New system

[htm_1968]

As requested in the welcome thread, here are a few shots of my system:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8296/7794199496_1cf7f698d7_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8303/7794199128_f48f42672b_z.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8433/7794198658_7bbd020bb6_z.jpg

Since I took the pictures I have swapped out my nDAC and ND5SX for an NDS. The NDS is astonishing, but is still not quite as enjoyable as my turntable. The LP12 is upgraded with a Keel and Radikal. The tonearm is a Naim Aro and the cartridge is a Dynavector DVXX2 II. I use a Uphorik phonostage at present.

I've also changed from a HiCap2 to a SuperCap2 as the power supply for my SNAXO 24. Because of the less than ideal position of the speakers either side of the fireplace I had been using an active sub to gently reinforce the bass from my SL2s. The change in p/s means that the nSub is now largely redundant.

[guyhayton]

very nice setup, neat and very tidy.

[Audio Al]

Very nice

Can I ask what make the 2 rack's are ?
:)

[aquapiranha]

Very nice

Can I ask what make the 2 rack's are ?
:)

Naim fraim. Or maybe a DIY version ?

[htm_1968]

Very nice

Can I ask what make the 2 rack's are ?
:)

The racks are mainly Naim Fraim lite in ash. There are four shelves of maple fraim, which has additional insulation in terms of glass sub-shelves on metal ball and cup arrangements.

[htm_1968]

Naim fraim. Or maybe a DIY version ?

Sadly, if I attempted DIY the photos would have shown the smoldering ruins of my house at worst and a pile of kit on the floor surrounded by splinters at best...

[Xapito]

Now that's a fine hifi stand, congrats!

[htm_1968]

Bit of an update since the last posting. We sold our Uphorik and recased the Radikal in black to match the rest of the rig. The replacement for the Uphorik is an Urika in the plinth of the LP12. Similarly, since the last photos we have taken delivery of an NDS and had our SL2s serviced from the ground up.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8116931451_2da0616c75_z.jpg

This photo is ever so slightly out of date, as both of my Olive 250s were showing their age so I replaced with them with 250.2s (at little more than the cost of the service, shipping and irritation). In this photo only one of the new 250.2s is in place.

My regular Linn enabler brought the KDS with him when delivering the Urika to have a bit of a play against the NDS. Both machines are brilliant. He preferred the KDS, I preferred the NDS (no surprises there then). I'm still of the opinion that my LP12 is still the best source in this system.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/7972518664_72dba293f0_z.jpg

I have to say I'm unconvinced by the styling of the KDS as it looks a bit like a satellite TV tuner. Bloody good machine though

[Marco]

Beautiful Linn/Naim system, Olan - that's how it should be done! I must also say that you have one of the nicest looking LP12s I've seen in a while... Respect! :)

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

Just out of intrest can you buy those ARO arm rest?

[htm_1968]

Just out of intrest can you buy those ARO arm rest?

The Aro arm rest comes as part of the package with the arm. As the arm is discontinued (sadly) I suspect the arm rest is no longer available. It might be worth your while to give Naim a ring and ask them though. I needed a set of grilles for my SL2s, which are supposedly unavailable now. My dealer made a call to Naim and a new set was found. They are hidden away until after we move house, after which the current, rather tatty set of grilles will be retired.

[MartinT]

Very nice and neat system, Olan. Looks great!

[jason]

Stunning system Olan always loved the classy look of top of the range naim gear.

Very nice mate.

Jason

[htm_1968]

Thanks to Martin and Jason for their kind words.

[htm_1968]

Some shots taken at Easter time after a bit of a tidy-up
Shot from the door, including fraction of the cameraman's mitt (oops)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8610675053_13189d330e_z.jpg
This is the main rig. The other stack is simply TV and DVD and is separate from the main system. I am strictly two channel! The TV is there for emergencies only
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8258/8611780204_c7c8f022ed_z.jpg
I need to clean my new LPs, the impact of the static is clear here:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8264/8611783996_b93ab42b76_z.jpg
And from above:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8394/8611783652_c7f508ef20_z.jpg

Since my last posting I've swapped out a bunch of Fraim Lite for Fraim and generally tidied up. Other than that, I've spent my pocket money on vinyl and :cool::cool:......

[htm_1968]

It is a long while since I have posted here. I've updated some kit since last year. Here is the obligatory system snap:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/11639071555_bbe97d4039_z.jpg

So, the changes are fairly serious. I swapped out my beloved 52/Supercap which I've had for years for a 252/Supercap DR. There were a couple of reasons for the change, aside from the fact the 252/SC DR sounds great, I got a very generous deal on the new kit, coupled with a great deal for my old gear. I also swapped out my XPS2 for a 555PS DR. The net effect of all these changes has been to more or less render my nSub redundant as the new kit develops better bass in terms of quantity, quality and musicality. We also replaced the last of the Fraimlite with Fraim.

We also added a very nice Stax headphone rig. Here is the energiser:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7412/11639324273_90694d4d6d_z.jpg
The headphone stand was a Xmas present from my kids
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/11639066935_0f27f2a9ed_z.jpg

We are moving house next week. So the main reason I'm posting this is almost to document the state of play prior to the move. I also will get to rescue my records from storage as I only have about 1/3 of my records currently. The remaining 2/3 of the collection have been in a storage locker for the last two years while we have been renting. Here is the bit of the vinyl I have access to:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7138/13323551063_79050770ac_z.jpg
There are no CDs to display as all of them are ripped to a NAS now and are stored in the loft. The new house has a dedicated listening room (purely coincidental and in no way important in the choice of new house :whistle:). I'm still using my SL2s but am beginning to feel the inclination for a change of speaker (and maybe even preamp) as I have an ATC and Modwright itch I need to scratch.:mental:

[chris@panteg]

Nice system, love stax phones.

[htm_1968]

Righto, since the last shots I have moved house. To be brutally frank I could not be bothered to pack up all the Naim kit only to have it destroyed by the removal firm (and I fancied a change). So last summer I began to sell it all off, keeping only the LP12 setup. This is where we are now:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7480/15651487391_c1054948d4_b.jpg

The amp is a Gato DIA250 integrated amp which is a beautiful beast to use. It does 250W into 8 Ohm and has a built in 24/192 capable DAC. It has the musicality of the Naim amps I used for years without the transformer hum and hiss from the speakers. It is probably not the last word in amplifiers, but it is bloody good. The Mana is a leftover from my youth....(it was in the garage/cellar/shed/attic for 13 years. I also have a wallshelf :rolleyes:). The LP12 rig is as before. I will probably never part with it as it suits my tastes musically, is very nice to look at and has great sentimental value.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/15033892043_d6242f8065_b.jpg

I was motivated to replace my Naim SL2s, active crossovers, power supplies, power amplifiers and rats nest of cables with a pair of Art Alnico 8s in Walnut:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3943/15651488581_a7e1e51a37_b.jpg

These are (IMHO) the best speakers I have ever owned by some distance. Here is an alternative view:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3949/15651489381_eb9dec3df5_b.jpg

In the new house I am very lucky to have a listening room/study all of my own. Currently it is a bit of a fortress of solitude as I only have a single chair (borrowed from the family room) so am on the look out for a new sofa

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3954/15651490091_fe78a9454a_b.jpg

So far, I have unpacked about half my vinyl, mainly the rock and electronic music. The bloody removal firm put the all the rest of my vinyl upstairs so I can't be bothered/have not found the time to carry the jazz and classical LPs down again. There are about another 1500 LPs to unpack and shelve. I wouldn't mind but they left the 2800 cds downstairs and they have all been ripped to a Vortexbox.....:doh: The cds all need shifting (they are in the black baskets and in various other shelves/drawers/boxes) before the rest of the vinyl can be brought down.

The Moon renderer is excellent. The app is excellent and the unit produces excellent results through the DAC in the Gato. There is no DAC in the Moon itself. As digital is a distant second choice here it is a wonderful compromise.

All in all, I am very pleased with the outcome of such a radical change of direction. I can't say I will stick with this rig, but the simplicity is very refreshing. Musically, at least with vinyl it trounces my old rig, but some of that is down to the new room. The photos don't do justice to the sheer size of the Arts. While I was waiting for the Arts to be built I slummed it with some bookshelf speakers. Compare the two:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3956/15372735360_e1da94619d_b.jpg

:hmm: Those curtains have to go at some stage too......

[struth]

The Gato amp is a nice unit, and comes highly regarded by many. Class D and very nice, and handy having the dac.

Nice shelving too.

[htm_1968]

The Gato amp is a nice unit, and comes highly regarded by many. Class D and very nice, and handy having the dac.

Nice shelving too.

Cheers Grant. The Gato is a thing of joy to use and is no fuss whatsoever. Runs sweetly from switch on, no thumps, hums, hiss etc. It just plays the music truthfully. The volume pot is great meaning that you can get the sound pressure level just right, unlike my old Naim pre-amps which were a bit all or nothing in terms of the volume pot. Musically it is phenomenal and a great match to the Arts. I had expected it to be a stop gap until I bought either a pair of shiny french pizza boxes or something full of tubes. At present I shall do neither and simply enjoy the Gato.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Those Arts are mahoosive :)

Bet they sound gorgeous.

[Spectral Morn]

That's quiet a change in system, from full Naim stack to the Gato. Read reviews but not heard one.

Nice room.


Regards Neil

[htm_1968]

Those Arts are mahoosive :)

Bet they sound gorgeous.

You are not kidding about them being huge. I don't even notice them now (physically). Every now and then I get a 'Wooooah' moment from them. For instance, I played Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb the other night (for the first time in years) and was left with a stupid grin on my face when it finished. Bass in spades, but controlled, imaging, real depth of soundstage, and most important for a recovering Naimee, ferocious attack coupled with amazing timing.

[htm_1968]

That's quiet a change in system, from full Naim stack to the Gato. Read reviews but not heard one.

Nice room.


Regards Neil

Cheers Neil

I demoed it and was quite impressed. I bought it because I got a stupidly good deal on it, and was pleasantly surprised a just how good it is. I thought it would be here for a few months and then moved on when I found a 'proper' amp/found out that I was right about class D amps after all. Much to my surprise it is a 'proper amp' and class D when done well is superb. It also seems to really match superbly with my speakers and room. I'm very pleased with the change so far.

[Spectral Morn]

Cheers Neil

I demoed it and was quite impressed. I bought it because I got a stupidly good deal on it, and was pleasantly surprised a just how good it is. I thought it would be here for a few months and then moved on when I found a 'proper' amp/found out that I was right about class D amps after all. Much to my surprise it is a 'proper amp' and class D when done well is superb. It also seems to really match superbly with my speakers and room. I'm very pleased with the change so far.

Sounds interesting, I have yet to hear Class D done right. Maybe someday I will get to hear Gato.


Regards Neil

[htm_1968]

Sounds interesting, I have yet to hear Class D done right. Maybe someday I will get to hear Gato.


Regards Neil

Cheers Neil,

I've heard class A and A/B and D that were appalling. I have a long history with class A/B amps that are audiophile marmite, but taking this all into account the Gato is superb. I might be deaf though....:lol:. I suspect it is an almost uniquely lucky amp/speakers/room/deaf-as-a-stump interface leading to a profound sense of satisfaction on the owner's behalf.....:hmm::

On the other hand: :thumbsup: for the Gato because it makes beautiful music that entertains me. That is what really matters....

[Spectral Morn]

On the other hand: :thumbsup: for the Gato because it makes beautiful music that entertains me. That is what really matters....

Yes indeed.


Regards Neil

[Idlewithnodrive]

You are not kidding about them being huge. I don't even notice them now (physically). Every now and then I get a 'Wooooah' moment from them. For instance, I played Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb the other night (for the first time in years) and was left with a stupid grin on my face when it finished. Bass in spades, but controlled, imaging, real depth of soundstage, and most important for a recovering Naimee, ferocious attack coupled with amazing timing.

Good choice of tchoon.

[Macca]

Lovely room and impressive -looking system. I also like to use 'Little Fluffy Clouds' as an occasional test track, always takes me back to my youth, late night 'chilling out' after gigs :)

[htm_1968]

Good choice of tchoon.

Thanks Mark.


Lovely room and impressive -looking system. I also like to use 'Little Fluffy Clouds' as an occasional test track, always takes me back to my youth, late night 'chilling out' after gigs :)

Cheers Martin. No danger of chilling out to Little Fluffy Clouds at the volume levels I was playing it at......

[htm_1968]

Took this the other day. No changes since the last posting, only some obligatory Festive tat strewn about the listening room by Mrs_Htm. :doh:

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7530/16118318822_2e98969862_b.jpg

[jandl100]

Oooo - loving the festive tat. :thumbsup:

[htm_1968]

Oooo - loving the festive tat. :thumbsup:

Drop around with a bag. It can be yours......

[htm_1968]

Been a while since I posted to this thread. I sold the Mana and put the funds towards a bespoke cabinet built for me by Stump furniture. Derek and Ramsey Dunlop at ART were very generous and sent me some large samples of the walnut veneer used on my speakers so Stump were able to try to match the finish on the speakers. Here is the latest shot of the setup:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/777/21293830213_325f739207_z.jpg

I've also added a SimAudio Moon DAC which allows me to use my headphones again, hence the Stax energiser on view.

[Marco]

Lovely wood finish that, Olan - just my kind of thing! How's it all sounding? :)

Marco.

[htm_1968]

Lovely wood finish that, Olan - just my kind of thing! How's it all sounding? :)

Marco.

Thanks for the compliment Marco. It sounds fantastic to my ears. The ARTs are the best loudspeakers I have ever owned by some distance. The Gato drives them perfectly. The system is reflects my preferences in that I listen to vinyl 90% of the time. The LP12 does a decent job for me. I know some folk pour scorn on the old fruitbox, but I have had this one for so long now that anything else would be odd. I got very enthusiastic and positive feedback when I hauled it all to Scalford for the 'Wam show last March. The system handles anything from Keith Jarret to The Heads which is all you can ask for really

On the other hand, the digital end of things is purely for background listening. The little Moon streamer and DAC are absolute bargains for the money I paid for them. I don't take digital seriously, although Spotify and Tidal (which I am free trialling ATM) are very handy for try-before-you-buy listening.

[petrat]

Hi Olan.
Lovely cabinet .... but .... what's in it?

:champagne:

:glug:

[htm_1968]

Hi Olan.
Lovely cabinet .... but .... what's in it?

:champagne:

:glug:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/483/19222342130_873a843261_z.jpg

An older shot. On the top shelf is a Linn Radikal which powers the LP12 motor and Urika phono preamp hidden in the plinth of the fruitbox.

On the second shelf is an old Nakamichi Cassette Deck 2 and the SimAudio Moon MiND 180 renderer. There is a SimAudio DAC 100 in service now, at the time the photo was taken I was using the DAC in the Gato.

On the bottom shelf from left to right is a 2TB Netgear NAS, a 3TB Vortexbox, a network switch for the streamer and NAS and server, and a bling power distro.
The servers are elsewhere now and I'm considering some nice valve monos for the bottom shelf instead along with a new preamp. I like the Gato a lot so it would probably just be change for change's sake.....:rolleyes: The shelves are all adjustable (and I have a spare that is currently not in use). There is no back on the unit so ventilation and cable access is straightforward.

[DSJR]

I don't know what audio output interconnects you're using for digital, so please don't mind this interruption. The Klotz MC5000 cables as made up so beautifully by Brian here would bring out every last ounce of any emotion and timbral 'texture' in the digital sound source.

Forgive me for asking the above, but I tend to react when people 'only' use digital as a secondary source - apologies... The vinyl player you have IS excellent - the ARO on a late LP12 doesn't sound 'fruity' at all (I helped set an Armageddon one up with ARO and XX2 a few years ago), but 'digital' done well should still sound as good, if not as 'exuberant' perhaps :lol: :respect:

[Spectral Morn]

Best Linn I ever heard was a naimed one with Aro arm.



Regards Neil

[htm_1968]

I don't know what audio output interconnects you're using for digital, so please don't mind this interruption. The Klotz MC5000 cables as made up so beautifully by Brian here would bring out every last ounce of any emotion and timbral 'texture' in the digital sound source.

Forgive me for asking the above, but I tend to react when people 'only' use digital as a secondary source - apologies... The vinyl player you have IS excellent - the ARO on a late LP12 doesn't sound 'fruity' at all (I helped set an Armageddon one up with ARO and XX2 a few years ago), but 'digital' done well should still sound as good, if not as 'exuberant' perhaps :lol: :respect:

I'm not really a believer in cables, especially digital cables. I have Linn silvers through the current rig as they came with kit I owned previously and look nice. Changing 'em for cheaper/more expensive cable made no real difference. I sold the more expensive cables. I use Atlas speaker cables which I bought s/h from Emporium Hi Fi to replace my NACA5. They are 6m long, do the job, and look nice (nowt wrong with bling TBH and they match the Linn Silvers which calms my OCD side). We have the ubiquitous box of cables (digital, balanced and unbalanced interconnects) here which I swapped in and out without discernible effect. Currently I am using a Linn Silver rca between the renderer and DAC. I also have a bunch of optical interconnects which make no difference to my (admittedly cloth like) ears. I'm in the 'it is 0s and 1s' school of thought.

I went to the very £££ end of digital with the NDS/555PS DR pictured on the first page of this thread. I now use a rig that cost 1/10 of the outlay on that streamer alone. It sounds excellent, but I prefer vinyl for all sorts of reasons. What I really meant was that I prefer to focus my spending on the vinyl rig and records. I cannot see any point in further investment in the digital rig as the returns will be marginal. I do have nearly 4 TB of digitally stored music on my Vortexbox and NAS, most of which is not available on vinyl. I do enjoy digital, but where I own an album on vinyl and CD or FLAC, the vinyl sounds best to me by a country mile. This was true with the madly expensive Naim and Linn streamers and the Weiss streamer/server I demoed and the CD players I have owned. I find the Moon kit does exactly what I need in terms of playback so can't see the point in investing more. If only the control app for the Moon was better! Eventually, that will lead me to replace the kit, but as renderer and DAC owe me under £800 it is not a huge task.....unlike replacing the Naim rig.......


Best Linn I ever heard was a naimed one with Aro arm.



Regards Neil

My LP12 is set up with an Aro mounting a Dynavector DVXX2 II MC cartridge. I was 'lucky' to inherit the deck which came with a Keel/A sub chassis. I replaced a Naim NAPSA and Prefix/SuperCap with a Radikal power supply with DC motor and Urika phono preamp. This is the 'full fat' LP12 configuration and sounds wonderful to my ears. The move to radikal/urika was intended by the original owner. I've been listening to the same deck for 30-odd years through the various upgrades the original owner made. It has always sounded wonderful to me, and obviously has enormous sentimental value for me. A new cartridge is on the cards for 2016 :) probably another Dynavector, but I will audition others....