Is it at its best? Ready for a visit?

Very soon Grant. I'm also waiting for the day we see Vinyl spinning in your setup...........

15 hours ago, Tasso said:

 

Very soon Grant. I'm also waiting for the day we see Vinyl spinning in your setup...........

 

Hi Tasso

I have a new temporary/transport coming to partner the Select 2 Dac.....also have some other new toys....system has moved forward significantly. Not sure a Vinyl setup will add anything except risk and noise to my existing system but we can do that comparison one day soon.

Let me know when you are ready and free and will drop by for a listen.

 

 

 

 

 

I have finally got a high-end  music server that I am happy with. I have had good results from highly developed PC based servers previously  but they could never  quite cut it. This is the Esoteric N-03T. I have made more comments about it here.    

 

I think hifi systems have an indeterminate end. Gear comes and goes as the tide rushes in and recedes. Only steady at any point for a short time. It’s not good or bad it just is. It’s the nature of the game.

Gear churning for gear churning’s sake is a hobby in its self and as a spin-off you get to listen to music or the sound gear makes along the way. Having an unchanged system for 50 years is no better or worse than a different piece of gear every few months as I know some do. 
 

At least we have choice, possibly way too much choice, on how we listen to our music. Different strokes for different blokes. Better than investing money in drugs or some other self mutilation. At least after paying for the new amp or speakers or both you have something to show for your money. And if pressed you can turn it back into cash if the need is there. Long live the hobby.  

 

Can you remember any  moment in time when you realise  have got things wrong in your system setup , so much so you could kick yourself?  Such a moment came to me recently  when I critically reviewed and researched  the use of spikes and pods for the Magico S7 which ultimately led me to buying  M-Pods.   The breakthrough came when I was reading the findings of Martin Colloms review of  Magico S-pods for HIFI Critic.  

 

Martin at first thought they had some shortcomings until he revisited them in a subsequent review and found out that  Magico have optimised their footers for use on carpet. Since his was on a solid floor, he simply added carpet squares  of sufficient thickness beneath the speakers which transformed the sound with the S-Pods.

 

I have carpet in the Hifi room and had been under the mistaken belief that  "floor protectors"  that come with spikes were just that and served no other purpose.   I thought that the spikes would locate the thick  solid reinforced concrete floor beneath the carpet and could dissipate excess energy that way. They did and I was happy with the result.  However, after reading Matin's articles I placed the "floor protectors" onto  the carpet beneath the spikes and noticed an immediate improvement in sound. Magico even recommend this setup in their manual ?.

 

 

 

This led me to look at the  M-pods which were recommended by Magico as an upgrade for the S7.  I  contacted Magico (USA) who advised me that they should be used directly on the carpet since they were designed to fully dissipate ( to heat) all energy from the speaker cabinets.  With Martin's findings still fresh in mind abut the S-Pods, I decided to take the plunge. 

 

 

 

 

In terms of sound, the M-Pods have lifted the S7's performance in all critical areas - so much so I think these should be standard with the speakers.  Resolution has improved  over the high standard the S7 has already set, and depth and imaging are now on another level.  The prodigious bass that S7's can produce is even more defined and controlled than before. The icing on the cake for me was that none of these improvements  came with a penalty. Timbre and tonality have improved  again with the changes sounding more natural.  

 

The extra resolution , depth, timbre  etc has  brought out the best in the Accuphase ( and Esoteric) electronics  to the extent I am enjoying digital music more than before.  

 

These are not cheap  (over $10k RRP for the set)   but such is the way with hifi when you finally get things right, I am pretty happy with the purchase.

 

 

 

This is the article where Martin Colloms had his epiphany about carpet between a hard floor and S-pods

 

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0520/Magico_SPod_Footers_Review.htm

 

For what it's worth, I have also noticed quite considerable gains in acoustic isolation on hard floors by placing felt pads under solid hardwood cabinet posts. 

Wow, a big congratulations.  Are they difficult to replace considering the speakers are so heavy  

3 hours ago, TDX said:

Wow, a big congratulations.  Are they difficult to replace considering the speakers are so heavy  

 

It wasn't easy since I  did most on my own.  I managed to use timber blocks to lift one side at time without tipping  the speaker over. The first speaker  change went smoothly  but I  wasn't doing it right with the second.  Fortunately, my long suffering wife came home at about that time to lend me a hand. Definitely a 2 person job!

Hey Tasso

 

Have you tried the new Accuphase C-47 phono yet?

 

cheers

1 hour ago, metal beat said:

Hey Tasso

 

Have you tried the new Accuphase C-47 phono yet?

 

cheers

 

 

No  I haven't. Have you heard it?

1 minute ago, TP1 said:

 

 

No  I haven't. Have you heard it?

 

Nah. Don't know anyone who has heard the C-37 and the C-47.  Wondering if it is a true upgrade, or just added a fully balanced input.

5 hours ago, metal beat said:

 

Nah. Don't know anyone who has heard the C-37 and the C-47.  Wondering if it is a true upgrade, or just added a fully balanced input.

Accuphase generally don’t release new models unless they have made some improvement.   My guess is there will be a bit of a difference if A-B ing the two but it would likely only be incremental.  Since these units  are built to last decades I’m not in any rush to change just yet.