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Thread: What's the best system you've heard?

  1. #161
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

    Posts: 51,624
    I'm Geoff.

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    My first 'stereo' did nothing well. It couldn't do loud or bass or treble, but I was none the wiser. I knew it was crap, but couldn't figure out why. Then I heard 'proper' Hi-Fi at a mate's place and the disease struck! I had to get something better!!
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  2. #162
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Quote Originally Posted by paulf-2007 View Post
    polluted mains....I blame global warming
    No, I blame mobile phones, computers, routers and all the other 'shit', nowadays radiating RFI, household appliances, TVs and Sky boxes, fitted with cheapo SMPS units, chucking noise into the mains supply. Can you imagine how much cleaner the mains was, say in the 70s, when most of that stuff didn't exist...?

    We're battling a whole load of noise now, using 'fancy' cables, mains leads, regenerators, etc, trying to get our systems to sound good, which wasn't the case before, simply because that level of noise didn't exist.

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  3. #163
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    The other factor is youth. Or our present lack of it. Nothing sounds as good or tastes as good as it did when the world was young.
    I know where you're coming from, and to a certain extent agree, but personally I'm having as much of a ball now, in almost every way, as I've ever had!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  4. #164
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,779
    I'm Martin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    No, I blame mobile phones, routers and all the other 'shit', nowadays radiating RFI, and household appliances fitted with cheapo SMPS units, chucking noise into the mains supply. Can you imagine how much cleaner the mains was, say in the 70s, when all that stuff didn't exist?

    Marco.
    Whether that has any effect on sound quality is highly debatable, though. That our recall of things we experienced is inaccurate, or coloured, on the other hand, is pretty much indisputable. I know which way I'd bet.

    I suppose it could be a little of both.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  5. #165
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    I think it is some of both, as I can assure you that 'dirty mains' is a major problem for hi-fi systems, and that the steps I've taken in many ways to eradicate it, have been very effective (as I've heard the difference so many times).

    I can say with some certainty that it's a REAL problem, no matter how much you'd prefer it not to be, and getting worse all the time!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  6. #166
    Join Date: Nov 2017

    Location: Kenilworth, UK

    Posts: 224
    I'm Kim.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    Whether that has any effect on sound quality is highly debatable, though.
    No debate here!

    Once had a system where I noticed the sound quality used to significantly degrade (and the amps used to omit an audible hum). After a few days of cable changing and head scratching, I noticed it was happening at night and then worked out it happened exactly as the street lights were switched on and stopped again when they went off in the morning. I noticed there was a flickering and buzzing street light about 50m from my flat at the time, so called the local council to report it. Took them about a week, but I never had the problem again. It was a flat in an old house and i doubt the wiring was very modern, but street lights..!

    I'm convinced that Marco is right (about this at least ). As people have already said elsewhere on AoS, the listening room has a significant impact on how a system sounds, but so does the ambient noise, vibration and "mains polution". It's why a system so often sounds best at 3.00am.

  7. #167
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Quote Originally Posted by yolakim View Post
    I'm convinced that Marco is right (about this at least ). As people have already said elsewhere on AoS, the listening room has a significant impact on how a system sounds, but so does the ambient noise, vibration and "mains polution". It's why a system so often sounds best at 3.00am.
    Indeed - and for ALL those reasons listed. And the cumulative effect is significant!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  8. #168
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: Gravesend and France

    Posts: 1,498
    I'm paul.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    I think we just make our memories rosier with time. I can still recall what my first system sounded like - I think. It couldn't do the cymbals properly on Wishbone Ash 'Argus'. I only found that out when I upgraded the deck and heard what they were supposed to sound like.

    The other factor is youth. Or our present lack of it. Nothing sounds as good or tastes as good as it did when the world was young.
    Great album argus, one of my favs, should look for a good copy, my old teenage one is scratched like most from the drinking era.
    Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers

    Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house

    Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck


    System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.

  9. #169
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Norwich

    Posts: 2,814
    I'm Hugo.

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    Quote Originally Posted by James the Albarry lover View Post
    Being relatively new to hifi I haven't heard alot that's out there and mostly go by the opinions of others on what to buy such as reviewers and hifi veterans such as yourselfs and so I'm curious what is the best systems you've heard?
    Quite recently I heard a very expensive system consisting of a stack of top end Soulution gear, feeding Maxonic TW1100 field coil speakers. Those speakers are curious looking things, very shiny and even ugly to my eyes, but what a sound! My host played an old DG recording of David Oistrakh which I have at home and am therefore familiar with; and in a moment I was utterly captivated. Never before have I heard such a natural sound, such purity of tone, such easy breathing musicality. Some of that is of course down to the (very expensive) electronics, but those speakers stole my heart. I'd seen pictures of them before and never realised that a big, old fashioned driver with a rectangular plastic horn stuck in the middle, and a fireguard attached to the front, could sound so sublime. Such expensive equipment is always difficult to justify, but maybe one day when my ship comes in ......



    The feet on those speakers took me back nearly 50 years to the days of Bleep and Booster


  10. #170
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: London

    Posts: 4,419
    I'm Robert.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ammonite Acoustics View Post
    Quite recently I heard a very expensive system consisting of a stack of top end Soulution gear, feeding Maxonic TW1100 field coil speakers. Those speakers are curious looking things, very shiny and even ugly to my eyes, but what a sound! My host played an old DG recording of David Oistrakh which I have at home and am therefore familiar with; and in a moment I was utterly captivated. Never before have I heard such a natural sound, such purity of tone, such easy breathing musicality. Some of that is of course down to the (very expensive) electronics, but those speakers stole my heart. I'd seen pictures of them before and never realised that a big, old fashioned driver with a rectangular plastic horn stuck in the middle, and a fireguard attached to the front, could sound so sublime. Such expensive equipment is always difficult to justify, but maybe one day when my ship comes in ......



    The feet on those speakers took me back nearly 50 years to the days of Bleep and Booster

    Mad cute
    My System:
    Amplification - Sansui AU-alpha 707 DR
    Turntable - Technics SP10 MK2-Technics EPA-250 Tonearm-Yannis Tome 423.5Plus tonearm cable-Eichmann KLEI Absolute Harmony plugs.
    Ortofon Cadenza Black moving coil cartridge-Fritz Gyger S re-tip. Panzerholz plinth.

    CDP - Pioneer PD-91
    Speakers - Spendor D7 on Soundcare SuperSpikes
    QED Silver Spiral speaker cable-airloc banana plugs
    Mains - Ultra Pure silver plated un-switched socket-Missing link EPS 500 silver plated plugs-Hi-Fi Tuning gold plated silver ceramic 13 amp fuses

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