evil c Posted March 1, 2022 Author Posted March 1, 2022 While I've been getting acquainted with the new Whisper phono, also in preparation for the new Server / Streamer combo to arrive - thought it a good time to crack open the case of the Ayon Sigma DAC! Not a straightforward slot in of replacement Sovtek 6H30P tubes. Both top circuit boards need to be unscrewed and gently pulled forward to allow enough access to remove old tubes and replace Man this beast has some top quality parts hidden away! Have a look at a few of the cluster of Mundorf caps. All boards screwed back in place. Now all ready to go, and ready for the next chapter in digital. 10 1
MrBurns84 Posted March 1, 2022 Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) Nice work there Clive. Those 6H30P tubes have a distinctive tone that you either like or dont. I use the EH variants myself and love them. Could lash out and source some Mil spec 6H30 DR's and take these to the next level. Also, those Mundorf MCAP supremes are good all rounders. Edited March 1, 2022 by MrBurns84 1
evil c Posted March 1, 2022 Author Posted March 1, 2022 1 hour ago, MrBurns84 said: Nice work there Clive. Those 6H30P tubes have a distinctive tone that you either like or dont. I use the EH variants myself and love them. Could lash out and source some Mil spec 6H30 DR's and take these to the next level. Also, those Mundorf MCAP supremes are good all rounders. Not a lot of alternatives with this type of tubes, and l wouldn't fancy too much tube rolling with this! However I have same tubes in the CJ CT5 ,so much easier to access! Appreciate your insight BTW ! 1
evil c Posted March 3, 2022 Author Posted March 3, 2022 Another delivery at evil springs, I've been eagerly awaiting this one - as going away on hols delayed it's arrival ! 1 1
evil c Posted March 3, 2022 Author Posted March 3, 2022 25 minutes ago, frednork said: delivery from "semaphores r us" No it's not from there, nor is it a support package from Audioholics Anonymous! I did ask for suggestions a while back on this thread, for Server/ streamers after selling off my Lumin/ Silent Angel Rhein Z1 combo. I was overwhelmed with suggestions, grand total of one in the first week! From Terry at @GC HiFi in fact! After weighing up all the other options, and a lot of discussions with Terry - l decided to circumvent moving progressively up the digital upgrade path, and committed to what I'm confident is more of an endgame unit. Plus as a combination Server/ Streamer player and reclocker, all in one it made a lot of sense. So without further delay, here is the Antipodes K50 - out of the box just staggering amount of detail and depth to the mix! Terry was fantastic to deal with, and l couldn't recommend his services enough. After receiving the K50, l spoke with him about the K10 Ripper which literally sits on top and loads Cds onto the hard drive automatically!. So another day later, and it was on my doorstep. With the Ayon Sigma DAC, it is a brilliant combo and can't wait to share some listening sessions with many of you! 3 minutes ago, tubularbells said: TWIN PEAKS logo - new boob job perhaps? No , l have a "bro" for that! 14 2
Jakeyb77_Redux Posted March 3, 2022 Posted March 3, 2022 Will the Aleph fit in that box for shipping? 1
evil c Posted March 3, 2022 Author Posted March 3, 2022 30 minutes ago, Jakeyb77_Redux said: Will the Aleph fit in that box for shipping? We'll never know, besides if you heard the Pass labs Aleph phono - I'd have to kiss it goodbye for ever! 1
Gee Emm Posted March 6, 2022 Posted March 6, 2022 On 03/03/2022 at 5:20 PM, evil c said: " and committed to what I'm confident is more of an endgame unit." "endgame unit" that's actually funny! 1
scuzzii Posted March 6, 2022 Posted March 6, 2022 On 03/03/2022 at 6:20 PM, evil c said: No it's not from there, nor is it a support package from Audioholics Anonymous! I did ask for suggestions a while back on this thread, for Server/ streamers after selling off my Lumin/ Silent Angel Rhein Z1 combo. I was overwhelmed with suggestions, grand total of one in the first week! From Terry at @GC HiFi in fact! After weighing up all the other options, and a lot of discussions with Terry - l decided to circumvent moving progressively up the digital upgrade path, and committed to what I'm confident is more of an endgame unit. Plus as a combination Server/ Streamer player and reclocker, all in one it made a lot of sense. So without further delay, here is the Antipodes K50 - out of the box just staggering amount of detail and depth to the mix! Terry was fantastic to deal with, and l couldn't recommend his services enough. After receiving the K50, l spoke with him about the K10 Ripper which literally sits on top and loads Cds onto the hard drive automatically!. So another day later, and it was on my doorstep. With the Ayon Sigma DAC, it is a brilliant combo and can't wait to share some listening sessions with many of you! No , l have a "bro" for that! Great to see mate. Agree Terry is a legend. Look forward to (briefly) hearing your digital setup when down for the show with @Doppelganger 1
evil c Posted March 6, 2022 Author Posted March 6, 2022 45 minutes ago, Gee Emm said: "endgame unit" that's actually funny! But it's really true this time, it's the end of the game, (and my life), if I go up from here! 31 minutes ago, scuzzii said: Great to see mate. Agree Terry is a legend. Look forward to (briefly) hearing your digital setup when down for the show with @Doppelganger You and Greg are more than welcome here any time . 2
evil c Posted March 19, 2022 Author Posted March 19, 2022 Just a brief update on my system. Yesterday I had a lunch gathering for many of the usual faces, and we managed to put my system through it's paces trying out the Antipodes K50 via the Ayon Sigma DAC plus we briefly listened to the Ayon CD -07S CD player. @Assisi brought over his new Curious Ethernet cable to compare with my Acoustic Revive cable, and it did indeed provide a tad more detail and on the upper frequencies. With the combination Conrad Johnson CT5 tube preamp and CJ ET -250S power amp, they have settled in extremely well and the Antipodes has too - l believe they all compliment each other more than l could have anticipated! I still have some small adjustments / tweaks but very minor in the scheme of things. The current digital config is NBN box-> TP Link router -> Renolabs network switch -> Antipodes K50 (all connected with Acoustic Revive and Telegartner connectors.) Antipodes K50 -> Ayon Sigma DAC with Acoustic Revive AES cable. 4
tubularbells Posted March 19, 2022 Posted March 19, 2022 Five links in the chain just for digital .....and people say records are a PITA lol. 1 3
evil c Posted March 19, 2022 Author Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) 36 minutes ago, tubularbells said: Five links in the chain just for digital .....and people say records are a PITA lol. I give up on you analog animals LOL! If you examine them, compared to an average internet rig in a domestic home - it is hardly much more complex. Add a network switch, (that many add on for extra ports) and a DAC- that's it. I could pi$$ everyone off in the house, by connecting direct from the NBN box to my Antipodes K50. However as l would be the sole connection, it ain't gonna happen! And with K50 being effectively a Server, streamer and Reclocker all in one- I've certainly reduced the links in the chain. Edit: and l don't have to leave my seat. Come over and decide for yourself, or are you too afraid?? Edited March 19, 2022 by evil c 1
tubularbells Posted March 19, 2022 Posted March 19, 2022 1 hour ago, evil c said: Come over and decide for yourself, or are you too afraid?? I would but unlike you lads of leisure I need to work for the (small) bucks however im sure it sounds nice and all that. Coming from someone who's only digital format in the music room is a MD player I fear im 30 years behind in 1's & 0's tech and frankly at the level your playing at currently im quite intimidated as what's required. 3
metal beat Posted March 19, 2022 Posted March 19, 2022 Clive, awesome system - as you know I luv cj pre amps and amps. save some $$ for when I may move my beloved cj GAT on - it will be the best upgrade you have ever heard. 1
evil c Posted March 19, 2022 Author Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) 43 minutes ago, tubularbells said: I would but unlike you lads of leisure I need to work for the (small) bucks however im sure it sounds nice and all that. Coming from someone who's only digital format in the music room is a MD player I fear im 30 years behind in 1's & 0's tech and frankly at the level your playing at currently im quite intimidated as what's required. I'll be gentle honest! We can start off small with a dusty ol' Bluesound node and work up from there. Sure @frednorkcould rustle up a cheapie streamer as an option! 37 minutes ago, metal beat said: Clive, awesome system - as you know I luv cj pre amps and amps. save some $$ for when I may move my beloved cj GAT on - it will be the best upgrade you have ever heard. Thanks Shane, l was starting to wonder with all the flack ! You did warn me that you were very talented at spending other people's money, can't imagine why! Edited March 19, 2022 by evil c 1 1
ICUToo Posted March 19, 2022 Posted March 19, 2022 (edited) 19 hours ago, evil c said: current digital config is NBN box-> TP Link router -> Renolabs network switch -> Antipodes K50 (all connected with Acoustic Revive and Telegartner connectors.) Hi, Clive. Is the Renolabs necessary for networking purposes, or does it improve SQ? (Or both?) I run NBN box->TPLink router->Antipodes (as I have enough Ethernet ports on the TPLink) so I was wondering if you included the Renolabs for which reason. EDIT: is it worth trying NBN box->Renolabs-> [Antipodes and TPLink each off the Renolabs]? Enjoy! Regards, Edited March 19, 2022 by ICUToo 1
evil c Posted March 20, 2022 Author Posted March 20, 2022 1 hour ago, ICUToo said: Hi, Clive. Is the Renolabs necessary for networking purposes, or does it improve SQ? (Or both?) I run NBN box->TPLink router->Antipodes (as I have enough Ethernet ports on the TPLink) so I was wondering if you included the Renolabs for which reason. EDIT: is it worth trying NBN box->Renolabs-> [Antipodes and TPLink each off the Renolabs]? Enjoy! Regards, Oh dear, this is veering into dangerous territory !! AKA Network switches and cables thread. But seriously, it's a good question and my answer would be that with the multitude of devices connected with LAN cables l have- the Renolabs with 8 ports makes life much simpler! I would need additional ports beyond a router, that's for sure. Before the Antipodes, the Renolabs certainly made an improvement- whether it does now is another matter! Hmmm, l might try the NBN -> Renolabs and report back.
ICUToo Posted March 20, 2022 Posted March 20, 2022 13 minutes ago, evil c said: Oh dear, this is veering into dangerous territory !! AKA Network switches and cables thread. ...the Renolabs with 8 ports makes life much simpler! ...Hmmm, l might try the NBN -> Renolabs and report back. I tried the NSaC thread- too vicious for me Love to hear your comments. Meanwhile, I might kick the kids off the router and try NBN->Antipodes... 1
evil c Posted March 20, 2022 Author Posted March 20, 2022 1 hour ago, ICUToo said: I tried the NSaC thread- too vicious for me Love to hear your comments. Meanwhile, I might kick the kids off the router and try NBN->Antipodes... LOL, yes probably a lot safer on here! That's the spirit! Which model Antipodes BTW? 1
evil c Posted March 20, 2022 Author Posted March 20, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, ICUToo said: K50 Glad to hear there are other reckless ahem, discerning users too! Quite an amazing device, seem to make every recording or cable sound very good indeed. Edited March 20, 2022 by evil c 1
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