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Post by jandl100 on Jan 10, 2023 7:19:44 GMT
I'm still using the cheap as chips Emotiva UMC200 Preamp. I remain baffled how good it sounds. You may recall me posting that it got totally slammed by ASR for its spdif digital inputs.... .... After pressing the BIN-Button I came across the ASR technical measurement review which totally slammed the digital SPDIF inputs. I've not tried them yet. I bought it as an analog preamp / input switching device, and it has floored me in that application. The dang thing is transparent, taut, fast, dynamic. I've had not a few preamps pass through my system, I don't think I've heard significantly better and I know I've heard far worse! I wasn't expecting that at all. Sometime soon I may even pluck up my courage and try the digital inputs, ASR notwithstanding! Well, I finally got around to trying the spdif digital inputs just out of curiosity on a rainy afternoon to see how poor they actually sound. That was a week ago, and I'm still using them. Really, seriously good sound. It makes no sense to me. Either digital measurements don't matter, or ASR got hold of a duff example. Or I really need to get that audiologist appointment brought forward as a matter of urgency. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 10, 2023 21:47:52 GMT
Right, so, out with the Forum Favourite CCC interconnects, in with the Atratus3. Wham! - the soundstage depth just slammed back by about 30 foot and images solidified into 3D reality. All good. .... No worries, folks, there's obviously something wrong with my hearing, I've made an urgent appointment with an audiologist.  If you have a spare pair, I'd like to compare them to my XR-3000? |
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Post by macca on Jan 11, 2023 7:01:23 GMT
I'm still using the cheap as chips Emotiva UMC200 Preamp. I remain baffled how good it sounds. You may recall me posting that it got totally slammed by ASR for its spdif digital inputs.... .... After pressing the BIN-Button I came across the ASR technical measurement review which totally slammed the digital SPDIF inputs. I've not tried them yet. I bought it as an analog preamp / input switching device, and it has floored me in that application. The dang thing is transparent, taut, fast, dynamic. I've had not a few preamps pass through my system, I don't think I've heard significantly better and I know I've heard far worse! I wasn't expecting that at all. Sometime soon I may even pluck up my courage and try the digital inputs, ASR notwithstanding! Well, I finally got around to trying the spdif digital inputs just out of curiosity on a rainy afternoon to see how poor they actually sound. That was a week ago, and I'm still using them. Really, seriously good sound. It makes no sense to me. Either digital measurements don't matter, or ASR got hold of a duff example. Or I really need to get that audiologist appointment brought forward as a matter of urgency. threshold of audibility. it still measure better than most valve preamps |
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 11, 2023 7:38:37 GMT
Ah, so digital measurements don't matter. All this picosecond stuff is many orders of magnitude beyond human comprehension. ... Get the power supply right and you're most of the way there.  |
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 11, 2023 12:20:21 GMT
Right, so, out with the Forum Favourite CCC interconnects, in with the Atratus3. Wham! - the soundstage depth just slammed back by about 30 foot and images solidified into 3D reality. All good. .... No worries, folks, there's obviously something wrong with my hearing, I've made an urgent appointment with an audiologist. If you have a spare pair, I'd like to compare them to my XR-3000? None spare. But I may be going away for a week or so in the nearish future, I'll send you a pair then. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jan 11, 2023 14:12:03 GMT
If you have a spare pair, I'd like to compare them to my XR-3000? None spare. But I may be going away for a week or so in the nearish future, I'll send you a pair then. Ok, that works for me. |
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Post by macca on Jan 11, 2023 19:07:06 GMT
All this picosecond stuff is many orders of magnitude beyond human comprehension. Yes that's true. |
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 12, 2023 5:16:31 GMT
So, after revelling in the Sundara Sunshine, I thought I'd try my previously beloved headphones, the Monolith M1060.
They do the same job description, really.
Big cupped, open back, planar magnetic. Similar sort of leather-strip swing affair for the headband.
My expectation was 'similar but not as good'.
Actually it's a bit more complicated than that.
They do sound quite similar, the Sundara more open, finely rezzed and immediate.
But there's an enticing soupcon of immersive warmth to the M1060 that sounds a step or three in the direction of my Audioquest Nighthawk, which I love for all the wrong reasons to do with their departure from neutrality.
So, no, I'll be keeping the M1060 and enjoying their differences from my new reference, the Hifiman Sundara.
You can't have too many headphones.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 12, 2023 5:25:15 GMT
.... and the Consonance CD player I got from nonuffin is up for sale elsewhere.
It's a very entertaining player imho, but it just takes up too much real estate for the amount I use it, which is a pain for a box swapper like me who likes to have various bits and pieces readily to hand.
Instead I'll be using my existing Arcam DV137 DVD player's digital output for CD playing duties. It's a nice and lively sounding transport - it's a good player, as it should be for its £1.6k rrp.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 22, 2023 19:00:34 GMT
Arrived today.  {stock image} Audiophonics MPA-S250NC Hypex NCore NC252MP power amp. What a name, it just slips off the tongue so smoothly. 150wpc (8 ohms). Plumbed it in. Right - relax, focus, listen out for the subtle differences.... !!POW !! HOLOGRAPHIC!! Nothing subtle about that at all. Ridiculous really, I already (thought I) had good imaging and soundstage. This is at an entirely new level for me. I was a bit concerned about Hypex's rep among some folks for problematic high frequencies. But no, the tonality seems spot on. Perhaps even a bit on the yummy side. Probably not, though, it just sounds right. Very nice, I think this will do me for quite a while. |
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Post by brucew268 on Feb 22, 2023 20:15:03 GMT
Audiophonics MPA-S250NC Hypex NCore NC252MP power amp. What a name, it just slips off the tongue so smoothly. 150wpc (8 ohms). Plumbed it in. Right - relax, focus, listen out for the subtle differences.... !!POW !! HOLOGRAPHIC!! Nothing subtle about that at all. Ridiculous really, I already (thought I) had good imaging and soundstage. This is at an entirely new level for me. I was a bit concerned about Hypex's rep among some folks for problematic high frequencies. But no, the tonality seems spot on. Perhaps even a bit on the yummy side. Probably not, though, it just sounds right. Very nice, I think this will do me for quite a while. What's it using for an input buffer -- which I've heard usually seems to set the tonality for Ncore? |
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 22, 2023 20:42:50 GMT
I have no idea!
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 22, 2023 21:14:56 GMT
And to shock and dismay the purists, immediately to the right and within easy reach of my listening chair...  My CD player (actually a Pioneer DV-505 DVD player), a Behringer DEQ2496 digital equaliser and general digital manipulator, a linear PSU feeding an AudioEngine B1 Bluetooth receiver (hidden behind a stack of CDs) and a mini portable Bluetooth headphone amp. The Behringer is connected to my SMSL SU-9 DAC/preamp by an 8m TOSLINK cable. I mainly use the Behringer to reduce the stereo width on small scale recordings. For example to provide a narrower image of a string quartet, so the 4 musicians are no longer spread the full width of the speaker positions. Much more realistic that way imo, more like being at an actual concert. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 22, 2023 21:29:22 GMT
And to shock and dismay the purists, immediately to the right and within easy reach of my listening chair... My CD player (actually a Pioneer DV-505 DVD player), a Behringer DEQ2496 digital equaliser and general digital manipulator, a linear PSU feeding an AudioEngine B1 Bluetooth receiver (hidden behind a stack of CDs) and a mini portable Bluetooth headphone amp. The Behringer is connected to my SMSL SU-9 DAC/preamp by an 8m TOSLINK cable. I mainly use the Behringer to reduce the stereo width on small scale recordings. For example to provide a narrower image of a string quartet, so the 4 musicians are no longer spread the full width of the speaker positions. Much more realistic that way imo, more like being at an actual concert. Heresy! |
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Post by brucew268 on Feb 22, 2023 22:38:09 GMT
And to shock and dismay the purists, immediately to the right and within easy reach of my listening chair... My CD player (actually a Pioneer DV-505 DVD player), a Behringer DEQ2496 digital equaliser and general digital manipulator, a linear PSU feeding an AudioEngine B1 Bluetooth receiver (hidden behind a stack of CDs) and a mini portable Bluetooth headphone amp. The Behringer is connected to my SMSL SU-9 DAC/preamp by an 8m TOSLINK cable. I mainly use the Behringer to reduce the stereo width on small scale recordings. For example to provide a narrower image of a string quartet, so the 4 musicians are no longer spread the full width of the speaker positions. Much more realistic that way imo, more like being at an actual concert. Say it isn't so! ...I'm feeling a bit dizzy and need to lie down for a bit! |
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optical
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Post by optical on Feb 23, 2023 11:19:02 GMT
And to shock and dismay the purists, immediately to the right and within easy reach of my listening chair... My CD player (actually a Pioneer DV-505 DVD player), a Behringer DEQ2496 digital equaliser and general digital manipulator, a linear PSU feeding an AudioEngine B1 Bluetooth receiver (hidden behind a stack of CDs) and a mini portable Bluetooth headphone amp. The Behringer is connected to my SMSL SU-9 DAC/preamp by an 8m TOSLINK cable. I mainly use the Behringer to reduce the stereo width on small scale recordings. For example to provide a narrower image of a string quartet, so the 4 musicians are no longer spread the full width of the speaker positions. Much more realistic that way imo, more like being at an actual concert. Gets a good rep that amp Jerry . . . I'm sure it sounds awesome powering your speakers. As for the rest of the setup . . . well I know as well as anyone that unconventional can sound superior |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 1, 2023 16:39:46 GMT
New electronics this week.  The previously noted Audiophonics Hypex ncore power amp. Today's arrival a Teac UD H01 DAC. And the Dragon. Which I've had for a while but not fully used. It's a big chassis containing a valve buffer and a remote controlled Stereo Coffee LDR passive preamp. They can be used independently. I put the dragons on because it was a big boring faceplate. I had been using the valve buffer on its own, but the Teac DAC doesn't have volume control except for headphones so the LDR passive is being tried out. Still settling in with it and the SMSL SU-9 DAC/preamp is resting for now. It ain't half bad. |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 21, 2023 18:10:51 GMT
One of these has been on my Want List for quite a long time. It's rather tattier aesthetically than it looks in the photo. But is as described on the eBay auction, and I got it at what I think is a fair price. Tested it on some cheap speakers first, now connected to my MBL speakers. I suspect it's all original, so I may well get it serviced, but it doesn't sound obviously 'off'. Alan fb has kindly volunteered to check it over for me. Initial impressions are... this is very good.  |
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Post by antonio on Mar 21, 2023 18:28:52 GMT
Keeping up the good work Jerry.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 21, 2023 18:29:21 GMT
You do buy some odd stuff Jerry.
It's interesting seeing your shenanigans, but id love to know what a 686 would do with your very cool speakers.
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Post by robbiegong on Mar 21, 2023 18:35:34 GMT
One of these has been on my Want List for quite a long time. It's rather tattier aesthetically than it looks in the photo. But is as described on the eBay auction, and I got it at what I think is a fair price. Tested it on some cheap speakers first, now connected to my MBL speakers. I suspect it's all original, so I may well get it serviced, but it doesn't sound obviously 'off'. Alan fb has kindly volunteered to check it over for me. Initial impressions are... this is very good. They have a bit of a rep dont they Jerry, and well liked. |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 21, 2023 18:38:20 GMT
odd stuff..... |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 21, 2023 19:12:47 GMT
You do buy some odd stuff Jerry. It's interesting seeing your shenanigans, but id love to know what a 686 would do with your very cool speakers. As Robbie suggests, these Lenteks are a bit iconic. Often called legendary. I'm told these were £745 back in 1978, they were serious dosh then, this was a no-holds barred attack on the state of the art. Limited to a production run of 500, I believe. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Mar 21, 2023 20:23:23 GMT
You do buy some odd stuff Jerry. It's interesting seeing your shenanigans, but id love to know what a 686 would do with your very cool speakers. As Robbie suggests, these Lenteks are a bit iconic. Often called legendary. I'm told these were £745 back in 1978, they were serious dosh then, this was a no-holds barred attack on the state of the art. Limited to a production run of 500, I believe. I'd accept Iconic. |
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Post by brian2957 on Mar 22, 2023 9:12:43 GMT
Yup, love to hear one of these Jerry. I'll be interested in your opinion of this when it's been checked over. I've always thought they look fab.  |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 22, 2023 9:33:28 GMT
I was out when it arrived yesterday, and the wife was a bit distressed how heavy it was to bring indoors.
It's a serious hunk of metal!
I don't know if it was the Lentek settling in, or me settling in with it, but after a couple of hours yesterday evening it was becoming a series of Wow moments. It's a great sounding amp.
It'll be interesting to see how it fares on turn on today (the Mrs is a bit poorly and still asleep so I'm on headphones atm).
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Post by brian2957 on Mar 22, 2023 9:37:33 GMT
Hope she picks up soon mate.
Don't know about weight but they certainly look the part.
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Post by bencat on Mar 22, 2023 16:14:51 GMT
That is an amp I have wanted to own for a very long time but not ever been in the right place at the right time . Both my mate Graham and Geoff have one so heard it but never in my systen . Suspect it will never happen now as I am leaning towards an ancient valve amp as a back up to my NVA S300 .
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Post by firebottle on Mar 22, 2023 17:36:52 GMT
I'll try to not let the magic out |
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Post by jandl100 on Mar 22, 2023 20:20:24 GMT
Yes, it is a bit worrying.
Maybe I prefer it faulty!
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.... After pressing the BIN-Button I came across the ASR technical measurement review which totally slammed the digital SPDIF inputs. I've not tried them yet.
