used a new SD card,and installed V1.42 firmware. And it worked! LAN and the R26 is now seen on my network..At last...l can use it to stream Jriver.
As l last reported, l am now running FMC, and it really improved my NUC that runs Volumio 3.
l really chuffed, as the R26 actually, and should... sounds better than my NUC, not a big margin, but more natural flowing, and more organic tones, l think this firmly halts my need for a streamer.
Lastly I had a play with Matts EMF absorbers, and placed them temporary on some of the ic's, incredibly l couldn't detect any difference, which leads me to the conclusion, my shielding must be working.
Now it's 12.44am time for a Guinness...
It's been a long ride.... But l couldn't be happier.
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Post by wannarock2 on Jul 30, 2023 0:17:28 GMT
Now it's 12.44am time for a Guinness... It's been a long ride.... But l couldn't be happier.  |
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 30, 2023 0:20:57 GMT
🤣
Glad to know l am not the only one up late.
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atoz
Rank: Trio
Posts: 147
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Post by atoz on Jul 30, 2023 8:16:48 GMT
Good to hear the patch cable was a success Damien,I will order mine tomorrow.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Jul 31, 2023 8:46:39 GMT
Good to hear the patch cable was a success Damien,I will order mine tomorrow. Yes good news indeed.... However I am more boiled over by the sound quality of the R26 using LAN and FMC |
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📶NAS > Gustard x26p DAC > Benchmark LA4 Pre-Amp > NAD M22-V2 Amplifier > Revel F228Be Speakers