Who has the best hi-fi set up on Pistonheads????

[SteveO...]

Michell GyroSE & HR PSU, AO RB251 Arm (heavily reworked by J7), Dynavector XX-2 MC
Heed Quasar Phonostage
Linn Unidisk 1.1 CD/SACD
Audio Research LS26 Preamp
Linn Climax Twin Power Amp
B&W 802D Speakers

Not a bad little set up. The Gyro is fairly recent, and is frighteningly good. Funds permitting, it might get treated to an SME or AO PU-7 this year.

[PJ S]

JayEll said:

I took the pics on a Canon 40D, and the file sizes were far too big to go on here. I'm on a Mac and couldn't figure out a decent way of making them smaller.

Preview resizes images - use the percent option, aspect will be maintained.

[Crackie]

Not the best but designed and optimised ( room corrected ) for this location and its huge fun. Makes me, and others, want to dance and sing to almost everything .
PackardBell EasyNote Laptop (USB out) to Musical Fidelity V-Link ll USB to SPDIF converter.
NovaFidelity X12 Server / Streamer / Preamp.
MiniDSP 4x10Hd 10 channel digital active crossover / Parametric Equaliser / Pre amp.
Rotel RB-981 Power Amp ( Quarter wave Bass )
Rotel RB-981 Power Amp ( Quarter wave Low mid )
Rotel RB-971 Power Amp mono ( Horn mid left )
Rotel RB-971 Power Amp mono ( Horn mid right )
Rotel RB-971 Power Amp ( Waveguide HF )
Speakers inspired by Impulse H2 http://www.acoustica.org.uk/impulse/images/H2_ap_1... + Horning Agathon Ultimate http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue20/horning.h... + DTQWT from Troels Gravesen http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/JA8008_DTQWT.htm . 95db/1W/1m. 111db at 2m.

MiniDSP Active crossover on top of Wadia CD with laptop showing MiniDSP active crossover GUI on top of that.
The picture shows an earlier setup when I was using a single 981 to drive the mid horn instead of the current pair of mono 971s. The Wadia is not used on this system any more.



250 liter Quarter wave cabinets made to my spec. by Wilmslow Audio. 19mm ply faced with 9mm solid oak. Height 1600mm x width 335mm x depth 650mm. Audax HM130Z0 aerogel mid driver. Mounted on a constrained layer dipole baffle with front waveguide horn. SD Tweeter.
225 litre XLF subwoofer. 2 x Peerless XLS12 bass drivers.





250Litre EBS Reflex subwoofer. -3dB 15hz.



Analogue sources for the above system via an Audio Analogue Bellini Pre amp
STD305M turntable + SME3009 S3 + Shure V15
Aiwa 6550 cassette
Sony TC-FX5C cassette
Wadia 301 CD
Cambridge A70 sub for conservatory
Rotel RB-981 amp for the XLF subs.

---

Dining room
Exposure CD player
Sabaj A3 amp
Impulse H2 speakers


Conservatory
Novafidelity X12 server
Wadia 301
Cambridge A70 Power amp
B&W Solid speakers x 4


Garden
Technics SL-PS520A CD
Rotel 931 amp
Monacor 300w subwoofer amp
Semi active open baffle dipoles

Driver position sim



4 drivers measured on open baffle



AV system
Yamaha AV receiver
Duntech Marquis speakers
Home built active centre channel ( With TVR flip paint on the steel baffle )
Home built Linwitz LX Mini 'Homage' surround speakers using BMR HF drivers.

Edited by Crackie on Sunday 17th January 15:35

[Dr G]

Nerdy in the very, very best possible way. I like that a lot

[Crackie]

thank you doctor,

[Parabola]

My modest NAD System.




NAD C370 Amp
NAD C541i CD Player
NAD C420 Tuner

NAD PP-1 Phono Pre Amp
Project Audio Debut Record Player

Dynaudio Audience 42 Speakers
Partington Dreadnaught Speaker Stands

[MrChips]

Out of interest, is there any real market for used hifi furniture? I've got a decent rack and set of stands that i haven't used for a long while but will not list on eBay due to the number of scammers.
Are there any good places to sell this kind of stuff or is it a case of gumtree if nothing else?

[stuart313]

MrChips said:

Out of interest, is there any real market for used hifi furniture? I've got a decent rack and set of stands that i haven't used for a long while but will not list on eBay due to the number of scammers.
Are there any good places to sell this kind of stuff or is it a case of gumtree if nothing else?

If this is true then you wont have many problems getting rid of the stands.

[StuH]

stuart313 said:

If this is true then you wont have many problems getting rid of the stands.

[GRL]

That waveguide wouldn't be borrowed from a B&W port tube assembly would it Dave..?

Crackie said:

Not the best but designed and optimised ( room corrected ) for this location and its huge fun. Makes me, and others, want to dance and sing to almost everything .
PackardBell EasyNote Laptop (USB out).
Musical Fidelity V-Link ll USB to SPDIF converter.
MiniDSP 4x10Hd 10 channel digital active crossover / Parametric Equaliser / Pre amp.
Rotel RB-981 Power Amp ( Quarter wave Bass )
Rotel RB-981 Power Amp ( Quarter wave Low mid )
Rotel RB-971 Power Amp mono ( Horn mid left )
Rotel RB-971 Power Amp mono ( Horn mid right )
Rotel RB-971 Power Amp ( Waveguide HF )
Speakers inspired by Impulse H2 http://www.acoustica.org.uk/impulse/images/H2_ap_1... + Horning Agathon Ultimate http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue20/horning.h... + DTQWT from Troels Gravesen http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/JA8008_DTQWT.htm . 95db/1W/1m. 111db at 2m.

MiniDSP Active crossover on top of Wadia CD with laptop showing MiniDSP active crossover GUI on top of that.
The picture shows an earlier setup when I was using a single 981 to drive the mid horn instead of the current pair of mono 971s.


2x12" Celestion BL12-200X Paper/Kevlar bass drivers on the back of each enclosure. Time & phase aligned. -3db at 25Hz. B&W MT satellites on windowsill.


250 liter Quarter wave cabinets made to my spec. by Wilmslow Audio. 19mm ply faced with 9mm solid oak. Height 1600mm x width 335mm x depth 650mm


Horn loaded Monacor DT-300 tweeter with LS3/5A felt HF absorbant + Audax HM130Z0 aerogel mid driver. Mounted on a constrained layer dipole baffle with front waveguide horn.


400 point averaged response. Measurement points taken at approx. 4m centred around listening position.


Analogue sources for the above system via an Audio Analogue Bellini Pre amp
STD305M turntable + SME3009 S3 + Shure V15
Aiwa 6550 cassette

---

Technics SL-PG520A CD
Mission Cyrus One amp
Impulse H2 speakers


Technics SL-PS620A CD
HLLY AMK-II Pre amp
Cambridge A70 Power amp
Celestion C2 speakers


Exposure CD player
Technics SL1800 turntable + Nagaoka MP-11 Boron cartridge
Rotel 930AX amp
Homebuilt semi active open baffle dipoles


AV system
Yamaha AV receiver
Duntech Marquis speakers
Home built semi active centre channel
B&W M-1 surrounds
B&W ASW-1000 sub

Edited by Crackie on Tuesday 2nd June 08:43

[Crackie]

GRL said:

That waveguide wouldn't be borrowed from a B&W port tube assembly would it Dave..?

Hi Graham, hope you're well sir. I missed your original post in June; yes the waveguide is a B&W port flare . Neck diameter is perfect for the Audax 5". I did ask B&W's permission first though and paid TT for the mouldings.

The system has evolved a little since the post above. The digital source is now a 2TB Novafidelity X12 server/streamer/pre amp, the MiniDSP now has a better linear power supply and there is a new sub to deal with the extreme LF. -3dB point is 14hz nearfield and 11Hz in Amina's R&D room . Its driven by the Rotel RB-981 that used to drive the mids.

I've only had the X12 for a couple of weeks and its very impressive so far; this and the new linear power for the DSP have made decent improvements but the system as a whole has recently taken a big leap in performance. I moved back to Yorkshire at the end of August and the speakers are now housed in the room they were originally intended for. Its a big room ( 175 cubic meters ) with close to Fibonacci dims . I grew up in the house and knew the room sounded good but WOW, what a difference.

Next on the agenda is making the 125Hz to 550Hz open baffle as well.

Edited by Crackie on Monday 14th December 02:53

[ian996]

Bling HiFi thread? Not seen this before..well, it would be rude not to:

Digital Front End: Wadia 971/931/922
Vinyl Front End: SME 20 / SME V / Sumiko Pearwood
Pre Amp: Modified Musical Fidelity KWP
Power Amp: Modified Musical Fidelity KW Monos
Speakers: Raidho 3.1
Headphone Amp: Blinged-up Woo Audio WA5
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800
Cables: Dynamique Audio
Equipment Platforms: Silent Running Audio

Tweaks, Voodoo & Witchcraft: Keeping stumm in case the reductionists get upset

Here's a pic from before the 9 Series, the Raidho's and the WA5 arrived:




The area is currently a bit of a mess due to the challenge of fitting the 9 series and the headphone amp in, but quite happy to put up pics of individual bits if anyone is interested

Edited by ian996 on Thursday 22 October 15:12

[P700DEE]

[JustinP1]

ian996 said:

Bling HiFi thread? Not seen this before..well, it would be rude not to:

Digital Front End: Wadia 971/931/922
Vinyl Front End: SME 20 / SME V / Sumiko Pearwood
Pre Amp: Modified Musical Fidelity KWP
Power Amp: Modified Musical Fidelity KW Monos
Speakers: Raidho 3.1
Headphone Amp: Blinged-up Woo Audio WA5
Headphones: Sennheiser HD800
Cables: Dynamique Audio
Equipment Platforms: Silent Running Audio

Tweaks, Voodoo & Witchcraft: Keeping stumm in case the reductionists get upset

Here's a pic from before the 9 Series, the Raidho's and the WA5 arrived:




The area is currently a bit of a mess due to the challenge of fitting the 9 series and the headphone amp in, but quite happy to put up pics of individual bits if anyone is interested

Edited by ian996 on Thursday 22 October 15:12

Holy smokes! That is a serious two channel setup.

[ian996]

JustinP1 said:

Holy smokes! That is a serious two channel setup.

Fortunately, I feel absolutely no need for it to grow into a 5:1 or even 7:1 solution - I don't think the floor would stand the strain.

Here's the 971 transport and 931 controller:



And the mono 922 DACs:



Woo Audio WA5 300B headphone amp:



And PSU:



Close Up of Emission Labs 300B Mesh Plate:



Modified Preamp with quad 48 step attenuator instead of Alps pot:

Edited by ian996 on Thursday 22 October 16:35

[Monty Python]

Not me...

My system is currently a Musical Fidelity X-A2 amp, Marantz CD-63mkII KI-Signature CD player, Denon TU-260L tuner and a pair of Tannoy 605 speakers.

[theboss]

ian996 - bloody hell!

I can at least say I have the same headphones

Currently have a rather simple all-in-one system comprising Linn Akurate DSM / active Akubarik

Plus Sennheiser HDVD800 / HD800 for when the kids are in bed

[ian996]

theboss said:

Currently have a rather simple all-in-one system comprising Linn Akurate DSM / active Akubarik
Plus Sennheiser HDVD800 / HD800 for when the kids are in bed

Simple is good! My experience has been that the bigger and more complicated the system, the harder it is to realise it's potential.

The HD800 are great aren't they? Apart from listening during anti-social hours, I use mine for keeping the big system honest...if it doesn't sound 300B - sweet, something needs fixing.

[theboss]

ian996 said:

Simple is good! My experience has been that the bigger and more complicated the system, the harder it is to realise it's potential.

The HD800 are great aren't they? Apart from listening during anti-social hours, I use mine for keeping the big system honest...if it doesn't sound 300B - sweet, something needs fixing.

They are absolutely bloody marvellous - I could live with that headphone / amp combo, the balanced cable, a source and nothing else - very happily indeed:

[GRL]

Hi Dave. Can't stop tinkering can you?! I'm just clearing out the overflow from my excessive hi-fi hoarding. Still have a full TMA set-up in the study and a Naim set-up in the main lounge. Just pondering what to use with some B&W Silver Signatures in the music room

Didn't realise you had relocated back to Yorkshire. Hope all is well for you. Keep in touch chum!

Crackie said:

Hi Graham, hope you're well sir. I missed your original post in June; yes the waveguide is a B&W port flare . Neck diameter is perfect for the Audax 5". I did ask B&W's permission first though and paid TT for the mouldings.

The system has evolved a little since the post above. The digital source is now a 2TB Novafidelity X12 server/streamer/pre amp, the MiniDSP now has a better linear power supply and there is a new sub to deal with the extreme LF. -3dB point is 14hz nearfield and 11Hz in Amina's R&D room . Its driven by the Rotel RB-981 that used to drive the mids.

I've only had the X12 for a couple of weeks and its very impressive so far; this and the new linear power for the DSP have made decent improvements but the system as a whole has recently taken a big leap in performance. I moved back to Yorkshire at the end of August and the speakers are now housed in the room they were originally intended for. Its a big room ( 175 cubic meters ) with close to Fibonacci dims . I grew up in the house and new the room sounded good but WOW, what a difference.

Next on the agenda is making the 125Hz to 550Hz open baffle as well.

Edited by Crackie on Thursday 22 October 21:14