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View Full Version : Foot Tapping Returns - SEG Silmic



Mr.Ian
11-01-2012, 22:26
One of Maidstone's finest 6 channel amps tri-amping a pair of Impulse H2s is a recipe for disaster with most digital front ends, especially when Nanci Griffith hits the higher notes. Always been so with the digital sources I have had pain and anguish from start to finish.

Stan's Caiman was the first to bring solace. Clarity improved no end with the addition of a Gator board but I was tempted by the dark side and sold it for an Mdac.

Boy was I impressed, it was like stripping away a cloth, I heard more than ever before, the tonality was spot on but ouch - Nanci Griffiths -
I just couldn't play - Just had to turn off.

No big deal there's far more to life than NG and for a while I loved what I had, It was almost like I was living with a live band every night.

But hey hang on whats up with my feet they seem to have stopped tapping
.............

swap the filters all night but no improvement so it had to go

After selling my body and sole to Stan a new SEG with a NEW Silmic Cap Gator Board arrived almost (Give him a chance he had to build the thing) the next day.

So now after about 20 hours run in I gave it a serious listen. Well as serious as one can after a skin full of foreign ale.

Foot Tapping is back with a vengeance, Nanci is listenable once again and all is smiles once again.

So how do the new Silmic caps contribute, All I can do is hazard a guess - its been too long since I heard the original SEG to comment accurately but from memory I am getting much greater space around the instruments, more height in the replay space and a little more clarity.

I still think the Mdac was a little more life like and had better tonality but for overall listen-ability I reckon the SEG has the edge by a long way - not to mention at nearly a third of the price - HUGE value money.

All for now off to listen to some music and foot tapping

Reid Malenfant
11-01-2012, 22:30
You only tap your feet when smiling :D It's got to make you smile....


E2A: That's enough for it tonight, I really didn't think I'd hit 8,000 posts today :eek:

Laters all, I hope everyone on here has a superb 2012, well it would be nice wouldn't it :eyebrows:

Gazjam
11-01-2012, 22:35
crikey...

keiths
12-01-2012, 01:22
Congrats. Mark on the 8.0 Kiloposts. :cheers: :champagne: :cool:

StanleyB
13-01-2012, 19:47
I have been playing with a Silmic modified Gator and a power supply that Lurcher developed. I am completely over the moon with the outcome.
But even on the standard Caiman the Lurcher power supply gave outstanding results:cool:. If anyone is thinking of a power supply upgrade then his linear power supply is definitely one that I recommend. Add the Silmic mod to the Gator, and it's smiles all round:).

Gazjam
13-01-2012, 23:08
Stan,
Is it Nicks two box supply, similar to the one for the SB Touch?

Have one for the Touch...it's excellent and can see a Dac maybe getting even more benefit?
(my linear PSU for the Dac is good, but buzzes a bit)

StanleyB
13-01-2012, 23:12
It's kind of two boxes. One contains a filter network I reckon.

Mr.Ian
13-01-2012, 23:15
Been a bit distracted for the last few days, with a new, to me, pre amp. The mighty Welborne Tube Reveille. Its stuffed with exotica and the case alone is probably worth more than I paid for it but ....

I keep being tempted by valves but some how my Toft Audio LBPA-5 pre is always way way ahead. When I was told it was better than Mark Levinson gear I took the comments with Pinch of salt but increasingly I am thinking can anything ever better this obscure and very rare pre.

Consequently listening to Stans new Silmic Gator has taken a bit of a back seat but I gave it a another serious listen to night and have to ask can a new power supply really improve things further? its pretty amazing as it is.

Stan did I see an earlier thread where you were talking about a radical new PSU that many would want to copy - did anything come of it - would it really take the silmic to a new level without loosing it current brilliant qualities?

Reid Malenfant
13-01-2012, 23:23
The power supply is the most important thing :) At the end of the day it's what you are listening to & everything will be affected by it.

Mr.Ian
13-01-2012, 23:34
any links to options

Reid Malenfant
13-01-2012, 23:41
You're best bet is a linear PSU as these don't chuck out spurious stuff unlike SMPS which is what the Caiman PSU happens to be even if it is a reasonable one.

There are a shed load of threads on here about power supplies :doh:

All I can suggest is you look for a linear PSU with the lowest output impedance you can find. A laboratory type would suffice, though I'm sure there are others as good but cheaper.

Apologies as I haven't looked myself as I haven't had to go there ;)

MartinT
13-01-2012, 23:50
Consequently listening to Stans new Silmic Gator has taken a bit of a back seat but I gave it a another serious listen to night and have to ask can a new power supply really improve things further? its pretty amazing as it is.

I'm running an external Paul Hynes PR3 module providing 16V to the Caiman. It sounds considerably better than the included SMPS.

Covenant
08-02-2012, 20:45
Can we PLEASE have some more information about the Gator Silmic board? :rolleyes: