What did you do to your stereo rig today?

billbillw · March 29

Nice! I was tempted to get one of those Bob's more than once along the journey. I had also looked at building one myself (putting the transformers inside my Pearl case), but I settled on higher output carts instead.

displayname · March 29

billbillw wrote: »

Nice! I was tempted to get one of those Bob's more than once along the journey. I had also looked at building one myself (putting the transformers inside my Pearl case), but I settled on higher output carts instead.

That's probably a much easier solution honestly. I was lucky that I have a Hana cart which is also Bob's current preference, and I got to demo with an Umami Blue which has the same output and loading as my ML. Allowed me to be pretty confident in the specific pairing.

Toolfan66 · March 30

Interesting read on his website, I’ve never heard of him before. Stealing Matt’s lab coat I see. 😂

treitz3 · March 30

Ordered a SDFB MAX, along with the Snake River Audio Takshaka 8" pig tail and a graphene Sluggo today. I'll probably have everything here with 3 weeks and I also discovered a bonus! The QSA Red and Black fuse gets to stay in the Power Supply of my amp. That one was in place for the PS control unit circuit board, so the aforementioned will be for the (32A rated) main Power Supply fuse. I currently have a Takshaka PC, so the only thing I will hear will be the effect of losing a cheap ceramic 10 dollar fuse and replacing it with a graphene Sluggo and a SDFB MAX.

For anyone who doesn't know what a SDFB is, it's short for a "Swiss Digital Fuse Box". https://verafiaudiollc.com/products/swiss-digital-fuse-box

Also, I got the 12 upgraded WBT flagship speaker binding posts in. Just need to find the time to install them.

Yesterday, I went and cleaned the 2 fuses in the PS of my amplifier. I removed any/all oxidation and polished the contacts to perfection and then applied some De-Oxit D100 to them. Then, I did the same thing to the 3 IEC prongs that the PC plugs into. Plugged everything back in and I could definitely tell that I did not waste my time.

Tom

Dr_Wu · April 3

After a nice conversation with Alex at Uptone Audio (etherRegen maker), ordered the parts to feed the ER fiber optic, converting the ethernet from the router. Hoping for a nice bump in SQ.

Tony M · April 6

Bob of "Bob's devices" lives a few miles North of me.

Many years ago, he came to my place to buy an older Onkyo receiver I had listed for sale for his Daughter. He saw where Manufacturers were leaving phono inputs out, so he just wanted to have a backup for later years.

He was a fan of Onkyos with a #d dial pad on the face plates, similar to that of a touch-tone phone. Those models were/are very dependable and they sound great to me too.

I called/emailed him when I saw he was listed in a Stereophile magazine recommended components issue many years ago. He remembered me. He said the Onkyo receiver was in his attic, and it was about time to give it to his daughter since she had grown up now.

I've looked for his accolades in all the stereo mags and online articles also.

He's a cool guy.

recoveryone · April 6

Started off this weekend listening to my office rig in 2ch R600's, sounds from the 60's Motown through the 70's R&B. I'm finishing off this Sunday in the livingroom with my main 2ch rig with the R700's

https://youtu.be/-0dNCZB7ssg

SCompRacer · April 8

displayname wrote: »

About a week late, but I’ve become a believer in SUTs.

Nice! I'm a believer in a passive gain SUT since 2015 with my Park's Audio Budgie.

aprazer402 · April 8

I was thinking of a Budgie or Puffin, then I read and watched about their adjustable Waxwing phono pre.

Looks very interesting, adjusts from your phone or tablet using their app.

I'm still using an original Lounge LCR phono pre which is okay.

https://parksaudiollc.com/

treitz3 · April 9

Still burning in that Mutec clock cable (50ohm). I used to have a love/hate relationship with it but after X amount of hours (many at this point), it is finally coming into fruition.

I have no clue, nor do I care why, but I am enjoying the latest that this cable offers me. During this week, the air has increased, spatial cues have gotten better and the weight is finally coming in.

For a quick comparison, all I have to do is what I have been. Same song, judging by the streaming rig versus the CD rig. FWIW. This is interesting and I look forward to it finally settling down and showing me what it's really capable of. I am no longer in a love/hate relationship with it.

Tom

treitz3 · April 12

Trying out yet another clock cable. Not in the same position, but another clock cable nonetheless. So far, I am impressed. Even starting with a completely unplugged and cold system, due to lightning storms in the area as of late.

Tom

Dr_Wu · April 13

Enjoying a noticeable improvement in clarity, especially vocals, after installing an ethernet to fiber optic converter feeding the etherRegen/streamer/DAC circuit. Fairly inexpensive tweak, about $150 all in.

recoveryone · April 17

delete please

agingboomer · April 18

Reinstalled my Pioneer SX-1250 into my study system after a minor repair. Driving a pair of Polk SDA CRS+ (pin/blade). Mighty fine sound.

treitz3 · April 21

Everything finally came in, so I installed the SDFB MAX, Takshaka Pig Tail and graphine Sluggo into the power supply unit of the KW-750 amplifier.

Tom

motorstereo · April 27

After 14 years of them hanging around I've finally found a use for the original crossover plates from my 1.2tls.......a mini flexi for my mini separates.

VR3 · April 27

It took me a second to realize they were the shelves, haha nice!

displayname · May 2

Some aesthetic changes after the last couple months. Before and after:

Geoff4rfc · May 2

recoveryone wrote: »

Started off this weekend listening to my office rig in 2ch R600's, sounds from the 60's Motown through the 70's R&B. I'm finishing off this Sunday in the livingroom with my main 2ch rig with the R700's

https://youtu.be/-0dNCZB7ssg

If you dig that music, you may recognize a couple of tunes in my playlist: Have you seen her, and, It's a shame. Both are a couple of many that I used to skate to at the rink as a pre-teen. Oh, and lets not forget, Papa was a rolling stone, long version.

SCompRacer · May 2

Jumper cables! AudioQuest Jupiter, from tratliff in our classifieds. Once upon a time I bi-wired (Harmonic Technolgy Pro 9+/Pro 11+) then went back to the solid copper Cardas jumpers. Too late and too tired to fire them up.

treitz3 · May 3

Well, not today, but yesterday...

Added two more Takshaka digital/clock cables to the rig. Three total so far, with another one on the way. So far, Jonny's new cables have smoked the livin' **** out of every cable I have tried. In comparison, that Mutec cable was a joke.

The next one will end up being a great head to head test. It will be going up against a cable that has yet to be bested by any cable I have tried so far. That being an Audiolund. I forget what options/metallurgy I ordered with the Audiolund digital cable, but I do seem to recall, it was his top tier digital cable with the vintage Westminster cable sound. For those who may not be familiar with that? Among audiophiles who use top tier gear, it is a very well regarded sound.

Please note that it is not actual Westminster wire in the cable, it just sounds similar to it.

Jonny does not have the Takshaka digital cables released to the public yet, but they will be released soon. So far? The end result has been phenomenal....even up against his well regarded Boomslang. The difference between the Boomslang and the Takashaka?

Completely different ballpark, no comparison at all. The imaging is insane.

Tom

nooshinjohn · May 4

Fired up the analog for the first time in MONTHS. I have a Mirco Sekei designed Rotel RP-9400 doing the spinning duties with a mid-level Clearaudio cartridge. This is connected to the moving coil input on my Mcintosh C2300. This combination is very rewarding musically and though not at the deep end of the pool where I was before, I am glad that I kept the ability to spin records as a part of the rig. Currently playing The Beatles White Album, Esher Edition. It is a very clean recording with so much going on within the presentation. Music comes from literally everywhere.

Tony M · May 4

I reorganized the cottage's front room so I could play some "YELLO" CDs through the Polk SDA-SRS2s.

2 days ago, I found an Ekorne Stressless "Admiral Lg." recliner on the side of the road in ok/good condition. The headrest is in the up position and won't go down, so I think it's broken. Still, it was 2900.00 with an ottoman when new, but they always have a 900.00 off sale somewhere. This recliner is still comfortable too. I sat in it for a while after all the rearranging was done.

I listened to my new-to-me B&W CM10s while rearranging for a few hours. They DO sound great too.

I played a couple "YELLO" CDs in my Ultec UCD100 player and the GREAT NAD C370 integrated but ONLY through the "NEWFORM RESEARCH R645 speakers tonight. NIRVANA!

I was so impressed by it all. I felt blessed again to be able to hear such a presentation here in my built-by-me building. All the gear was bought second-hand too and it still amazes me that they still work GREAT.

YELLO did some fantastic engineering and a lot of it moves my soul. I'll bet the SDA-SRS2s are going to blow me away even more.

Here's the Newform Research speakers from the web. Mine are spaced about 12' apart. ;
They have Scan Speak woofers that sound amazing too.

Toolfan66 · May 5

Some of those shelves are looking pretty stressed.

Geoff4rfc · May 5

Tony M wrote: »

Dig the woodburning stove pipes on em.....because the sound is SMOKIN'

bcwsrt · May 5

displayname wrote: »

Some aesthetic changes after the last couple months. Before and after:

While that looks awesome and like a great place to spend time, it’s gotta be more than aesthetic. I’d be interested in your comments about how the sound quality of your rig improved.

displayname · May 5

bcwsrt wrote: »

displayname wrote: »

Some aesthetic changes after the last couple months. Before and after:

While that looks awesome and like a great place to spend time, it’s gotta be more than aesthetic. I’d be interested in your comments about how the sound quality of your rig improved.

It's hard to say exactly because of the amount of time that passes between the changes. But I can tell you that I've been just as happy with the looks as well as the sound. I don't think the change has been monumental, but it certainly didn't get worse from the first few hours I spent in there.

pitdogg2 · May 5

I'm sure the clap test would tell you differently Willy.
😉

Geoff4rfc · May 5

bcwsrt wrote: »

While that looks awesome and like a great place to spend time, it’s gotta be more than aesthetic. I’d be interested in your comments about how the sound quality of your rig improved.

displayname wrote: »

It's hard to say exactly because of the amount of time that passes between the changes. But I can tell you that I've been just as happy with the looks as well as the sound. I don't think the change has been monumental, but it certainly didn't get worse from the first few hours I spent in there.

It's almost quite certain that the changes you made have brought sonic improvements.

When I first started using acoustic foam, my daughter came over for a listen for the first time. She looked at me all wide eyed and said, Papa, it sounds like you're wearing headphones!!

She was always a funny girl about my set up. If I didn't have my subs in the set-up, she just wasn't happy lol.

treitz3 · May 5

Oh, I am quite certain that there were changes...

Tom

What did you do to your stereo rig today?

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