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Post by MartinT on Jun 25, 2024 13:07:55 GMT
In a very different way, try Hawkwind - Space Ritual. It's a very flawed live recording, but it was made on a Pye Mobile Studio in 1972 and the live feel is absolutely stunning. I bathe myself in it!
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Post by petea on Jun 25, 2024 14:21:27 GMT
I now have an image of Martin emulating Stacia that I’m stuggling to recover from ! ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png)
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Post by palace on Jun 25, 2024 14:24:03 GMT
In a very different way, try Hawkwind - Space Ritual. It's a very flawed live recording, but it was made on a Pye Mobile Studio in 1972 and the live feel is absolutely stunning. I bathe myself in it! MartinT I connected to youtube via a Ugreen flat cat 7 ethernet cable I hear/see what you mean...
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Post by MartinT on Jun 25, 2024 15:12:46 GMT
I now have an image of Martin emulating Stacia that I’m stuggling to recover from ! ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) Purely watching, Pete. Only one of us need get our kit off.
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Post by palace on Jun 27, 2024 12:52:26 GMT
On another forum a post pointed out that the manufacturers of a brand of I believe spring based isolators, should be placed between the stand & the speaker.
In the case of my 10" high One Thing Audio Rupert stands they are firmly screwed to the bottom of the OTA Quad 57's with 3 long screws then 2 adjusting bolts at the rear to vary the angle of the speaker face to suit the room & the listeners taste. upright more perceived treble, leaning back as with the original little Quad feet/legs sounding warmer, the position I use is more upright, probably halfway twixt the possible adjustments.
The above, means that inserting anything between the stand & speaker would be virtually impossible, further the Auva 70's screwed to the bottom of the stands using the stands M6 threaded inserts the Auva 70's add extra stability & about 30 mm in height to the speakers, getting very close to the generally accepted 12" from the ground/floor optimum, Peter Walker (their designer) often put them on stools.
I have no experience of the other isolators so can not comment on their effectiveness. The Auva Chambers with their vibration to heat content in the Stack Audio range are described as isolators, & do seem to absorb/reduce vibration, increasing in effectiveness from the Auva 50's to Auva 70's & indeed the Auva EQ's as well. How much improvement Auva 100's would add I can only guess.
Paul Rigby The Audiophile Man wote "Differences, if any? Lots is what I’d say! But hear this, moving from the 70s to the 100s is to move from excellent hifi to truly high-end HiFi. And I mean top-of-the-line. It’s like moving from an exceptional boron cantilevered cartridge to a cartridge packing a sapphire or even diamond cantilever. That sort of standard".
"At this point, all talk stops. You’re forced to listen. There is a level of sound quality here which is just exceptional. Truly exceptional. In short? Down went the noise again, up came the detail".
My overriding feeling is, I no longer have a "Hi-Fi" system I have a sound system that produces natural unemphasized music very close to whatever the Artist's, Engineer or producer signed off on.
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Post by palace on Jul 2, 2024 16:32:37 GMT
I love the Auva 70's & what they bring, however I keep thinking about the Auva 100's. I keep seeing in my mind the words of Paul Rigby The Audiophile Man when he wrote "Differences, if any? Lots is what I’d say! But hear this, moving from the 70s to the 100s is to move from excellent hifi to truly high-end HiFi. And I mean top-of-the-line. It’s like moving from an exceptional boron cantilevered cartridge to a cartridge packing a sapphire or even diamond cantilever. That sort of standard".
"At this point, all talk stops. You’re forced to listen. There is a level of sound quality here which is just exceptional. Truly exceptional. In short? Down went the noise again, up came the detail".
My 75th is coming up do I at least try them using the 30 day trial period???
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Post by Slinger on Jul 2, 2024 18:49:02 GMT
It sounds very much like you're convinced you'll regret NOT trying them, and you need someone to give you that final push. Consider yourself shoved.
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Post by palace on Jul 2, 2024 19:00:19 GMT
It sounds very much like you're convinced you'll regret NOT trying them, and you need someone to give you that final push. Consider yourself shoved. You had to do it didn't you.
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Post by Slinger on Jul 2, 2024 19:11:35 GMT
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Post by palace on Jul 3, 2024 11:31:58 GMT
It sounds very much like you're convinced you'll regret NOT trying them, and you need someone to give you that final push. Consider yourself shoved. There seems to be an interest even consensus on several fora I post on in my trying the Auva 100's. I will contact Stack Audio & see. as Slinger wrote correctly I am convinced that l would "regret NOT trying them, and you need someone to give you that final push. Consider yourself shoved". as it happens I do feel willingly shoved in that direction.
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Post by palace on Jul 4, 2024 12:00:04 GMT
I had realised a few days ago, whilst listening with the Auva EQ's under pre & power amplifiers & Auva 50's under the turntable & Croft phono stage with Auva 70's under the OTA Quad 57's & OTA Rupert stands the Power valves must be tired as they had over 2500 hours of use.
I ordered 4 x Matched KT120's from Hot Rox in Nottingham they arrived a couple of days ago & I fitted them in to the Rogue Atlas Magnum power amplifier, they are settling nicely, I realised that other than fitting the sets of Auva feet I had not touched the One Thing Audio Quad 57's ages ago, not since screwing them on to the OTA Rupert stands & adjusting the angle using the bolts at the rear of the stands.
When I checked the tightness of the 3 screws on each of the four wood edging strips the brass screws were loose in their brass cups, though I could not detect any movement the edging strips not only act as finishing strips but clamp the front & rear perforated metal screens though they are also stapled, 12 screws took but a few moments to tighten, There has been a very slight improvement over & above fitting new KT120 power valves, indicating why the elimination of vibration is so effective in improving sounds.
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Post by palace on Jul 5, 2024 11:03:35 GMT
I had realised a few days ago, whilst listening with the Auva EQ's under pre & power amplifiers & Auva 50's under the turntable & Croft phono stage with Auva 70's under the OTA Quad 57's & OTA Rupert stands the Power valves must be tired as they had over 2500 hours of use. I ordered 4 x Matched KT120's from Hot Rox in Nottingham they arrived a couple of days ago & I fitted them in to the Rogue Atlas Magnum power amplifier, they are settling nicely, I realised that other than fitting the sets of Auva feet I had not touched the One Thing Audio Quad 57's ages ago, not since screwing them on to the OTA Rupert stands & adjusting the angle using the bolts at the rear of the stands. When I checked the tightness of the 3 screws on each of the four wood edging strips the brass screws were loose in their brass cups, though I could not detect any movement the edging strips not only act as finishing strips but clamp the front & rear perforated metal screens though they are also stapled, 12 screws took but a few moments to tighten, There has been a very slight improvement over & above fitting new KT120 power valves, indicating why the elimination of vibration is so effective in improving sounds. Incredibly ungratefully I forgot to say my wife paid for the KT120's for my 75th very remiss of me.
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Post by palace on Jul 13, 2024 15:29:54 GMT
I have just had the most expensive 10 days for a while, as above my wife bought me 4 x KT120 valves/tubes for my Rogue Atlas Magnum power amp, after a few hours use they have augmented the Auva EQ's, 50's & 70's in my system, the sound is even more relaxed, I find I'm listening to even more obscure (to me) recordings than usual such is the musicality of the system, most music sounds so good.
When my son rebuilt our Audi Q5 after the prang my wife had he noticed that after 102000 miles all 8 of the rubber bushes 4 per side of the complicated individual wishbone front suspension were cracked, due to Audi using aluminium wishbone components & a steel bolt called a pinch bolt that is notoriously difficult to remove due to Galvanic corrosion requiring an inductive heater which is better to use than an acetylene torch so the Audi had to go into a garage, they said it was difficult but not the worst but still £1500 ($1900.22), then a week ago the monitor on my PC died another £250 ($318).
Any more spend on the system may have to wait...
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Post by palace on Jul 19, 2024 11:58:00 GMT
With the vast improvement in sound engendered by my shielding particularly in the Croft phono stage & all power & phono leads, replacing the nondescript CAT 5 & 6 ethernet leads with CAT 7 & 8 UGreen shielded cables also with more head room, latterly with the addition of the incredible Stack Audio Auva EQ's,50'S under equipment & 70'S under my OTA Quad 57 speakers
Yesterday I realised for the first time ever I preferred by a gnat's phallus the digital side rather than analogue ie LP's.
I thought about what valves were in place in the Croft when I was about to start this crusade, the only change was after my friend Mark Manwaring-White who some time ago had replaced the transformer & added a regulated 6.3v supply so that I could use Russian valves with adapters as well as 12.6v European & American tubes/valves.
Mark recommended a Russian 6N1P & as the 3rd valve which is a buffer/cathode follower. It originally had a Sovtek 12AX7WA when it arrived new from Mr Croft I have tried 6N6P, 12BH7,12AX7/ECC83' 6CG7 & variations of ECC82's
Some time ago Mark rewired the 12AX7/ECC83 configuration valve base to use a 6N1P or that pinout type valve, before that I used the adapters. I changed the 6N1P for a same pinout 1970 Reflector 6N23P at that time it seemed smoother.
Today I replaced the 6N23P with a 1972 Novosibirsk 6N1P ureka! I have quite a few valve's on hand, there was the detail that the 6N1P is noted for also the bass was a tad richer with none of the harshness previously noted, I wonder if it was the individual valve though I would usually try several valves if anything of note was present.
I am surprised that the/a cathode follower change could be so obvious since it does not amplify though they do sound different hence my initial search probably due to matching phono stage to preamp with a myriad of permutations. It would appear that the Stack Audio Auva EQ's 50's & 70's ensemble removed something from the system that the 6N1P exacerbated whatever the LP, Turntable & Croft are again in front.
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Post by palace on Jul 19, 2024 16:57:22 GMT
Further to previous entries have the new KT120's had an unexpected result now the Stack Auva units have had time to settle, I wondered about the placement of the Auva 50's under the Croft phono stage removal spoilt the resulting sound, still good, but not as good, so I put them back. What about those under the Hydraulic Reference TT, after removing them blow me more life & sparkle than before, initially with worn KT120'S there was an improvement sliding the Auva 50's under the TT, remember the Auva 50's are designed as speaker feet & I fudged a way to use them.
However it is now apparent after removing sets of Auva EQ's & 50's one at a time and all of them a few hours work, I did not touch the the Auva 70's under the OTA Quad 57's their contribution is undoubted though proving that the Auva EQ's & 50's under preamp power amp the later under the Croft phono stage are working brilliantly explaining why the Digital side was sounding so good & the Auva 50's were just to good, probably after the 2 Auva chambers per foot settled, damping my unsprung Hydraulic Reference TT too much. Proving in a roundabout way that the Auvas do absorb/isolate vibrations
The TT is now sounding stunning...
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Post by palace on Jul 20, 2024 12:43:28 GMT
After the excitement of yesterday realising that the Auva 50's under the Hydraulic Reference turntable were doing their job to well, once settled the Auva 50's were absorbing the vibrations of the unsprung turntable so well they just about sucked the life out of it, their removal proved how well Auva's work absorbing vibrations. Those in place elsewhere proving the combination of Auva EQ's 50's & 70's under the OTA Quad 57's on OTA Rupert stands together with a new set of KT120's & refitting the Novosibirsk 6N1P as cathode follower in the Croft phono stage has proved they are all have a symbiotic relationship.
Playing Wish You Were Here (floyd vinyl LP) the opening notes come from a silent black background when Mick Mason drums come in wow!. The separation of instruments has improved even more, they are where the engineer put them, with a sparkle that was not as obvious before.
Brubecks Greatest hits (Dave Brubeck vinyl LP) though early recordings in various venues the quartet are at times in the room.
Mass For Five Voices (William Byrd, Wilcocks, Choir Kings College Cambridge Argo MONO) I have never heard this album sound so bright, not glassy & harsh but clear, there is layering of voices, the acoustic is as it is at Kings (6 & 1/2 decades or so ago I sang there) & listened there since.
Vocalise, Songs of the Auvergne (Anna Moffo vinyl LP of Rachmaninov & Canteloube) Anna Moffo to my mind/ears one of the great if not the greatest lyric sopranos of the 20th century. Has there ever been a more sensuous soprano voice? her Vocalise slower than most sopranos, And what phrasing! she hits the high notes every time unlike Callas, aurally & physically beautiful known as "La Bellissima" her voice is floating or drifting across the fields in front of me & there is deep bass on the recording I had not noticed before, sublime...
This tome of a thread was started after my dear friend Mark Manwaring-White of Malvern Acoustic Research fitted a pair of SUT'S in my Croft phono stage utilising the Croft circuits. The SUT's were to enable my use of a Hana ML cartridge.
The thread has roamed through my efforts to misuse & use clip on ferrites to advantage, shield with copper foil the Croft + power leads & as a faradic cage around speaker leads. Latterly I have focussed on fitting the amazing Stack Audio Auva's to the system particularly the Auva 70's with the now outstanding OTA Quad 57's. I can only say my choice of a Hana ML after my Cartridgeman Musicmaster was inspired it with all the work & thought is working much better than I could have anticipated.
I had no idea at the beginning where this thread would meander but I must say not only has the analogue side benefited, the digital side is now also outstanding. Unless another Cartridge or the chance to try Auva 100's on the OTA Quad 57's Rupert stands the Audiophile Man was correct about Auva 70's then his comments about 100's being superior is probably true.
To those who have read this thread thank you.
Addendum : Thank you in no particular order Slinger, MartinT, Mike Music & HD Music & Test, stellabagpuss for all your help & encouragement...
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Post by palace on Aug 21, 2024 13:26:16 GMT
It has been a crap couple of months my Son in Laws father & my good friend who shared 3 of my hobbies including music & hifi died & was cremated within 6 weeks of a cancer diagnosis, then last week my wife went to stay with my 14 year old granddaughter in Dorset whilst my other daughter surprised by my Son in Law went to Vegas, the power steering on our car has failed, my son rushed to help but miles from his comprehensive workshop thankfully a big strong boy he had to wrestle the car to a garage big bill coming.
Now the good bit.
This morning 8 x Stack Audio Auva 100's arrived after Auva 50's & 70's fitting them to the One Thing Audio Rupert stands that my OTA Quad 57's sit on.
My initial impressions of the yet to have the micro-particles in the Auva chambers settle, Auva 100's vs fully settled Auva 70's playing a Virgin box recording of Reggae at the BBC, Bob Marley, Exodus I Was surprised the bass was not more prominent my attention was immediately drawn to the mids & treble so clean & clear with a better acoustic, then I realised the separation had improved between bass drum & bass guitar on this old BBC live recording.
Then to Snowflakes are dancing by Tomita on vinyl LP the electronic sounds/notes were actually better positioned in space & the deep bass note that comes in was not just a single note but 3 or more overlayed, I found the same overlaying of bass notes more easily appreciated with a deadmau5 CD while(1<2) also the girls voce track 2 is slightly more ethereal
and fitting in better with the electronic multitracking around it deadmau5 is a digital wizard.
Listening to the Allegri Miserere The 16 Harry Christophers 2010 Virgin box & YouTube recordings the high "C" can be more clearly heard reverberating around what I presume is an old church.
Porgy & Bess Willard White, François Clemmons & Arthur Thompson I never knew there was such deep bass on this Vinyl LP.
Pictures at an Exhibition YouTube recording not orchestrated the original for piano Yevgeny kissin pianist, the piano could be in the room a magical resonance notes stop & start instantly unless the pedals are used.
I have whilst I listen realised that the music is even slower or more properly un-hurried, I guess even more vibrations are being absorbed the Auva 100's having 5 Auva chambers not 3 & being 30mm bigger in diameter & the Quad 57's have risen another 10mm, I just walked over & touched the Quad 57's with Deadmau5 playing the felt/perceived vibration of the speakers is less than with the Auva 50' & 70's fitted, that experience of the 50's & 70's indicates even more improvement to come as the microparticles that turn vibration in to heat in line with physics energy can only be converted not destroyed.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 21, 2024 13:33:04 GMT
This is more of a blog than related to Source Components so I'm moving it to the Blog area...
Here!
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Post by palace on Aug 22, 2024 19:08:07 GMT
On another forum observations were made about needing to experiment arriving at 5 Auva EQ's under a streamer & 4 under a valve amplifier. My reply below.
I cant of course offer any insight re your system. In my case I have 4 X No 1 Auva EQ's under my 13 Kg Ming da MC7R valve pre amp & 4 X No 2 Auva EQ's under my 25 Kg valve power amp these simple configurations work in my system, your experiments have proved that as with most Hi Fi nothing is cut & dried.
My amplifiers including Croft phono stage CD player Cassette deck & Leak Troughline, sit behind the right hand OTA Quad 57 creating I would think air born vibrations that were/are not so subtle & better to deal with.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 22, 2024 19:13:56 GMT
If the Auvas have a damping effect on the supported equipment like Black Ravioli, and I suspect that they do, then more Auva will provide more damping. You have to keep a fairly good load on them, so that helps determine the optimum number.
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