Upgrade Fever – Doctor Needed

[pjdowns]

Does this fit the type of exposure amp suggested?:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MakeTrack=true

Hi Stuart,

Yes indeed - the amp you have there is the integrated version of my pre and power combo and was and is a highly rated integrated amplifier.

It would drive the Epos ES14 ok as Exposure amps of this generation are good at driving demanding loads but you may hark after something more eventually. It would be a great starting point.

Reference the ES-14's, as you know I have a pair and am extremely happy with them. The only things I would change is they have a little bit of a 'splashy' treble and whilst they go deep for a small speaker I would prefer them to go a little deeper.

Apart from that the Exposure / Epos combo is the least fatiguing system I have ever owned!!!

Paul.

[MikeMusic]

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record......

Is the mains as good as it can be ?

You can get some remarkable improvements spending little dough at the front end.
Everything in it's own unswitched socket, earth as good as it can be
Unplug dirty stuff from the mains and see if it sounds better

Can be a few minutes spent very well and you will always have it - unless you move

[pjdowns]

Very good point Mike... Probably the biggest upgrade I've ever made was buying a TCI 6 way power block.... Tightened up the sound of the system no end and made it even easier to listen to over long periods!

[YNWaN]

Easier to listen to and removed much of the dynamic contrast? That is my experience of mains smoothing bits - but YMMV.

I have rather mixed feelings with regard to B&W speakers. The very expensive models (800 serirs) can sound good, but they seem to need huge amounts of amplifier control. The more budget models I have heard have really struck me as boom tizz boxes .

[Audio Al]

These are rather good

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B-W-DM2a-l...item3cd3d3bcd3

and they have a following on this very forum

[Stubies]

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record......

Is the mains as good as it can be ?

You can get some remarkable improvements spending little dough at the front end.
Everything in it's own unswitched socket, earth as good as it can be
Unplug dirty stuff from the mains and see if it sounds better

Can be a few minutes spent very well and you will always have it - unless you move

I had never really considered it, please dont feel like a stuck record! I have a lot to learn!

I suspect that there is lots of stuff on the lines that could make the mains messy - and the original supply quality is doubtful (there is 3 phase power at the building switchbox - i know because one phase regularly goes down, leaving 1/2 my apt with out power..., we have brown outs at least monthly too)

Very good point Mike... Probably the biggest upgrade I've ever made was buying a TCI 6 way power block.... Tightened up the sound of the system no end and made it even easier to listen to over long periods!

Could a 90 GBP power strip really help (is this a conditioner)? I would gladly buy it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/True-Colou...item5af2d354ed

I always thought 'power conditioners' were too expensive, but these look cheap (probably for a reason?):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weiduka-AV...item43b6541e08
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PB10-230V-...item53faf3a26d
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lindy-Main...item4d0f4e2590

Would you still recommend the same one, or any others?

[Stubies]

this one looks quite serious for relatively little money:

i like the universal design (even for voltage!)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tchlink:top:en

[MikeMusic]

The best way is to have an unswitched socket for all your kit. Could be cheapest too
Next best is to get a good and power block. I don't know those Ebay items. I think you can do better - and pay more too !
I have a Russ Andrews Power block I still use in my office and it is better than a cheap power block for sure, paid about £100 on ebay for it 2nd hand.
Have a look around for power block recommendations here, if none found pose a question !
We have at least 2 members selling power blocks here, MCRU and Mark Grant and I would think, not guarantee ! they would out outperform the ones you list
Taking it further you are looking at big money and mains regenerators and similar.
Filters are at least potentially messing with your mains, not necessarily doing it any good

Hope that helps at least for now

[MikeMusic]

The best way is to have an unswitched socket for all your kit. Could be cheapest too
Next best is to get a good and power block. I don't know those Ebay items. I think you can do better - and pay more too !
I have a Russ Andrews Power block I still use in my office and it is better than a cheap power block for sure, paid about £100 on ebay for it 2nd hand.
Have a look around for power block recommendations here, if none found pose a question !
We have at least 2 members selling power blocks here, MCRU and Mark Grant and I would think, not guarantee ! they would out outperform the ones you list
Taking it further you are looking at big money and mains regenerators and similar.
Filters are at least potentially messing with your mains, not necessarily doing it any good

Hope that helps at least for now

[Stubies]

The best way is to have an unswitched socket for all your kit. Could be cheapest too
Next best is to get a good and power block. I don't know those Ebay items. I think you can do better - and pay more too !
I have a Russ Andrews Power block I still use in my office and it is better than a cheap power block for sure, paid about £100 on ebay for it 2nd hand.
Have a look around for power block recommendations here, if none found pose a question !
We have at least 2 members selling power blocks here, MCRU and Mark Grant and I would think, not guarantee ! they would out outperform the ones you list
Taking it further you are looking at big money and mains regenerators and similar.
Filters are at least potentially messing with your mains, not necessarily doing it any good

Hope that helps at least for now

Thats really helpful mike!

I will buy a power block on ebay, there are a couple on there now that look ok