London calling

[Jas0_0]

Hi everyone,

I realised I've been lurking around here for quite a while now, so thought it was about time I signed up and revealed myself. I'm James from London. I'm 37 and have been obsessed by music since my Dad gave me a 60s compilation tape aged 7, and into hifi since I got my first separates aged 17. Then I got REALLY into hi fi when I bought my first flat 4 years ago. Back then I had a laptop, Arcam rDAC, Alpha 7 amp and Mission 773e speakers. I've since bought and then sold 4 amps, 3 streamers, 4 dacs and a turntable, and I've finally settled on the following (for now...):

Turntable: Linn LP12 (pre-Cirkus, pre-Valhalla, LV-X arm, Ortofon VMS30mkII)
Phono stage: Project Phonobox
Digital: iMac with Audirvana/Tidal
DAC: RME ADI-2 Pro FS
Pre: Croft 25R with Mullard ECC83
Power: Croft 7R with Sylvania 12BH7A
Speakers: Proac 1SCs

Favourite music at the moment is 1950s and 60s American jazz and blues, west African kora music, Ethiopian jazz, recent techno and electronica, and solo and small ensemble classical (especially piano, guitar and cello) with the odd concerto and symphony thrown in.

Planned system upgrades are a new phono stage and modernising the LP12 (a long and expensive road!). And lots of new records...

Looking forward to chatting,

James

[Pepperamip]

Nice system James.

I'd like to try your dac one day (well not the one you own) Do you use it as a pre or is it just on dac duties?

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[walpurgis]

Hello James. Welcome to AOS.

We have many members that have experience of LP12 mods. You could start a thread in the Analogue Arts section and outline your ideas, I'm sure you'd get plenty of opinions.

Feel free to join in the chat, there's plenty going on.


Enjoy the forum,
Geoff.

[Jas0_0]

Nice system James.

I'd like to try your dac one day (well not the one you own) Do you use it as a pre or is it just on dac duties?

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

Thanks Pepperamip!

The RME is a great DAC. I tried it as a pre but I preferred the sound with the Croft 25R pre in the system. Some would probably say I'm introducing colour. Running the RME direct into power amp was certainly more detailed and had more leading edge attack - but I found this came at the expense of dynamics, soundstage depth and tonal saturation, so the 25R stayed.

The RME's EQ functions are good and vital in my system for room correction. My room's a bit of a sonic nightmare with several modes, including a MASSIVE peak at 60Hz. I got the AD/DA version so I could us it to room correct the signal from my turntable. I guess analogue purists might see this as sacrilege, but for me any losses in the AD/DA conversion are more than made up for by curing the boomy one-note bass.

I'd definitely recommend the RME, having tried DACs from Chord, Linn, Arcam and Cyrus.

[Jas0_0]

Hello James. Welcome to AOS.

We have many members that have experience of LP12 mods. You could start a thread in the Analogue Arts section and outline your ideas, I'm sure you'd get plenty of opinions.

Feel free to join in the chat, there's plenty going on.


Enjoy the forum,
Geoff.

Great, thanks Geoff - will do.

[Pepperamip]

Thanks Pepperamip!

The RME is a great DAC. I tried it as a pre but I preferred the sound with the Croft 25R pre in the system. Some would probably say I'm introducing colour. Running the RME direct into power amp was certainly more detailed and had more leading edge attack - but I found this came at the expense of dynamics, soundstage depth and tonal saturation, so the 25R stayed.

The RME's EQ functions are good and vital in my system for room correction. My room's a bit of a sonic nightmare with several modes, including a MASSIVE peak at 60Hz. I got the AD/DA version so I could us it to room correct the signal from my turntable. I guess analogue purists might see this as sacrilege, but for me any losses in the AD/DA conversion are more than made up for by curing the boomy one-note bass.

I'd definitely recommend the RME, having tried DACs from Chord, Linn, Arcam and Cyrus.Might not be for the purists but if it helps/solves a problem you have clearly identified then its right for you and your circumstances.

Whereabouts in sarf london are you? I grew up in Kennington.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[Jas0_0]

Might not be for the purists but if it helps/solves a problem you have clearly identified then its right for you and your circumstances.

Whereabouts in sarf london are you? I grew up in Kennington.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

I’m actually out north east - Clapton. Just seen you’re west. Maybe I could drop round with the RME one day - would love to hear your speakers.

[southall-1998_mk2]

Howdy! Welcome to AOS.

Have fun.

S.

[Pepperamip]

I’m actually out north east - Clapton. Just seen you’re west. Maybe I could drop round with the RME one day - would love to hear your speakers.I'm south east or some say north west Kent but either way that sounds good. Ill pm you and we can arrange something.

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[Barry]

Welcome to AoS James,

Greatly admire your tastes in music: American '50s and '60s Jazz and Blues (though I like Blues from before that time period); West African kora (I'm especially keen on West African and Zairian music) and Ethiopian Jazz.

Enjoy the Forum
Barry