Neverending Story: Hifi Edition

Sounding awesome tbh. A few changes tho.

1. I’ve parked vinyl for a bit until I see a deck I fancy. Sold the Mantra because I want another Xerxes or something sexy.

2. I’ve sold the Dino because I prefer the Michell Iso and Sonneteer Sedley.

3. I’m moving on the Mayware cartridge too. I like Audio Technicas and I will buy a new OC9 when I get a deck and phono stage.

4. Sold all four tonearms too (two modded RB250s, an R200 and also a Nima).

5. The Penaudios didn’t stay but as a result I found Spicas prefer 28” stands. Two options on their way: Some Atacama Nexus and some Kef LS50 stands plus platforms.

6. My second system now has a Pioneer HDD/DVD/CD player as a source. It sounds good. Better than many CD players I have had. It’s playing through either the TPA3116 it a Rega Brio and my DIY cubes. The T amp beats the Brio quite easily, but I like using the Brio (clamshell).

7. I now have a third system for headphone listening in my 2nd bedroom. NAD C521BEE, Claymore and Either Grado SR80i or Kennerton Ikiz earbuds. The Claymore is easily the best headphone amp I’ve had. It’s the full-fat milk/red meat lover’s headphone amp. “Skinny” amps and headphones don’t work for me.

And that’s about it. I have my best ever sound from the main system. I use the Spicas with grilles on and they look nice and actually sound better that way. Once I get them on some aesthetically pleasing 28” stands, I’m done with the main system bar any future vinyl dabbling. The Sonneteer are keepers and the Spicas have seen off sine very expensive speakers with ease. They do everything I want and need. Quit while you’re ahead seems to be the order of the day.

I had one before and didn’t really get on with it. I used it in my main system back then. This time I haven’t done that so it’s hard to say. Through headphones and the Claymore I’m really enjoying it. When I stop working I will try it in the main system. I won’t be working by the back end of the year. I will miss the money but there more to life, including playing with hifi

Bought a pair of these for the Spicas.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-Oak-Speaker-Stands-680mm-height/273848866430?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

You’d think they would be too tall, but the Spicas are even better at that height. I have an idea for a small mod. I plan to fit a steel plate to the underside of the base plates. Just to add mass at the lowest point. The Penaudio stands had very heavy base plates and it seemed to serve them well.

Handy of you ever fancy a pair

An update of sorts:

I am without vinyl replay again thanks to the Xerxes failure and my unwillingness to settle for less.

Other than that, there’s no change and none is expected. I can’t see me ever moving onto other stuff now.

The only thing pending is the new oak speaker stands. They appear to be built to order so probs another week or two yet. Will put up pics once they arrive.

I had been playing with the Micromega Duo DAC I have. It produces a really lush and sumptuous sound, but the resolution is of a lower order than the Sonneteer and it’s not a loss I can live with for any length of time. It’s made me even more impressed by the Dryden DAC. Has to be the best CD replay I’ve owned.

Now woudn’t that have looked nice with the Nima? I need a crystal ball lol.

As it’s rim drive I’m hoping to nab a Michell one and get it running, If not, I may have to try an OL kit or a Project stand alone one. I’m in no rush. First step will be to measure the platter and hope it’s same as a Gyro.

I only saw it with about 40 seconds to go, but at £300 I was happy to gamble.

It's a belt drive. You can see the belt around the platter and at the back you can just see the gold plated pully  housing thing. 

It does look like a Transrotor though. 

That looks nice Westie, and yes a Nima would have looked great.

FFS I can’t help myself. Bought another Xerxes. Not sure what I will do as I have the transrotor on it’s way. It was buy it now or let it go. I chose the former.

Just imagine the number of divorces......I’d be skint! This one was a bargain so I just had to

What about the Xerxes power supply? Can you make sure that's ok?

Couriers......somewhere below lawyers and estate agents and only marginally above politicians in my estimation.

Last night I got the TransRotor only to find they have smashed the lid.The seller has partially refunded but I will have to get a bespoke lid made. It won’t be cheap because it is a very thick lid with a curved front edge, as I’m naming and shaming, this was Parcelforce.

Then today I got the Roksan, The courier had scheduled delivery when nobody was in and offered me options if I needed to rearrange. I chose for them to leave it at one of their drop off points and they accepted. They then cancelled at the last minute and attempted the delivery I’d already told them would be fruitless Result was me getting three buses each way to collecting from their depot on an industrial estate 30 miles away.

The Xerxes was packed like I’d never seen: in a proper wooden crate. Loads of packing and anything likely to cause or incur damage removed and boxed separately. They must have turned it upside down and dropped it 30 feet or more! The blobs were out of the deck, the top plate was collapsed and the motor was off its spigot, Being familiar with Xerxes, I took ff the outer, refitted the motor and reset the top plinths on the bobs and washers, sadly the motor won’t turn, so it’s a dud. This one has an XPX3.5 and DSU which are usually bomb proof but I have no idea if it’s the motor or PSU that’s fucked. I can’t see any option other than a return. As I’m naming and shaming, this one is down to DPD.

These have far more impact on the poor sellers than me. I feel so sorry for both but I’m sharing as a reminder to anyone reading, No matter how well you pack, couriers will try.....and succeed in destroying your treasured kit,