13 minutes ago, Gee Emm said:

All you need now Clive, is a ceiling to combat the summer heat, and the noise of the winter rain.

You've got some time up your sleeve.

Chop chop! 

Yeah Nah, normally nice and cool down by the creek anyway!

I'll just turn up the music to drown out the rain .?

 

Plus plenty of other things to do ,  currently trying to strip old tinted Cabots stain l painted the merbau fence and gate with - big mistake that was !! ?

 

Start with something like this. It will save your sanity.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/scotchbrite-paint-rust-stripper-disc-101mm_p6314198

Edited August 31, 20205 yr by Gee Emm

Some very recent changes to the digital side!

 

As I mentioned earlier in my best DAC thread, I had become disillusioned with my digital setup and found myself virtually only playing vinyl.

With a high quality cart, the cost in replacing it fairly soon at that rate -wasn't an attractive proposition !

 

 

So to save money , you have to spend money - right!!?? ?

As many of you would have read, I snapped up a Lumin U1 Mini streamer that arrived  last week. 

 

I was quite frankly staggered at the improvement,  suddenly it was a whole different ball game with speakers totally vanishing from the equation!

 

Just a widely spread out assortment of musicians performing in my room, with lots of depth and stunning definition coupled with dynamics I thought I had before- but nothing on this scale.

 

So to partner the Lumin after a lot of research, and consulting with many of you on SNA - this arrived yesterday and have just fired it up earlier.

Literally just fits in the rack!

 

Initial thoughts- I think it might just work!! ?

 

Very nice combo, good stuff!

So. What are these new bits. A DAC and power supply? I know nothing of digital so you have to help me out here Clive. ?

1 hour ago, unclemack said:

So. What are these new bits. A DAC and power supply? I know nothing of digital so you have to help me out here Clive. ?

Long time no speak analog heathen! ?

Some very recent changes to the digital side indeed that was mid fi compared to now.

 

Read through my Best DAC thread if you want to become more conversant in all things digital - not from me but posts from the more wise and technical,  I know enough to be a risk!

In fact had electrician here today correcting all my dodgy covid jobs! ?

 

So anyway abbreviated version is I   decided to update the DAC but after discussion decided to replace the source ,(Bluesound node 2i streamer) first with the Lumin U1 Mini streamer. 

 

Massive improvement and even though the Chord Qutest DAC sounded fantastic with it, figured I might as well change that too!

(Thanks, Sco Mo - investing your cash donations!!)

 

So after a brief concentrated period of research and consulting , went with the Ayon Sigma DAC - with an inbuilt Preamp, volume control, remote and 6H30 tubes in the output stage was a winner for me!

I thought my Pass labs Aleph phono was massive, but the Ayon is every bit as imposing and bullet proof in construction - a veritable tank!

 

I have a soft spot for quality in construction plus versatility coupled with good design and of course parts, and both the Lumin and Ayon Sigma DAC are to be strongly recommended in this regard!

 

Turntable hasn't been fired up for days, my how things have changed at evil springs ! ?

Even the wife is impressed with the improvement,  hasn't spotted the DAC yet , but maybe one day she might.

Safety in numbers!?

 

Edited September 2, 20205 yr by evil c

On 31/08/2020 at 3:22 PM, evil c said:

 

There's an easy way to do that and a hard way.

Just now, Luc said:

There's an easy way to do that and a hard way.

..and you will  tell him the easy way if he ships you a carton of red wine.

33 minutes ago, Luc said:

There's an easy way to do that and a hard way.

You're way behind the flow Foghorn, already saw the futility and got the sander out! ?

And put a few coats of Intergrain on, so moved onto talking about the sound, yes that bit. ?

2 minutes ago, evil c said:

already saw the futility and got the sander out! ?

The hard way prevailed then I see.

 

Edit; As long as the result is the same then it's all good.

Edited September 2, 20205 yr by Luc

Just now, Luc said:

The hard way prevailed then I see.

Nah I tried them all out for good measure, seeing as I have nothing but time! ?

No you didn't looking at that pic but...as long the end result is good it doesn't matter does it.?

16 hours ago, evil c said:

Long time no speak analog heathen! ?

Some very recent changes to the digital side indeed that was mid fi compared to now.

 

Read through my Best DAC thread if you want to become more conversant in all things digital - not from me but posts from the more wise and technical,  I know enough to be a risk!

In fact had electrician here today correcting all my dodgy covid jobs! ?

 

So anyway abbreviated version is I   decided to update the DAC but after discussion decided to replace the source ,(Bluesound node 2i streamer) first with the Lumin U1 Mini streamer. 

 

Massive improvement and even though the Chord Qutest DAC sounded fantastic with it, figured I might as well change that too!

(Thanks, Sco Mo - investing your cash donations!!)

 

So after a brief concentrated period of research and consulting , went with the Ayon Sigma DAC - with an inbuilt Preamp, volume control, remote and 6H30 tubes in the output stage was a winner for me!

I thought my Pass labs Aleph phono was massive, but the Ayon is every bit as imposing and bullet proof in construction - a veritable tank!

 

I have a soft spot for quality in construction plus versatility coupled with good design and of course parts, and both the Lumin and Ayon Sigma DAC are to be strongly recommended in this regard!

 

Turntable hasn't been fired up for days, my how things have changed at evil springs ! ?

Even the wife is impressed with the improvement,  hasn't spotted the DAC yet , but maybe one day she might.

Safety in numbers!?

 

I’ll check out the thread but as is the way, I know much of it will be way over my empty head. 

Edited September 3, 20205 yr by unclemack

1 hour ago, unclemack said:

I’ll check out the thread but as is the way, I know much of it will be way over my empty head. 

But I thought you worked at JB HiFi,  so the rumors are true!!?? ?

 

You originally asked about the Pass labs Aleph Ono phono - these were the first released I believe around 2000 and designed by Wayne Colburn.

 

Absolute giant killer phono , with the sweetest sound you could imagine. 

Ever see one for sale,  snap it up!

On 02/09/2020 at 1:20 PM, evil c said:

So to save money , you have to spend money - right!!?? ?

 

 

Initial thoughts- I think it might just work!! ?

 

Is that a $7K dac?!

No half measures at your place!! ?

Just now, tripitaka said:

Is that a $7K dac?!

No half measures at your place!! ?

Not quite - $200 less ! ? 

With my vinyl rig - I knew l needed to spend more on a streamer/ DAC to be close performance wise.

 

You can blame people like @Darren69 for me blowing a tad more than my original 5k budget for both!

Very happy camper at the moment,  really looking forward to sharing a listening session with some SNA guys. ?

 

Actually I should update my DAC thread, to keep everyone who hasn't read this thread up to date. ?

On 02/09/2020 at 11:20 AM, evil c said:

Some very recent changes to the digital side!

 

As I mentioned earlier in my best DAC thread, I had become disillusioned with my digital setup and found myself virtually only playing vinyl.

With a high quality cart, the cost in replacing it fairly soon at that rate -wasn't an attractive proposition !

 

 

So to save money , you have to spend money - right!!?? ?

As many of you would have read, I snapped up a Lumin U1 Mini streamer that arrived  last week. 

 

I was quite frankly staggered at the improvement,  suddenly it was a whole different ball game with speakers totally vanishing from the equation!

 

Just a widely spread out assortment of musicians performing in my room, with lots of depth and stunning definition coupled with dynamics I thought I had before- but nothing on this scale.

 

So to partner the Lumin after a lot of research, and consulting with many of you on SNA - this arrived yesterday and have just fired it up earlier.

Literally just fits in the rack!

 

Initial thoughts- I think it might just work!! ?

 

Ayon can be running warm, you may need to give it some space, it may melt your Lumin

9 hours ago, TDX said:

Ayon can be running warm, you may need to give it some space, it may melt your Lumin

You raise a very good point, it was on my mind also - fortunately the Ayon protruded back beyond the Pass underneath so the ventilation grills were exposed. 

 

However better to be safe, so mounted on the next rack on top of the CD player- that doesn't get a lot of use nowadays! ?

 

Edited September 9, 20205 yr by evil c

Great upgrades here. Which do you think made more of a difference? The move from node 2i to the lumin or the qutest to the Ayon?

looking good Evil. Congratulations on all the enjoyment to come.  I was really looking forward to seeing a pic of the infamous Ayon remote..............   ?

1 hour ago, Mike13 said:

Great upgrades here. Which do you think made more of a difference? The move from node 2i to the lumin or the qutest to the Ayon?

Thanks Mike!

Hmmm, well after I heard the difference the Lumin made ,(it provided much more detail and imaging )- I had doubts on how much better a DAC could elevate things. 

 

Especially going by comments on the small variation between DACs.

But the Ayon Sigma DAC has certainly expanded on that, with more richness courtesy of the tubes plus better depth to the soundstage. 

Think going from flat very micro detailed digital,  to much more analog presentation .

It obviously has massively lifted my Meridian CD player as well.

 

I really wouldn't want to split it between them considering what they've offered to my system. 

1 hour ago, scuzzii said:

looking good Evil. Congratulations on all the enjoyment to come.  I was really looking forward to seeing a pic of the infamous Ayon remote..............   ?

Thanks John,

Here is the offending device - way too complicated with all those buttons for the average guy! ?

 

Edited September 10, 20205 yr by evil c

That remote is a bit much for a DAC

15 minutes ago, Cardiiiii said:

That remote is a bit much for a DAC

It's versatile that's for sure- it can control Ayon CD players, preamp and amplifiers,  oh and the DAC ! ?

Afraid there are a lot of features to control as well.

Most of the buttons are for selecting tracks on the CDP too.

Totally comfortable with it now.

 

Should have seen my old Marantz surround remote,  now that was complicated to the untrained eye. No one in the family could use it, don't you want that more often!??

?

1 hour ago, evil c said:

 

Should have seen my old Marantz surround remote,  now that was complicated to the untrained eye. No one in the family could use it, don't you want that more often!??

?

Ha! I once wrote out for my beloved two complete sets of instructions for turning on the hifi and watching a movie.

Of course they were out of date within a week, oh well ?

You can probably move that Ayon to the TT shelf now and @Tubularbells might be able to take the Yello album off your hands.

Edited September 16, 20205 yr by Telecine