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Post by lurch on May 19, 2024 20:58:47 GMT
Well a tad over a month and it looks like I've pretty much behaved myself.
Barring grabbing a poorly priced (<£100) Epic USB to complete my all Epic loom I've not bought anything.
The only other changes I've made are reducing the toe-in so they're almost straight on, and removing the Uptone Audio USB Regen so just using the 1 Epic USB instead of 2x Supra Excalibur, sounds a bit more cohesive and less spot-lite to my ears now. The Uptone was bringing stuff forward in the mix that shouldn't have been, only realised this when it was removed.
Have spent best part of the day infront of the system today, and it sounds incredible. Currently listening to Cowboy Junkies live album 200 more miles and it sounds so natural, reminds me of when I went to see them last year.
Ohh and the 9000CDT is back where it belongs and all sounds right. I have the richness and deep fruity textured bass back, something that was missing with the more expensive loaner Cyrus.
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Post by lurch on Jun 2, 2024 11:11:17 GMT
Well I'm still being a good boy and not buying anything even though there's been a change. Met up with Pete this morning to swap the 9000CDT for his Lector CDP 603. Despite the 2hr round trip it was so worth it, the Lector sounds absolutely stunning in the main rig. Good to meet you Pete.  |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,398
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 2, 2024 11:21:49 GMT
Glad it's worked out for you. Looks like a proper lump!
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Post by macca on Jun 2, 2024 12:08:37 GMT
We had Ali's Lector 7TL at the last NEBO. Build quality and sound quality couldn't be faulted.
Real quality bit of kit, guessing this one is the same.
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Post by lurch on Jun 2, 2024 12:18:17 GMT
We had Ali's Lector 7TL at the last NEBO. Build quality and sound quality couldn't be faulted. Real quality bit of kit, guessing this one is the same. Yes build quality and SQ is once again top notch. The 7TL was the one he bought from me, the 7 upsampled to 24/44.1. This 603 upsamples to 32/192, SQ is easily up there with the 7TL if not better. Will give it a week or so with standard valves then swap to the Pilips Valvo 6201 I had in the 7TL. |
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Post by pete on Jun 2, 2024 19:27:50 GMT
Great to meet you too John. Really pleased to hear how much you are enjoying the Lector, certainly it looks the part in your system. Seems strange that they are so under rated, or unknown by many. I'm sure once you get those better valves in it will be even more impressive.
I'm very pleased with my half of the swap, for me the Audiolab 9000 is fitting into my system beautifully, it is connected to the Mutec which is paired with my Aqvox DAC.Even with the most basic (and I mean it) cable to the Mutec it is sounding sweet and giving a hint as to what is to come when I put together a better cable
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Post by antonio on Jun 3, 2024 4:50:14 GMT
We had Ali's Lector 7TL at the last NEBO. Build quality and sound quality couldn't be faulted. Real quality bit of kit, guessing this one is the same. Yes build quality and SQ is once again top notch. The 7TL was the one he bought from me, the 7 upsampled to 24/44.1. This 603 upsamples to 32/192, SQ is easily up there with the 7TL if not better. Will give it a week or so with standard valves then swap to the Pilips Valvo 6201 I had in the 7TL. So you're not playing the Lector through your Black Ice, does it have coax out, or an input to use the internal dac separately? |
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Post by lurch on Jun 3, 2024 5:35:16 GMT
Yes build quality and SQ is once again top notch. The 7TL was the one he bought from me, the 7 upsampled to 24/44.1. This 603 upsamples to 32/192, SQ is easily up there with the 7TL if not better. Will give it a week or so with standard valves then swap to the Pillips Valvo 6201 I had in the 7TL. So you're not playing the Lector through your Black Ice, does it have coax out, or an input to use the internal dac separately? Nope. Analogue out only as per any normal CDP from the early days of the medium. They can be spec'd with digital outs at extra cost when ordered new. For those wanting a transport there is the Digidrive and they also do two DACs, the DigiTube DSD and the 2/24. DACs are something I will probably investigate at a later date once I have serious ££s to play with as the BI (pre maxing out) has already matched to my ears, the £3k Lab12 Reference 1. |
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Post by lurch on Jun 3, 2024 10:21:22 GMT
Guess who didn't wait a week to do some valve rolling.😄
Unlike the 7TL I had, the 603 is not a quick (almost on the fly) valve swap.
After removing the 4 top screws on the back panel that appeared to retain the top half of the clam shell case, I spent some time scratching my head as it wouldn't come away.
I then removed the two top screws of the perspex facia, nope still not coming off, Bugger!! Next step was to remove the remaining two screws and liberate the facia which revealed a further 3 screws which I removed. Success! A slight bit of pressure to spring the front and rear panels and the lid came off.
I swapped out the standard JJ ecc81s for the Philips Valvo 6201s I'd kept from when I'd loved them in the 7TL.
The 603 went back together way quicker than it came apart, fired it up quickly to check it all worked. No time for a proper session now but will get back on it about 5pm.
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Post by pete on Jun 3, 2024 11:08:27 GMT
Guess who didn't wait a week to do some valve rolling.😄 Unlike the 7TL I had, the 603 is not a quick (almost on the fly) valve swap. After removing the 4 top screws on the back panel that appeared to retain the top half of the clay shell case, I spent some time scratching my head as it wouldn't come away. I then removed the two top screws of the perspex facia, nope still not coming off, Bugger!! Next step was to remove the remaining two screws and liberate the facia which revealed a further 3 screws which I removed. Success! A slight bit of pressure to spring the front and rear panels and the lid came off. I swapped out the standard JJ ecc81s for the Philips Valvo 6201s I'd kept from when I'd loved them in the 7TL. The 603 went back together way quicker than it came apart, fired it up quickly to check it all worked. No time for a proper session now but will get back on it about 5pm. I was impressed with your patience when you said you would wait a week to try them. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts John. |
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Post by lurch on Jun 3, 2024 18:07:06 GMT
Guess who didn't wait a week to do some valve rolling.😄 Unlike the 7TL I had, the 603 is not a quick (almost on the fly) valve swap. After removing the 4 top screws on the back panel that appeared to retain the top half of the clay shell case, I spent some time scratching my head as it wouldn't come away. I then removed the two top screws of the perspex facia, nope still not coming off, Bugger!! Next step was to remove the remaining two screws and liberate the facia which revealed a further 3 screws which I removed. Success! A slight bit of pressure to spring the front and rear panels and the lid came off. I swapped out the standard JJ ecc81s for the Philips Valvo 6201s I'd kept from when I'd loved them in the 7TL. The 603 went back together way quicker than it came apart, fired it up quickly to check it all worked. No time for a proper session now but will get back on it about 5pm. I was impressed with your patience when you said you would wait a week to try them. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts John. And my thoughts on the 6201s in the 603 are.... F..k me sideways. The valves have taken things to a whole new level, they were good in the 7TL but now OMG! Tighter, faster, deeper, airier, more spacious. There is an increase in tonal density and shading across the board, cymbals now really shimmer and spread out, the sounstage is bigger and more defined. I'm picking up additional spacial clues and hearing extra small instrumental details in stuff I thought I knew well, and yet everything just sounds so natural. Case in point, Cowboy Junkies (who ive seen live a few times) Trinity Sessions & Trinity Sessions Revisited. TS I've had on vinyl for over 35 years and CD 25+ years, more recently I've had the remastered 2x 180g with the 603 I'm hearing further into the mix than I ever have. TSR I bought on CD back in 2017 and last year I managed to pick up the 2x 180g vinyl, the vinyl is stunning and preferred it to the CD. However listening to it now on the 603 with these valves in and it's absolutely incredible, it's almost like hearing a whole new interpretation of the album such is the level of additional information and vocal inflection being uncovered. Wow! Just Wow, a very happy bunny here. |
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Post by pete on Jun 3, 2024 18:57:20 GMT
I was impressed with your patience when you said you would wait a week to try them. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts John. And my thoughts on the 6201s in the 603 are.... F..k me sideways. The valves have taken things to a whole new level, they were good in the 7TL but now OMG! Tighter, faster, deeper, airier, more spacious. There is an increase in tonal density and shading across the board, cymbals now really shimmer and spread out, the sounstage is bigger and more defined. I'm picking up additional spacial clues and hearing extra small instrumental details in stuff I thought I knew well, and yet everything just sounds so natural. Case in point, Cowboy Junkies (who ive seen live a few times) Trinity Sessions & Trinity Sessions Revisited. TS I've had on vinyl for over 35 years and CD 25+ years, more recently I've had the remastered 2x 180g with the 603 I'm hearing further into the mix than I ever have. TSR I bought on CD back in 2017 and last year I managed to pick up the 2x 180g vinyl, the vinyl is stunning and preferred it to the CD. However listening to it now on the 603 with these valves in and it's absolutely incredible, it's almost like hearing a whole new interpretation of the album such is the level of additional information and vocal inflection being uncovered. Wow! Just Wow, a very happy bunny here. Haha, great news John. I am absolutely delighted for you. Seems the Lector has found a long term home. Great news!! |
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Post by antonio on Jun 4, 2024 5:05:36 GMT
lurch If ever you want to come out of retirement, you'd get a job as a valve salesman, no problem.  Pleased you're enjoying the Lector 603.
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Post by lurch on Aug 4, 2024 8:33:22 GMT
I think I may be ill.
It's now 3.5 months since I bought any kit or wires, and 2 months since the swap for the Lector. Every time I fire up the main rig it just puts a smile on my face, as does system 2 especially since I picked up a Marantz PM4.
Apart from my previously mentioned intention to investigate a possible DAC and streamer upgrade once I have some serious funds to play with (currently have house on the market), I see absolutely no reason to change anything.
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Post by macca on Aug 4, 2024 11:09:49 GMT
That's a good place to be - if you're not a hi-fi obsessive.
I've not bought anything new since January and I'm starting to get the sweats.
Was on ebay the other night, thankfully didn't see anything that caught my eye, and everything for sale on forums right now seems to be audiophile stuff so no temptation there.
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Post by bencat on Aug 4, 2024 11:45:41 GMT
I have not bought in anything of significance for a while some cheap cables under a tenner each . Then Tony went and mentioned he does an upgraded the LB clock . So that has been sent yesterday so and should be completed by the time I get back from holiday . Then I keep forgetting that I have a pair of monoblocks with NVA being upgraded to very close to M600 level . These could well be my end game amplifiers as I can not really see me spending the plus £6000 it will need to get something better . Last thing before the end of this year is to take my Quads to Andrew of AQuadthing Audio for a full service which I think could well be the last one they get. Music is still flowing every day and sounds excellent on so many levels . Playing currently straight in to my Mutec and sounds great not missing the LB as much as I thought I would . The Mutec is still an excellently and with upgrades Tony did to it it is significantly better than the standard . Very happy with the prospect of two big improvements to come .
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Post by lurch on Aug 4, 2024 12:50:19 GMT
Was on ebay the other night, thankfully didn't see anything that caught my eye, and everything for sale on forums right now seems to be audiophile stuff so no temptation there. Strange thing to say when you consider that when looking for additional/alternative kit, we tend to hunt out stuff that will potentially sound better than the general dross that's available. If truth be told there is absolutely nothing wrong sonically with my streaming rig (to my ears). Even so I'm interested in the Innuos Pulsar & Statement NG due to their uprated power supplies. Would also like to benchmark my maxed out BI against £5k+ DACs to see where it is. Even though I will have silly money to play with once the house sells and I move, I would still need to hear a worthwhile uplift in SQ before I put my hand in my pocket. I won't be spending just for the hell of it, vfm is still the name of the game. |
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Post by macca on Aug 4, 2024 13:29:19 GMT
Was on ebay the other night, thankfully didn't see anything that caught my eye, and everything for sale on forums right now seems to be audiophile stuff so no temptation there. Strange thing to say when you consider that when looking for additional/alternative kit, we tend to hunt out stuff that will potentially sound better than the general dross that's available. If truth be told there is absolutely nothing wrong sonically with my streaming rig (to my ears). Even so I'm interested in the Innuos Pulsar & Statement NG due to their uprated power supplies. Would also like to benchmark my maxed out BI against £5k+ DACs to see where it is. Even though I will have silly money to play with once the house sells and I move, I would still need to hear a worthwhile uplift in SQ before I put my hand in my pocket. I won't be spending just for the hell of it, vfm is still the name of the game. audiophile stuff = oddball/ pointlessly expensive/ designed by ear/ ugly looking. Perm any 3 from 4  I like to buy just for the hell of it. Actually all of my current system was bought that way now I think of it... |
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Post by lurch on Oct 6, 2024 20:30:48 GMT
Still behaving myself, which is unusual. No hifi purchases since May, all I've done is given the 401 plinth a few more coats of beeswax Polish.
One change I have made which has reaped significant sonic results is swapping the TFK 83s in the Black Ice for a pair of Raytheon 5755s (with adapters) that someone gave me a while back.
I'd been told these were the dogs dodahs for the BI but kept putting the swap on the back burner, DAMN, I wish I'd done it sooner. The 5755s have done for the BI what the 6201s did for the Lector 603, they're phenomenal!!!
The 5755s have opened everything up across the whole frequency spectrum, bass is now deeper, more textured & punchier, the mids are sweeter and show greater insight attack & decay and the hf is airier with symbols etc really shimmering.
In other news, following the Mav show I have decided to move on the Mantra tt, my Cambridge C50/A50 pre/pwr (owned from new in April 87) + Sony TC-FX150 Cassette deck & Sansuii T500L Tuner both also owned from new (bought 89). The move to the new bungalow later this year/early next year will see me with very limited storage so I see no point in keeping stuff I won't use. I'm very happy with the Marantz PM4, Technics SLPG-440A CDP and Arcam Two Plus in system 2 which combined with the Wiim Pro & Caiman SEG50 will be more than enough for music and TV duties in a 2nd room which will double as a guestroom.
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