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Post by lurch on Jun 6, 2023 10:28:04 GMT
Nice to see some system development going on Chris. The Holo dacs are great aren't they. I know exactly what you mean by saying they lose a little rez in favour of other factors, which seems to be of greater importance to many audiophiles. I genuinely don't think you can go wrong with a Holo DAC. Great music makers that are pretty much universally recommendable to anyone. The few weeks i had Alans Spring 3 KTE were a joy. Well done. I am loving the puck idea. There is no substitute for Townshend bars/podiums IMO, but it never hurts to confirm the theory with something else. Hopefully, i can get this Aqvox done soon and we can put the Holo and Aqvox together on your system and give them a proper comparison. I'll bring the X50D too. Let me know when your down in this neck of the woods Oli, be good to catch up. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 6, 2023 10:41:10 GMT
Nice to see some system development going on Chris. The Holo dacs are great aren't they. I know exactly what you mean by saying they lose a little rez in favour of other factors, which seems to be of greater importance to many audiophiles. I genuinely don't think you can go wrong with a Holo DAC. Great music makers that are pretty much universally recommendable to anyone. The few weeks i had Alans Spring 3 KTE were a joy. Well done. I am loving the puck idea. There is no substitute for Townshend bars/podiums IMO, but it never hurts to confirm the theory with something else. Hopefully, i can get this Aqvox done soon and we can put the Holo and Aqvox together on your system and give them a proper comparison. I'll bring the X50D too. Let me know when your down in this neck of the woods Oli, be good to catch up. Yeah, if we can converge on Chris I am more than happy to do so. Would be a good day |
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Post by bencat on Jun 6, 2023 11:06:06 GMT
Interesting on the use of the hockey pucks under the speakers . I have been travelling a very different route for under my Quads and have now finally arrived at the best result so far . I use my Quads on wooden stands that lift them about 16 unches off the floor . Under the outriggers of the stands are Wooden Spikes . I used to use Airplane Vibration Mounts which are spring based directly on to the floor then the spikes in the centre of the mounts.
Recently I managed to buy a some better condition Vibration Mounts (these are for under radios in Tornado planes) and they are all quite old but some have stored better than others. The new set was in really lovely condition and I put them in a plastic ziplock bag along with a bottle of baby oil and left them overnight . Once cleaned off and out of the bag the springs were perfect and moved very smoothly and returned to position really quickly which is the idea. I then discovered from another enthusiast the existence of granite coasters in Dunelm . Cheap but made of the black reconstituted granite that they use for the chopping blocks . So put those coasters on the hard floor then the Vibration Mounts on the coasters . This worked really well and gave the Quads more and tighter bass than they have any right to . Then life took over and things stayed this way until about six weeks ago .
I then decided on the next day my Wife was out working I would have a day of getting things properly set up . So out with the Vibration Mounts and the coasters and off to the table and araldite . Each mount was then firmly glued to either a single coaster for the front legs or two coaster stacked for the back legs to tip the Quads a little forward . Full day and night for the mounts to set and become really solid and then the really hard job if you are on your own getting then under the quads and then moving the Quads around to the correct position . Much swearing and frustration later but finally had everything in place .
What can I say it was worth all the effort the sound was now so much better . If you push the quads they move and then quickly settle to being still similar to a sprung turntable but much quicker to return to still. Sound is better than I had expected with bass now giving the appearance of being both deeper and tighter . I know the Quads have nothing below 30Hz but if you play something like Grace Jones My Jamaican Guy 12" Mix the bass almost pings at you and gives the sound real strength and impact . Not something I would expect ever from Quads but real .
Would put pictures up on here but I do not know how to . There is a thread in the DIY section on the Wam with pictures of various stages if anyone is interested. Sadly the Vibration Mounts are getting very thin on the ground now and when they come up they can be more expensive . The eight I have only cost me £45 plus postage but they are being sold as singles now at around 10 plus a piece and you can not get enough to do a full set of speakers . Shame really but glad I got some while I could .
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 6, 2023 13:35:23 GMT
Interesting on the use of the hockey pucks under the speakers . I have been travelling a very different route for under my Quads and have now finally arrived at the best result so far . I use my Quads on wooden stands that lift them about 16 unches off the floor . Under the outriggers of the stands are Wooden Spikes . I used to use Airplane Vibration Mounts which are spring based directly on to the floor then the spikes in the centre of the mounts. Recently I managed to buy a some better condition Vibration Mounts (these are for under radios in Tornado planes) and they are all quite old but some have stored better than others. The new set was in really lovely condition and I put them in a plastic ziplock bag along with a bottle of baby oil and left them overnight . Once cleaned off and out of the bag the springs were perfect and moved very smoothly and returned to position really quickly which is the idea. I then discovered from another enthusiast the existence of granite coasters in Dunelm . Cheap but made of the black reconstituted granite that they use for the chopping blocks . So put those coasters on the hard floor then the Vibration Mounts on the coasters . This worked really well and gave the Quads more and tighter bass than they have any right to . Then life took over and things stayed this way until about six weeks ago . I then decided on the next day my Wife was out working I would have a day of getting things properly set up . So out with the Vibration Mounts and the coasters and off to the table and araldite . Each mount was then firmly glued to either a single coaster for the front legs or two coaster stacked for the back legs to tip the Quads a little forward . Full day and night for the mounts to set and become really solid and then the really hard job if you are on your own getting then under the quads and then moving the Quads around to the correct position . Much swearing and frustration later but finally had everything in place . What can I say it was worth all the effort the sound was now so much better . If you push the quads they move and then quickly settle to being still similar to a sprung turntable but much quicker to return to still. Sound is better than I had expected with bass now giving the appearance of being both deeper and tighter . I know the Quads have nothing below 30Hz but if you play something like Grace Jones My Jamaican Guy 12" Mix the bass almost pings at you and gives the sound real strength and impact . Not something I would expect ever from Quads but real . Would put pictures up on here but I do not know how to . There is a thread in the DIY section on the Wam with pictures of various stages if anyone is interested. Sadly the Vibration Mounts are getting very thin on the ground now and when they come up they can be more expensive . The eight I have only cost me £45 plus postage but they are being sold as singles now at around 10 plus a piece and you can not get enough to do a full set of speakers . Shame really but glad I got some while I could . This is really interesting. Are they "barry mounts" ? |
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Post by antonio on Jun 6, 2023 15:33:51 GMT
Bloody hell Chris, you go and buy a Holo dac just when the 'hot' thing at the moment is this  www.ta-hifi.de/en/audiosystems/series-200/dac-200-d-a-converter/Joking aside, I am sure you will enjoy the Holo dac and it's presentation after what you said regarding you liking valve dacs. Great idea with the pucks under your speakers, I assume they are still performing outstandingly? |
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 6, 2023 15:35:17 GMT
Bloody hell Chris, you go and buy a Holo dac just when the 'hot' thing at the moment is this www.ta-hifi.de/en/audiosystems/series-200/dac-200-d-a-converter/Joking aside, I am sure you will enjoy the Holo dac and it's presentation after what you said regarding you liking valve dacs. Great idea with the pucks under your speakers, I assume they are still performing outstandingly? Have you or Mark had a listen to one of these, Dave? I like the look. |
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Post by bencat on Jun 6, 2023 15:37:26 GMT
Hi Oli no Barry mounts are rubber based . These are much more engineered and are all spring based . Take a look at the diy thread on the Wam you will see the difference .
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Post by antonio on Jun 6, 2023 15:39:07 GMT
Bloody hell Chris, you go and buy a Holo dac just when the 'hot' thing at the moment is this www.ta-hifi.de/en/audiosystems/series-200/dac-200-d-a-converter/Joking aside, I am sure you will enjoy the Holo dac and it's presentation after what you said regarding you liking valve dacs. Great idea with the pucks under your speakers, I assume they are still performing outstandingly? Have you or Mark had a listen to one of these, Dave? I like the look. We're not moving down market from the dCS. Joking of course, but it's getting great reviews. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 6, 2023 15:42:14 GMT
Hi Oli no Barry mounts are rubber based . These are much more engineered and are all spring based . Take a look at the diy thread on the Wam you will see the difference . I don't do the WAM mate. Feel free to post a link to the actual things from ebay etc. If not, it's all good. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 6, 2023 15:43:04 GMT
Have you or Mark had a listen to one of these, Dave? I like the look. We're not moving down market from the dCS. Joking of course, but it's getting great reviews. Well no! i expect not lol.. Daft question maybe, but have you guys heard other downrange dCS DACS? |
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Post by antonio on Jun 6, 2023 16:59:33 GMT
@bigman80 Only the ones my brother upgraded from, the Paganini was a great dac, and an improvement over the Debussy, never heard the Bartok (that is £19k now without the headphone amp)
The Rossini Apex is £28k now, well done Absolute Sounds!
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 6, 2023 17:27:20 GMT
@bigman80 Only the ones my brother upgraded from, the Paganini was a great dac, and an improvement over the Debussy, never heard the Bartok (that is £19k now without the headphone amp) The Rossini Apex is £28k now, well done Absolute Sounds! There was a Debussy for sale quite local to me. I thought about being cheeky and popping in for a listen, but it sold. Ok, thanks for the info. I am never spending that on a DAC so it rules dCS out for me |
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Post by bencat on Jun 6, 2023 23:05:12 GMT
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Post by optical on Jun 7, 2023 6:48:15 GMT
Bloody hell Chris, you go and buy a Holo dac just when the 'hot' thing at the moment is this www.ta-hifi.de/en/audiosystems/series-200/dac-200-d-a-converter/Joking aside, I am sure you will enjoy the Holo dac and it's presentation after what you said regarding you liking valve dacs. Great idea with the pucks under your speakers, I assume they are still performing outstandingly? Hi Dave, well I was still happy with the performance of the Aqvox but sometimes when these things pop up you just have to take a chance and see (hear) . . . It's a slightly different presentation to the traditional 'DAC that presents the music within soundstage with imaging and details' etc . . . Of course it still does that but it seems a lot more layered and 3D than anything I've had through here before. It reminds me of my old Musical Paradise DAC's MP-D1 (mk1 and mk2). They were very 3D and palpable but this does bass depth considerably better too. It is certainly not a hyper detailed DAC, not that it noticably lacks in that department but it is smoother than most. I'm enjoying it. The speakers have been improved further by the pucks, no doubt. They continue to impress me the better the rest of my system gets. |
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Post by antonio on Jun 7, 2023 7:11:15 GMT
I've never heard an Holo dac, but from what I've read it has much going for it, pleased you like it anyway. Can't see me changing the Soekris, after all it is only for a 2nd system that these days isn't getting listened to much. Your speakers look fab in your avatar photo.
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Post by optical on Jun 7, 2023 7:25:57 GMT
I've never heard an Holo dac, but from what I've read it has much going for it, pleased you like it anyway. Can't see me changing the Soekris, after all it is only for a 2nd system that these days isn't getting listened to much. Your speakers look fab in your avatar photo. Thanks Dave, bit of creative lightin and a filter and most anything can look half decent! . . . However they do look lovely from pretty much any angle in any light etc, they are rather photogenic, as all seem to be that pass through the stable of @arke . . . Nothing wrong with your Soekris at all, only reason I sold mine was a rather over-enthusuastic digital clipping threshold which I don't believe yours suffers from. Plus yours has AES input which mine didn't have, plus you have a big boy power supply with it so you'd have to spend big to go much better. |
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Post by antonio on Jun 7, 2023 7:32:13 GMT
bencat I have looked at those old spring mounts recommended on another forum, I'm sure they work well and are far better value than some of these 'specialist' hifi do da's.
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Post by bencat on Jun 7, 2023 8:14:39 GMT
bencat I have looked at those old spring mounts recommended on another forum, I'm sure they work well and are far better value than some of these 'specialist' hifi do da's. All I can say is when they are good condition like the last set I bought they are engineered to a very high standard and if sold at original cost would have been very expensive items . The fact that they are not really in use any more for their original purpose means that we get to repurpose them at a very sensible cost. I have little doubt that some of the other options that are Hi Fi dedicated will work but the cost seems to be very steep and in many cases more than a change of an item like a DAC . If you can find any in good condition then it is well worth buying and giving them a try . |
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Post by misterc on Jun 7, 2023 8:24:21 GMT
Chris,
Could have asked for a listen have a couple of them around here, one KTE version I put straight the other basic, great mid presence and lovely texture one of the chifi pieces that's genuinelly good.
I feel it runs best in its NOS mode, the internal O/S is pretty average, it ticks a lots of boxes for audiophiles no question, the new one must be due soon I feel as I've seen a few of them now surfacing for sub £4k pricings. All you need now is Hq player and you can upsample to the stars to 1.5Mhz, not many can schieve that figure!
Will be intresting when you hook up the Mutec to it, looking forward to your thoughts on that score.
As they say sometimes you have to do what you have to do, so if an oppostunity comes past you door you have to take it with your new speakers it will certainly fill that room up really well with very pleasant and appealing sound for you Chris.
Do let us know your inital thoughts soon
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Post by optical on Sept 7, 2023 8:07:04 GMT
A long overdue update . . . . As the Vader's continue to 'settle' in my system (it does seem like they are reaching further into the frequency ranges) or maybe it's the hotter weather loosening up the drivers a bit, my attentions have once again turned to source improvement. Well not precisely 'source' improvement as such, more 'vessel for attenuating signal for musical reproduction', improvement . . . Anyway, in English that translates to DACs and Phono stages. I think I'm pretty much set on the actual 'sources' so to speak (SP10 which is awaiting PMAT upgrades) and Novafidelity X30 streamer (which will eventually itself be upgraded but more than does the job for now). So what's been going on? My Holo Spring LV3 DAC and Musical Fidelity mx-vynl phono stage have gone, been traded in actually. Replaced by . . . . Prima Luna EVO 100 DAC. (Separate thread for summery and impressions).  I've come to the conclusion I need valves in my system. Listening to a full solid state setup can be incredibly dynamic, powerful with bags of detail and resolution . . . but ultimately pretty boring. For me at least. The systems that keep me coming back for more (activating a steadfast refusal within to stop the music) have all contained valves in the past. The BT2 and 686 combination are going nowhere. I don't believe all the resolution and dynamics they provide could be replicated by valves, either within a pre or power amplifier, so the approach is to slip some valve goodness into the source area of the chain. It seems to have worked so far . . . . the DAC really shines with a lot of my electronic stuff. Another little tweak (which has actually had a genuinely profound effect has been the removal of the 'bungs' from the tuning port on the top cab on the Vaders:  The removal of this little chap has not had a subtle effect . . . The mid-range is certainly less constrained, I was worried I'd lose some tightness and impact or punchiness from the speakers but they remain. What it has done is provide an even more impressive integration between the main and bass drivers, they seem to be working in a better harmony now. The bass seems to actually go deeper and fills in more gaps. Not that I thought there was much missing but now hearing them as they are now, it seems there were! I guess that's one of the big positives of getting this much of a speaker upgrade, you're happy with them even at only a percentage of their potential performance. I knew they would likely sound better in a larger space and probably sound better on superior isolation. The prospects are very exciting when I consider I've probably only started to scratch upon the potential of these speakers in reality . . . . |
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 7, 2023 13:51:08 GMT
All SS system PRETTY BORING......delete my number. 🤣🤣
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Post by optical on Sept 7, 2023 13:55:41 GMT
All SS system PRETTY BORING......delete my number. 🤣🤣 Haha, fully. I think I did add a premise of 'can' prior in that sentence . . . I will qualify that by saying that I have heard very exciting SS systems (yours included), indeed mine was for a while too (in various iterations) but sometimes after a matter of days or weeks it became that way . . . . after prolonged evaluation that is. I don't think either of us leave our systems alone for long enough to reach that point these days though |
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 7, 2023 14:03:21 GMT
All SS system PRETTY BORING......delete my number. 🤣🤣 Haha, fully. I think I did add a premise of 'can' prior in that sentence . . . I will qualify that by saying that I have heard very exciting SS systems (yours included), indeed mine was for a while too (in various iterations) but sometimes after a matter of days or weeks it became that way . . . . after prolonged evaluation that is. I don't think either of us leave our systems alone for long enough to reach that point these days though 🤣🤣🤣 I'm just teasing, as you know. Valves are great, and I find myself currently listening to a BB3 that came in for a check up and thinking "Christ....valves are great at creating atmosphere" I think that's probably the truth of it. They create whereas SS reveals. |
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Post by optical on Sept 7, 2023 14:08:01 GMT
Haha, fully. I think I did add a premise of 'can' prior in that sentence . . . I will qualify that by saying that I have heard very exciting SS systems (yours included), indeed mine was for a while too (in various iterations) but sometimes after a matter of days or weeks it became that way . . . . after prolonged evaluation that is. I don't think either of us leave our systems alone for long enough to reach that point these days though 🤣🤣🤣 I'm just teasing, as you know. Valves are great, and I find myself currently listening to a BB3 that came in for a check up and thinking "Christ....valves are great at creating atmosphere" I think that's probably the truth of it. They create whereas SS reveals. Nicely put, wholly agree. |
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Post by misterc on Sept 7, 2023 14:32:59 GMT
I feel you may have found your sound Chris, however I am going to disagree on SS not putting you in the recording experinace and generating the whole recording atmosphere. Bit it does take certain types of dac's to do this, and I suspect grearly the PL will putting a smile on your face right now!
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