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Thread: My modest set-up (complete?)

  1. #1
    Join Date: Aug 2011

    Location: Coventry, England UK

    Posts: 534
    I'm Simon.

    Default My modest set-up (complete?)

    I've been a member here for some years now but never posted about my hi-fi. Of course, it has changed a lot and I'm at a point now where I'm happy (at least for the time being!). I've been questioning the Arcam P1's for a while though and I'm aiming to get a Firebottle in the future to either replace them or sit alongside as a 2nd option. I'm also having thoughts about getting into valves. I heard a system the other week when I picked up the Spacedeck which used an Audio Note valve amp and AN-J speakers which sounded absolutely awesome.

    Anyhow, here is what I have right now:

    Nottingham Analogue Ace Spacedeck (Rega RB300, Adikt MM cart)
    Angle Audio Ref 2 Phonostage
    Arcam CD36
    Arcam D33 DAC
    Raspberry Pi 2
    HDPlex Linear PSU (powers the Pi and Phonostage)
    Schiit Asgard Headphone Amp
    Arcam C31 Pre-amp
    Arcam P1 Monoblocks
    XTZ 99.26MKII Speakers

    I/C all Mark Grant G1000HD's, except for the headphone amp which is using a Klotz MC5000/MS Audio plugs.

    Rack is just a cheap Ikea Lack which has been hacked by me.

    000_3798.jpg000_3799.jpg000_3804.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: Woodmancote, West Sussex

    Posts: 1,629
    I'm Ian.

    Default

    Lovely looking system and I bet it sounds great too
    Turntable
    Toshiba SR-370/Mission 774/Van Damme cable with MS Starline plugs/Ortofon Quintet Black
    CD
    Cambridge CXC transport/modified Musical Fidelity X-DAC/modified Musical Fidelity X-10 V3 tube buffer
    Network Player
    Cambridge NP30
    Amplifier
    Denon HA-500 head amp/Nakamichi CA-5E pre-amp/Chinese passive RVC/Proton AA-1150 DMC power amp
    Speakers
    Mordaunt Short Signifer on original factory stands
    Cables
    Mogami with Rean Neutrik plugs/NVA LS5
    Headphones
    Sennheiser HD600/Sennheiser HD650/Koss Pro4 AA

  3. #3
    Join Date: Nov 2013

    Location: Scotland

    Posts: 185
    I'm Michael.

    Default

    Hi Simon, Nice system! Like your idea with the Ikea tables. I myself have XTZ 99 series speakers. I notice you use the Raspberry PI for digital. I wonder what your view on that product is? There is a review of a similar product on TNT which is very positive and is found here http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/mambo_player_e.html I'm still spinning the silver discs myself. I'm not surprised you're happy with your system. Bet it sound great.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Feb 2014

    Location: Huntingdonshire

    Posts: 1,413
    I'm Andrew.

    Default

    Looks good Simon and I'm sure could be the final solution but it seems you already have doubts. The joy of this hobby/curse.
    I'll bet the Ikea folk wondered if you were selling their tables on.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

    Posts: 99,005
    I'm Grant.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Simon_LDT View Post
    I've been a member here for some years now but never posted about my hi-fi. Of course, it has changed a lot and I'm at a point now where I'm happy (at least for the time being!). I've been questioning the Arcam P1's for a while though and I'm aiming to get a Firebottle in the future to either replace them or sit alongside as a 2nd option. I'm also having thoughts about getting into valves. I heard a system the other week when I picked up the Spacedeck which used an Audio Note valve amp and AN-J speakers which sounded absolutely awesome.

    Anyhow, here is what I have right now:

    Nottingham Analogue Ace Spacedeck (Rega RB300, Adikt MM cart)
    Angle Audio Ref 2 Phonostage
    Arcam CD36
    Arcam D33 DAC
    Raspberry Pi 2
    HDPlex Linear PSU (powers the Pi and Phonostage)
    Schiit Asgard Headphone Amp
    Arcam C31 Pre-amp
    Arcam P1 Monoblocks
    XTZ 99.26MKII Speakers

    I/C all Mark Grant G1000HD's, except for the headphone amp which is using a Klotz MC5000/MS Audio plugs.

    Rack is just a cheap Ikea Lack which has been hacked by me.

    000_3798.jpg000_3799.jpg000_3804.jpg
    very nice Simon
    Regards,
    Grant .... ؠ ......Don't be such a big girl's blouse

    I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply-doesn't-work
    .... ..... ...... ...... ................... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
    FIIO K7 BT, M11 PLUS, BTR7, KA5 - OPPO BDP-103D - PANASONIC UB450 - PANASONIC 4K ULTRA HD TV - PIXEL 6 - AVANTREE LR BLUETOOTH - 2* X600 SOUNDCORE - HEADPHONES INCLUDE, FIIO, NURAPHONES', FOCAL, OPPO, BOSE, CAMBRIDGE, BOWER & WILKINS, DEVIALET, MARSHALL, SONY, MITCHELL & JOHNSTON - 2*ZBOOK'S- MERCURY BD ROM, ROON, QOBUZ, TIDAL, PLEX, CYBERLINK, JRIVER - MULTI HDD'S -

    Oh my god! There's nothing wrong with the bidet is there?

    “Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except on the side of mercy".

    “You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police ... yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts: words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home -- all the more powerful because forbidden -- terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.”

    "You don't have free will. You have the appearance of free will.”

    “There's a war out there, old friend. A world war. And it's not about who's got the most bullets. It's about who controls the information. What we see and hear, how we work, what we think... it's all about the information!”


    ***SMILE, BE HAPPY***

  6. #6
    danilo Guest

    Default

    Lotsa Boxes, all neatly arranged.
    Based on My experiences.. First things to upgrade are the Arcams.
    ALL of them! Overrated underperformers in MY unfortunate experiences

    But Hey! It's Your system.. do whatever pleases.
    However you Did ask :-)

  7. #7
    Join Date: May 2015

    Location: St Leonard's on Sea

    Posts: 1,136
    I'm Loz.

    Default

    Looks great Simon. Very creative use of IKEA kit. I grew up in Coventry around Stoke Green. Still quite fond of it. Which part are you in?

  8. #8
    Join Date: Aug 2011

    Location: Coventry, England UK

    Posts: 534
    I'm Simon.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dauntless View Post
    Hi Simon, Nice system! Like your idea with the Ikea tables. I myself have XTZ 99 series speakers. I notice you use the Raspberry PI for digital. I wonder what your view on that product is? There is a review of a similar product on TNT which is very positive and is found here http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/mambo_player_e.html I'm still spinning the silver discs myself. I'm not surprised you're happy with your system. Bet it sound great.
    I'm extremely happy with the Pi for digital. It was a real revelation when I found out about it as my original plan was to eventually build a mini-pc, something like an Intel Nuc but that would have cost well over £500 for something half-decent. The Pi, including all the cables, USB hub and the HifiBerry board came to about £80 and then i added a 500gb SSD for £80 so for well under £200 I've got a fantastic digital streamer. The HDPlex was the final piece and what I like about that is the ability to power 5 devices so it is pretty much future-proof for many years.

    I honestly hear no difference between playing CD direct to DAC and Pi direct to DAC. Now, the Arcam CD36 has Wolfson DACs and the D33 has Burr Brown but I struggle to tell them apart. I can just about hear differences between the filter settings on the D33 but it's extremely subtle. Sometimes I think I'm just imagining a difference!

    What I find to be the absolute killer blow for going the Pi route is the ability to play hi-res files directly off my SSD into the DAC. I'm seriously enjoying 24bit files streamed from the Pi. I ripped all the stereo tracks off my DVD-A's, Blu-rays, took some time but so worth it. I don't think I can give up on CD entirely and when I do buy new releases I tend to use the CD player until I eventually get it ripped to the library but the Pi is my main digital playback source now and I have no regrets.

    Quote Originally Posted by agk View Post
    Looks good Simon and I'm sure could be the final solution but it seems you already have doubts. The joy of this hobby/curse.
    I'll bet the Ikea folk wondered if you were selling their tables on.
    Yep, I seriously do enjoy my system but I just know that it can be bettered for not much outlay. Its just having the funds. It's taken me about 2-3 years to end up where I am right now, piecing it all together. I definitely want to replace the Rega RB300 down the line as it's the only arm I've ever used since getting a turntable back in 2010 so I'd love to try something else.

    Quote Originally Posted by danilo View Post
    Lotsa Boxes, all neatly arranged.
    Based on My experiences.. First things to upgrade are the Arcams.
    ALL of them! Overrated underperformers in MY unfortunate experiences

    But Hey! It's Your system.. do whatever pleases.
    However you Did ask :-)
    I know you don't like Arcam's, hehe.

    Seriously though, I do like them. They replaced a Marantz PM7001 at the time and the increase in detail and soundstage was a revelation. I recently put the Marantz back in, around the same time I had the loan unit of the Firebottle AIR and could tell right away what they were lacking. The Marantz (and AIR) had much more welly, heft and just drove the music better. However, the Marantz sounded too artificial in the top end and the depth of sound lacking compared to the Arcam's. The P1's really do have a nice relaxing sound to them, probably a bit too laid back for my musical tastes (rock, metal).

    It's a tough one. I want the sound of the Arcam but with more heft and attack. They definitely lack some weight.

    Quote Originally Posted by HackneyRF View Post
    Looks great Simon. Very creative use of IKEA kit. I grew up in Coventry around Stoke Green. Still quite fond of it. Which part are you in?
    I'v enjoyed working with the Lack tables. I would like to at some point replace it with a proper solid oak rack but I just don't want to throw £5-600 or more at it currently. Those things are about £100 per layer and with the amount I need it's going to be very costly. If I remember correctly the Ikea rack cost me about £100 to put together (most expensive things being the spikes and shoes). The legs were hollow but I managed to find a place online selling kids 'building blocks' out of solid Birch and they fit the legs fine after a light sand.

    Based in Tile Hill myself. Would like to move away one day but it's not a bad area at all.

  9. #9
    Join Date: Aug 2011

    Location: Coventry, England UK

    Posts: 534
    I'm Simon.

    Default

    Well I've ended up moving away from the XTZ's after loaning a pair of Harbeth P3ESR's. It's bizarre how I'm hearing no loss of low end, even though the P3's are smaller and don't go down as low. Infact, I'm finding that a lot of bass guitar is easier to pick out and follow, like it's just tighter and punchier. The midrange is what drew me in and the top end sounds so natural and detailed, yet can listen for hours with no fatigue. Being nearfield I think these are just perfectly suited for me. I don't see myself changing these for a long time. Once I recover financially I think I'll look into valve pre's and possibly a different power amp/s.

    000_3843.jpg

  10. #10
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

    Default

    Smart setup there Simon, very neat. I like it.
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

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