No stereo blues

[realysm42]

Just after getting my system sorted, waited a month for an isotek evo 3 solus with schuko plugs. The plonkers sent one with English fittings :doh::doh::doh:

So I bit the bullet and asked for the next model up (Aquarius). This has the high amp fitting and so I'd need to send my mains lead back for an upgrade/refit (and a some other bits beside).

So now I'm without a stereo for the first time in years. I'm in pain! I never realised the place would seem so empty without it :(

Someone tell me they're suffering too, or that its all going to be worth the wait and the upgrade?!

[julesd68]

Martin,

I collected a Technics 1210 on March 16 and still haven't heard it due to armboard and psu issues ...

:doh:

[Alex_UK]

Martin - you need another system(s)! Or a decent portable rig that you can take everywhere and anywhere and never be without music wherever you are. But you have my sympathy, nonetheless!

[RobbieGong]

Martin,

I collected a Technics 1210 on March 16 and still haven't heard it due to armboard and psu issues ...

:doh:

My amp went down last August, that coupled with system dismantled for decorating duty and sourcing a replacement amp had me without tunes til after Christmas - painful !!. Thanks again Jules for bringing the very amp I won on ebay down from Manchester, you da man :)

[.mus]

Bah! I'll see no hint of a system for next THREE MONTHS!!! while I'm out of town for work, so it could be worse :)

I might have to treat myself to some sort of upgrade while I'm away, so I have something new to play with when I eventually return.

[MartinT]

A Sansa Clip Plus and a pair of headphones could reduce your misery a great deal. It does me very well for travelling, with excellent sound quality.

http://www.thepracticalnerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/sandisk-sansa-clip-plus-gallery-0.jpg

[.mus]

Thanks for the tip Martin. I've heard very good things about the Sansa from friends. After weighing up the pros and cons, I plumped in the end for Cowon X7, to keep me sane while I'm on the road. The two very nice things about the X7, in addition to the SQ, are the storage - 160GB, so I've got a little under 30,000 tracks on there - and the battery life - I use it everyday for at least six hours, and sometimes through the night as well, and I charge it no more than once a week. It's not as nice to use as the Sansa though - cumbersome resistive touch screen, and very clunky native GUI (which is replaceable, thankfully).

Still, I miss hearing music in space :( Although where I am at the moment there's a lot of very pleasant ambient sound - especially birdsong - which I don't really get at home.

[MartinT]

Although where I am at the moment there's a lot of very pleasant ambient sound - especially birdsong - which I don't really get at home.

Thus your avatar.

[Joe]

Just after getting my system sorted, waited a month for an isotek evo 3 solus with schuko plugs. The plonkers sent one with English fittings :doh::doh::doh:

So I bit the bullet and asked for the next model up (Aquarius). This has the high amp fitting and so I'd need to send my mains lead back for an upgrade/refit (and a some other bits beside).

So now I'm without a stereo for the first time in years. I'm in pain! I never realised the place would seem so empty without it :(

Someone tell me they're suffering too, or that its all going to be worth the wait and the upgrade?!

I'm suffering too. Main system is boxed-up ready for part-exchanging, and has been for several days. Second system inaccessible due to amount of clobber in the top room. I'm reduced to reading a book!

[realysm42]

Thanks for the suggestion martin but I don't use headphones anymore, I've caused enough damage to my hearing so I avoid them.

I feel your pain Joe.

John W is offering an mdac upgrade too, so I'll be shipping that off to the Czech republic shortly too. Still, there's a reason we do these things eh?

What new gears coming your way Joe?

BTW with my new speakers in place , with don't really need the punch my sub offers anymore, would there be any interest in buying it?

Won sub of the year in what hi if 2012 awards, would let it go to £300...

[Wakefield Turntables]

I feel your pain. I had no deck for about 3 months after I blew the main pcb, i got it back in January and have firmly left it alone!!

[seoirse2002]

Just after getting my system sorted, waited a month for an isotek evo 3 solus with schuko plugs. The plonkers sent one with English fittings :doh::doh::doh:

So I bit the bullet and asked for the next model up (Aquarius). This has the high amp fitting and so I'd need to send my mains lead back for an upgrade/refit (and a some other bits beside).

So now I'm without a stereo for the first time in years. I'm in pain! I never realised the place would seem so empty without it :(

Someone tell me they're suffering too, or that its all going to be worth the wait and the upgrade?!

Hi Martin,
we seem to live in the same neck of the woods....if you wish to borrow an amp to keep the music going in the meantime,feel free to pm

[realysm42]

George that's really kind of you but I'm without a PSU for my dac and PC as well, I've taken the downtime as an opportunity to really sort everything out in my system, so hopefully it should all come back in one whack and be good to go...

[seoirse2002]

George that's really kind of you but I'm without a PSU for my dac and PC as well, I've taken the downtime as an opportunity to really sort everything out in my system, so hopefully it should all come back in one whack and be good to go...

No prob,...hope all goes well:)

[MartinT]

How are your Ushers sounding now, Martin?

[realysm42]

Last I heard, bloody marvellous!

One thing that's missing from them currently is the spikes, but I've got some on order, so it'll be interesting to see what they bring to the game.

Martin, how much ballast do you use in each speaker and what do you use?

I've got about 15kg of lead shot in each of them and despite my horrible listening room, bass seems to be relatively under control, I was wondering if its possible to over do it with ballast? I found it to be a resounding yes with speaker stands.

I've just come into some money, so am thinking about getting something a little special for the set up now :eyebrows:

[MartinT]

I bought 60kg of recycled yacht keel lead ballast and put 30kg into each speaker (a painful exercise). I feel that it's about right - bass is subterranean and very tight, even down to where my ex REL Studio II sub used to go. Classical music is the real test here and the deepest organ pedals from, say, the Ruffatti organ in Davies Symphony Hall (one of the most powerful in the world) causes seismic vibrations of some potency.

With yours, 15kg may be about right. Are you using the floor cones? Into what?

[realysm42]

Cool, I thought I had the balance about right.

Currently, mine are on the cast iron stands, without the Usher brass spikes. I live in a flat and its pretty easy to hear the neighbours, so its safe to assume the floors no cop... Unfortunately the isolation platforms I've got (franc audio) aren't big enough to accommodate them.

So when the spikes arrive I've got some blue horizon spike shoes to fit them into, expecting a nice change from that.

I've asked David at mcru if I can demo his new in house valve dac (for some reason the only way I can get to it on his site is via his SIG on here). Looks like it might be rather special; I've wanted to incorporate (or at least try) valves somewhere in my chain without the knowledge required to maintain/run a valve amp.

[MartinT]

Yes, flats are problematic and floorboards not the best at keeping speakers well grounded and stable. Have you thought about a couple of big granite slabs under them?

[realysm42]

I have, indeed I've got three (these were for my old speakers) and tbh, after hearing the difference the Franc Platforms made, I'd never put granite under a set again, I've got faith that the stands are massive enough (27 inches deep, 28lbs) that with the spikes they should be adequate.

Granites a bitch for scratching things too, as my rack knows!

[julesd68]

I've just come into some money, so am thinking about getting something a little special for the set up now :eyebrows:

New speakers then Martin?? :lol:

[julesd68]

I've wanted to incorporate (or at least try) valves somewhere in my chain without the knowledge required to maintain/run a valve amp.

Go for it! No great knowledge required at all. You could start with a nice modern valve integrated like a Puresound, or try a hybrid like mine. You will want to try a little valve rolling at some point to tune the sound to your preference - there is loads of info available on the different types, they are readily available on eBay and elsewhere; fitting is easy. Plenty of valve enthusiasts here too!