Harry's hifi

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Lots of mates think I'm mad. My kids think I'm mad. My wife knows me better than anyone else so she knows I'm mad, guess I've always been mad . . .

It's this hifi obsession you see. The search for that perfect sound. The lust for shiny new things. That upgrade that will provide audio nirvana.

I bought my first Hifi 40 years ago when I was 17. Garrard turntable, Amstrad amp and some shite little Wharfedale speakers. It's been a long and mostly very enjoyable journey.

Anyway, talking of shite little speakers. I've just taken delivery of some new ones. They're Usher BE10s and they're not little; far from it. I knew within ten seconds of Nils Lofgren's Keith Don't Go that they were slightly better than my old Wharfedales.

Anyway, I decided I'd do a sort of daily blog so that I can put down my thoughts on the Ushers and the rest if my system.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7535&d=1351358397

[Mika K]

Welcome to the club of madness!

Really nice speakers you have now there. Be-versions if read the other thread correctly? I like those more than the newer ones, so.. :) Anyway I think we all require better pics of your room and system and especially those speakers..

[julesd68]

Er, I think all the cash has gone on the speakers, not the camera ... ;)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I'll get one of my talented lads to take some decent pics. One took this picture. The other one made the rack.

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[julesd68]

Aha! Now it all makes sense - your son must be Ben Blackwood ... :)

Saw the pix of his gear on AOS a while back - he does look very talented indeed - would just love to order an oak rack from him ...

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

That's the fella.

Don't let me stop you from ordering a rack. If he ever pays me back for the workshop and machinery. Not to mention a forest of oak, I'll be able to buy some decent speakers.

[brian2957]

Don't think we could stand all that suspense all over again Harry . :eyebrows:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

7537

[Tarzan]

Er H, don't want to shit on your stick, but you run these speakers with Cyrus electronics?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Er H, don't want to shit on your stick, but you run these speakers with Cyrus electronics?

That's correct. You have a problem with that?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Anyway, Cyrus issues aside on we go

DAY 1 (October 26)
The awful wait was over. As the snow began to fall, a huge lorry appeared on the horizon and pulled up outside the house. I was amazed how big the three boxes were and wondered how the hell they would be taken off the lorry.
The driver manoeuvred them to the tail lift with his pallet truck and began to lower the lift. He seemed unfazed until I mentioned how much they were worth then he seemed to take more care.

Once off the lorry, we pulled and pushed them down the drive and there it was outside my front doir, a huge pallet of exotic electrical goods from Taiwan just waiting to be taken into the warmth of my listening room.

I couldn't resist taking the first pictures.

7544

7545

[jandl100]

Er H, don't want to shit on your stick, but you run these speakers with Cyrus electronics?

Says the person running a Cambridge Audio phonostage in an otherwise very nice tt system ..... :eyebrows:

I loved the Cyrus 8X cdp I had for a while - very sophisticated, musical sound, taut lean bass, beautiful mids and treble tonality, and with a truly fabulous soundstage!
Try 'em before you knock 'em, Andy! ;)

___

Lovely setup, Harry, I heard MartinT's big Ushers a week or so back - fabulous, especially on your choice of music. Just enjoy them for a good long while before you even start to think of fekking around with different electronics. :thumbsup:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

There's lots of things myself and possibly others could say about the earlier inflammatory comment but it will ruin what could be an interesting thread if we go down that route. Thanks.

[daytona600]

Usher Be10s are one of the best real world speakers for playing music , not hifi.
for any type of music , at any volume , very hard to find a speaker that is very detailed at low levels , but can still shake the walls
work in Small to Large rooms. Driven them with 9wpc SET 2a3c/300b valves to 1,000wpc SS.
They do like a very good front end & amps/cables/supports to truly start to sing

[lewis]

Lots of mates think I'm mad. My kids think I'm mad. My wife knows me better than anyone else so she knows I'm mad, guess I've always been mad . . .

It's this hifi obsession you see. The search for that perfect sound. The lust for shiny new things. That upgrade that will provide audio nirvana.

I bought my first Hifi 40 years ago when I was 17. Garrard turntable, Amstrad amp and some shite little Wharfedale speakers. It's been a long and mostly very enjoyable journey.

Anyway, talking of shite little speakers. I've just taken delivery of some new ones. They're Usher BE10s and they're not little; far from it. I knew within ten seconds of Nils Lofgren's Keith Don't Go that they were slightly better than my old Wharfedales.

Anyway, I decided I'd do a sort of daily blog so that I can put down my thoughts on the Ushers and the rest if my system.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=7535&d=1351358397

We're all in the same boat Harry, and we're all paddling in the same direction - Audio Nirvana! Gorgeous speakers Harry, i'm sure they were worth the long agonising wait. Enjoy. :)

[Tarzan]

That's correct. You have a problem with that?

Er no................................................ ..............................why?

Just never heard of Cyrus with Usher:)

[Tarzan]

There's lots of things myself and possibly others could say about the earlier inflammatory comment but it will ruin what could be an interesting thread if we go down that route. Thanks.


If this comment was aimed at me ?:)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

If this comment was aimed at me ?:)

If the cap fits.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

If the cap fits.

It was the bit about shitting on my stick that sort of have the game away. So don't pretend to be innocent and offended.

Now can that be an end to it? I'd like to get on with this thread which a couple of forum members urged me to do.

[Big Vern]

Anyway, Cyrus issues aside on we go

DAY 1 (October 26)
The awful wait was over. As the snow began to fall, a huge lorry appeared on the horizon and pulled up outside the house. I was amazed how big the three boxes were and wondered how the hell they would be taken off the lorry.
The driver manoeuvred them to the tail lift with his pallet truck and began to lower the lift. He seemed unfazed until I mentioned how much they were worth then he seemed to take more care.

Once off the lorry, we pulled and pushed them down the drive and there it was outside my front doir, a huge pallet of exotic electrical goods from Taiwan just waiting to be taken into the warmth of my listening room.

I couldn't resist taking the first pictures.

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7545

Hi Harry,

Beautiful looking speakers, and I bet they sound as good as they look! I look forward to reading the blog as it unfolds...great idea :)

Best Wishes,

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Thanks Vern. Glad you like the blog idea. Though it wasn't mine.

The speakers are even more beautiful in the flesh and already they sound even better than they look.

[Tarzan]

It was the bit about shitting on my stick that sort of have the game away. So don't pretend to be innocent and offended.

Now can that be an end to it? I'd like to get on with this thread which a couple of forum members urged me to do.

Er l wasn't and l am not, really happy you got your speakers and that youlike them.:)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

DAY ONE (October 26)
The awful wait was over. As the snow began to fall, a huge lorry appeared on the horizon and pulled up outside the house. I was amazed how big the three boxes were and wondered how the hell they would be taken off the lorry.

The driver manoeuvred them to the tail lift with his pallet truck and began to lower the lift. He seemed unfazed until I mentioned how much they were worth then he seemed to take more care.

Once off the lorry, we pulled and pushed them down the drive and there it was outside my front doir, a huge pallet of exotic electrical goods from Taiwan just waiting to be taken into the warmth of my listening room.

I couldn't resist taking the first pictures.


Then came the first tricky bit getting them into the house.

Two big strong sons were drafted in and having taken the metal bindings off we had two massive boxed and a seperate one with the bases in. The bases were easy enough to carry but the each speaker box was a big effort for three people.

The room was cleared so we had plenty of space to work and the sturdy double box containing the bases was carefully opened. First surprise. I'd assumed the bases would be cast iron like my other Ushers but I was presented with two huge and beautifully crafted lumps of solid wood. Even the bases were work of art and the quality was obvious.

Next tricky job was getting the box of the first speaker open. OK its only a box but when its a box weighing about 95kg its a bit of a challenge. I'd been told by Hugh, the UK importer, and Martin T that the way to do it was to turn the speakers upside down in the packing and open the bottom end. Easier said than done as the packaging errs on the side of being over engineered.

Once we'd got the first speaker upside down (worrying) we had to fit the first base. Obvioulsy Usher realise that only men buy their loudspeakers so they had thoughfully neglected to include any instructions for fitting the bases. In fairness no instructions were needed, any numpty could work it out, and the precision bolts were soon gingerly put in by hand and then tightened.

An exciting moment as we carefully laid the box flat and lifted the first speaker clear. Two layers of protective material and there it was in all its glory, a monolithic BE10 looking better than I could have hoped for. The speakers I bought were in Birch and I'd only seen Walnut before. I have to say the Birch is just stunning. I got wood over some wood.

The procedure was repeated for the other speaker and before you could say Cyrus electronics are overpriced, shitty junk (joke) I had a room that was now being dominated by four massive Usher speakers.

In order to make room I chucked all the expensive Cyrus stuff into a skip (yep, another joke)and removed the BE10s (minus feet) into the same position my 6381s had been.

I tell ya, I've drooled over and caressed some fine forms (when I was a lad) but these are just works of art. If you get a chance to just look at a pair take it. You won't be disappointed

A quick bit of jiggery pokery round the back of the speakers and the cables attaching my new babies to the four Cyrus Mono Xs that were going to drive them (yeah. I know they're shite. clue; joke) were in place and I was ready for that awful moment. You know the one when you are fairly confident it's all going to work but there's a nagging feeling in the back of your mind that you're about to become the unluckiest bloke in the world.

Everything is switched on. Nils Lofgren's Acoustic Live is in the Cyrus CDXTSE (rubbish but best I can do) and we are ready for lift off.

MORE LATER

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

7552

big boxes parked on the drive.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

7553

7554

7555

Getting the bases on

7556

Best get this lot cleared before the wife gets home

7557

I got wood

[MartinT]

Great stuff, Harry. Keep it going. I'd like to hear your impressions with a variety of different music.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Coming up Martin. Got 12 hours in yesterday but poor day today with only about six so far.

[jon1]

Very nice speakers harry:)very big :stalks:..Do they do any smaller floor standers?


jon

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Jon, the new Dancer 2s with DMD tweeters are getting incredible reviews. Not exactly small but much smaller than Be10s. Review in one of Hifi mags this month. Can't remember which one sorry.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

DAY ONE (October 26) MOMENT OF TRUTH

Yes, that awkward moment when you switch on and don't know what to expect. You're secretly hoping that it will be a heavenly sound, but you are also urging yourself not to expect too much. It could be a minor or major disappointment.

I knew that the system needed at least 30 minutes to warm up and that the big Ushers need at least 200 hours running in. I was also aware that I'd had the pleasure of some very good speakers for the past couple of years. Maybe I'd spent a fortune for a minimal improvement or no improvement at all.

I needn't have worried. As the first notes of Nils Lofgren's guitar (Acoustic Live) were carried across the room, it was obvious that these speakers were pretty good straight out of the box and with a system that had just been switched on.

After a few minutes listening I decided to clear away the packaging and boxes and left the system warm up.

An hour later with boxes safely stored in the loft, I returned to my listening room and started rifling through my CDs for my usual test stuff.

In for a penny. . . The Wall, then some Tracy Chapman, next some Yellow and finally Peter Gabriel before I called it a day.

DAY TWO (October 27)
Lousy weather so my regular 100 mile Saturday bike ride was conveniently called off and by 9.30 with the dogs walked along the beach, I settled down for what was to be a marathon session. Just over 12 hours later I decided to call it a day. Not that I'd anywhere near had enough

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

1. They are not fatiguing in the least. An almost non-stop 12 hours back that up.

2. Amazing soundstage. To be honest this was the biggest revelation. Not only was it wide but it was multi-layered. An incredible three dimensional effect meant I felt that I could at times reach out and touch the music.

3. The speakers vanished. I've heard people talking about this phenomenon but TBH I'd only experienced it on those odd occasions when my system was really on song. Now it was just magical sounds coming from all directions. At no time does the sound seem to be coming FROM the speakers. The room just seems to be filled with beautiful music and instruments from all angles.

4. Positioning. I'd literally plonked them down roughly in the same spot as my other speakers. All it took was a little bit of faffing with the toe-in and a bit of experiment on distance from the back wall and it was job done.

5. Bottom end. You expect good bass from such massive speakers and that's what you get. But this bass is rhythmical, musical and just seems right.

6. Top end. As to be expected from out of the box speakers the tweeters are maybe a teensy weensy bit harsh at times. But that's being picky. They're already sweeter than anything I've ever heard and will just get better and better.

7. The mids. A real revelation and hard to imagine that they can possibly get better when they're run in. Female vocals are especially rounded and just thoroughly enjoyable.

8. The devil's in the detail. No matter whether you play them loud or quiet they seem to transmit every detail and nuance without being over analytical.

THE VERDICT
OK it's early days yet but after five days and about 35 hours listening (I don't let work get in the way of pleasure) I couldn't be more pleased. I get up every morning and can't wait to play some music. The detail is incredible, the controlled bass just anchors everything but the best thing of all is that they are so natural, so transparent and just totally musical. Listening to these speakers is not listening to hifi, its listening to music.

OK, these are expensive speakers (yeah, I know it's all relative) but to be honest even if they had cost me ten times the amount I paid for them I couldn't have been disappointed.

To think that these speakers are nowhere near run in is just so exciting. They're going to get much better apparently. And I can improve that fabulous bass by adding some sand or lead shot.

I know we're not talking cheap speakers here, but for my money they're the best hifi purchase I've ever made and I can't see me ever wanting to change them. To be honest they're such incredible value for money I'm asking myself what's the catch?

[Floyddroid]

Theyv'e arrived then H? Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooovely chubbly! Congrats.

[Filterlab]

Awesome speakers Harry, simply wonderful to look at and I have no doubt that they're wonderful to listen to. I remember the Usher room at a hi-fi show I went to in Scotland years ago. Lots of folk went in with a kind of 'Usher? Hmmm. not heard they're stuff before... any good?' type of expression on their faces, most came out is stunned silence. The head chap from Usher was there too and he was handing out CDs. I still use that CD for testing variations in my set up to this day.

The BE10s remind me of the (wonderful) Sonus Faber speakers, but on a larger scale. It seems as though there's a lot of attention to detail paid in the cabinet construction and they look amazing as a result. Obviously that helps enormously with sound quality - and from the reviews that Usher speakers achieve it seems to have proved itself.

Enjoy these speakers mate, and you can be confident that if you upgrade the electronics side (although I too love Cyrus equipment), these speakers will never be outclassed. :)

[wiicrackpot]

Harry, check 'Public Apology' thread to see what i think of your speakers., not for appropriate consumption here. ;)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Cheers WII. Another Cyrus sceptic though?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Filterlab. Many thanks. The build quality of the Ushers is state of the art. The sound as you'd expect is incredible.

My next upgrade will be next year when I plan to change my Mono X power amps for x300s. I'll try two at first and possibly end up with four.

[wiicrackpot]

Cheers WII. Another Cyrus sceptic though?
Harry, not at all, just my poor attempt at humour. :rolleyes:

Must admit i've never heard any Cyrus stuff so won't comment but yours with you son's rack really looks the dog danglie's (i am sure it must have sound to match too), i guess i listen with both my eyes and ears when comes to spending 4 figure sums on kit, although homegrown stuff sounds good, none matches stuff from across the Atlantic when it comes to pride of ownership back in the 70's when i started my hifi journey, i tend to lust for Yank stuff although we've come a long way in recent years.

P.S. i am very intrigued at you user name and would like an explaination,
is it an encounter with said Politician (not literally) or just the genius in you for such an original moniker?,
not on this thread though, we'll keep it to your lovely speakers. :)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Wii. I've been asked about the name a few times and must get round to telling the story. For the moment I can say that me and that odious slime ball Mandy go back a long way. He has a lot to answer for and I'm certain I'll see my day with him.

Oh I could tell you stories . . .

[wiicrackpot]

Wii. I've been asked about the name a few times and must get round to telling they stor. For the moment I can say that me and that odious slime ball Mandy go back a long way. He has a lot to answer for and I'm certain I'll see my day with him.

Oh I could tell you stories . . .
Please do, the suspense is killing us.

[Filterlab]

My next upgrade will be next year when I plan to change my Mono X power amps for x300s. I'll try two at first and possibly end up with four.

WOW! That's a big pile of cash. This is where I thing people get Cyrus a bit wrong. They started in the mid-price section years back and they made some very good amplifiers. As time has gone on they've almost left that area behind and moved well into high end, developing their products on sound principles and tried and tested methods. A refined product indeed. I often draw comparison with the Porsche 911 - it started as a simple air cooled Beetle-inspired sports car and has steadily become one of the finest automobiles on offer.

I think that four X300s would really get the Ushers jumping! What are you using for a source?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Hi Filterlab. I'm 100% CD so it's a CDXTSE2 and a DAC XP+. Both are running with PSX-R power supplies.

[Filterlab]

I suppose the only other Cyrus upgrade is to move to the CD T, but whether it would yield much is questionable, especially given that you're using the CD with the separate DAC and both on PSX-Rs. Nice Cyrus system you have, and with it being a system you definitely have component synergy to your advantage.

Don't rule out different transports from other manufacturers though. Anything with a VRDS is always a worthy machine; Teac, Wadia and Esoteric all use the system. You might want to try your computer as a source as you have the offboard DAC. You might be amazed enough to do what I did: ditch CD playback altogether!

Whatever you do, enjoy! :)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

The CDT would be a considerable downgrade. The CDXTSE2 is the flagship transport in the range. CDT is less than half the price though.

[Macca]

You want to get yerself one of those new fangled turntable thingies. I hear they are all the rage at the moment ;)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Macca, I can't tell you how many times I've almost gone down that route but I daren't. The number of CDs I buy it would be the road to ruin if I went vinyl. I couldn't do both. Too much of a tidy mind.

[Macca]

I hear you :) - I was only being half-serious.

Anyways - you did promise to tell us your Mandy story....

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I'm on it. Now. Promise.

[Filterlab]

The CDT would be a considerable downgrade. The CDXTSE2 is the flagship transport in the range. CDT is less than half the price though.

I see, Cyrus have their orders muddled up a bit on the website.

Don't forget other manufacturers' offerings though!

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I'm 100% happy with the CDXTSE2 thanks ;-)

[daytona600]

Pity your ushers are not the walnut ones garry , very nice custom stienway finish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hGON1ot-nE8#!

[MartinT]

Mine are standard walnut finish and I'm not displeased with it. Wonderful as that Steinway gloss finish looks, it would show every mark and fingerprint in a most unforgiving way!

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Got to say that the finish of Usher speakers is so good, I'm amazed that anyone would want them customised.

[Audio Al]

I would have a pair that were pebble dashed if the price was low enough :lol:

Pssssst ! Its all about the sound ;)

[MartinT]

His internal rewiring and crossover component swaps has given me ideas for a future upgrade. I wouldn't want to spoil their highly coherent sound, though.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Martin, that just shows how the madness takes hold. You're 100pc happy but you want to improve things :-)

[MartinT]

No, I don't. It's a rainy day thing for when I retire.

I doubt that I'll see retirement so the question is moot ;)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Martin, that's the spirit. You younger chappies need to keep grafting away to pay for my pension. I've been retired nearly 7 years now and I can tell you that it's grossly underestimated. Don't know how I ever found time to work. That said, retirement was forced on me as the Prince of Darkness made me more or less unemployable.

[MartinT]

I had a bout of Prince of Darkness's doings, but have come through now. I cannot see myself ever not working, though. If not employed, doing something enterprising myself.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Martin, you may have misunderstood. When I said Prince of Darkness I meant Mandelson. Basically he managed to get me sacked. Mud sticks though.

[Macca]

I read somewhere that Mandy is quite proud of that nickname - perhaps you should stop using it? Maybe use something like 'that f**king ponce' instead? We'll know who you mean :)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

That's true Macca. He does like it. He also likes the stupid mushy peas story (I'm sure you've heard it) but its actually totally untrue. He never, ever points that out though.
I can think of many things to call him. . .

[MartinT]

Martin, you may have misunderstood. When I said Prince of Darkness I meant Mandelson. Basically he managed to get me sacked. Mud sticks though.

Oh, ah. I was talking about the more 'omnipotent' version and the dreaded 'c' word.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Yeah I could use another c word about Mandelson.

[Canetoad]

C%&ts are useful! Don't call him that! :lol:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Well, I reckon I've got about 100 hours racked up on the speakers. Been laid up with a shocking virus for two weeks so I've been giving the system some stick.

Having struggled to get my hands on 40kg of lead shot I decided to ask myself a sensible question: "am I ever going to notice any difference if I just fill them with sand?"

So, half an hour later I was back from B&Q £9 worse off but with two 25kg bags of their finest kiln dried.

Yes, it was a bit of a faff filling the voids but nowhere near as bad as my last Ushers.

Half and hour later and the speakers were back in position and so was I.

I reckon it's the best £9 I'll ever spend. There's even more bass (not that it was lacking), it's tighter and more rhythmic.

So, another ring up the ladder to audio nirvana . . . and they're still not fully run in.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Harry,

You did exactly what I did. I filled the atacama stands I own with Kiln dried sand and also noticed more bass. If you wait another month the sand will have settled and you should be able to get more in there which should add more mass and even tighten the bass up a little further. Well it did on mine anyway

Andrew

[MartinT]

I reckon it's the best £9 I'll ever spend. There's even more bass (not that it was lacking), it's tighter and more rhythmic.

Excellent - told you ;)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

You did Martin.

You're a fella who knows his stuff.

So any thoughts on what to do with this lot that have just arrived?

7686

[Wakefield Turntables]

Your such a tease why not open them up and then take some photos so we can all see your ?? new gear ??

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I am a tease. Martin can have a stab.

[MartinT]

TubeTraps and acoustic panels?

[brian2957]

You did Martin.

You're a fella who knows his stuff.

So any thoughts on what to do with this lot that have just arrived?

7686

Send them to me Harry . I'll be in all day :D

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Martin didn't get it.

Clue: a favourite of mine and Martin's.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Send them to me Harry . I'll be in all day :D

Can you handle pallet deliveries Brian?

[Audio Al]

Are they your previous speakers ready to be sold on ?:)

[brian2957]

Can you handle pallet deliveries Brian?

This one yes :eyebrows:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Are they your previous speakers ready to be sold on ?:)

No. I could never get rid of my old Ushers. I love Ushers. So does Martin.

How many clues do you need?

[brian2957]

I was going to guess hifi furniture Harry , but your son makes some stunning stuff already. A very talented young man.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I was going to guess hifi furniture Harry , but your son makes some stunning stuff already. A very talented young man.

He does and he is. Takes after his mother. Got her looks as well.

[brian2957]

Did you not have another set of speakers you wanted to shift Harry . Is that what the parcels are ?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Brian, just sold a pair of Castle Howards. Guy collected them today. He was gobsmacked at how immaculate they are. Well pleased for £340. I also sold a pair of Focal's last week.

So I'm a bit short on speakers ;-)

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

That's a no.

[brian2957]

You had a house- full of nice speakers Harry . Hope the wife appreciated them .
;) Is it some kind of frames in the box.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Frames? No.

They're very, very heavy.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

OK. Do you give in? Am I going to have to tell you?

[Audio Al]

Yes Yes

I give in :D

[The Grand Wazoo]

They're very, very heavy.

It's various concrete-jacketed body parts of the shareholders of the courier company that delivered your speakers.
........and you're just off for a day trip on a boat.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Right. Are you sitting comfortably . . .

In fairness the last thing I needed was another pair of speakers. When the new Usher BE10s arrived I vowed that I wouldn't part with my beloved Usher 6381s. I'd decided that I'd use them in my second system and sell my Castle Howards which I duly did.

Then I got thinking 'do I really need a second system?'

I've never really been able to get my head round second systems. After all, they'll always be second best and our hobby really isn't about second best.

So, I decided that a second system may as well be really cheap if I had one at all. So the Usher 6381s don't really fit in the cheap system vision.

So I thought that I might put together a home cinema system.

Then I got a chance to buy a pair of speakers and a centre speaker at a really silly price.

I had to apply some woman's logic. NEVER MIND HOW MUCH I WAS SPENDING, LOOK AT HOW MUCH I WAS SAVING.

So I am now the proud owner of some spanking new Usher 6311s and an Usher x-616 centre speaker. I'll use them with my Usher 6381s to put together a stonking home cinema system.

Daft thing is, the last film I saw (honestly) was Pocahontas. I don't have time to watch films.

NEVER MIND. LOOK HOW MUCH MONEY I SAVED.

So now you know what was in the big boxes.

[julesd68]

Harry - I think we need to know who is knocking out these Ushers at silly prices - was it the same dealer as before?? :eyebrows:

Have fun with the new system. :)

[brian2957]

Sounds fantastic Harry , you're a lucky man . When's the projector coming . That's my guess for what's in the box part 2 :eyebrows:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Guys, I know even less about home cinema than Hifi. Going to be a very steep learning curve. Any help gratefully received.

[julesd68]

He's dodged the question!

I'm going to get my mates in MI5 on the case ... :scratch:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Oh sorry Jules. I've been sworn to secrecy I'm afraid.

[julesd68]

Ha - I thought you might say that!

Probably just as well I don't know - I've really got to get off the express upgrade train for a while ...

[MartinT]

RTFM, or these days the IKEA-like heiroglyphics diagram.

[tannoyman]

Hi Harry

That little lot looks a bit special. I have not yet managed to hear the big Ushers, a failing which I must rectify soon. The rack looks beautiful but with wooden racks it goes beyond that. They also let the kit work much better. I look forward to reading your blogs

David :stalks::stalks:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

David, the oak racks are made by son Ben (he's posted on the forum) and they not only look superb but for some reason they sound great.

I used to be a sceptic thinking racks were snake oil. Not now.

I'm a bit of a Grand Designs man so I like my Hifi to look good as well as sounding good.

Thanks.

[icehockeyboy]

[QUOTE=isuckedmandelsonslemons;



Then I got a chance to buy a pair of speakers and a centre speaker at a really silly price.



So I am now the proud owner of some spanking new Usher 6311s and an Usher x-616 centre speaker. I'll use them with my Usher 6381s to put together a stonking home cinema system.


.[/QUOTE]

I believe these may be the ones I was tempted by on e bay?
I'd already committed to buy the 6371's, otherwise you would have been outbid and they would have been mine! :lol:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I believe these may be the ones I was tempted by on e bay?
I'd already committed to buy the 6371's, otherwise you would have been outbid and they would have been mine! :lol:

You're probably right. They were such a bargain I've bought another pair. Should be delivered on Tuesday. No, I'm not kidding. I AM the house of Usher.

[icehockeyboy]

You're probably right. They were such a bargain I've bought another pair. Should be delivered on Tuesday. No, I'm not kidding. I AM the house of Usher.

RESPECK!!!!! :D

You are hereby appointed as head of the Usher speaker owners club!

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Thanks.
1pr BE10s
2pr 6311s
1pr 6381s
1 X616

Probably a bit over the top.

But as I've always thought, if something's worth doing its worth doing to excess.

Now back to this bloody loft project

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

By way of an update . . . .

I've been living with my stunning in every possible way BE10s for about five weeks now and from day one these speakers have been everything I expected them to be. Actually they've far exceeded my very high expectations.

I reckon they've now had over 100 hours of music through them so they're nowhere near run in yet. But they really are getting better by the day. Most noticeable improvement is the bass. Just much tighter and precise than day one. Hard to believe they're going to get better.

The only downside is how unforgiving they seem to be of shit recordings. Good recordings sound sublime. Poor ones become virtually unlistenable. Easily sorted: don't listen to bad recordings.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Good recordings sound sublime. Poor ones become virtually unlistenable. Easily sorted: don't listen to bad recordings.

There's a whole thread worth of discussion to be had on that subject Harry. Personally, that would be a big problem to me.

[Marco]

Me too....

Marco.

[MartinT]

I don't get that, Harry. It's likely to be your source components or power arrangements rather than the speakers. I find very much the opposite: even a dire recording (try Hawkwind's Space Ritual, for instance) has something new to say, some further insight, through the Ushers.

[Macca]

What are some examples of 'bad' recordings?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

What are some examples of 'bad' recordings?

There are plenty. 90% of pop CDs recorded in last ten years.

[MartinT]

What are some examples of 'bad' recordings?

Hawkwind - Space Ritual (mentioned above, one of the worst live recordings with dull tonal balance and totally lacking in detail, but stupendous music).

Coldplay - X&Y (possibly the worst examply of a digital recording gone horribly wrong, with compressed shouty sound and enormous sibilance).

Elkie Brooks - No More the Fool (awful vocal treatment, probably run through an Aphex Aural Exciter, rendering her lovely voice almost unrecognisable).

That do you for now? ;)

[Macca]

I was thinking more of stuff that Harry was finding unlistenable. I don't have any of those albums you mention, Martin. I find there are very few recordings that my system makes unlistenable - I do have a best of the Bee Gees CD that is pretty dire - very compressed and too mastered way high in level.

[MartinT]

Ah, ok. I cite the above three as astounding examples of crap recordings, where in each case the engineer should have been taken outside and shot.

[Macca]

I have heard and read many times that that Coldplay album is a dire recording. It is very rare I buy poppy stuff like that so I guess I avoid the worst of things that way.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Agree re Coldplay x&y. The last one is even worse. If I had any time to go through my collection I could give you a long list. Latest waste of money Jake Bugg album. Talented lad but some tracks unlistenable. It's in the car after one play.

[MartinT]

I cited the Coldplay because it's an album of great songs, which makes me even more annoyed at the appalling sound quality. It's hard to believe that a group with that pull would have signed it off. Perhaps even they had no say in it.

[julesd68]

Are the Coldplay vinyl recordings any good?

[Canetoad]

I cited the Coldplay because it's an album of great songs, which makes me even more annoyed at the appalling sound quality. It's hard to believe that a group with that pull would have signed it off. Perhaps even they had no say in it.

It's my favourite of their albums. You're right though, it is pretty dire. :(

[MartinT]

Are the Coldplay vinyl recordings any good?

I wouldn't chance money on one, so I don't know :(

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I cited the Coldplay because it's an album of great songs, which makes me even more annoyed at the appalling sound quality. It's hard to believe that a group with that pull would have signed it off. Perhaps even they had no say in it.

Agree totally. I don't think they give a toss about sq though. Just want to watch the millions roll in. Sad to think that musicians don't want their albums to sound great.

[Marco]

Ah, ok. I cite the above three as astounding examples of crap recordings, where in each case the engineer should have been taken outside and shot.

Not before a King-sized Cadbury's Flake, dipped in donkey's bum juice, had been deftly inserted up his Jap's eye.

Marco.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Ooh you have such a way with words.

Seriously, what we are discussing here is precisely why I started my list of good CD recordings. I've spent thousands on shite CD recordings and quite frankly I've had enough.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Anyway, back on track.

All being well I'm getting a very nice delivery tomorrow.

As Rolf would say 'can you tell what it is yet?'

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Latest piece in the jigsaw arrives at The House of Usher. 7847

[MartinT]

Good grief, have you got shares in them, Harry?

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

I'll have shares in the Big Issue ie selling it, if I spend any more dosh.

I suffer badly with obsessive/compulsive behaviour. The basic room in the loft for a modest home cinema has got well out of hand.

To paraphrase Steve Redgrave, if anyone sees me go near a pair of Ushers again, they have my permission to shoot me.

[brian2957]

So when are you buying your next pair then Harry:lol:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Brian. No way. That's it. Finito. I've done my bit for Mr Usher's pension pot.

[MartinT]

He'll want a pair of micro Ushers for his laptop next.

[brian2957]

Don't Usher sell laptops too :D

[Audio Al]

Harry Harry

Quick

LOOK :stalks:


http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?p=393058#post393058


:lol::lol:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Great speakers for someone at an incredible price. I'd love to buy them. I think I could buy them and use them for a couple of years and then sell them without losing any money. But I've already got four pairs of Ushers and my wife is threatening to cut my bollocks of. Sooooh, for that reason - I'm out . . .

[brian2957]

Very wise to keep SWMBO on the right side Harry . I think you've done well so far being able to amass your very nice collection of Usher speakers . Enjoy mate :)

[Floyddroid]

I'd like to hear the Mandy story too.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Steve, told it on the user name thread.

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

He'll want a pair of micro Ushers for his laptop next.

Well, not micro Ushers but oh Lord if I ain't gone and bought another pair of the damned things. A nice pair of S520 bookshelf speakers. Don't mind if I do at that price guv.

[brian2957]

Brian. No way. That's it. Finito. I've done my bit for Mr Usher's pension pot.
:lol:

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

It's a fair cop Guv. I'll come quietly.

[mad-moon]

Now that's what I call a rack...all that lovely oak...drool...
I'll get one of my talented lads to take some decent pics. One took this picture. The other one made the rack.

7536

[isuckedmandelsonslemons]

Now that's what I call a rack...all that lovely oak...drool...

Yep. He's good.