All these discussions reminded me of my audio setup in a shed back in the day.

 

Many of you here have visited, and many gigs were held here.

 

Edited May 29, 2025May 29 by AccMagi7s

And the tallest DAC. 🥰

There is an interesting anecdote about my decade-long journey in developing a DIY audio server, which I still use today. However, that story is best saved for another time.

 

Geezee, I’ve begun to feel my age from talking so much.

 

This pictorial post above is a textbook definition of an "extreme sport" 😉

 

5 hours ago, russell66 said:

Explain this to me if you would, in my system I have the transparency and resolution that makes a saxaphone sound exactly like a saxaphone does in real life. What is it going to sound like with more transparency and resolution? 

The saxophone should still sound life-like, by you might also hear the guy playing congas in the right channel that was simply not there before. And a decay in hi-hat or ride cymbal could be more civilised. Biggest differences are with low level signals normally buried and masked by louder instruments.

I get this all the time when servicing CD players. When I play a CD through the same and pretty average workshop sound system, and get to hear stuff that was not there before (and different players reveal different, previously hidden instruments), I know that I should take that player to my main system to see if this is a game changer.

Oh cool ,  so good these last few post , love it.

 

Russell can sit next to me at Chans next GTG , ill keep a look out  just in case the Mega 12 level DAC comes out to get you.....lol

 

I admire your writing skills Chan , so wonderfully expressive and rather thoughtfull , very gifted indeed.

 

Great to share your early days and DIY passion of back in the day.

 

DIY sure is embarressingly time consuming ,  I should have just bought your LM3s but obsessed in trying to replicate yours lately , over 10 hours on just DIY passive cross overs atm and stopped counting. 

 

Happy Days V 

 

 

Edited May 29, 2025May 29 by La scala
Update

5 hours ago, AccMagi7s said:

 

 

 

 

 

Not often you get a photo of Johnnie Blue  and Doritos together. I love it. 

1 hour ago, La scala said:

Oh cool ,  so good these last few post , love it.

 

Russell can sit next to me at Chans next GTG , ill keep a look out  just in case the Mega 12 level DAC comes out to get you.....lol

 

I admire your writing skills Chan , so wonderfully expressive and rather thoughtfull , very gifted indeed.

 

Great to share your early days and DIY passion of back in the day.

 

DIY sure is embarressingly time consuming ,  I should have just bought your LM3s but obsessed in trying to replicate yours lately , over 10 hours on just DIY passive cross overs atm and stopped counting. 

 

Happy Days V 

 

 

Thanks for the kind words, Volker! I have to say, it’s the SNA active that’s really been boosting my writing skills—almost like it’s happening subconsciously!

 

By the way, I think you owe me an invitation! Those projects look amazing, mate. I still remember those days back in Morley when Tuyen and I would get together on weekends, diving into our “horny wisdom.” 🤪 We really had some memorable chats!

Edited May 29, 2025May 29 by AccMagi7s

All i want to know, is there any Hennesy XO left. I'm thirsty. 😆

2 hours ago, rockeater said:

 

I get this all the time when servicing CD players. When I play a CD through the same and pretty average workshop sound system, and get to hear stuff that was not there before (and different players reveal different, previously hidden instruments), I know that I should take that player to my main system to see if this is a game changer.

From my perspective, the clarity and coherence of sound produced when PRATT allows listeners to appreciate more subtle nuances that some systems excel in delivering. 

 

 

Edited May 29, 2025May 29 by AccMagi7s

I am looking for a few good ears to help me with blind testing and evaluating some speaker cables:  

1. Siltech Royal Double Crown

2. Zenzati Silenzo

3. Zenzati Zorro

 

It will be fun, and you will only provide feedback regarding your order of preference, such as 1, 2, or 3. You will not know which speaker cable corresponds to each option.

Edited May 29, 2025May 29 by AccMagi7s

Siltech. But that's crazy money. Shunyata Sigma v2 speaker cable demo for $10K at RAV is a good deal. And the carbon barrels on those cables would look gorgeous with the M7 carbon side panels.

13 minutes ago, brodricj said:

Siltech. But that's crazy money. Shunyata Sigma v2 speaker cable demo for $10K at RAV is a good deal. And the carbon barrels on those cables would look gorgeous with the M7 carbon side panels.

I am not a fan of Shunyata's Ethernet, USB, and speaker cables. I have the Sigma Ethernet and USB cables here, but I'm not that impressed with them. However, I really liked their fuses and power cable.

 

 

Digital in particular does seem to require great knowledge,experience and skill to get right.In between all the hype,marketing and DAC of the month  lunacy  period was a company like Accuphase which if anything underplays its research and development and engineering expertise .But for anybody prepared to listen the superiority of their digital products compared to a whole barrage of overnight sensation digital manufacturers  and DIY products was  pretty obvious.The Krell stuff from the 1990s too.

15 minutes ago, THOMO said:

Digital in particular does seem to require great knowledge,experience and skill to get right.In between all the hype,marketing and DAC of the month  lunacy  period was a company like Accuphase which if anything underplays its research and development and engineering expertise .But for anybody prepared to listen the superiority of their digital products compared to a whole barrage of overnight sensation digital manufacturers  and DIY products was  pretty obvious.The Krell stuff from the 1990s too.

Hello J.,

 

Indeed, you are absolutely correct. My DIY Tallest DAC outperformed many other DACs at the time, but ultimately lost to an Accuphase DAC on that particular day. From that moment on, I promptly ordered the flagship Accuphase DAC from Pierre and have never looked back. To my knowledge, there is no other DAC that has surpassed the Accuphase in my experience for my taste buds. The only DAC that surpasses the Accuphase is the extremely expensive MSB Reference level or higher up, the MSB Seclect 2 from Jonese in Mandurah. One day, I made a mental resolution to pursue them. 

48 minutes ago, THOMO said:

...The Krell stuff from the 1990s too.

My Krell AV processor sounds terrific. Too bad they went out of business.

21 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

...The only DAC that surpasses the Accuphase is the extremely expensive MSB Reference level or higher up, the MSB Seclect 2 from Jonese in Mandurah. One day, I made a mental resolution to pursue them. 

Pursue the MSB Sentinel when it comes out. That's a few steps up above the discontinued Select 2.

33 minutes ago, brodricj said:

Pursue the MSB Sentinel when it comes out. That's a few steps up above the discontinued Select 2.

In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began, I inquired about the Select 2 from Stuart. The price was set at AU$125,000, which was quite significant. I am sure that the latest innovations will further increase its price, making it impossible for me to afford. I am committed to staying with DC1000 to protect my children's education and my retirement. 😊🫣

12 hours ago, AccMagi7s said:

I am looking for a few good ears to help me with blind testing and evaluating some speaker cables:  

1. Siltech Royal Double Crown

2. Zenzati Silenzo

3. Zenzati Zorro

 

It will be fun, and you will only provide feedback regarding your order of preference, such as 1, 2, or 3. You will not know which speaker cable corresponds to each option.

 

I still remember the pain of my jaw hitting the floor when you brought out he just-arrived cable at the last GTG I attended and you told us the price. 😲

1 hour ago, AccMagi7s said:

Hello J.,

 

Indeed, you are absolutely correct. My DIY Tallest DAC outperformed many other DACs at the time, but ultimately lost to an Accuphase DAC on that particular day. From that moment on, I promptly ordered the flagship Accuphase DAC from Pierre and have never looked back. To my knowledge, there is no other DAC that has surpassed the Accuphase in my experience for my taste buds. The only DAC that surpasses the Accuphase is the extremely expensive MSB Reference level or higher up, the MSB Seclect 2 from Jonese in Mandurah. One day, I made a mental resolution to pursue them. 

See if you can get your hands on an Audial S5B, you may be surprised at how good it is (and a bargain compared to Accuphase). 

 

https://www.audialonline.com/s5/

 

Sentinel rumored to be US$375,000. A used Select 2 for AU$90K is far more palatable. But you can get a brand new Esoteric D1X SE for AU$70k, and I've seen them on eBay for US$28K+ tax.

54 minutes ago, PKay said:

See if you can get your hands on an Audial S5B, you may be surprised at how good it is (and a bargain compared to Accuphase). 

 

https://www.audialonline.com/s5/

 

Thanks @PKay! 

 

I have a thorough understanding of the sound profile associated with the PCM1541 DAC chip. Back in 2000, a dedicated community of enthusiasts actively engaged with the allure of the 1541 model and there were also rare single and double crowns ones too. They cost an Earth babk than. While newer versions may have introduced improvements, it's likely that the inherent sonic limitations of the chip remain.

 

I am eager to ascertain which Accuphase DAC you have encountered when comparing it to the recommended unit.

 

 

2 minutes ago, AccMagi7s said:

Thanks @PKay! 

 

I have a thorough understanding of the sound profile associated with the PCM1541 DAC chip. Back in 2000, a dedicated community of enthusiasts actively engaged with the allure of the 1541 model and there were also rare single and double crowns ones too. They cost an Earth babk than. While newer versions may have introduced improvements, it's likely that the inherent sonic limitations of the chip remain.

 

I am eager to ascertain which Accuphase DAC you have encountered when comparing it to the recommended unit.

 

 

It wasn't a direct comparison, it had many years of time in between (different locations and different systems) so I can't even remember the model.  It would be good to hear the S5B in a system as refined as yours to see exactly how good it is (or isn't).

@AccMagi7s your system thread is endlessly fascinating.  Its always great to see you enjoying your gear, along with the odd more-than-decent wine photo thrown in for good measure.

 

Best wishes on your latest investment, may this bring you joy for many years. 

31 minutes ago, tripitaka said:

@AccMagi7s your system thread is endlessly fascinating.  Its always great to see you enjoying your gear, along with the odd more-than-decent wine photo thrown in for good measure.

 

Best wishes on your latest investment, may this bring you joy for many years. 

Thanks @tripitaka! I apologise for missed your invitation back in 2022 trip. I definitely feel guilty about not keeping in touch with most of my friends in Victoria. We should definitely share a nice bottle when I visit again. By the way, I haven’t seen you around in that drinking Medes forum!🙂Ahem... @Mendes! 😂 

 

 

Edited May 30, 2025May 30 by AccMagi7s