Steve's system......Almost there ?

[Stetra21]

I thought it about time that I posted a few pics of my current set-up , it's the first time I've tried this so apologies if it's not up to the
high standards of the experts on here !....

The set-up :

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b482/stetra21/IMG_0075_zps8cd47043.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/stetra21/media/IMG_0075_zps8cd47043.jpg.html)


I've been graduating toward the dark side (Digital audio !) over recent months , and I think I'm getting there in terms of achieving the sound I'm after , which is slightly warm-sounding , almost analogue , and without the digital harshness one hears so much about.

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b482/stetra21/IMG_0086_zps6ce65a66.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/stetra21/media/IMG_0086_zps6ce65a66.jpg.html)

The addition of the V-Link & IfI USB power have made a huge difference , and , though it may defy all known logic , the icing on the cake really was investing in the Furutech and IfI Gemini USB leads ! Not cheap , but have transformed the sound , deeper bass , wider soundstage and an all-round foot-tapping experience ! I can't recommend highly enough the Rega amp and DAC , just a lovely combination.

http://i1288.photobucket.com/albums/b482/stetra21/IMG_0081_zpsd701c67a.jpg (http://s1288.photobucket.com/user/stetra21/media/IMG_0081_zpsd701c67a.jpg.html)

[synsei]

A lot of thought has been lavished on this system, well done Steve I bet it sounds lovely, you are also using the same model Sound Organisation rack as I do. I utilize a Rega DAC too and I treasure its presentation :)

[Tim]

Very, very nice Steve - love the Springsteen poster too. Are the two items either side lyrics?

I'm a Rega fan too, I know some think its rather laid back but I love it, makes my all digital system sound gorgeous to my ears. It looks like you have also discovered the benefit of taking care about how you deliver your source material to the DAC, clean power and clean data delivery are vital to getting a good result which I think a few folk may not realise or have tried. A lot is made about digital vs vinyl sound-wise and digital hardness as you say, but is that a CDP or a good file based system as there is a big difference? And I'm often told I haven't heard a good vinyl system (well I have), but what I say to the doubters is have they heard a good file based audio digital system? Even a modest priced well thought out system will oust quite high-end CDP's, but I guess you have found that out ;)

Welcome to the dark side :thumbsup:

[Stetra21]

Thanks Dave , yes , I'm really pleased with the sound. The only thing I'm possibly looking at now is upgrading the speakers. I've always liked the Aegis Ones but they're around 15 years old now and there's a nagging doubt (Typical !) that they're now holding back the rest of the system..... I'd appreciate any input from other members about possible replacements , but I'd want "Improved" , not "Different" ! I've been looking at the KEF LS50 , any other suggestions ? (Budget around £500 - £800)

[synsei]

Thanks Dave , yes , I'm really pleased with the sound. The only thing I'm possibly looking at now is upgrading the speakers. I've always liked the Aegis Ones but they're around 15 years old now and there's a nagging doubt (Typical !) that they're now holding back the rest of the system..... I'd appreciate any input from other members about possible replacements , but I'd want "Improved" , not "Different" ! I've been looking at the KEF LS50 , any other suggestions ? (Budget around £500 - £800)

When it comes to speakers age is no bar to performance Steve. I have a pair of B&W DM2's here which hark back to 1972 and they run rings around most modern speakers, they sound amazingly transparent and dynamic, and still would if I hadn't blown both Coles supertweeters recently in a fit of stupidity... :lol: I am currently running a pair of ART Skibo's which are quite different in presentation to the DM2's however I am gradually warming to them...

[Stetra21]

Cheers Tim , yes , huge fan of the Boss since teenage years , and they are framed lyrics , "Thunder Road" and "Born to Run" no less !
I'm primarily using the file-based stuff these days , but the trust old Marantz CS63SE still gets a reguklar run-out as it's such a lovely-sounding player.
Using the Gizmo app to control JRiver from a tablet is just wonderful !

[Tim]

Using the Gizmo app to control JRiver from a tablet is just wonderful !
It sure is . . . . I totally love it and the pleasure I get from my system and music now I just cannot put into words, the best sound and the most enjoyment I have ever had. I am also going through my CD collection and scanning the whole package - the disc itself, rear cover art and booklet to a .pdf document which I can view on the tablet too, this is great, but like ripping it requires an initial investment of time. But it does mean once ripped and scanned, the CD can be archived out the way. The Adobe pdf app is great for viewing them, especially those that are hard to read because they are small, just enlarge them with a finger gesture.

I also use Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/user/nonstopflights) (not me, just an example), which has also elevated my enjoyment of music and makes tracking a large collection a lot of fun, as well as the discovery possible once you have used it for awhile. It suggests music for you and you can browse peoples music collection who play similar music to you - some people are really missing out I think. I love this bit, it's like thumbing through peoples albums that you know like what you like, to see what they have that you might not know about - brilliant. There is so much more to file based audio than some of the die hard's realise. I still like to buy a CD though and don't much care for downloads just yet, but I guess that's the future.

Great idea for the Boss lyrics, I have actually printed out a Holly Williams song I am hoping to get her to sign when I see her again, then I also want to frame it. We think alike it seems ;)

[RichB]

Holy Crap! We've got practically the same system...

Yes the amp/dac combo is magic and takes some beating. I even have a CD63 I run into the DAC. Vlink II etc lol

Surprised you get on with the furutech usb lead though, I tried both this and the Supra USB 2.0 The supra beat it hands down for depth and weight in the sound. No so much sparkly detail but just more rounded. Up to this point I'd been highly cynical about the effects of digital leads.

Might I humbly suggest a Rega turntable at some stage, you've never heard the Brio-R til you get its phono stage involved mate! Its no slouch.

Anyway, lovely tidy set up and I'd imagine it sounds hot!

All the best

Rich

[RichB]

Thanks Dave , yes , I'm really pleased with the sound. The only thing I'm possibly looking at now is upgrading the speakers. I've always liked the Aegis Ones but they're around 15 years old now and there's a nagging doubt (Typical !) that they're now holding back the rest of the system..... I'd appreciate any input from other members about possible replacements , but I'd want "Improved" , not "Different" ! I've been looking at the KEF LS50 , any other suggestions ? (Budget around £500 - £800)

Might seem an obvious choice but give the RS1 and RS3 speakers a listen if you like that Rega thing. The one thing I can say for certain is it all seems to work very well together.

[Stetra21]

Holy Crap! We've got practically the same system...

Yes the amp/dac combo is magic and takes some beating. I even have a CD63 I run into the DAC. Vlink II etc lol

Surprised you get on with the furutech usb lead though, I tried both this and the Supra USB 2.0 The supra beat it hands down for depth and weight in the sound. No so much sparkly detail but just more rounded. Up to this point I'd been highly cynical about the effects of digital leads.

Might I humbly suggest a Rega turntable at some stage, you've never heard the Brio-R til you get its phono stage involved mate! Its no slouch.

Anyway, lovely tidy set up and I'd imagine it sounds hot!

All the best

Rich

Crikey Rich , were we seperated at birth ? Thanks for the tip on the speakers , must give the Regas an audition. Hmm , you've got me wondering about the Supra USB now , I'm going to have to get one , otherwise I'll never know what I've been missing ! As for a turntable , very tempting , but most of my non-embarrassing vinyl was sold off a while ago .... think I've got Des O'Connor's greatest hits stashed away somewhere though !

[RichB]

Crikey Rich , were we seperated at birth ? Thanks for the tip on the speakers , must give the Regas an audition. Hmm , you've got me wondering about the Supra USB now , I'm going to have to get one , otherwise I'll never know what I've been missing ! As for a turntable , very tempting , but most of my non-embarrassing vinyl was sold off a while ago .... think I've got Des O'Connor's greatest hits stashed away somewhere though !
I think we must be living in parallel universes mate, there's also a fair bit of Bruce in my collection too. Indeed seeing him at Glastonbury a few years ago was a huge box ticked on my gig bucket list....

I can listen to my Live in Hammersmith forever, if ever there was a sound of a hungry young band making their way in the world then that has to be it. A classic.