Nearly there...

[Steph Dale]

I reckon I'm pretty much there with my system, but I'd appreciate some thoughts on where to look to get the best out of it.

My highlights:
Successfully finding and bringing back to life the Thorens Ambiance, although I think it probably needs a better arm cable (Siltech or Chord most likely). I'll also look to replace the armboard as the original is warped. It needs an RDC record clamp and I'd like to try a Funk Achromat (5mm version) in due course - both will have to wait until they turn up secondhand as neither are made currently.
The TD521 needs re-veneering as it looks a bit tatty; a job I can do myself given time.
Sorting out the network to the streamer. Rather than using wi-fi, I'm now using a cable plugged into a range extender.
Replacing the tweeters on the Ruark Equinox speakers after one blew made me realise how much performance they'd lost since new.

Thoughts and opinions needed on:
Mains power distribution; what are people using? I'm currently using a Moth Audio kit I bought 20ish years ago.
Network for the streamer; do filters/re-clocks/cables make an appreciable difference? Any good ones to look at? I'm currently using a reasonable quality CAT-7 cable...
Anything else?

Cheers,

Steph

[Wakefield Turntables]

You need to go and visit The Audio Stamdard forum if you want more information on the digital side of things as there are loads of threads were people have discussed clocks, re-clockers, various USB cables, DACS, streamers and even specific PSU's for these devices, all above my head!

[Lawrence001]

I use a Zyxel switch with Ifi power supply and decent shielded cat 7 cable (short run into the streamer). I noticed a considerable uplift in sound from it. A decent USB cable helps too, Chord are good value.

[sailor]

Having the switch as close as possible to your streamer is good, the closer the better, but as an experiment try replacing the shielded cat7 cable with a cheapo unshielded cable. Cat5 is fine. The aim is to break the electrical connection of the ground that will allow RFI/EMI to enter the streamer. This noise has no effect on the transfer of the digital information but prevents it reaching the analogue stage in the DAC, with undesireable consequences.

This is not a case of ones and zeros, which will arrive unmolested, it's the ingress of RFI/EMI all along the line which will find it's way into the DAC whether internal or external to the streamer. Break this electrical path with the last short piece of unshielded cable.

Results vary from mild to amazing and costs peanuts to try. Of course a better quality cable can the be bought, just make sure there is no shield.

[Steph Dale]

Thanks each,

I'm in the process of following your guidance and it's leading me to other interesting things to read and/or try. I must admit that the move from wi-fi to cable was an absolute game-changer with my now-superseded Cambridge 851N, and demonstrated to me it was worth spending more; the ECM 1 MkII is a superb thing, even if I'm not quite using it optimally - I need to get an internal drive to use it as a server, but it's doing very well on a mixture of Quboz, Tidal, 'hi res' Spotify and a Samsung USB SSD drive. It even sounds pretty good when I use a Chromecast to directly stream from my laptop or phone.

It also shows off how well the speakers work in my modest (3m x 4m) living room.

Steph

[Pete The Cat]

Your system got me thinking that I wish I'd spent more time exploring Ruark. A good few years back I very nearly opted for the Talisman, like a lot of folks looking for a first floorstander at that time, but I opted for another silk dome model instead (Mission 752F). I see they've continued beavering away down in Southend and now make a CD player as well as speakers.

What was it about the Equinox that took your fancy?

[Steph Dale]

Hi Pete,

Simply put, my first serious pair of speakers were Ruark (Icon), and I pretty much kept on top of what they were doing since then. I had less interest in their 'lifestyle' products, but appreciate that they sounded very good for that sector of the market. The Equinox were a producted I've followed for a long while, although I've only owned a set for about five years. The tweeters blowing and being replaced in the last few months has reminded why I thought they were such a lovely speaker. There are larger models, but the Equinox is very good in my modest living space. There are a couple of more modern relatable speakers and I suspect the Epos 14n (as listed hereabouts recently) have much of the same magic - certainly they're very similar in spec and I've enjoyed them when I've heard them.

In other news, the Logos has been away for a brief holiday and comes back to me sounding as good as it ever has. The five-yearly (or so) trips for R&R are well worth the money. I've been using a Primare i30 in the meantime which has been entirely capable, but doesn't reflect the way the rest of the system has been built around the Pathos. The difference when the Pathos is in the system is significant, all down to good synergy. I rate the Primare highly, but it's a bit 'mechanical' when paired with the Equinox. It's also the first time I've heard the full system in full flight and it's everything I want it to be.

Next job is to have another look at the Ambiance when i get a spare day or so as it looks like the armboard has sagged again, so some investigation is needed. It's currently incapable of holding a track, so the tracking error is serious and needs investigation.

Steph