AlexM's current system

[AlexM]

Hi,

A few people have asked to see some pictures of my system, so here we go..

Phillips PM3217 50Mhz dual-trace scope and Squeezebox Touch digital transport
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/5706618360_4ecd3eaa9c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706618360/)
259 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706618360/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

Technics SL-1210 Mk.2 with Jelco SA-750D tonearm, Oyaide Headshell and Benz Micro MC Silver Cartridge

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3584/5706617010_a1c896dc13_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706617010/)
254 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706617010/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

And again

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/5706052447_a63eafeca7_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706052447/)
256 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706052447/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

Conrad-Johnson PV-15 preamplifier with Phono Stage and Cambridge Audio 840C with Audiocom level-3 analogue and digital mods, providing 24bit/384Khz upsampling DAC for Squezebox touch via it's co-ax digital SP/DIF input

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/5706050821_78730e8439_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706050821/)
249 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706050821/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

Rogue Audio Stereo 90 power amplifier with Mullard 12AX7 phase splitters, EH-6SN7 Gold driver tubes, Golden Lion KT-88 reissue power tubes

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/5706616248_b5ac37dfd2_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706616248/)
250 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706616248/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

System on Finite Elemente Pagode Signature stand and Avalon NP 2.0 Evo speakers

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/5706049571_731fff0bd9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706049571/)
244 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706049571/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

Benz Micro MC Silver Cartridge

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/5706049237_e75ba2df54_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706049237/)
242 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706049237/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

Oyaide Carbon Headshell

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3624/5706048511_16ee185b68_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706048511/)
239 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706048511/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

Jelco Magnesium Headshell

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/5706048275_b96de2496b_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706048275/)
238 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706048275/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

C-J PV-15 Internal shot. Phono Board uses 3x Mullard 12AX7 valves
Line Stage uses 2x Mullard M8080 single triodes

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2153/5706046571_dd2f0acb78_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706046571/)
233 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706046571/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

C-J PV-15 Internal shot Phono Board

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3152/5706047027_0d82e6c1bb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706047027/)
234 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14548229@N07/5706047027/) by alexmastersuk (http://www.flickr.com/people/14548229@N07/), on Flickr

Any questions, ask away!

Regards,
Alex

[Marco]

Hi Alex,

Very, very nice indeed... It's testament to how good a SL-1210 is that it can front such a high-quality system, in only a lightly-modified state, but not disgrace itself! :)

So how's it sounding now - did you fix your alignment issues?

Love the look of the CV... It really does look like a quality bit of kit. And all your gear is properly set-up, too, on a top-notch equipment support.

Well done. Your system is a credit to the high-standard that exists in the AoS gallery! :cool:

Marco.

[prestonchipfryer]

Indeed a fine looking system and some very good pictures. It's good to know that your SL1210 TT works so well for you. :)

John

[Alex_UK]

Superb. Looks really good, the rack is fab too!

Is the scope just there temporarily, or permanently connected, and if so, what is it used for?

[AlexM]

Hi Marco,

Thanks for that - the SL-1210 is now at a level where it sounds as good as the digital sources for the things that they do well (Bass response, stable imaging), while being clearly superior at what analogue does better!.

The Jelco / Oyaide combination is working very well, and the additional rubber washer on the headshell has allowed me to get the correct overhang and alignment using the Vinylengine Technics Baerwald alignment protractor. The headshell has really improved the sound, and it is now quite a synergistic match in the system overall. I'm in no rush to change anything, but thinking of Isonoe feet, Oyaide clamp and external PSU further downstream as funds allow. Thanks for your advice here about the headshell.

The C-J preamp is a recent acquisition and I've got to say that the improvement over my previous Rogue Metis preamp is quite staggering. The phono stage sounds really clean and detailed, and the line stage is amazingly transparent and musical, with great imaging and fine detail. It really is night and day. The preamp is also very quiet at all gain settings, which was a bug-bear in my previous setup.

Forgot to mention that I'm using a EMU systems 0404 USB interface to rip vinyl for the Squeezebox. It also sounds really pretty good at 24/96 - quite transparent and very quiet on the line inputs. It uses an AKM AK5385A 24/192 A/D converter which provides a 112Db SNR ratio. The D/A stage uses a AK4396 24/192 dac. USB 2.0 supports 24/192 input/output.

It is also staggeringly good value at the price you can pick them up for s/h. Obviously profit margin expectations are considerably lower in the pro audio market.

Regards,
Alex

[chris@panteg]

Nice Photo's , great looking system , loving your digital set up i must say , now that is different .

The soldering iron and swiss army knife are a nice touch :)

[Tarzan]

Very nice looking sorted system there Alex, how does the Oyaide headshell work for you- oh the Isonoe feet are a no brainer and will lift the Techies performance even higher:).

[AlexM]

Hi Alex,

The scope is not a permanent part of the installation - I'm not really sure why I bought it.. think it was because it was £30 and had lots of knobs and buttons :). Actually I got it to trace a hum problem and to do azimuth setup with a test record. It is still in excellent calibration, having recently been calibrated by the BBC prior to disposal.

Forgot to mention that the EMU 0404 USB is only used for a/d duties - the Cambridge Audio 840C does an excellent job as a DAC for the Squeezebox Touch via it's co-ax SP/DIF input.

Hi Tarzan, The Oyaide headshell made quite a marked improvement - I wasn't really happy with the Jelco/Benz MC Silver combination as the balance sounded a little 'tipped-up' towards the treble, with bass frequencies seemingly shelved down. The sound is much better balanced across the spectrum now, with better fine detail, clarity and imaging. I'm a little perplexed as to why this is - no real explanation!. The only problem is that this combination is intolerant of warps, although compliance and arm/cartridge masses seem compatible. It was less of an issue with the standard Technics arm.

Regards,
Alex

[Alex_UK]

I'm not really sure why I bought it.. think it was because it was £30 and had lots of knobs and buttons :).

Thanks for clarifying Alex - that would have reeled me in, too! :lol:

[Reid Malenfant]

Lovely looking system you have there Alex :) One very expensive stand as well if i'm not mistaken, i feel sure i recently saw one for over £2000 secondhand :eek:

Nice to see another member on here using an oscilloscope, i made good use of my Fluke when setting up the active crossovers in my system. It made it so easy along with a function generator & frequency counter that it was done in no time at all. I just wish the things had a fine control potentiometer though as even the slightest turn made more than enough difference :rolleyes:

Enjoy the glorious sounds that i'm sure your system makes :)

[AlexM]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the comments. A 'scope is one of those tools that you keep finding new uses for, and I have been meaning to get hold of one for a while. Even a analogue non-storage scope without frequency counters and auto-measurement is very useful - at £30 in good working order it is a no-brainer!.

The stand was expensive, but a lot less than those from the 'Master Reference' range, which are very pricey new and second-hand. For a small extra charge, they even stained it to match the cherry veneer of my speakers!.

Regards,
Alex

[Reid Malenfant]

Aha, well it still looks the business even if it's isn't all singing & dancing like the top of the range stands ;)

Yes i fully agree that a scope is invaluable, i honestly can't remember how many times i have found one useful if not impossible to do without just messing about with the hifi & that's not including designing my own amps etc :)

As you say, £30 is a no brainer :lol: Voltmeters can be handy but they aren't a patch on a scope for a whole lot of things!

[Ammonite Audio]

Alex - I see that we use the same Avalon NP2.0 speakers! Mine are sitting on Stillpoints Component Stands, which although nearly as expensive as the speakers themselves, do lift their performance quite significantly. The Avalons are the most neutral yet engaging speakers that I've owned - the only speakers that I've heard to date that I covet over the NP2.0s are the Avalon Ascendant/Indra/Eidolon and various flavours of old Tannoys fitted with 15" Monitor Gold drivers.

[Marco]

...and various flavours of old Tannoys fitted with 15" Monitor Gold drivers.

And I do feel terribly guilty about that :eyebrows:

;)

Marco.

[AlexM]

Hi Hugo,

Yes, I think they are an underrated speaker. They have very good clarity and balance, and their sins are mainly of omission.

The bass is quite well extended for their size, and has quite low distortion allowing you to hear more of the texture of the instruments.

I have problems with the stability of the slim cabinets on the stock spikes, so I have been looking at the possibility of using an 'outrigger' type arrangement to increase stability and lift the cabinets off the floor. I'd be interested to look at your arrangement with the Stillpoint stands. Any chance of a picture?

A good friend of mine has the Avalon Isis, powered from Karan Acoustics 1Kw mono-blocks, and a C-J GAT pre-amp, which sound absolutely sublime - my favourite speaker that I have heard. The biggest surprise is how much of it's qualities are present and intact in the NP Evo 2.0, and given the price differential that is quite something.

I still don't think I have fully forgiven him for describing my rig as 'entry-level' :). Still, he has a pair of Avalon Opus speakers for sale that is quite tempting....

Regards,
Alex

[Ammonite Audio]

Hi Alex

Here is one of the speakers showing the 4-leg Stillpoints Component Stand:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s301/hugocass/Stillpoints/DSCF0515.jpg

They bolt loosely to the bottom of the speaker and are not entirely rigid, which seems unnatural but that's part of the design. There are no spikes - the feet are simple little alloy discs that allow the speaker to be moved very easily.

The only downside is cost - Stillpoints stuff isn't cheap, but then again it works and I am a convert! I have a whole load of the Stillpoints support cones as well as an old-style Stillpoints ESS Rack:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s301/hugocass/Stillpoints/DSCF0513.jpg

You're not that far from here. If you would like to hear what the component stands can do for your NP2.0s, I could bring them over sometime.