What did you do to your stereo rig today?
Comments
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I bought this simple and unassuming looking Lumin U1 Mini from AudioThesis, and I'm amazed at how much difference a high quality streaming transport can make.
I've never heard Tidal sound this good on my system. Worth every penny.
At some point down the road I plan to replace my CXN with a separate streamer and DAC. If I was doing it today, this would be the unit I would be getting.Analog: MoFi MasterTracker > MoFi UltraDeck > Sutherland 20/20
Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Arcam rHead > Hifiman HE4XX
Discogs -
I have it connected to my Ruby DAC via an Audioquest Forest USB cable. Would like to try a higher end USB cable with it to hear any differences.
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Nice! Lumin is on my list as well.
For a USB cable, I went with DH Labs Silver Sonic from here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/DH-Labs-Silver-Sonic-USB-1-meter-Standard-USB-Cable-USB-A-to-USB-B/360386488486?hash=item53e8b568a6:g:xc0AAOSwpDdVL8sv He sells various different lengths.
Pretty good value IMO. Of course you could step up to the Silver Sonic Mirage for more bucks."This may not matter to you, but it does to me for various reasons, many of them illogical or irrational, but the vinyl hobby is not really logical or rational..." - member on Vinyl Engine
"Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator
Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon -
Thanks for the tip! I wish I could try the Mirage before I buy!
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Love my Lumin X1. Never tried streaming.Lumin X1 file player; Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
$14k for the X1?! Hot damn!
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Bud’s system is like the dream setups we saw at Axpona. Kudos Bud.
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Lumin X1 file player; Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Nice! Where's the review?
Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD. -
I've only had it in the system for like 4 days!
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The U1 Mini is also on my short list when the time comes. For now, the Aries Mini has made me solidly content.
My next upgrade is on the way...should be here tomorrow afternoon but it may be the weekend before I get to set them up..."Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."
"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip -
I've only had it in the system for like 4 days!
My Mini took about 200 hrs to reach its potential. You ain’t seen heard nut’n yet!Power Rogue M180 monos & Adcom GFA 5802
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
Source PSA PWT into NSD Supremo
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Center Salk HT2C
Pre Cary SLP-05
Wires WW & MIT -
Drew, didn't you have the same NAP as Joe?
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
~ I have found excellence ~
~ The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction ~
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As for what I did to the rig today, I put in the tubes for the Canary that I got from Brent Jesse and listened to a couple of albums in a row.
Then spent hours perfectly positioning both speakers to the listening chair, leveling them out both sideways and front to back, adding a little bit of equal height to the fronts. This was after measuring precisely where the speakers would be equal distance from side and back walls.
Now my ears are exactly 10 feet, 11-3/16" away from both speakers at the listening position. You really don't know how hard that is until you go to do it.
All measurements and angles done with a 3 way laser pointer and a laser measuring tool. The direction of the tweeter goes right by my ear, to the outside by 2". All measurements double and triple checked.
Then sat down to listen to the rig again. Needless to say, it was all worth the effort. Now, to get back to the stand mods and wrap up the other projects I have going on in the room. Oh, also eliminated all rattles and unwanted noises within the room so all you hear is the music. Nice, uninterrupted, blissful music.
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
~ I have found excellence ~
~ The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction ~
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Pulled my Krell out of the rig for it's trip back to the factory. The seller is stepping up and covering EVERYTHING! Color me shocked! The seller is truly stand-up all the way through. I don't know how long it will take to get back, but I figure at least a month, but for the price I paid for it, it should be well worth the wait.The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, TriangleArt Reference SE with Pass Labs Xono Phono Preamp, Walker Precision Motor Drive, ClearAudio Goldfinger Statement V2 cartridge and Origin Conqueror Mk3c tonearm, Polk Audio "Signature" Reference Series 1.2TL with complete mods, Pass Labs X0.2 three chassis preamp, PS Audio PerfectWave DAC MkII, Pioneer Elite SC-LX701, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds.
“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered…History has stopped. Nothing exists except the endless present in which the party is always right” — George Orwell
“If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” -
New Origin Live turntable and second tonearm.
integrated w/DAC module Gryphon Diablo 300
server Wolf Alpha 3SX
phono pre Dynamic Sounds Associates Phono II
turntable/tonearms Origin Live Sovereign Mk3 dual arm, Origin Live Enterprise Mk4, Origin Live Illustrious Mk3c
cartridges Miyajima Madake, Kiseki Purpleheart, Ortofon Windfeld Ti, Ortofon 2M Mono
speakers Spendor D9 on Townsend Podiums
cables Luminous Synchestra Sig SC, Audience AU24 SX XLR, Audience frontRow USB
rack Adona Eris 6dw
ultrasonic cleaner Degritter -
I bought this simple and unassuming looking Lumin U1 Mini from AudioThesis, and I'm amazed at how much difference a high quality streaming transport can make.
I've never heard Tidal sound this good on my system. Worth every penny.
I was quite surprised to see that it plays a cd quality track at real great resolution than some of the hi-rez tracks.... I love mine as well. -
@treitz3 What 3 way laser pointer and laser measuring tool did you use?George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Crown D150 amp
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Johnson-3-Beam-Magnetic-Torpedo-Laser-40-6184/202704990?mtc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA&cm_mmc=Shopping-B-F_D25T-G-D25T-25_1_HAND_TOOLS-Multi-NA-Feed-PLA-NA-NA-HandTools_PLA-71700000034127224-58700003933021546-92700049573927173&gclid=CjwKCAjwmKLzBRBeEiwACCVihqpmwUXqllmy4t_jXPptf8iOCRKo2qgaHX8J5EKCL-LCuynoGps-IxoC77QQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-BLAZE-65-ft-Laser-Distance-Measurer-GLM-20-X/206839262
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
~ I have found excellence ~
~ The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction ~
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Tom, NAP?
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Network Audio Player. I thought he had the same one as you at one point, no?
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
~ I have found excellence ~
~ The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction ~
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Way back. We both had the CXN at one point.
Quite different now -
As for what I did to the rig today, I put in the tubes for the Canary that I got from Brent Jesse and listened to a couple of albums in a row.
Then spent hours perfectly positioning both speakers to the listening chair, leveling them out both sideways and front to back, adding a little bit of equal height to the fronts. This was after measuring precisely where the speakers would be equal distance from side and back walls.
Now my ears are exactly 10 feet, 11-3/16" away from both speakers at the listening position. You really don't know how hard that is until you go to do it.
All measurements and angles done with a 3 way laser pointer and a laser measuring tool. The direction of the tweeter goes right by my ear, to the outside by 2". All measurements double and triple checked.
Then sat down to listen to the rig again. Needless to say, it was all worth the effort. Now, to get back to the stand mods and wrap up the other projects I have going on in the room. Oh, also eliminated all rattles and unwanted noises within the room so all you hear is the music. Nice, uninterrupted, blissful music.
Tom
You should get just a little more precise on your Speaker Set Up Technique, no sense in being half a**ed with the process
SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff -
SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff
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I like it better than mine...The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, TriangleArt Reference SE with Pass Labs Xono Phono Preamp, Walker Precision Motor Drive, ClearAudio Goldfinger Statement V2 cartridge and Origin Conqueror Mk3c tonearm, Polk Audio "Signature" Reference Series 1.2TL with complete mods, Pass Labs X0.2 three chassis preamp, PS Audio PerfectWave DAC MkII, Pioneer Elite SC-LX701, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds.
“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered…History has stopped. Nothing exists except the endless present in which the party is always right” — George Orwell
“If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” -
Another Beauty, the Michell Orbe SE
SDA SRS 2.3TL's/SDA SRS 3.1TL's/SDA CRS+4.1TL's and some other stuff -
Doctor R's table is definitely a beautiful table, no doubt!
Here is a photo of the temporary rig as it sits today. Much of it is missing and the stand is being modified/painted as we speak. The "stand" in this photo is currently a set of unused Tyler Acoustics custom subs. The crossover units are not even spiked yet or in their final location. I also have not really done anything with cable management other than get the SC's up off the floor.
As you see, the crossover units are rather large. The subs are flanking the mains and it is strictly a digital system right now (running through the Marantz) and the new tubes are coming together in the Canary much better than expected. Some songs I always thought were "fairly decent" sound like reference songs now. Especially now that the F-25's are dialed in like as tight as a knat's posterior with the rest of the system and to the room. When I say that this system is "tight"? That is a blatant understatement. I blink my eyes many times when certain things strike.....even when I know it's coming.
I can't wait to get the stand completed and the rest of the rig back in order. I miss my vinyl and it would be nice when I am working in the office to use the NAP to stream songs once again, even though this is not my preferred listening.
I'd much rather be back in the listening position. I have been listening all day today and throughout most of yesterday, well into the evening. I am having a blast listening....Such joy!
I love this hobby!!!
Tom~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
~ I have found excellence ~
~ The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction ~
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Here are a couple of examples of "fairly decent recordings" sounding like reference songs...
Christopher Cross - Think of Laura
Counting Crows - Perfect Blue Buddings
Air Supply - I want to give it all
The string instruments are out of this world real on the Air Supply song. There is a raspiness that is so realistic as if they are playing that instrument in the room. Almost as if you could hear the individual horse hair variations on the violin bow. Hard to explain....wouldn't even know where to begin but it sounds like they are there in the room playing the instrument before you.
Same album, the song Goodbye. Many aspects could be considered reference. The bass riff should have a plethora of texture and cycling that should be easily heard with no one note bass.
Back to listening...
Tom
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
~ I have found excellence ~
~ The best way to enjoy digital music reproduction is to never listen to good analogue reproduction ~
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I built a second HSU VTF-3 sub clone and "Polked it out" like the first one. Parts Express was sold out of HSU VTF-3 plate amps so I had to make some changes. On the first sub which has the plate amp, I added some inputs and a pre-output, some switches to reverse the mods and run it stand alone again if I ever want to or in the current situation, use its preamp to drive an Adcom GFA-555 stereo amp to power the drivers in both subs. So the arrangement is, the left sub develops the bass drive from its preamp to drive the Adcom that drives speakers in both subs. I added a power switch on the first sub that powers off its main amp leaving only the preamp on when the system is in use. I am more than quite pleased with the sound quality and impact on bass stings and the depth of organ pedals when listening in the less than perfect room. Sorry if the pics posted out of order as usual for me.
'65 427 Shelby AC Cobra
'72 Triumph TR-6
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'88 Polk SDA SRS 1.2, with upgraded XO caps and Erse SDA inductors
'86 Polk SDA CRS+
'84 Polk Monitor 10A (Peerless tweeters)
'05 HSU VTF-3 Sub (Original OEM)
'20 HSU VTF-3 Sub (three more, 100% cloned)
'93 Carver TFM-35
'88 Carver M-1.0t
'14 PGA2310 based custom remote volume control
'88 Adcom GFP-555
'88 Adcom GFA-555 (upgraded/restored)
'88 Adcom GFA-555 (a second one upgraded/restored)
'88 Adcom GFT-555
'05 Onkyo DV-555 media
'89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix
'89 Fosgate 360 Digital Space Matrix (a second one)
'91 Kenwood Basic M1D Amp
'89 Pioneer Laser Disc media
'89 Sony SuperBeta HiFi media -
Very nice! Excellent work! My OCD appreciates the symmetry and I am sure there is also the added benefit of having two of them
2 Channel
Pre:Bryston BP173
Amp:Bryston 14B3
Speakers: Golden Ear Triton Reference
Source: Oppo UDP-205, Bryston BDA-3, Bryston BDP-3, Bryston BCD-3, Apple TV, Amazon Fire
Cables: Wireworld Gold Eclipse 7 Speaker, Wireworld Gold Eclipse 7 XLR, AQ Diamond USB/HDMI
Power: PS Audio P10 Regenerator, AC12, AC10 and AC5 Cables
Display: Sony XBR65Z9F
Home Theater
Pre: JBL SDP-55
Amps: Parasound A21+, A51x2
Speakers: Polk LSiM 707 (FL/FR), Polk LSiM706 (Center), LSiM 703 (SL/SR/SBL/SBR), Polk 900-LS (Atmos)
Subwoofers: SVS SB16 x 4
Source: Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV, Amazon Fire
Cables: AQ Meteor/Rocket 88, AQ Niagara/Sky
Power: Torus AVR20, Shunyata Denali, Shunyata Delta, Cullen, PangeaAC9SE Cables
Display: Sony XBR85Z9G
