My own cave

[Breuer]

I'm lucky to have a room only for my music, books and cartoons (and a wife that lets me have it:)). Even though not the perfect room for hifi, careful set up makes it work very nice.

HiFi is like life on earth; evolution, with many strange sidesteps on the way. Under you see my step on the evolution ladder for now.


My cave:
http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160225-_2256114_zps98tej2yl.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160225-_2256114_zps98tej2yl.jpg.html)

My RIAA is the new Musical Fidelity VYNL, a very versitale and good sounding RIAA for both MM and MC. It has balanced both inputs and outputs. I would appreciate tips for cable with RCA on turntable side and mini-XLR 5 pin on the RIAA side.
http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160225-_2256115_zps8pto3shg.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160225-_2256115_zps8pto3shg.jpg.html)

The analog source, and latest big step for me, is the Technics SL 1200GAE. Never did I think that I ever should get a DD turntable in my house. Just as unthinkable as getting a MM cartridge:)

I went from this:
http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160226-_2266124_zpsjck4avsg.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160226-_2266124_zpsjck4avsg.jpg.html)

to this:
http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160825-_8256800_zps2vk1d3lq.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160825-_8256800_zps2vk1d3lq.jpg.html)

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160825-_8256792_zpsgo42pbcw.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160825-_8256792_zpsgo42pbcw.jpg.html)

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160825-_8256803_zpsmvspaivg.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160825-_8256803_zpsmvspaivg.jpg.html)

...and I don't regret it a bit! It's just a great piece of gear! Fantastic with its pace, attack, bass handling and also sweetness, details and warmth. For now, I'm playing a Shure m97 XE cartridge, but this is just a stopgap solution until my Ortofon Cadenza Blue comes back from repair (that's a story I may tell some day, when the embarrassment and self anger has cooled off :)).

Though analog is the prefered, I have a digital set up also. All my old CDs and high definition downloads are stored on a server and played via Bluesound Node 2 and in to the DAC in my Hegel H160 (not pictured here).

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160225-_2256116_zps9l5hbfuu.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160225-_2256116_zps9l5hbfuu.jpg.html)

I have always been a big Squeezebox fan, from their first box until the last Squeezebox Touch. So going over to Bluesound was a little bit emotional. I thought that as long as I did not use the built in DAC in either the SB or the Bluesound, the sound should not be different, but it is. It is better in the Node 2. And I hate it, as I am a sceptic to all alchemy and humbug in Hige End stereo. Also, the UI is much better in Bluesound, and I use it with my own server and streaming with Tidal HiFi, most to check out new music.

All my CDs are packed away, but I have a few new ones laying around. And some friends may bring some. For this I have a Little Dot CD transport, also fed into the Hegel H160 dac. This transport is just so cute, and good!

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160226-_2266125_zps9wszbbpq.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160226-_2266125_zps9wszbbpq.jpg.html)

If you have come so far in my I guess U are bored to death by now, but the last "item" in the hifi chain is one of the most important, and often forgotten; namely the sweetspot with the listening chair:
http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160225-_2256119_zpsenk3kw7l.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160225-_2256119_zpsenk3kw7l.jpg.html)

I have my listening chair standards and they are good taken care of in the chair you see on the picture (Ekornes Stressless Metro): Armrests, backrest not higher that your ears, adjustable hight and sitting angle.

Thats all
Ole

[usernam]

Like you I am interested in reading as well as Hi Fi, what sort of books do you like to read?
What made you go for white speakers in a room that is clearly woody?

[struth]

Goes with the curtains? :). Its a darkish room furniture wise, but ilove it Ole... Great spot to crash and enjoy your passions

[Breuer]

Thanks for your comments:).
I love books about history and biographies, but also read all kinds of novels. I travel much, and the quick no-brain criminal novels is the favourite.

The speakers was originally for another room, Yuri, so not designed for this one, but it light up the room as the books makes it a little heavy. But this is a cave....:).

My house is from 1850 (in fact it is the newest house in my street, as the other ones are from mid 1700:)), and the rooms are thereafter. Height to ceiling is just under 2 meters. That's the background for the speaker choice. I had some beautiful Zu Essence when I moved here, but they were to high, creating some unwanted reflexes.

[Mika K]

Nice and cozy room you have there!

[The Black Adder]

Oooh! - What a lovely space.

You have magnificent taste in music. Your album picture wall is everything I love.

:)

[jandl100]

That's a very comfortable looking room, Ole. Must be good to listen to your music there.
I think the white speakers look good against the white painted window frames and curtains. Somehow gives a feeling of listening into a different space, so the music doesn't actually comes from a book-lined study. :thumbsup:

Unlike Josie, I'm not keen on your apparent musical tastes, though! :lol:

[petrat]

That's a very nice room, full of interesting stuff. Love the clock. :D

[Breuer]

Thanks for nice feedbacks:).

Vinyl record sleeves are works of art in my opinion. So they deserve to be looked at:). And the ones on the wall surely tells a story were I come from musically, Josie, but far from the whole story Jerry:).
I must admit that, even though I think I'm following the music scene rather good, much of the music I play is from 10 years or more back in time. For to days music, I'm most fond of indie. And groups like Wilco still tingles me when they announces new releases (Schmilco is soone here!!:)).

[Audio Al]

Very stylish , I like it :)

[Pieoftheday]

What a great room,very jealous :eek:

[AlfaGTV]

Very nice "cave" Ole!
Agree that the art of album covers are worthy of displaying! And the Bluesound does sound good, have recently had a couple of Nodes.
Unfamiliar with the Hegel H160, but i was pretty impressed with the analog output from my Node2!
Would you mind telling us something about the percieved differences between the WilsonBenesch and the SL1200GAE? Or perhaps thats difficult due to the cart change?

All the best from the east,
Mike

[Macca]

Cool crib. Supercool turntable. What more can I say? :)

[rmcin626]

Nice room very jealous

[TazSob]

Very comfortable and cosy looking room, can just picture relaxing there on a cold night with that burner going...

[Breuer]

Very nice "cave" Ole!
Agree that the art of album covers are worthy of displaying! And the Bluesound does sound good, have recently had a couple of Nodes.
Unfamiliar with the Hegel H160, but i was pretty impressed with the analog output from my Node2!
Would you mind telling us something about the percieved differences between the WilsonBenesch and the SL1200GAE? Or perhaps thats difficult due to the cart change?

All the best from the east,
Mike

Thanks all for nice words:).

Hegel makes fantastic DACs, Mike, and the one sitting in H160 is no exception. The H160 is a very competent amp. with a built in DAC. But it is not a digital amp., signal is analog all through amplification stage. It also have USB inputs and airplay for direct streaming, but I don't use this.

Mike, regarding turntable, I have lived with a Wilson Benesch Circle with ACT 0.5 now for almost 15 years. Mainly with different versions of Benz Micro Ref pickups. Seen here with Ref 3.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160310-_3106169_zpsodsy1bm3.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160310-_3106169_zpsodsy1bm3.jpg.html)

I have used many different RIAAs over the years, but the last one was a Benz Micro Lukaschek pp1 t9, a beautiful gem with no adjustments. It is tailored for BMs own MC pickups.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160310-_3106165_zpsjebgwxuc.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160310-_3106165_zpsjebgwxuc.jpg.html)
http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/20160302-_3026127_zpsguy6dl4h.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/20160302-_3026127_zpsguy6dl4h.jpg.html)

This has been a very competent player/arm/pickup/riaa combination, right up there with the other top notch belt driven turntables.

But, the SL 1200GAE is a better player in my ears. Of course, different pickup and RIAA bluring up the comparison. But what the SL 1200 adds to the equation is pace and punch. Fantastic bass control, and still no compromise in other hifi virtues. Maybe the WB had a more "elegant" presentation, but the 1200 digs those grooves better and deeper, and gives U what's there to get. And no motor artefacts like cogging. It is really a fantastic product made inside extreme spec. limits. Build as a tank inside a reinforced concrete bunker. The handling is top. I see some people complaining that the looks and handling is just as the old SL 1200/1210, but millions of DJs can't be wrong:). If it works, don't fix it!

Im still in the initial phase getting acquainted with the player, and I have heard it too little with the Cadenza Blue pickup, but even with my spare MM Shure M97XE it sounds good.

[AlfaGTV]

Thanks for your response Ole, much appreciated.
I have a friend who also bought one of the GAE's but he is "between speakers" atm so i havent had a chance to hear it in a reasonably known environment. :)

Nice pictures, by the way!

My comment regarding the Node2 was more a recommendation to try its analogue outputs! With some material it was "better" than with a highly resolved DAC on the coax, at least to me! :)

All the best and looking forward to following your Gallery-thread! ;)

[Joe]

Cool crib. Supercool turntable. What more can I say? :)

That rug really ties the room together.

[Breuer]

That rug really ties the room together.

Hehe, Joe. Yes it does. And the steaks was delicious :)

[Spectral Morn]

Nice room Ole :cool:

[Breuer]

I utterly hates playlists. Playlists kills the album and are mainly for stressed people for whom music is nothing else than something keeping their boss or teacher's voice out of their head. For them, music is not art but not more than office stationeries. 2 packets of paperclips, one packet of staples and 4 songs by Beyonce please!

Well, dusting that record, turning it, and get it back to bed is all part of the experience. Tonight the following will get a spinn:

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/IMG_22551_zpsdiuubpcz.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/IMG_22551_zpsdiuubpcz.jpg.html)

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/IMG_22541_zps25qkplew.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/IMG_22541_zps25qkplew.jpg.html)

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/IMG_22561_zpsluiqmlbo.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/IMG_22561_zpsluiqmlbo.jpg.html)

And I guess the night ends with some Beatles, as always:).

For those not familiar to Norwegian music, Jokke is one of our greatest rockers of all time. He died rather young 36 years old in 2000, but his songs are truly timeless.

[archiesdad]

Nice room, and kit, if that is an elephant on the window ledge on the right my wife says to turn it to face the door, it's supposed to bring luck.

[Breuer]

Nice room, and kit, if that is an elephant on the window ledge on the right my wife says to turn it to face the door, it's supposed to bring luck.

It sure is an elephant, Martin. I do that right away:). It may even work out to be a tweak;).

[Audio Al]

I think the rug would rather be back out in a field , Just saying like :D

[Breuer]

I think the rug would rather be back out in a field , Just saying like :D

I let her out in the back yard every sunday, Al :)

[Breuer]

The size of your house and your martial/relationship status has a great effect on the kit you drag into the house. Here is a little history biography from the last 25 years for my part.

Quad ESL has always been a winner for me. But I always want more volume and that's way I have send them away, at least twice. My first Quad ESL was this:

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/220px-Quad_ESL-57_luidspreker_zpsreified6.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/220px-Quad_ESL-57_luidspreker_zpsreified6.jpg.html)

amplified with Audion Silver Night 300B (what beauties):

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/audion%20silver%20night%20300%20ppe_zpse0ouzkux.jp g (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/audion%20silver%20night%20300%20ppe_zpse0ouzkux.jp g.html)

A pair of ESL 63 also passed by, before this pair. Impulse Lali. Sad that Impulse is not any more. The Lalis was even shown in design museums. British design at it's best!

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/548456584_tp_zpslhew1wyf.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/548456584_tp_zpslhew1wyf.jpg.html)

Still keeping the Audion, the input become another british icon, Meridian transport and DAC solution. Not that common back then.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/00211_zpsg0qtpvo8.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/00211_zpsg0qtpvo8.jpg.html)

This setup with the Lalis and Meridians still plays great in my friends house, even though from the mid 1990ies.

I was in my horn period, so why don't explore more? The next in the door was some Avantgard UNO horns. BIG. Maybe the best sound I ever have achieved. Still playing on the Audion.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/image_1678_1_zpsk6smhqw6.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/image_1678_1_zpsk6smhqw6.jpg.html)

Had the Avantgardes for many years. The downscaling. British gold again. ATC SCM 10 active loadspeakers with including pre-amp.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/atc-scm-10-active_zpslm8emakl.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/atc-scm-10-active_zpslm8emakl.jpg.html)

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/1339CA2_1_zpsuvtzetoa.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/1339CA2_1_zpsuvtzetoa.jpg.html)

with a football, or was it a sub? B&W PV1

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bw%20pv1_zpsz5q3ytwt.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bw%20pv1_zpsz5q3ytwt.jpg.html)

Then Quad mania stroke again and my next project (with a bigger house) was this:

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde%201_zpsantjzvy1.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde%201_zpsantjzvy1.jpg.html)

Quads own amp set up sounded great on the ESL. I miss especially the 909 power amp. A great amp with a ridiculous low prize.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde2_zpswslzvfyc.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde2_zpswslzvfyc.jpg.html)

For digital, Shanglins strange looking valve CD player was the source

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde3_zpsamo3esh4.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde3_zpsamo3esh4.jpg.html)

After a break in in my house, my amps and CD was gone. They didn't take the Quad ESL though:). New amp was the digital Lyngdorf 2200 with ADC and room correction so I could still use my TT. RIAA was now the lovely Lucascheck PP1 T9.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde6_zpsrw9niijz.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde6_zpsrw9niijz.jpg.html)

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde10_zpsorimwshk.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde10_zpsorimwshk.jpg.html)

The my maritial status changed, and the Quad had to go. New in was the Gallo Nucleus Ref. 3.1 and a lovely new amp., the one I had looked for for years:).....

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde7_zpsejzbwtgc.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde7_zpsejzbwtgc.jpg.html)

the famous Mcintosh 275

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde9_zps1fvzwcit.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde9_zps1fvzwcit.jpg.html)

Gallos wanted more power, so they had to go. In come Zu audio Essence.

http://i1383.photobucket.com/albums/ah318/breuer64/bilde12_zpsw3j15elo.jpg (http://s1383.photobucket.com/user/breuer64/media/bilde12_zpsw3j15elo.jpg.html)

And that's all. Almost correct I think, and a few items is not here on the list. Next step is what I have now.

[struth]

Super post... Enjoyed that historical trip through the ages:)

[walpurgis]

Nice selection of equipment Ole.

Your Hi-Fi journey looks simpler than mine. I couldn't remember how much equipment I've got through, let alone list it! :D

[Breuer]

Nice selection of equipment Ole.

Your Hi-Fi journey looks simpler than mine. I couldn't remember how much equipment I've got through, let alone list it! :D

Hehe, yea, we always stretch for something more. I wish I could be more like a Buddhist, happy with what I got without this upgrade cravings:). There has been some more in my list also, like Elac loudspeakers, Benchmark and so on. Forgot them when making the list.

[struth]

Hehe, yea, we always stretch for something more. I wish I could be more like a Buddhist, happy with what I got without this upgrade cravings:). There has been some more in my list also, like Elac loudspeakers, Benchmark and so on. Forgot them when making the list.

Ive got that Buddhist feeling now... Doubt much of it would find its way into an audiophiles system, but all together, it makes a nice sound, and looks good too so a bonus. This is the longest ive not really felt like changing anything.
Only things i might would be a rpi upgrade dac, and i would like to try a small class a in it just to see how it sounded.

Trouble is, life can seem a trifle boring without upgradeitis, so be careful of what you desire

[Breuer]

Ive got that Buddhist feeling now... Doubt much of it would find its way into an audiophiles system, but all together, it makes a nice sound, and looks good too so a bonus. This is the longest ive not really felt like changing anything.
Only things i might would be a rpi upgrade dac, and i would like to try a small class a in it just to see how it sounded.

Trouble is, life can seem a trifle boring without upgradeitis, so be careful of what you desire

So true, Grant. Life is evolving.

I'm pretty happy now with my set up, but my speakers are the weak point. They will be next for upgrade. Maybe to something easy driven, so I can get a Mcintosh 275 again? I miss that amp. Zu audio has some great speakers with +92 sensitivity

[struth]

Pretty much all my soeakers are sensitive... My new builds are high 90's as were my last... A newborn can drive them lol. Big believer in starting with good sensitive easy driven speakers. Im a full ranger now, although i like the old German ones.

[usernam]

Thanks for your comments:).
I love books about history and biographies, but also read all kinds of novels. I travel much, and the quick no-brain criminal novels is the favourite.

The speakers was originally for another room, Yuri, so not designed for this one, but it light up the room as the books makes it a little heavy. But this is a cave....:).

My house is from 1850 (in fact it is the newest house in my street, as the other ones are from mid 1700:)), and the rooms are thereafter. Height to ceiling is just under 2 meters. That's the background for the speaker choice. I had some beautiful Zu Essence when I moved here, but they were to high, creating some unwanted reflexes.

You could soften the walls around the windows with blown vinyl. Do the speakers sound better with the curtains closed?