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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 9, 2019 13:58:02 GMT
Tony's visit
Part 3 : Interconnect. With a one box CD/Pre/DAC and Power amp there is only that one set to think about
Tony brought in some prototype BD interconnects with big lumps shrunk near the receiving end to compare to my 6Ds
Still working out my thoughts.
First thought - better
Left them in a while and compared BD to 6D and back to BD
Hmm. Probably BDs are better but not by much and maybe too much bass..
Long term listening I love the sound from the system no matter which set is in place
Perhaps the BDs take it. Need to swap back to the 6Ds for a few days.
Great detail and separation of instruments
The playlist is very helpful with the same albums delivering so much enjoyment
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Post by mattspl on Nov 9, 2019 15:47:44 GMT
Hi Mike,
What CD/Dac/Pre are you using? I went down that route myself to reduce the number of boxes and cables.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 9, 2019 16:48:23 GMT
TAD D-1000
The bees knees for CD/Pre/DACs
Difficult to comprehend it out performed my Rega Isis CD and Belles Pre with a DAC thrown in
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Post by mattspl on Nov 9, 2019 18:11:01 GMT
Looks impressive Mike. A heavy beast too.
I’ve a Resolution Audio Cantata 2.0. I’d like to upgrade it to the 3.0 at some stage, although I can’t fault its performance as it is.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 10, 2019 9:55:51 GMT
Sounds good from the review I read...
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 14, 2019 20:27:39 GMT
Looking at potential marginal gains on the system I looked at the speaker cables as I've been meaning to do for a while
Following on from Martin and John's successes I thought I would try not just blocks of wood but some original Black Ravioli under the speaker cable.
Looking behind the TV and cabinet I saw a lot going on that might interfere with the left hand speaker cable - running right along side
As follows
Left over mains cable still plugged into the AM, Audio Magic conditioner previously in the TV.
Two mains cables running the 2 always on Tivos going from AM to Tivos
SCART cables from 2 Tivos to back of TV
RCA interconnect from one Tivo to where they used to connect to the Belles Pre Amp which I toyed with reinstating before staying with Toslink from TV
Might make a difference if I tidied up ..... ?
Boss's choice
The Motorcycle Diaries soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla*
Starting as was, been many weeks since last played
Sounded fantastic. Can't be much more to come
Played track 1 once then again without an changes. Got it.
Removed spare mains cable from the AM, previously connected to TV
Subtle step up. Really ? Confirmed by the boss
Mains from AM to TV currently about 6" higher than speaker cable lifted up 4" higher onto cabinet
Not expecting much if at all. Maybe better, too close to call
Two mains cables from AM to always on Tivos
From lying right next to the speaker cable up onto the cabinet, about 10"
Clearer all round particularly treble, better separation, more air, more decay
Wow. *Not* expecting that. Big step up.
RCA pair from one Tivo, alongside speaker cable to under where the speaker cable connects to power amp
Removed
Another step up.
Two Scart cables moved up away from speaker cable
More of the same, again
Black Ravioli Mk1 under about half of each of both speaker cables
(Need to work out how to get to the rest)
More of the same
Went to bed a happy bunny.
Starting on the playlist this morning the differences were quite obvious.
Fabulous
More to come
I'm guessing there is an aerial like effect going on and will be looking hard at more tidying and rerouting.
*
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Post by MartinT on Nov 14, 2019 20:30:54 GMT
Good album that, Mike. You've made me put it on now.
Amazing how a little cable routing and lifting helps. Therapeutic, too.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 14, 2019 20:38:34 GMT
Amazed at the step up in sound quality.
Free - plus not a lot of time.
Looks a bit messy now. Will work out how to make it tidier and maybe find some more cables to move.
Black Ravioli under the rest of the speaker cables will be a challenge. Hopefully without the need to strip everything out of the way
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 1, 2019 11:49:54 GMT
Not sure what I did*
Sound has improved with a slightly different, improved sound. More clarity especially in vocals
Lifted the cables out of the way on the last run through the album playlist so not that
*apart from grabbing a 2nd hand previous model Tacima 6 way conditioner
AB test sounded almost the same, maybe subtly better at the most. Don't think it was that, but will AB again
Something else settled in .....?
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Post by MartinT on Dec 1, 2019 12:29:26 GMT
My cable lifters worked but only a small effect. The fuse in the QP-1, though, continued improving through yesterday. More transparency without brightness.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 1, 2019 13:48:43 GMT
I may have tweaked something else, but I've thought a lot and not coming up with anything
Need to AB the 2nd Tacima again
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Post by MartinT on Dec 1, 2019 13:51:17 GMT
Sometimes it's something external like power quality, temperature, air pressure etc.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 1, 2019 13:52:54 GMT
What I now find is the sound of snoring dogs is so real, ah hang on a bit  |
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Post by petea on Dec 1, 2019 19:46:02 GMT
Is that the MTV unplugged recording of "Dogs Snoring", Mike?  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 2, 2019 10:17:04 GMT
I go for the live performances ! |
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 15, 2019 12:20:40 GMT
Colosseum came up in the pick of the best alpha list.
None had any CD improvement to my surprise so I played a track from
Those who are about to die salute you
Sounded wonderful because it is
Onto the Nespa and the lathe
Wonderful before. Now so much better
Bigger, wider, bassier, more detail, separation
Then..
The other two improvers Tony recommended and I agreed after testing
Acoustic Revive RIO-511 Negative Ion Generator
and
Acoustic Revive Demagnetiser
Even better. All my CDs will be new to me and to be rediscovered.
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 17, 2019 11:41:03 GMT
Quest for more music update
Back on the well known album playlist after treating all CDs with the last 2 CD improvers above.
More music being delivered. Didn't think it would be this much different from previous A B testing.
More detail brought forward, leading and trailing edge of music more detailed and clearer, more separation to the point where I can make out Rick Springfield's voice double tracked and on each channel.
@tonyc says he has more in his magic bag after some recent R&D and development. Ooooh
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 17, 2019 17:29:19 GMT
Different albums delivering even better results
Bajofondo Tango CLub
Fabulous bass, width, detail
Some clever people made this
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 18, 2019 11:37:07 GMT
I laughed playing this. The level of information and detail is now enormous.
Thank you Tony and Acoustic Revive with your bizarre methods of extracting more from CDs
More music delivered
Bajofondo - Mar Dulce
There is a track with Elvis Costello (!) singing. You can skip that one
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Post by MartinT on Dec 18, 2019 11:46:13 GMT
I can't remember if that one is on Qobuz, Mike. I'll have a listen tonight (even the Spotify version will sound good).
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