bencat
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Post by bencat on Jun 2, 2024 19:16:26 GMT
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Jun 3, 2024 9:33:41 GMT
Weird one today started up the system and it just did not sound right everything seemed to have moved to the right . Yes the left side was playing but very much quieter than the right . Horrible visions running through my head of my Quads needing a trip to AQuadthing Audio. Switched speaker cables and the stronger sound moved to the left so relief it was not the speakers . Then the tedious but needed going through things to check if all items are set correctly . Got to the Purcell and really looked at the screen and finally twigged output was set to single AES not dual AES as it should beautify scoot through the menu and reset and things have returned to normal . Not sure how this happened as normally it is only me that touches things and I have not needed to change anything but the upsample sizes for either 176.4 for CD levels and 192for any 48 / 96 inputs . Presume one of the Grand kids has had a little like while I was not in the room . Still all solved now and if it happens again at least I know what to look for .
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Post by mattspl on Jun 3, 2024 11:25:22 GMT
Those moments of dread aren’t nice. Glad you got it sorted.
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Jun 5, 2024 13:42:17 GMT
Okay today due to the issues of children pressing buttons I did a complete run through of setting both my dCS Purcell/Delius . Checked that all the settings including output word length , double AES outputs , and filter settings were as I wanted them . Got everything set . Then also introduced the Logitech Harmony Hub I bought ages ago so now have full remote volume control . Just an aside about this I was never able to set this unit using a PC but with an App on android tablet it was a breeze and now works flawlessly . So back to the system and it is sounding incredible best I have heard it for a long while much better and wider soundstage , more texture and body to both voices and instruments . Really very happy I should look at this again next time I am feeling that things are not sounding right . A sensible but of housekeeping can go along way to restoring your music .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Jun 8, 2024 11:52:29 GMT
Well another day and the system is still playing very well after the reset . Something I find a very good litmus test for the system is how well it plays Radio Six Music on the BBC . This is sent in a reasonable but compressed stream and at 48khz . When the system is working really well then this can sound very good and there is never the feeling of I want to switch this off . Today Huey is sounding top notch do not like all of the music he plays but some of it is new and different so I enjoy this show . Today it is sounding top notch so everything is workin .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Jul 2, 2024 12:21:27 GMT
Well have to say that I am so pleased with my system at the moment that it is hard to believe how off it had sounded and I had put up with it . A few sessions in a friends house listening to a very different system have me audio envy . So that then sparked the push for me out of my lethargy and get things sorted . Found the main cause as noted above of fiddling little fingers and soon had the settings back how they should be . Then spent a couple of hours making small adjustments to speaker placement and this moved things up a notch . Then followed the thread about DAC sfp cable and tried some cheap generic ones to hear what they did in my set up . Straight out of the packet there was an improvement but a day later this has grown and quite significantly . Width of sound stage has now increased . My friend whose system sound caused my unrest came round today and had a listen . He had not heard my system sounded nice before I got all the equipment on spring feet and none of the other changes . His reaction was very different to mine He was amazed at how much better it sounds now as he was hearing the complete results of all the changes while I had heard things one at a time . Overall I am very happy with the final levels I have now certainly the best this system has sounded since I have owned it . Graham my friend made a comment while we were listening The Temptations Papa Was A Rolling Stone that this could have been made for the Quads so right did it sound . So hopeful now that there may well be further improvements with more burn in but if not then still happy .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Jul 3, 2024 13:37:16 GMT
Okay lots of changes and little time to register and keep up to date with what is happening . So just a review of the current state signpost before July next change comes in . Some may have read my posts on the DAC cable thread in accessories and know as I was already very committed to FMC optical use it was really an easy thing for me to be seduced downtime rabbit hole . Firstly if your set up used SFP connection then in my view you really should try a DAC cable to make it easier I have two 1 mtr cables that you are welcome to borrow . Not having the full details of the Amphenol cable that Martin was talking about I have used a generic cable and the results with that were good straight out of the packet . Then this improved further with use . I then ordered a 0.3 mtr and 0.5 mtr set of Amphenol cables Not the same as the pair Martin used . These were an improvement again on the generic pair and again they have blossomed with use . My system is now at a level I wanted it to be when I first outing together .The only word I can use to describe it is bit sound right . It is easy to listen to for as long as you like voices sound human and real separation is better than I have heard it ever . Soundstage now changes easily and noticeably with each track so that each recording has its own size an shape and stays stable . Best of all and this I was not expecting poor recordings are just so much easier to listen to and ignore the faults and enjoy the music . All recordings have never been perfect and I have heard systems that make anything but the best recordings sound awful , never wanted that adherents so much good music that has not had the best recording process. I have now gone so far down this rabbit hole that I am going to go the next step and have ordered the 0.5 mtr Amphenol cable Martin is using and will stick that in . If things stay the same this is still the best I have heard my system ever so pure so musical , if by chance there is more improvement then lucky me .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Jul 8, 2024 14:07:27 GMT
Well got a call from Paul at NVA and they are now in a position to work on the M7 old style amps that I sent them . I ham really ver grateful to Paul and all at NVA Mark and Tomaz that they are prepared to look at these much older amps .
Great news is that they have confirmed that they can get them working and that they can also offer an upgrade to close to the current M600 specification . This will mean replacing both of the boards with new , fitting 4 x Torroidy Transformers so that there is a separate power supply for both the input and out put stages . New Vishay Capacitors and new output devices . Agreed the cost with Paul today and have paid in full so they can get on with doing the work . Glad to say this has fallen in a period when they have just completed a number of orders and they have a bit of time to be able to do things like this .
So my gamble and preference to not just binning old equipment but fixing and using it with an extended life is going to become a reality . I know how good my system sounds with my S300 in place and I have had a pair of M600 on home demo . So I know that the M600 are a step up over the S300 but they were just too much for me at that time . Things have changed a bit and I have the spare money to pay for this upgrade and I will accept that it will not be quite like a pair of new M600 out of the box but I am very sure that these are going to be very close sound wise and will be an improvement over the S300 .
The only issue now is how do I keep the childish excitement in before these arrive . I will be wondering all the time how good can these be and when will they be ready to collect ? Allthings any man of my age should have under control but sadly not me . Will advise when they are ready for collection and then drop a few lines here once they are installed and burned in .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Jul 9, 2024 8:45:54 GMT
Oh boy how things can change so quickly after a full half a day and all night with Cascade burn in on the system have come to it this morning and turned it on . Well the new miniDSP Flex DL is whole new animal compared to the two units it replaced . This system was performing very well recently with a very definite speed and even a decent soundstage and image which I long ago accepted was something that would suffer due to the speaker placement hard against a wall .
Well Flex has changed all that the soundstage is now really impressive and images are very firmly placed . Main gain though has been the natural feeling and what i can only describe as the flow of music from the speakers in to the room . This is now very close to the quality I get in my main music room system , in particular the vocals are now very close to the Quads which I know are the real sounds as they have no cabinet hang over or addition being Electrostatic . Well this now sounds the same and with added bass drive and slam . I was very happy to bring this to the Maverick Show this year in Barnsley before I had done any changes I considered that it sounded very good and would impress any visitors with the music it could play . Now I am really excited to get it set up and and playing as it is just better on every level and in every way . If someone said sorry Andrew this is the last system you can have I would be delighted as I could live with this every day with no regrets .
I still think there may be more to extract from additional burn in which is a very pleasing thought and will be putting cascade back on for the next few days . Today is a day to make me smile and not even the English Summer is going to change that .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 4, 2024 11:56:39 GMT
Well currently listening to my main system minus the LB Clock which is on its way to Tony to have his upgrades done. Feeding the digital signal straight in to my Mutec which was also upgraded a while ago by Tony . Quite surprised and happy that the sound is still excellent and not missing the LB as much as I thought . The upgrades should be done while I am away on holiday in Ibiza so that will be something to change when I get back . I am also expecting my NVA monoblocks which are being brought up to M600 level to be completed very soon as well . These may well be the last amplifiers I will buy for this system . I expect them to show an improvement over my NVA S300 and that is still the second best amp I heard driving the Quads . After this I have decided to take the Quads to Andrew at AQuadthing Audio for what will be under my ownership their last full service . I then plan a few days of carefully measured place.ent of the Quads back in place with evaluation of very small changes in position toe in and then fix them in place and get back to listening .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 15, 2024 10:24:51 GMT
Well the day has arrived and I have been told by NVA that my P70 Monoblocks are fully built and currently being soak tested . Mark who made them says they sound very good indeed and I will be going to collect them on Friday . Mark has also been kind enough to send me some picture of both the originals and the finished units . Not a huge amount to see but there is a sort of clean simple look that is pleasing for me . The new build has two quite large Torroidy Transformers per amp one powering the input and one powering the output . It also now has four really good quality Capcitors per case compared to the original builds two .
I know that the outside appearance is going to be nothing like as smart and polished as a new set of M600 but for me reusing and getting close to the sound quality of the M600 is the aim . Will be getting these in place late Friday afternoon and giving them a good listen to that night with a view to a Tara Labs burn over the next few days . If things go well as I hope they will I will make a few comments here on Friday . But I am sure that things will get better after a few days or even weeks burn in . These could well be the last power amps I ever buy and hopefully will be better than the S300 which currently sounds excellent .
My LB Clock is still with Tony and I am not going to chase him as I want a little time to get the monoblocks settled in before I change another part of the chain .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 17, 2024 8:13:53 GMT
Well the morning after and a good few hours of Cascade burn in have things changed . Well yes they have notched up another step all the good things from yesterday but now the sound is more organic and seems to just seep out of the speakers and pervade the room . As I often do today put on Six Music which is not the greatest quality level stream but some good music . Voices for presenters are more real an nicely placed were the engineer out them . Music was fantastic no feeling that I am missing something I stead the feeling is one of just sit back and listen .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 19, 2024 9:21:17 GMT
Living the music so much at the moment . The P70 monos are just so sweet and enjoyable to listen to . They also show that there was more to get out of my other items in the chain . Tony has been in touch to today with confirmation that my LB Clock has been upgraded and some pictures of how it measures now . Confess to not really knowing what they fully mean but they are all of a very high level and I am sure much improved over the originals . Currently I have been listening to everything just through the Mutec using its internal clock and as already stated things are sounding superb . When I bought the LB Clock putting it in to my system made a really big difference . Not sure if doing that again with upgrade will make the same jump but will find out later in the week . As always will let you all know once installed and playing .
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Post by John on Aug 19, 2024 11:21:56 GMT
Yes do update everyone
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 19, 2024 13:03:58 GMT
Here are some links to the photos that Tony sent me of the worked on unit and some measurements he took once completed . Sad to confess I do not really understand the measurements but I am sure they good and an improvement on the original version.
ibb.co/XLtRbGZ ibb.co/NmRDVfv ibb.co/4MW13K8 ibb.co/hm80LxS ibb.co/H7wzp47 ibb.co/61BpMG6
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Post by stellabagpuss on Aug 19, 2024 19:07:15 GMT
Excellent... l look forward to your views. l was hoping Tony would share his LB mods,as he was hinting at doing so a month or so back.
Did you have any photos of the internal completed work?
lm still patiently waiting on the news on the new LB and its release.
Keep us up to date.
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 13:31:29 GMT
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 20, 2024 14:15:41 GMT
Okay the LB Clock has returned and after little initial stutter appears to be set and locked as it should be . Thing is I am not going to fit it back in my system today as I have friend Graham coming over tomorrow and I wanted to take advantage of this by playing three tracks on my system as it is set up now just using the Mutec then insert the LB Clock and both of us get to hear what if any changes happen . I am normally the only one listening so it will be interesting to find out what someone else makes of the same change at the same time .
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bencat
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Post by bencat on Aug 21, 2024 15:24:27 GMT
Right got to put the Tony upgraded LB Clock in my system today with Graham a friend to listen as well . Because I use a Mutec I could install the LB but not set it to not replace the Mutec internal clock . Three tracks played by John Martyn , Agnes Obel and Malia all Grahams choice . Straight in to the Mutec and the Soundwave it has been superb and much improved over the last time Graham had listened using the NVA S300 the step up to the monoblocks was just obvious. Then a quick reset of the Mutec to use the LB as it's external clock and back to the same three tracks . Me I knew what to expected and sure enough the jump to real people singing and playing in my room was the result . All the tracks gained but the Malia track gained the most there was just more life and everything ,bass treble midrange everything . Now you felt that Malia was just there in front of you . So if any of you use and LB Clock then I would urge you to form an orderly queue to ask Tony to work on it . If you want to see the difference in the Audio Addicts site there is a Leo Bodnar Set up thread with pictures of the digital age of a standard LB . Compare that with picture on this thread of the upgraded unit and it is not subtle . Does it make a difference ? Can you hear the difference ? I certainly think you can and it is all the good stuff that often the music out . A very happy little bunny at this time , it may well be a very long night .
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Post by MartinT on Aug 21, 2024 16:44:25 GMT
Is that the Malia album with Boris Blank? Which track?
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