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Post by MartinT on May 22, 2018 20:47:17 GMT
Yes - everywhere in the house that creates noise. Some will think it over the top, but they cost peanuts and the cumulative effect is profound.
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Post by MikeMusic on May 23, 2018 9:15:09 GMT
Thanks
Will start putting the ones out I already have.
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Post by John on Aug 19, 2018 6:34:15 GMT
Had a visit to Mike as he is interested in getting more from his streaming.
We initially tried his Caiman with the DigiOne pi. The sound was quite thin
First change we added the Mk1 pads a bit more body and detail
The added 2 IFI USB silencer and the sound started to get more serious a good bit more detail. Mike said this was like adding a £500 upgrade.
Changed to the SEG and bespoke power supply A big upgrade in sound using Spotify.
We then listened to Mike Rega Isis with the same track and both agreed the ISIS was better (I reminded Mike still a bit more to come from the PI with a decent Ethernet cable and Lan Isolator)
We then listened to files and this was now quite close to the Isis but hard to tell as a different bit of music from my collection and no CD disc to compare but would still give the Isis a slight edge.
I was not able to play any HD files as have none in my collection.
I think Mike would struggle to put an ethernet cable in as his hub is in another room.
At the end we also put quite a few snap chokes on Mikes cables on anything creating noise within his room. Mike will be able to chat what this did to the his system sound quality But just to say a great bargain in terms of performance
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 19, 2018 9:21:55 GMT
Getting up to date first.
Visit from Tony, Coherent a couple of weeks ago.
Visit to take the noise off the volume control on the Belles Pre Amp. Valves pins cleaned. Noise gone.
(Unfortunately it came back the day after, like last time it was fettled)
Fortunately not serious.
Also tke final measurements for the cable connecting Pre to Monos to turn off all at once, rather than practice Yoga to turn off the Monos at the end of the day and again at the beginning.
Tony brought Coherent cables.
First up was a mains cable which sounded better than the existing Coherent BD.
Interesting that the new one had an SR Red fuse, the existing SR Blue.
Second a mains cable to replace the Coherent 6D from Audio Magic conditioner to the Isis.
Nice little step up in sound.
Third. Swapped that over to the Belles Pre and it was slightly better.
Pre amp more susceptible to a mains cable upgrade it seems.
Fourth. Coherent speaker cables swapping from existing Coherent. Again a nice little step up.
Then Tony dug out a Nova Fidelity X45 streamer.
Played a track on the Isis then on the X45.
Couple of steps down for sure.
However the big surprise for me was after ripping to the X45 and playing the same track there was a big step up in quality.
Colour me very surprised.
Cables left to play with.
Couple of days later I swapped back to original and went through the same as above.
Same as before.
Overall the sound is more rounded. A touch more of treble, mid and bass with a bit more detail coming through.
Tony coming back with the X40, X45 for more listening
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 19, 2018 9:59:21 GMT
Had a visit to Mike as he is interested in getting more from his streaming. We initially tried his Caiman with the DigiOne pi. The sound was quite thin First change we added the Mk1 pads a bit more body and detail The added 2 IFI USB silencer and the sound started to get more serious a good bit more detail. Mike said this was like adding a £500 upgrade. Changed to the SEG and bespoke power supply A big upgrade in sound using Spotify. We then listened to Mike Rega Isis with the same track and both agreed the ISIS was better (I reminded Mike still a bit more to come from the PI with a decent Ethernet cable and Lan Isolator) We then listened to files and this was now quite close to the Isis but hard to tell as a different bit of music from my collection and no CD disc to compare but would still give the Isis a slight edge. I was not able to play any HD files as have none in my collection. I think Mike would struggle to put an ethernet cable in as his hub is in another room. At the end we also put quite a few snap chokes on Mikes cables on anything creating noise within his room. Mike will be able to chat what this did to the his system sound quality But just to say a great bargain in terms of performance Thanks to John coming down yesterday and bringing his kit to test out on my system. Very interesting session with a few surprises as mentioned by John above. Current streaming is Pi with mobile phone battery, Beresford Caiman II modded by Stan with Ankaka battery. Sound was ok, expected better to come. John's SEG was next and that was a nice big step up. Sound quality improvement due to the Mk1 Black Ravioli under everything in the streaming set up was quite marked. As was the step up with the USB silencer. Big surprise to me. Conclusion : Isis better than the Pi streaming set up that John brought. My guess is the other improvements would bring it up to Isis quality. John only heard a bit of the sound after we put the snap chokes in. Better for sure. After he left I put on CDs in the queue I know well. Total expenditure : About a fiver, actually less as there are left overs Chokes on Freeview box, Amazon Firestick, laptop, Portable phone, 3 way adaptor to phone and laptop. Sound quality I expected to notice subtleties, probably. Nope Readjust brain. More top end, mid range, bass, detail. It is 'louder' so widened dynamic range. Loving the sound Dave Sharman - 1990 much bigger. Underworld - Crocodile subtly better, more bass oomph Bill Nelson - Magnificent Dream people. Way more detail Baptist Generals - Jackleg Devotional to the Heart. Far more going on. Like an album that has been remixed. Mekons - Fun. Not expecting much as I don't think The Mekons craft their music. Wrong. loads more going on, again like a tidied up and remixed CD. Philip Glass - Powaqqatsi. Amazing. Dynamic range is superb, bass tremendous, detail in a different league. The low notes on track 3 are now *menacing* ! Trumpet and flutes so clear Wonderful. More music maestro |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 19, 2018 11:25:09 GMT
Powaqqatsi all they way through was riveting.
Even Stephen Fellows - Mood X - which is tape loops is a big step up.
Anyone without Chokes do yourself and your ears a favour and order today !
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 22, 2018 13:57:44 GMT
Visit yesterday from Tony @coherent. Brought over an Oracle Paris as well as the expected Nova Fidelity X40 like this. The Oracle is white as per the pic. Gloss white looks not too bad at all. Same DAC chip as my Isis which makes it an interesting comparison. Playing tracks on both the Isis and the Paris was odd. Similar sound quality but 'different'. Anther track was again 'different' but in a different way. Nothing like expected. Strange. Will do more comparisons and report back. Isis compared to X40 briefly was interesting. Isis first. Then X40 on it's CD player. Isis better but not by as much as I expected. After ripping we then played the X40 again from file. Big jump up - from its own CD player. Next I need to choose a couple of albums, Rip them, then compare the Isis to the Ripped version. More to come. Isis to Paris first then Isis to X40 rip |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 22, 2018 19:06:39 GMT
Getting the ears in tune with Rega Isis vs Oracle Paris.
Normality for me is the Isis and played first.
As expected very nice.
Paris initially seemed like it might be close
Further in it seems closed in compared to the Isis, maybe lacking bass and detail.
Back to the Isis
Yes definitely better.
More open, air, detail, bass
About
£6500 rrp for the Isis
£3500 for the Paris makes it good VFM in comparison
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 22, 2018 19:38:40 GMT
Rega Isis vs Nova Fidelity X40 like this. X40 first as I wanted to make sure I could make it work ! Seemed fine. Isis next Touch more bass, clarity and air. Will have another listen tomorrow and confirm |
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 22, 2018 23:01:26 GMT
Think Tony made a mistake Mike, he meant to bring you the Oracle Paris turntable, not one of your silver spinner efforts LOL.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 23, 2018 9:28:55 GMT
Did confuse me when I Googled and saw the deck.
Nice CD player the Paris.
Has to be a serious contender if your budget is around that level
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 24, 2018 14:17:57 GMT
Isis vs X40 continued and more.
Some tracks the Isis is ahead by a head (!), next track maybe te X40, next hard to tell, could be identical.
Measuring on sound quality only there is no need to change the Isis or add the X40.
Tony arrived and updated the X40. Again the difference was hard to hear if there at all.
X45 next. Does seem to sound better than the X40. Will test against the Isis.
Spotty seemed ok too
Then the surprise and piece of resistance
"I'll bring this for you to listen to, see what you think"
In comes TAD D1000 CD player, currently for sale 2nd hand and the TonyAmp.
The TAD includes its own Pre Amp, plugged directly into the TonyAmp
Sounded impressive on a few tracks
Hmm. Got me thinking.
Ok what are you leaving me with ?
"X45. TAD is probably sold and the Amp is the only one I have" - oh
Isis vs X45 to come
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2018 6:12:06 GMT
I wonder which Tony amp you heard, the same one that I did in my visit? If so, I found it to be a spectacular piece of kit - or more accurately contributed to a spectacular sounding system.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2018 7:21:28 GMT
Hello Martin
No it was the new prototype which is somewhat more advanced over the the amp you listen to, however I have now redressed the balance!
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 25, 2018 11:24:30 GMT
Choke update While I have the place to myself I can move stuff around and not rush to put it back Dragged out furniture to access the socket with broadband router and portable phone. Test Wallwarts out 4 way adaptor into socket with choke on plug end. Wall warts into 4 way Chokes also onto wire near wall wart. Test - sound a little more bassy, little more detail at the top end and midrange now more forward. More than subtle, not huge. Room next door on separate ring main. Well worth doing. Now have to find another 4 way for the boss as I took hers  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 25, 2018 14:52:24 GMT
Put a choke on the fridge.
Improvements agan or I slipped myself a placebo
Mad.
All this for pennies and a couple of minutes placing them
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 26, 2018 11:37:15 GMT
Sound is so good
It is hard to get out of the chair, except to change CDs
Philip Glass - Powaqqatsi is already wonderful.
The detail I have now is stunning.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2018 10:25:04 GMT
Is that your reference music Mike?
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 28, 2018 13:11:21 GMT
A favourite album that was in the queue that I know very well.
Top favourites are
Mavis Staples - Eyes on the prize, track 2 from We'll Never Turn Back
L'Arpegiatta - All'Improvviso - track 3. Ciaccona
Was not was - Boo recently as it is so well made
and others !
After a significant upgrade there are a few that get dragged out and will be soon
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Post by MikeMusic on Oct 17, 2018 15:20:15 GMT
Recently been evaluating, knocked over by, the Coherent RTZ (Mk2 !). A grounding box. - Uh ? Thread here RTZ Grounding boxPlayed around with Coherent 6D and BD mains cables too. More chokes around the house. The sound has taken such a big step up I keep thinking of albums and bands I must listen to - now ! 'Things' are not being done as there is much sitting down listening to music. Does help the boss is away. Back tonight so I might have to leave my comfortable seat and ecstatic ears and do a few 'things'. Ridiculous the improvement the RTZ brings. For what it is - a heavy, small box, size of a big paperback with cables attached to Pre Amp and CD player. For what it costs - £1500 plus cables - (You will want *many* cables. I have 8.) Tony tells me other customers have even more, and they all make a difference. For a left field product. - A grounding box ?! In the context of my whole system it is a game changer. Will it work for you in your system ? Can only say you must try it if you want your system to give a massively improved sound for a budget of around £2000 + |
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