Dave's Starter Kit.

[DaveK]

Thanks Chris,
Your Google must be better informed than my Google because I entered every combination of Custom, r60, speaker stands, all without success. I have now e-mailed the company and asked for a 'ball park' quote so that I can discuss with the Budget Controller. At the moment the tide is moving in my favour as the Controller has recently suggested that we need another (different or another the same) AV stand.
I'll keep you posted.
Dave.

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

I would concur with the advice given so far regarding stands. As good as the Beresford is, you need some proper speaker stands (which appease the aesthetic sensibilities of your good lady) much more than you do a new DAC!! The stands will literally transform your system.

So yes, I would make this your number 1 priority

Marco.

[REM]

Hi Dave

I'm new here too, seems like a nice place to be and the wealth and breadth of members experience/knowledge is formidable so you can comfortably rely on the advice given so yes stands of any kind are better than no stands at all, why not let your good lady choose a set that suit her asthetics/sensibilities?

May I ask you how the gear is hooked up mains wise? Once you sort the stands out you may want to get a dedicated dizzy block before adding any more components, if you haven't already of course.

Regards
Ralph.

[DaveK]

Hi Marco and Ralph (REM),
Thanks both for your two pen'orth. I am actively following up on the lead to the rc60 deluxe provided by Chris. They have already replied with a very attractive offer (to me !!) both in terms of price and customisation - looks like the plastic may get stretched even more!!.
Following on from all previous advise I have this morning temporarily raised the speakers up on to each end of the hi-fi (??) unit and already even my cloth ears notice and approve of the difference. If I press all the right 'notes' in the right order (a la Andrew Preview & Morecambe and Wise ) there should be a pic of the current location below.
With regards to the mains wise hook up, at the moment each bit of kit is connected, via the lead supplied with it, to individual 3 pin outlets on a 'PC World' type surge protector. I am awaiting receipt of a Multiway Mains Plug - For DIY Naim Hydra Cable Lead from eBay and rewirable 'fig 8' and 'kettle' plugs which I plan to put together with some shielded mains cable, again probably off eBay - comments, advice and guidance appreciated.
"I'm new here too, seems like a nice place to be and the wealth and breadth of members experience/knowledge is formidable" - never was a truer word (phrase ?) spoken - hear, hear I say !!

BTW, please forgive the sample of new wall paper lodged under the picture in the upper left of this and the previous 'panorama' - Budget Controller is planning to redecorate !!
Dave.

[Beechwoods]

Excellent Dave! I think they look better off the floor too!

[Ali Tait]

Hi Dave,
Is it the Twisted Twins speaker cable from the TNT site? If so,yes it's a good design and will see off some expensive commercial designs.Much cheepniss too! For i/c's check out the Chris VenHaus site.

[DaveK]

Hi Ali,
No it's not twisted (in any sense ) and it's not knowingly from TNT whoever they are. It's 2 + 4 biwire (i.e. from 1 amp) and each consists of 3 lengths of 8 strand solid core Cat 6 ethernet cable ex-Maplins and the 3 lenths are plaited. They should be tidied up by covering with Maplin's shrink tube wrap (or whatever it's called) but I thought I try them out before finalising them. They are unterminated at both ends and screwed down. Two of the lengths carry the +ve and -ve (red and black), i.e. 16 strands to each of the lower frequency terminals, and the third length is split at each end, 4 solid colour strands carry the red, and 4 bi-colour strands carry the black, to the tweeter terminals (no jumpers). I MIGHT be able to retrace my steps back to the site from which I listed the design if anyone is interested.
Meanwhile, to me they sound fine, but I have little or nothing to compare them with.
Thanks for your interest,
Dave.

[Ali Tait]

Sounds like a watered down version of the twisted twins.Check out TNT Audio and look in the DIY section.The TT uses 6 lengths plaited on each channel.Regardless,it's a cheap and very good speaker cable.I used them for years and only changed when I got my electrostatic speakers as they don't like a capacitive cable.

[DaveK]

Hi Guys,
Appro po (?) of nothing I offer below something that really surprised me but perhaps will not surprise you.
Earlier tonight I was sat with my nose glued to the monitor/tv, (actually about a foot away and NO, my nose is not that long) posting responses to all the threads that I have got running and thought that I would try listening to some music whilst I was doing it (see my latest photo showing temporary new speaker positions). The effect of all this was my ears were at tweeter level and the angle between speaker to head to speaker was around 179 degrees (or so). The speakers were pointing straight out, not at my head.
Irrespective of whatever music was being played the sound clearly came from straight in front of me, (behind the monitor/tv ??), slightly narrower sound stage (?) than the monitor/tv. Put another way, I could not detect any sound at any point which appeared to emanate from the speakers - strange or what ??
Any explanations ??
Dave.

[aquapiranha]

It is called Stereo.... joking aside, quality equipment will dissapear leaving only a vista of musical lovelyness before you.