Good afternoon forum

[bazz]

Good afternoon forum,

Having recently returned to the Hi-Fi fold after too many years in the wilderness, I've enjoyed following the threads on here and have now taken the plunge to get involved.

Due to moving abroad for a period some 12 years ago, I was forced to sell my pride and joy system consisting - Pink Triangle Anniversary/SME V + Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista Amp & CD/SACD + Martin Logan Clarity speakers. In hindsight a huge mistake but what can you do.

I've now started again and after an initial mistake as a result of my rather impetuous nature, the following system is in place and the joy of music & Hi-Fi has returned.

- NAIM - UnitiQute 2 (streaming ALAC & WAV from a Mac + iRadio with internal amp disabled)

- NAIM - DAC-V1

- NAIM - NAP 250.2

- KEF - LS50's (on Partington Super Dreadnought stands)

The cables are all Chord Co which i've found to work really well with the NAIM kit. Their Signature Tuned Array is a revelation although a tad expensive!

Clearly much has changed since the early noughties and I'm just getting to grips with networking, file formats, UPnP and ripping etc. In all aspects the forum has been a fantastic source of information.

My main interest is in music which is eclectic to say the least and good Hi-Fi is a means to an end although the technical stuff intrigues me.

The areas of interest for me currently are -

- Ripping - currently using an iMac and looking at Vortex Box, MCRU Music Server and similar as a better alternative.

- Mains - toying with the idea of a dedicated radial circuit + balanced isolation transformer.

- Speakers - although i'm delighted with the KEF LS50's and amazed at what they can do for £800, i hanker after the sound of electrostatic's so i'm looking at going back down the Martin Logan route.

Apologies i've waffled on rather too long and have had to change the title from Good morning to Good afternoon so time to stop.

I'm thoroughly looking forward to getting involved with the forum as i have so much to learn from you all.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

[mr sneff]

Hi Paul, welcome to AoS :) Great introduction, I'm sure you'll find plenty of help and advice in the areas you outlined. Only one thing..... what music do you like?

[Macca]

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum.

[bazz]

Thanks Mr Sneff,

Apologies...... the comment that my music taste is eclectic wasn't very helpful.

Here's a taste of what i'm currently enjoying -

- Gregory Porter - Be Good + Water + Liquid Spirit

- Tom Baxter - The Uncarved Block

- Arne Domnérus - Jazz at the Pawnshop

- John Grant - Pale Green Ghosts

- Agnes Obel - Aventine + Philharmonics

- Laura Viers - Carbon Glacier + Salt Breakers

- London Grammar - If You Wait

- Sumie - Sumie

- Coldplay - Ghost Stories

- Natalie Merchant - Leave Your Sleep + Natalie Merchant

- Paulo Nutini - Caustic Love

- Sam Brown - Box + 43 Minutes

- Hadouk Trio - Live at FIP

- Diana Krall - Live in Paris

- Roy Harper - Stormcock

- Show of Hands - Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed

- Nick Drake - all albums

- Pink Floyd - all albums

- Morrissey - World Peace Is None Of Your Business

- Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Paul

Nice introduction - hope you achieve your ambition to reacquaint yourself with some electrostatic speakers.

Good taste in music, by the way. :)

Enjoy the Forum

[mr sneff]

Thanks Paul, I'm a big Laura Veirs fan too.

[Spectral Morn]

Welcome to AOS Paul

Getting rid of the TRi-vista CD/SACD when you did was a lucky escape, as reliability for that Philips mechanism was terrible, failure rate was crazy and there were no replacements. Many customers of many companies who used that mechanism were left high and dry, including Michael Fremer at the time if I recall right.

The Tri vista amp was the last big MF amp I liked, the follow ups were too much of the iron fist in a frayed velvet glove imho.


Regards Neil

[bazz]

Thanks,

The MF Tri-Vista amp and CD/SACD did sound fantastic and i agree about the later amps having recently had a listen. Sounds like a fortuitous time to sell with regards the transport issues.




Welcome to AOS Paul

Getting rid of the TRi-vista CD/SACD when you did was a lucky escape, as reliability for that Philips mechanism was terrible, failure rate was crazy and there were no replacements. Many customers of many companies who used that mechanism were left high and dry, including Michael Fremer at the time if I recall right.

The Tri vista amp was the last big MF amp I liked, the follow ups were too much of the iron fist in a frayed velvet glove imho.


Regards Neil

[Spectral Morn]

Thanks,

The MF Tri-Vista amp and CD/SACD did sound fantastic and i agree about the later amps having recently had a listen. Sounds like a fortuitous time to sell with regards the transport issues.

I think MF lost it about then as after the Tri Vista series the sound just became too upfront and a tad relentless the musicality that earlier designs had was lost. Not heard their most recent kit so maybe the balance is back. Of course there are systems and listeners that like that style/type of presentation but to my ears, mind that's more of a HiFi presentation than musical one.

I loved the look of the Tri Vista gear - lovely more refined than the Nu Vista series just before it. I have a Tri-Vista Dac but I must admit I don't use it any more..... I really should pass it on sometime.

That mechanism issue was a major one that effected many people and was a major embarrassment to those companies that had used it in their SACD players.

I once heard a Tri Vista amp and SACD player combo on the end of Yamaha NS1000 speakers, very good and probably the best I have heard those speakers sound but not a sound I could have lived with permanently.





Regards Neil

[tapid]

Superb intro Paul, your go places here.