Looks great, some familiar looking gear there. Where did the pre come from?

Your place originally ;-)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So how has it all come together ?

Sounding?

I'm missing them Btw.

Looks good @@blybo!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The best analogy I can come up with is that it all sounds effortless now. The pre has certainly added some dynamics and more bass weight overall. Still a very detailed sound considering it's a tube pre, but perhaps a shade more laid back than the Arcam it has replaced.

You are welcome to visit them @@joz

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited January 11, 201610 yr by blybo

What are you doing now with the Arcam, I love those little amps.

What are you doing now with the Arcam, I love those little amps.

The FMJ a28 and Diva P90 are both in the classifieds.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The best analogy I can come up with is that it all sounds effortless now. The pre has certainly added some dynamics and more bass weight overall. Still a very detailed sound considering it's a tube pre, but perhaps a shade more laid back than the Arcam it has replaced.

You are welcome to visit them @@joz

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

May need to.

It's like the kids leaving home. They were part of the family.

They did so many things right in my system.

1 month on and a lot has happened. I've just acquired an Elektra pre and done a bit of a re-arrange, looks lovely with its stable mate

I'm going to make a mini rack to separate the Cullen Sonos, Nighthawk phono pre and Apple TV

Very happy with this system now. Not sure there is really anything to upgrade in the short/medium term

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

gorgeous...the elektra focal match is a very nice one, can just imagine it sounds just lovely together

Now very happy with the sound. I've got an opportunity tonight to crank the gear. 2Ch whilst I have dinner and pack for a quick trip, and HT room once I'm sorted for the night.

 

The only thing I think I'd change now is furniture related. I might do a qubeloc similar to yours for now and then get a nice blackwood cabinet when the girls are a bit older.

May need to.

It's like the kids leaving home. They were part of the family.

They did so many things right in my system.

 

Hey Joz, welcome any time. Have you run XLR vs RCA comparisons? Are they a truly balanced design? My Dac also has balanced out so just wondering if there would be any gains... except extra gain...

Give a try but as I mentioned elsewhere, in my case it was mainly like swapping any other I/Cs.

But it's not an exxy exercise unless you go for unobtanium type cables.

Not sure though if they are true balanced, I may have to check with Arthur.

I think I have a bad xlr, tried last night but right channel got no sound, fine with RCA.

It must be hot in Melbourne at the moment.

I think I have a bad xlr, tried last night but right channel got no sound, fine with RCA.

 

have you swapped around the xlrs to narrow down if a cable issue ? especially if cheaper band shop ones they dont even solder these . have had that happen with one of them where loose connection and then discovered its just a loose crimp. returned those and never to buy again ! 

Loved following the evolution of your set up , Arthur does make a wonderful product.

 

The Elektra pre/pro combination is an absolute treat, punches way,way,way above it's price point.

 

Congrats

have you swapped around the xlrs to narrow down if a cable issue ? especially if cheaper band shop ones they dont even solder these . have had that happen with one of them where loose connection and then discovered its just a loose crimp. returned those and never to buy again !

Not as yet, I'm currently near the Swiss/Italian boarder. I left 42 degrees to come to minus 4 [emoji944]

Not as yet, I'm currently near the Swiss/Italian boarder. I left 42 degrees to come to minus 4 [emoji944]

 

had dinner there once...be rather doing that then swapping cables  

Goulash soup for dinner even though I'm in Italy, it was Austrian/German territory for much of its history. Nice blend actually. and I'm now wide awake at 2:30am

Hmmm, they're pretty tall aren't they...

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited May 9, 20169 yr by blybo

You scroll down and they just smack you in the face, what's the wife say about them. Maybe shouldn't call it a budget system any more.

hmmm ... for trial or to stay ?  

 

yep sure moved past "budget" a while back ! 

Millionaires budget

Millionaires budget

Second hand as per almost everything in the system. Actually the Cullen Sonos Conect is the only thing now that was bought at retail. Audiolab cd/DAC was new but at 2nd hand pricing.

hmmm ... for trial or to stay ?

yep sure moved past "budget" a while back !

We'll see what SWMBO says. I've got them over a meter into the room now listening to Melody Gardot. Sublime but can't be left so far off the back wall which may get old pretty quickly. Can't believe that I've got at least 20% more volume gain on the pre amp for roughly same output of my Focals. Previous owner was running off a Primaluna tube integrated. I think they are signing better with Elektra oomph behind them.

These speakers cost exactly half what my Focals did so I've actually cheapened the system [emoji12]. They are different, not better or worse. If I only listened to jazz/singer song writer type stuff the Maggies would win, but the Focals have it for rock or complicated pieces. Surprising as Maggies are always talked about as being so fast.

Will need a mod to edit my original heading, too old now for me to change.

Edited May 9, 20169 yr by blybo