Sitting here with soooo much gear and ma heed's mince!

[mikeyb]

Just had a new HiFi cabinet arrive so I've been busy setting it all up.

I have a couple of items on demo at the moment, so sitting in front of the cabinet have the following.....

Technics 1210 Mk5 with OEM Arm, Zu Denon 103, Mike New Bearing, SDS IsoPlatMat.

TQ Claymore Amp
Claymore 2 Amp
Firebottle Air Power Amp (Demo)

NVA Phono 2 Stage (Demo)

Raspberry Pi
MCRU Long Dog Linear PSU

PMC 21 Standmount Speakers
Cabletalk 3
Various interconnects

So as you can imagine switching between the amps and phono stages (both my amps have built in ones) is a pain in the butt, and I've now realised that rather than put all the gear into the cabinet, its easier to swap units on the floor as it's quicker and less likely to break anything. What a dough ball, I should have thought of that sooner.

So I'm off to start again and just have everything sitting either on the floor/coffee table for easier swapping ( ooer missus).

Mind you it's a nice mess to have.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160309/edf76ce59c9764e4eb3aaa5128ba2212.jpg

[emoji4]

[southall-1998]

Enjoy the hi-fi journey, Mike.

S.

[struth]

The trials of hifi Mike lol

Nice unit by way

[Firebottle]

I see the name has fallen off the front of the AIR Mike, maybe it's in the box?

Have switched to double sided tape now as super glue doesn't.

Enjoy your swapping ;)

[mikeyb]

I see the name has fallen off the front of the AIR Mike, maybe it's in the box?

Have switched to double sided tape now as super glue doesn't.

Enjoy your swapping ;)
Ah, I didn't know, I'll check if it's there and use a couple of self tappers [emoji14]

Been swapping since original post and I've come to a decision. Mind you not been easy with an 11week old puppy running around my feet [emoji6]

[CageyH]

And the decision is?

[mikeyb]

Update later too much going on here, puppy health issues and awkward breeder to deal with.

[mikeyb]

Well after all the swapping back and forth.

I tried every combination possible and ended up....... Back where I started lol

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160309/6e3560b5c8dd9798919026534257cf86.jpg

So at the moment, until I find a stage I like I'm sticking with the TQ Claymore's built in one.

Main highlights of the built in stage were clarity, imaging and the width/depth of soundstage.

All the others combos I tried had areas that might have been slightly better than my amps' but the overall sound of the amp combined with a sound you could walk through (if you know what I mean) won the day, I just preferred it.

So, my next move might be a new tonearm for the 1210, fekin HiFi lol :)

[The Black Adder]

Much better! Nice system is that. Keeping it simple with gear is generally the best way.

[mikeyb]

The trials of hifi Mike lol

Nice unit by way
Thanks Grant, the unit is solid oak and from a seller I found on eBay, but I bought it direct, that way I was able to adjust the size and add an extra shelf, which I don't need at the moment, but will be handy if I add anything else. It worked out the same price as his eBay price for the standard size one with one less shelf so that was good.

He delivered it yesterday evening and I'm pretty pleased with it, a couple of little flaws, but nothing you can really see unless you look really closely.

I wanted a cabinet rather than a rack as I hate seeing cables ;)

And yes I know you can still see the speaker cables, they'll be tidied up too :)

[mikeyb]

Much better! Nice system is that. Keeping it simple with gear is generally the best way.
Thanks, yeah must admit I'm liking how it looks and sounds :)

[mikeyb]

Here's the website for the unit if anyone fancies one.

http://thereallygoodoakshop.myshopify.com/

And no I'm not on commission lol

[jandl100]

How's the pup, Mike?

Nice system, btw!

[mikeyb]

How's the pup, Mike?

Nice system, btw!
Turning into a nightmare to be honest, picked up in Sunday, in vets by Monday with £350 bill, came home Tuesday and back in again yesterday afternoon grrrrr.

I've spent the last twenty years telling my daughter not to get one, and more so since she's now back living with us, but I thought I can't shuffle off this mortal coil still having denied her the one thing she's wanted more than anything else in her life, so I gave in lol.

We ARE in discussion with the breeder for as regards compensation ;)

Now, the important stuff, the HiFi, you've always told me the TQ Claymore is a great amp, and since I've moved the setup to the other side of the room it's really sounding superb, I mean it always sounded great but now with the PMCs having the whole room to fire into rather than from either side of a large leather sofa, which was obviously killing the imaging/soundstage.

All the swapping of gear yesterday has really convinced me that this amp is staying. The only thing I want to do now is a an external PSU for the TT and then maybe a better arm.

I'm even thinking of selling The Beast as Colin calls it (Claymore 2). I only bought it to hear it, Colin has just checked it over and upgraded it and he said it was almost exactly the same spec as when it was made and didn't need anything replacing other than doing the upgrade. But selling is a decision I'll make another day as it really rocks and was a great match with the NVA Phono 2 for rock.

Mind you I'm writing all this and yet I can't help but browse eBay and the classifieds lol.

I nearly bought PMC 23's ( wrong colour though) the other day as I managed to convince my wife they were essentially the same size as the 21's taking the stands into account, so speakers might change if something nice comes up.

Bloody HiFi :)

[jandl100]

Sorry to hear about the pup. :(


... you've always told me the TQ Claymore is a great amp

Yep, in some ways the best I have heard. The midrange rez is gobsmacking, but the highs were a bit too feisty in my system for my refayned classical music tastes. :violin:
Superb (and I mean that word!) on rock / electronica, though. :eek: :rock:

I'm not familiar with the PMC 23, but I heard the 26 at a Show and was well impressed - the bass performance might mean that you'll need your house foundations reinforced, though. :hmm:

And another :hmm: for your Claymore 2 ... I do like my original and I am getting more curious about the 2 !!

[jandl100]

.... And what differences (if any) did you hear before/after the Claymore 2 Beast was upgraded?

[DSJR]

Well after all the swapping back and forth.

I tried every combination possible and ended up....... Back where I started lol

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160309/6e3560b5c8dd9798919026534257cf86.jpg

So at the moment, until I find a stage I like I'm sticking with the TQ Claymore's built in one.

Main highlights of the built in stage were clarity, imaging and the width/depth of soundstage.

All the others combos I tried had areas that might have been slightly better than my amps' but the overall sound of the amp combined with a sound you could walk through (if you know what I mean) won the day, I just preferred it.

So, my next move might be a new tonearm for the 1210, fekin HiFi lol :)


If I told you the bass driver in the PMC's 'only' costs $5, would that make you look to a proper system upgrade? Those PMC's are the current bottleneck, especially in the upper midrange crossover region as well as being a bit bass shy and my suggestion is to hold off on the arm change and look at speaker alternatives, whether it be KEF's, Harbeths, floor standing *modern* Spendors, Neats or even the rather interesting (to me) Sonus Faber Venere's, which look so lovely and sparkle in a way vinyl lovers like ;) There's another one as well which would be perfect for your stereo set, which could be loaned out to you to try...