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RichB
14-11-2020, 09:26
Hi All,

Checking back in here as I've not really been around much in the last few years. So hello to all the members old and new and especially to those of you I've met and know personally.

The story of my system has been documented on the other pages here but where I find myself now is at a bit of a juncture where we've been having some work done on the house (dampproofing and otherwise) which has required a tear down of the whole thing and also a bit of a pause on the other activities I enjoy due to the ongoing Coronvirus which means I'm now looking at this as an opportunity to overhaul the system again.

So whats been happening? Well in the last few years I've not made any big changes to the system as life and other activities seemed to get in the way. I've changed jobs a few times which for a spell saw me travelling more, I've kept playing with few bands and recorded some stuff with one and gigged regularly with another. I also bought a campervan which found me spending my downtime differently. Alongside this I've returned to DJing which I did in my younger days and also, with my sister and brother in law, helped out putting on techno nights here in Newcastle. (Never thought I'd find myself at age 46 being part of a rave crew but that's been immense fun and I love running sound and lights at those kind of events). I also resolved to getting a bit fitter so now do gym 5 days a week which I enjoy and find good for my mental wellbeing as well as keeping the weight off and party lifestyle in check.

So the system now lying in bits was composed of:

Modified Technics SL1210mk2 which some of you may have heard at NEBO
Arcam A29 which I was using as phono stage/preamp
A power amp which I don't know if I can mention here (its 60w and comes in a black acrylic case)
An Arcam irDAC2 with separate linear psu
Marantz battleship CD17 player with Trichord mods
My beloved Rega RS5 speakers.
Cabling a mix of Klotz and some regular fat OFC copper stuff as I don't really go in for fancy wire any more.
Sources are mostly Chromecast or my laptop nowadays.
I have a Pioneer DDJ console I use for mixing which also outputs to the system.

In other places in the home I have a Yamaha mini system and monitor audio speaks, and some Pioneer active monitors I use for mixing and recording.

I still have my music gear, several bases and guitars, amps etc and now a load of extra lighting gear to store also.

So in putting the main room back together I'll be likely changing out all of the main components and currently thinking along the lines of a tube pre/phono stage, some class A watts for power, and maybe a new digital front end too. Speakers as always will be the first thing I decide upon and I'm in no hurry as I want to get them right.

So thats pretty much up to date, hoping I'll join in the discussions again and keep updating as things change.

All the best

struth
14-11-2020, 10:07
welcome back Rich.. hope you stay back.:)

walpurgis
14-11-2020, 10:17
Hi Rich! I hadn't forgotten you. :wave:

Macca
14-11-2020, 10:46
Eyup Rich.

brian2957
14-11-2020, 10:54
Hello mate . Hope you're doin well . Good to see you back here :)

RichB
14-11-2020, 10:59
Hello mate . Hope you're doin well . Good to see you back here :)

Hi Bri. Still running your cables in my system. Not aware of anything else to match em for value and performance.

RichB
14-11-2020, 11:00
Eyup Rich.

Hey Macca, how's it going?

RichB
14-11-2020, 11:01
Hi Rich! I hadn't forgotten you. :wave:

cheers Geoff.

RichB
14-11-2020, 11:18
welcome back Rich.. hope you stay back.:)

Thanks Grant. Hope you keeping well.

Macca
14-11-2020, 11:32
Hey Macca, how's it going?

Can't complain mate.

Was just the other day wondering where you had got to.

RichB
14-11-2020, 14:31
Can't complain mate.

Was just the other day wondering where you had got to.

like everyone.. not very far at the minute

RobbieGong
14-11-2020, 14:32
Hiya Rich ! :)

Marco
14-11-2020, 14:40
Hiya Rich,

Great seeing you check in again, and that you're well. You've been missed, mate!:cool:

Marco.

mik_rik
14-11-2020, 14:57
Hi Rich

Good to hear from you again and that everything's alright
Cheers
Mick

RichB
14-11-2020, 14:58
Hiya Rich,

Great seeing you check in again, and that you're well. You've been missed, mate!:cool:

Marco.

Thanks Chief. As I write im currently covered in dust and plaster from the room renovation but my mind is on the future plans for the system and putting the music back in.

Hope and yours keeping OK?

mad-moon
14-11-2020, 15:44
Welcome back Rich..I think..last time you contacted me, was to see if I was dead......hahahaha...

struth
14-11-2020, 16:14
Thanks Grant. Hope you keeping well.

well, keeping as safe as i can... well would be a stretch of the imagination :eyebrows: enjoy your next project; the planning is the best bit

RichB
14-11-2020, 16:33
Welcome back Rich..I think..last time you contacted me, was to see if I was dead......hahahaha...

Well it has been that kind of year eh?

NaturalIy I was pleased to hear that you were not dead as I imagine you also were. :lol:

Jimbo
14-11-2020, 19:26
Hi Rich, often think of you way back at that NEBO when you popped on Agnes Obel very late in the evening on a mash up system.

Great laugh and great introduction to a superb artist - thanks.

Good to hear from you.

Ali Tait
14-11-2020, 19:48
Alright mate, good to see you here again, though can say the same, don’t spend a great deal of time on forums these days.

Any ideas where you’re going to go with the system?

RichB
14-11-2020, 19:58
Hi Rich, often think of you way back at that NEBO when you popped on Agnes Obel very late in the evening on a mash up system.

Great laugh and great introduction to a superb artist - thanks.

Good to hear from you.

Hi Jimbo! Back in the good old days when people could congeratate for music and drinks and laughs. May they be again.

Another cruel twist to this all was I had a ticket to see Agnes at the Whitley Bay playhouse just as this whole virus thing was kicking off. I'd been looking forward to that too. Now rescheduled to Sept next year.

Like so many other plans this year scuppered.

RichB
14-11-2020, 20:05
Alright mate, good to see you here again, though can say the same, don’t spend a great deal of time on forums these days.

Any ideas where you’re going to go with the system?

I'll maybe pick your brains on a few things Ali, 95% of my listening these days is streaming and downloads so the digital front end will be import. Vinyl may not have a place in it any more. (Sacrilege to many I know).

You know the space I have to work with and i'd like to increase the 'scale' of it, without necessarily increasing the volume or footprint.

Have a few ideas about that.

Ali Tait
14-11-2020, 20:21
I’ve recently gone the way of some really good headphones, which I run direct from my OTL amp with brilliant results.

Keep meaning to post about what I’m up to but never get round to it lol.

BTW folks, any of you who are Pink Floyd fans need to get yourselves up to the North East once all this crap is over and get a listen to Prism, who Rich plays with. Great Floyd tribute band.

The Vinyl Adventure
14-11-2020, 20:27
i’ve recently gone the way of some really good headphones, which i run direct from my otl amp with brilliant results.

Keep meaning to post about what i’m up to but never get round to it lol.

Btw folks, any of you who are pink floyd fans need to get yourselves up to the north east once all this crap is over and get a listen to prism, who rich plays with. Great floyd tribute band.

what about the f...in krell man??????????????????????

Lol

Ali Tait
14-11-2020, 20:30
Haha can’t pick that up until after the lockdown mate. Then I’ll need to give it a full rebuild. :-)

Barry
21-11-2020, 19:38
Welcome back Rich.

Not sure if I met you at the AoS get-together in 2017, but welcome back to the fold anyway.

Oh and BTW, it is now OK to mention and discuss NVA products.

Continue to enjoy the Forum
Barry

jollyfix
21-11-2020, 20:34
Hi Rich, great to see you back. I pop in when I can. Super busy surprisingly with all the crazy stuff going on.
Hope to catch up with you both, Ali and John B in several months time, usual place.
Cheers Dave

Ali Tait
21-11-2020, 21:20
Hope so Dave, look forward to a beer!

jollyfix
22-11-2020, 15:27
A beer? Come on Ali, you know there will be more than one.... One arm Rich who runs the bar was in a bad way recently with the bends, he was diving on a wreck in Cyprus.

RichB
22-11-2020, 16:25
Welcome back Rich.

Not sure if I met you at the AoS get-together in 2017, but welcome back to the fold anyway.

Oh and BTW, it is now OK to mention and discuss NVA products.

Continue to enjoy the Forum
Barry

Hi Barry, yes I recall we met at the get together Macca organised. Was a good day that. Hope you are keeping well.

RichB
22-11-2020, 16:34
Hi Rich, great to see you back. I pop in when I can. Super busy surprisingly with all the crazy stuff going on.
Hope to catch up with you both, Ali and John B in several months time, usual place.
Cheers Dave

Hey Dave, hope you're keeping well mate. Did wonder how things this year have affected your work.

The band has managed 1 gig since March and we've nowt in the calendar until next spring. Live music seems a distant memory.

Unfortunately the gods didn't favour us in the annual lottery last year and we were pretty philosophical about it. Someone else's turn. Knowing some were lucky when they'd been unsuccessful in previous years made it all OK in the grand scheme of things.

As always if you find yourself in this part of the world look me up.

Ali Tait
22-11-2020, 16:47
A beer? Come on Ali, you know there will be more than one.... One arm Rich who runs the bar was in a bad way recently with the bends, he was diving on a wreck in Cyprus.

Lol, a it’ll be a few. :-)

Bloody hell, hope he’s ok now, that can be very nasty.

jollyfix
22-11-2020, 16:50
No worries Rich, I came up with a plan for you both, and other members of the regular AOS gang incase of being in a similar situation.

jollyfix
22-11-2020, 16:53
Lol, a it’ll be a few. :-)

Bloody hell, hope he’s ok now, that can be very nasty.
He is fine, just swam through the safety stop, spent many hours in a chamber , all good now.

southall-1998_mk2
22-11-2020, 17:55
Nice to see you back, Rich.

S.

RichB
22-11-2020, 19:12
Nice to see you back, Rich.

S.
Thanks Shane. Hope you're keeping well.

Ali Tait
22-11-2020, 20:43
He is fine, just swam through the safety stop, spent many hours in a chamber , all good now.

Good to know he's ok.