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Post by lurch on May 7, 2023 9:59:23 GMT
Today as per Friday & Saturday my upstairs tennent is away so I've been able to turn my system up a bit. DAMN!! How did I manage to sort myself such a superb sounding rig. Now I know I'm biased but I spent some time yesterday analysing to see if I could find any shortcomings that needed addressing and I couldn't. All 3 sources, to my ears, were performing to a similarly high level with only minor differences in presentation as expected by their differing architecture. Barring accidents, normal wear and tear or somebody plumbing something revelatory and sub £2k into my system, I reckon I'm pretty much done with spending on hifi hardware.
Yes, there are undoubtedly 'better' sounding bits of kit out there, but I'm also aware that for where I am and the money I've invested, I have seriously good SQ and VFM. To take things any further would entail spending £5k+ (used) & £10k+ (new) very much a case of diminishing returns to get any meaningful uplift.
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Post by mikeyb on May 7, 2023 10:07:15 GMT
Ok so here's my takeaway story, it too is from the 70s.
My brother and his pals found a dead cat lying at the side of the road when out driving so they picked it up and headed into town to the only Chinese takeaway we had. You know the ones with the little hatch that opens up behind the guy taking orders when your food is ready.
They waited until it was really busy, my brother walks in with the cat, slams it down on the counter and says..
"That's the last one I'm bringing you, I've still not been paid for the last one!"
He ended up being chased down the street by the chef armed with his cleaver 😂😂😂😂
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 7, 2023 10:37:20 GMT
Today as per Friday & Saturday my upstairs tennent is away so I've been able to turn my system up a bit. DAMN!! How did I manage to sort myself such a superb sounding rig. Now I know I'm biased but I spent some time yesterday analysing to see if I could find any shortcomings that needed addressing and I couldn't. All 3 sources, to my ears, were performing to a similarly high level with only minor differences in presentation as expected by their differing architecture. Barring accidents, normal wear and tear or somebody plumbing something revelatory and sub £2k into my system, I reckon I'm pretty much done with spending on hifi hardware. Yes, there are undoubtedly 'better' sounding bits of kit out there, but I'm also aware that for where I am and the money I've invested, I have seriously good SQ and VFM. To take things any further would entail spending £5k+ (used) & £10k+ (new) very much a case of diminishing returns to get any meaningful uplift. Do you get out and about much, John? Reason I ask is that I rarely recognize shortcomings in my own system until I go and hear something, somewhere else that does something that my system doesn't. |
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Post by karma67 on May 7, 2023 10:47:23 GMT
+1
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Post by lurch on May 7, 2023 10:53:41 GMT
mikeyb 🤣😂🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😂 BRILLIANT!!!
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Post by lurch on May 7, 2023 11:23:59 GMT
Today as per Friday & Saturday my upstairs tennent is away so I've been able to turn my system up a bit. DAMN!! How did I manage to sort myself such a superb sounding rig. Now I know I'm biased but I spent some time yesterday analysing to see if I could find any shortcomings that needed addressing and I couldn't. All 3 sources, to my ears, were performing to a similarly high level with only minor differences in presentation as expected by their differing architecture. Barring accidents, normal wear and tear or somebody plumbing something revelatory and sub £2k into my system, I reckon I'm pretty much done with spending on hifi hardware. Yes, there are undoubtedly 'better' sounding bits of kit out there, but I'm also aware that for where I am and the money I've invested, I have seriously good SQ and VFM. To take things any further would entail spending £5k+ (used) & £10k+ (new) very much a case of diminishing returns to get any meaningful uplift. Do you get out and about much, John? Reason I ask is that I rarely recognize shortcomings in my own system until I go and hear something, somewhere else that does something that my system doesn't. Yep I get around quite a bit, shows & BOs + visits, as for hearing better kit, yes to that also but it's always £20k+ speakers, and other silly price stuff. Have a mate with a £200k+ system that MrC has been involved in developing, he recently added D'Agostino Momentum Pre/Pwr & new coherent loom, way, way better than his previous CJ & TAD but £50k+. My system currently owes me circa £15k (rrp 55k ish) hence my comment re vfm Vs SQ and aware there's 'better' out there. I'm just not willing to spend 1/3 and upwards of my current system cost on a single component to 'improve' on what I have. My next BIG spend will be on a bungalow which I will get knocked about to turn it into a musicroom with accommodation. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 7, 2023 11:46:18 GMT
Do you get out and about much, John? Reason I ask is that I rarely recognize shortcomings in my own system until I go and hear something, somewhere else that does something that my system doesn't. Yep I get around quite a bit, shows & BOs + visits, as for hearing better kit, yes to that also but it's always £20k+ speakers, and other silly price stuff. Have a mate with a £200k+ system that MrC has been involved in developing, he recently added D'Agostino Momentum Pre/Pwr & new coherent loom, way, way better than his previous CJ & TAD but £50k+. My system currently owes me circa £15k (rrp 55k ish) hence my comment re vfm Vs SQ and aware there's 'better' out there. I'm just not willing to spend 1/3 and upwards of my current system cost on a single component to 'improve' on what I have. My next BIG spend will be on a bungalow which I will get knocked about to turn it into a musicroom with accommodation. Ah, ok I see. Bungalow in the same area? |
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optical
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Post by optical on May 7, 2023 11:48:48 GMT
Do you get out and about much, John? Reason I ask is that I rarely recognize shortcomings in my own system until I go and hear something, somewhere else that does something that my system doesn't. My next BIG spend will be on a bungalow which I will get knocked about to turn it into a musicroom with accommodation. Fairly sure that's how the Mrs would describe our house now 🤣 |
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Post by lurch on May 7, 2023 12:06:52 GMT
Yep I get around quite a bit, shows & BOs + visits, as for hearing better kit, yes to that also but it's always £20k+ speakers, and other silly price stuff. Have a mate with a £200k+ system that MrC has been involved in developing, he recently added D'Agostino Momentum Pre/Pwr & new coherent loom, way, way better than his previous CJ & TAD but £50k+. My system currently owes me circa £15k (rrp 55k ish) hence my comment re vfm Vs SQ and aware there's 'better' out there. I'm just not willing to spend 1/3 and upwards of my current system cost on a single component to 'improve' on what I have. My next BIG spend will be on a bungalow which I will get knocked about to turn it into a musicroom with accommodation. Ah, ok I see. Bungalow in the same area? Sort off, looking to move 15 - 30 miles west so nearer kids and grandkids. Won't move back into Portsmouth (where I'm from) its a cramped overly busy cesspit now, so either Hayling Island (nice area and cheaper) or Fareham area for grandkids. Bungalow should allow me to fit a 26 x 16 room, then squeeze a snug, bedroom, kitchen & bathroom in what floor area is left. |
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Post by karma67 on May 7, 2023 13:08:07 GMT
if you grew up in Portsmouth i wonder if you remember this cult tv series being filmed. early 80's and has some people who went on to be famous. i bloody loved it.
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Post by lurch on May 7, 2023 15:26:43 GMT
No, not remember it Jamie, well looking at it, it was aimed at a younger audience than I was at the time (early 20s).
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Post by robbiegong on May 7, 2023 16:38:08 GMT
Is that his house mate in the back ground ? That's his shadow 😁 I'm scared......   |
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Post by mikeyb on May 8, 2023 9:23:50 GMT
Found out........ My cousin in the USA has been researching our ancestry and it would appear that I am descendant of Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland 1306 - 1329, yip the very one who kicked the Sassenachs asses, oops I mean defeated the larger English army of Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. His body is buried at Dunfermline Abbey about 25 minutes from where I live. If you know anything of his story then you'll know where my stubbornness comes from 😁 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Bruce |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 8, 2023 9:57:23 GMT
Found out........ My cousin in the USA has been researching our ancestry and it would appear that I am descendant of Robert The Bruce, King of Scotland 1306 - 1329, yip the very one who kicked the Sassenachs asses, oops I mean defeated the larger English army of Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. His body is buried at Dunfermline Abbey about 25 minutes from where I live. If you know anything of his story then you'll know where my stubbornness comes from 😁 en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_BruceYeah, so am I 😂😂 Honestly, they reckon most people with Scottish ancestry can trace themselves back to him... #Prolific |
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Post by mikeyb on May 8, 2023 11:12:15 GMT
Hardly surprising considering the number of scots at that time I suppose
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Post by hifinutt on May 8, 2023 13:08:29 GMT
glad you got him back !
Up early for 4 day central heating replacement at friends house
then labouring through accounts which i hate ...
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Post by hifinutt on May 8, 2023 13:11:20 GMT
Larry Norman [ in my avatar ] did some of his final concerts in Portsmouth ... I recall sleeping in a field so i could go and see him .
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Post by stevew on May 8, 2023 13:26:53 GMT
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 8, 2023 13:30:13 GMT
Hardly surprising considering the number of scots at that time I suppose Yeah, there was one of those genealogy shows on TV ages ago. They filled a pub with people in the local area who are all related to Robert the Bruce. The narrator said about most scots being able to trace their roots to Robert the Bruce. I checked ours as I was doing our family tree at the time, and on my dad's grans side in Edinburgh, the link goes back to him too. |
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Post by mikeyb on May 8, 2023 13:33:53 GMT
Hardly surprising considering the number of scots at that time I suppose Yeah, there was one of those genealogy shows on TV ages ago. They filled a pub with people in the local area who are all related to Robert the Bruce. The narrator said about most scots being able to trace their roots to Robert the Bruce. I checked ours as I was doing our family tree at the time, and on my dad's grans side in Edinburgh, the link goes back to him too. Cool, maybe we're related 😂 |
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Bigman80
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Posts: 16,410
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Post by Bigman80 on May 8, 2023 13:34:32 GMT
Yeah, there was one of those genealogy shows on TV ages ago. They filled a pub with people in the local area who are all related to Robert the Bruce. The narrator said about most scots being able to trace their roots to Robert the Bruce. I checked ours as I was doing our family tree at the time, and on my dad's grans side in Edinburgh, the link goes back to him too. Cool, maybe we're related 😂 😂 We and half of Scotland lol |
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Post by karma67 on May 8, 2023 13:41:17 GMT
glad you got him back ! Up early for 4 day central heating replacement at friends house then labouring through accounts which i hate ... hope you dont mind me asking but you seem to have such varied jobs ,what is it you do? |
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Post by hifinutt on May 9, 2023 7:48:38 GMT
thanks Karma , carer and property management amongst many other roles . its keeps me rather busy !!
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Post by robbiegong on May 9, 2023 9:04:59 GMT
thanks Karma , carer and property management amongst many other roles . its keeps me rather busy !! From the stuf you've posted and do, you are a positive and important resource in your community Phil |
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Post by hifinutt on May 9, 2023 13:20:53 GMT
thanks robbie , i am sure you are too
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Post by karma67 on May 9, 2023 17:04:42 GMT
finally bit the bullet and got a decent dino-lite microscope,much better than the 12 quid chinese ones. heres a quick glimpse of my bronze and kontrapunkt b.    |
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Post by gninnam on May 9, 2023 17:18:02 GMT
Those images are awesome - nice one!
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Post by misterc on May 10, 2023 11:00:26 GMT
Yesterday actually , I took my life in my hands at some ungodly hour and braved not just the M25 but the M1 as well before reaching the outer reaches of civilisation and traversing that great wilderness known as ' Up North' it was a tall order, but my three shredded wheat & two cans of Iron Brew stood me is perfect stead for the gargantuan challenge that awaiting my undivided attention for the next portion of the day. Now both physically and mentally prepared, the great advature was only a a few thousand clutch changes away. Without further trepidation, my trusty stead at the ready off we jolly well trotted, battling through the windswept landscapes, torrential rain, certain road users looking for a quick exit from this mortal coil, the odd road traffic incident, a few officers of the law in (Luke warm) pursuit of evil does plus the odd dozy local looking for inspiration whilst reading the morning broadsheets. Think of it like a 21st century Monty Python and the Holy Grail meets Sky news. So what was the purpose of this mighty and long quest I hear you ask?
Well, I spent an thoroughly entertaining day in the company of Jason from this parish, the gent of Arke transducers. Having spent a month or so trying to arrange to see him, but due to work commitments of late had to put this arrangement on hold. However, like the aligning of the stars, a hedgehog been seen in the garden and Brian May actually receiving a haircut, it finally happened!
Spent the best part of seven hours in Jason company listening, chatting and admiring the scenery. Jason is very genial and down to earth chap with great woodworking skills and attention to detail. We kicked off with some vinyl so I could obtain a handle on what Jason is using as his benchmark, then progressed later in the day to an all-digital affair. The powered bass section larger speakers were used throughout the day, they demonstrated a nice even handed approach, good linearity, quality amounts of physical presence (very much like Wilson Sasha’s), bass response was tight and articulate tonally they were on point as well.
The addition of the BAM (Bass augmentation module) is key here is these speakers’ overall performance its how they bring together the elements of attributes. I know Jason wishes to make some improvements in specific areas and that his room limits their potential, however that said I could easily identify their strengths and how they will perform with various ranges of equipment. Jason is to be commended on his commitment, skill and tenacity in getting these fine speakers to the position there are now, I always like finding passionate individuals with a flair for producing goods with out of the box thinking so congratulations Jason on a fine result. Another take away for myself while packing up yesterday Jason mentioned that the digital pieces we played sounded like he felt analogue should be musical, engaging and utterly grain free. Many thanks to Jason & his good lady for the welcoming hospitality and time yesterday.
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Post by hifinutt on May 10, 2023 14:59:37 GMT
great write up .... you could teach jeremy clarkson a few lessons !!!
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Post by stevew on May 10, 2023 15:53:58 GMT
So Tony… what was the digital front end you played at Jason’s ?
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