What’s your Hi-Fi set up? spec and pictures please

[Jake899]

Spleen said:

Pfft, my Doris doesn't go anywhere near my speakers or any of my other hifi kit for that matter. She likes plants so the fact that the house looks like the Eden Project is neither here nor there so as long as they don't go near my speakers, everything is calm in Spleen Towers.

Same, I have to hack my way into my living room, dodge the triffid, nod to the Pygmie tribe and swing on a couple of creepers to get to my hifi.

[Sheets Tabuer]

I think I read somewhere if you put copper photo frames on top of your speakers it enhances the soundstage.

[Spleen]

Sheets Tabuer said:

I think I read somewhere if you put copper photo frames on top of your speakers it enhances the soundstage.

That actually wouldn't surprise me if you did.

Classic thread on Facebook Naim group recently after Tidal Connect was introduced. One punter claimed the difference was amazing compared to Tidal on the Naim app, more detail, greater soundstage, all the usual cliche bks until it was pointed out to him that it was exactly the same stream but controlled by a different app.

[Funk]

It's weird how every time someone changes something like a cable, some power widget or puts some sort of doohickey under a device etc, it always brings an "improvement in imaging, soundstaging, openness" etc, oddly they're never a backward step or downgrade. I'm sure that 90% of the time it's the placebo effect in full swing and shows how much utter bks people will convince themselves of when it comes to hifi.

When my M-DAC was off having its borked caps replaced, I bought a used Topping D50 for £100 so I could continue to have music in the interim. Honestly I can't hear the difference between that (which was about £200 new) and the M-DAC (which was a £700 unit when new) now it's back. The only reason I'd swap the M-DAC back in is because it has a headphone output.

[bazza.]

So a new set up the Bucharts are gone

TURNTABLE SETUP
Michell Orbe, SME V, Benz Wood SL , Missing Link Log-Rhythm MK-2 Phono Interconnect
Fidelity Audio Custom Power Supply
Rothwell MC1 SUT
Rothwell Rialto

Speaker
ATC SCM7
ATC C1C Center
Roth Olly rears
BK XLS200 DF Sub

Music Fidelity M6SI

Bluesound Node V3

Clocked Marantz SA-KI Pearl Lite

Fidelity Audio NNU X Reference Mains Purifier
Missing Link Mains cables, Alaqeia Interconnects , Dark Art
Missing Link Passion Signature Tone Arm Cable
Audio Wire Speaker cable with Fidelity Audio NN Z Speaker Purifier


HiFi Racks Podium Reference White
Speaker Stands Dynaudio Stand 10

Edited by bazza. on Thursday 13th January 21:05

[Funk]

The Bucharts didn't stick around long then...! I've accidentally bought some Kef Reference 3.2s in very good nick and I suspect they're going to oust my Celestion A3s. I need to do plenty more A/B listening.

If you ever decide to move the M6si on would you give me a shout? I'm wondering whether the XTZ could be bettered for sensible money but whatever might replace it will need plenty of power reserves for whichever speakers I stick with.

[bazza.]

Funk said:

The Bucharts didn't stick around long then...! I've accidentally bought some Kef Reference 3.2s in very good nick and I suspect they're going to oust my Celestion A3s. I need to do plenty more A/B listening.

If you ever decide to move the M6si on would you give me a shout? I'm wondering whether the XTZ could be bettered for sensible money but whatever might replace it will need plenty of power reserves for whichever speakers I stick with.

Its true the Bucharts were good and had amazing bass but I did have repeating software issues and they simply cant match the fidelity the ATCs nor there top end with there new tweeter

I did test them just using the 100wpc Marantz AV and they sounds awful and flat but then got the M6SI and wow sounded so good
with loads more detail and even more bass , I used to have the ATC amp and this I prefer over that

[PT1984]

Do you use the XLS200 with the ATC’s in a 2.1 setup?

[Flying machine]

bazza. said:

So a new set up the Bucharts are gone

TURNTABLE SETUP
Michell Orbe, SME V, Benz Wood SL , Missing Link Log-Rhythm MK-2 Phono Interconnect
Fidelity Audio Custom Power Supply
Rothwell MC1 SUT
Rothwell Rialto

Speaker
ATC SCM7
ATC C1C Center
Roth Olly rears
BK XLS200 DF Sub

Music Fidelity M6SI

Bluesound Node V3

Clocked Marantz SA-KI Pearl Lite

Fidelity Audio NNU X Reference Mains Purifier
Missing Link Mains cables, Alaqeia Interconnects , Dark Art
Audio Wire Speaker cable with Fidelity Audio NN Z Speaker Purifier


HiFi Racks Podium Reference White
Speaker Stands Dynaudio Stand 10

Nice looking setup - very sleek! Excuse me being nosey, but what does the Rothwell MC1 SUT do as you appear to have a phono stage as well? I'm always curious about little additional hi-fi gadget boxes!

Also, do you notice any significant difference with the Mains Purifier?

[bazza.]

PT1984 said:

Do you use the XLS200 with the ATC’s in a 2.1 setup?

Yes I do it works really well you cant tell any difference apart from the fullness of bass you have with it
I use this box to select between 2.1 and 5.1 setup

[bazza.]

Flying machine said:

bazza. said:

So a new set up the Bucharts are gone

TURNTABLE SETUP
Michell Orbe, SME V, Benz Wood SL , Missing Link Log-Rhythm MK-2 Phono Interconnect
Fidelity Audio Custom Power Supply
Rothwell MC1 SUT
Rothwell Rialto

Speaker
ATC SCM7
ATC C1C Center
Roth Olly rears
BK XLS200 DF Sub

Music Fidelity M6SI

Bluesound Node V3

Clocked Marantz SA-KI Pearl Lite

Fidelity Audio NNU X Reference Mains Purifier
Missing Link Mains cables, Alaqeia Interconnects , Dark Art
Audio Wire Speaker cable with Fidelity Audio NN Z Speaker Purifier


HiFi Racks Podium Reference White
Speaker Stands Dynaudio Stand 10

Nice looking setup - very sleek! Excuse me being nosey, but what does the Rothwell MC1 SUT do as you appear to have a phono stage as well? I'm always curious about little additional hi-fi gadget boxes!

Also, do you notice any significant difference with the Mains Purifier?

Good question most people when wanting to upgrade there phono amp go with a better power supply but Rothwell recommend
using the SUT and then using the Rialto in MM mode

The mains purifier I got when I was renting an old house in Germany which had unstable mains and this worked really well
there but here I'm not sure as Ive always had it

[stevoknevo]

bazza. said:

PT1984 said:

Do you use the XLS200 with the ATC’s in a 2.1 setup?

Yes I do it works really well you cant tell any difference apart from the fullness of bass you have with it
I use this box to select between 2.1 and 5.1 setup

I've been considering an XLS200 to pair with my old PMC GB1, sadly they're out of stock as they're having difficulty getting the drivers delivered - I've got an ancient Paradigm PDR 10 sub but I've removed it again as the quality of the bass notes/texture isn't as good as the PMC's on their own despite losing a bit of the presence/space/air a sub provides. Was looking at a REL T5i but don't think an 8" driver will cut it, T7i is too much money, but thinking an XLS200 might fit the bill with scope for a second down the line if needed - do you connect yours high or low level?

Lovely system

[PT1984]

stevoknevo said:

bazza. said:

PT1984 said:

Do you use the XLS200 with the ATC’s in a 2.1 setup?

Yes I do it works really well you cant tell any difference apart from the fullness of bass you have with it
I use this box to select between 2.1 and 5.1 setup

I've been considering an XLS200 to pair with my old PMC GB1, sadly they're out of stock as they're having difficulty getting the drivers delivered - I've got an ancient Paradigm PDR 10 sub but I've removed it again as the quality of the bass notes/texture isn't as good as the PMC's on their own despite losing a bit of the presence/space/air a sub provides. Was looking at a REL T5i but don't think an 8" driver will cut it, T7i is too much money, but thinking an XLS200 might fit the bill with scope for a second down the line if needed - do you connect yours high or low level?

Lovely system

I only asked as I also use an XLS200DF in a 2.1 setup. Audiolab 6000A amp and Monitor Audio Silver 1’s. I use the speaker level/Neutrik connection as I found it sounded to integrate more naturally.

It is a brilliant little sub. It integrates so well after you resist the temptation to turn up the gain. It just disappeares and it’s like listening to floor standers. Incredible speed too. Whilst I love a synthesised baseline, It really clicked when I was listening to a live album. It’s hard to describe, but it brought the atmosphere of the venue/recording into the room. Audiophiles talk about soundstage, this almost made it 3D.

I do crank the gain when watching movies though. And it does not disappoint.

Some turn their nose up at 2.1. But a pair of floor standers wouldn’t work in my room, the bass would overwhelm and bloat.

The new active KEF gear with DSP looks really quite interesting.

[bazza.]

stevoknevo said:

bazza. said:

PT1984 said:

Do you use the XLS200 with the ATC’s in a 2.1 setup?

Yes I do it works really well you cant tell any difference apart from the fullness of bass you have with it
I use this box to select between 2.1 and 5.1 setup

I've been considering an XLS200 to pair with my old PMC GB1, sadly they're out of stock as they're having difficulty getting the drivers delivered - I've got an ancient Paradigm PDR 10 sub but I've removed it again as the quality of the bass notes/texture isn't as good as the PMC's on their own despite losing a bit of the presence/space/air a sub provides. Was looking at a REL T5i but don't think an 8" driver will cut it, T7i is too much money, but thinking an XLS200 might fit the bill with scope for a second down the line if needed - do you connect yours high or low level?

Lovely system

When I got the house a back in April I had the Bucharts A500s and they didn't really need a Sub and so I only planed it as
Part of my 5.1 system and unfortunately I only fitted an RCA cable into the wall, so I've never got to tried the high level input as my
Wife doesn't want me to rip apart the wall again lol

[stevoknevo]

Cheers PT1984 & bazza. - I'm after something with capability to connect both ways to future proof it a bit, currently it's connected to an Anthem AVR that I use solely for music having fallen out of love with 5.1 after 20+ years, however the Anthem has a channel level issue that I need to diagnose further to see whether it's an amplification or processor issue, if it's the latter then it'll need replaced and by a dedicated stereo amp, but if the former I'm considering adding a power amp to retain the ARC room correction which makes a vast difference in my Tupperware new build place that's all a bit hard/reflective/echo-y and L-shaped into the bargain - I need to drag my old Denon AVR out from under my boy's gaming set-up to test the Anthem pre-outs fully to see if the issues follows but that's a mission health wise currently. There's a circa -10/11db offset on the right channel that's gotten progressively worse from a -2/3db offset in the last year, I run it -5db left channel/+5/6db on the right to balance it out. BUT...if I turn it off overnight and turn on in the morning there's very little output from the right channel until it's been on for a while, and that time has increased too, but it's fine if just left turned on (which I'd prefer not to do purely from an environmental standpoint/cost) It does sound pretty good all the same seeing as I'm only into for £750ish and use it 99% of the time for streaming Qobuz/Paradise Radio on a Raspberry Pi4 in to a Topping E30 Dac running from a powerbank, analogue in to the Anthem MRX 500 and on to the PMC's, all controlled from my phone/Mac for ease of use due to the aforementioned health issues. It can all fall apart somewhat at higher volumes and I'm not certain if that's the amp and/or the room at play so I'm voraciously reading up/watching how to make room treatment panels on the cheap, but for day-to-day low-moderate volumes it's a really enjoyable listen. Anthem CS were as much use as a Johnny with a hole in it when I emailed to ask if they'd seen this issue previously, might as well have told me to turn it off and again ("swap the cables round and see if it stays or follows, swap the cables out with others"...Duuhhh!)

It's good to get some input as there's a wealth of opinion out there along the lines of 'hi-level is the only way to do it properly for music/no REL are out of touch/date and modern processing does a better job of low/high pass filtering, time alignment, integration' etc...so I want the option of both to cover bases but also so I can have a fk about with it and make my own decision on how I prefer it connected (I do err on the side of low level so the sub is taking the strain away from the amp speakers and them performing better as they're having to do less...?)

[peterperkins]

Last year I got myself a £144 1963 ish Dynatron Marlow RG24.

Nice solid bit of proper wood kit with stereo push pull valve amp and decent tuner.
A very expensive buy when new.

It is fitted with a Garrard AT6 record changer with Sonotone 9TA HC ceramic cartridge and LP/78rpm stylus.
Push pull EL86 15W~ Stereo Amp.
Stereo Valve Tuner.
3 Speakers per channel.

Weight 2 tons.. It also doubles as an electric heater and gives off a fair bit of warmth..

Sounds great since I cleaned it all up, serviced and recapped it.
Also one of the speakers was scratchy (coil fouling the magnet) but I recentered the cone and it's ok now.

Click the YT link to see/hear how it sounds.
It easily has enough power to annoy the neighbours when cranked up a bit..

https://youtu.be/hOhyQGG1ZVs

https://youtu.be/Jmc2Qo7LMxw

Edited by peterperkins on Thursday 21st October 16:39

[wolfracesonic]

^That is awesome. I remember these things the first time around

[Mars]

peterperkins said:

Last year I got myself a £144 1963 ish Dynatron Marlow RG24.

That looks amazing. I wonder how many have been lost to changing fashions... thrown out when they started to look old and replaced with something more current. Real shame.

Reminds me of the Leslie speaker that people used to partner with Hammond organs. I saw one at a gig in a pub 30-odd years ago, in a wooden cabinet from a similar era to this. Those Leslies looked lethal though - spinning around like a washing machine on full spin. They sound great though.

[dvshannow]

Sheets Tabuer said:

I think I read somewhere if you put copper photo frames on top of your speakers it enhances the soundstage.

what type of photos work best?

[Sporky]

dvshannow said:

what type of photos work best?

Depends on too many factors to give a definitive answer.