Hello

[Mr Pig]

Hello,

First post, Marco persuaded me to join. Generally fed up with Hi-Fi forums actually but here I am ;0)

Not much more to say but I'm sure I'll think of something soon enough :0)

Mr Pig.

[Marco]

Hi Colin,

Welcome to AoS - glad you finally took the plunge! :)

I think when you get stuck in you'll find that it's a bit different here to other forums. Maybe start by listing your system? I've heard it recently and it was very good :cool:

Marco.

P.S The Pig is a legend!

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Colin, welcome to AoS :)

I guess Marco can be quite persuasive, if i was you i'd just chill out with some good tunes & maybe a beer or other form of alcohol not worry too much :eyebrows:

Do your own thing ;) We are what we are after all :)

I hope you enjoy your stay :cool:

[DSJR]

Ello and welcome to the madhouse.

Can't be a*sed to look elsewhere for your system details, so please give us details and loads of piccies :)

[Mark Grant]

Welcome Mr Pig or Colin in the real world :)

I can guess why you are fed up of some forums :steam:

We are allowed to listen to stuff here and make our own opinions, no need to scientifically measure everything :)

Mark.

[Mr Pig]

Can't be a*sed to look elsewhere for your system details, so please give us details and loads of piccies

Here is a link to it: LINK (http://mybriks.com/gallery10.html)

This is more or less how it is now. I've not had the two turntables there for a long time though, my son has the one on the left in his room now and a Micromega Leader sits there.

The Avondale TAPS turntable supply is on the other LP12 and I'm using a DIY clone of the Norton Air Power, which I prefer.

There is a separate spur for the kit and the mains leads for the CD player and amps have all been simplified.

I've just bought four levels of Mana off Marco to go under the speakers. I've never had Phase Three under speakers before so I'm quite exited about that! ;0) I expect the difference to be large!

One cool little thing was finding a guy in Taiwan selling reproduction Isobarik foam grilles! They cost £150 but they are exactly the same as the originals. That was after these pictures were taken but they sharpen up the look of the speakers whilst keeping them authentic.

[Jonboy]

Hello Colin and wecome from a fellow Micromega fan

[Alex_UK]

Hi Mr Pig - I can assure you this is most definitely not like other forums, otherwise a fair few of us (myself included) would not hang around so often - so relax, have fun, and try and avoid getting spit roasted! :eek: ;)

[Welder]

Strangly enough Mr Pig I measure stuff and I have “objectivist” tendencies but in all honesty this is the only forum I’ve found where I feel comfortable and they let me do the occasional bit of trolling without throwing me out :eyebrows:
It gets worse, I don’t even have a turntable any more, no valves either (well, only a couple) and I do file audio :eek:

[The Grand Wazoo]

Hi Colin,
Welcome to AoS from me too.
I hate forums as a rule - but this one is different! If it wasn't, I would never have stepped in but since I did, I haven't been able to step back out.

[Mr Pig]

Thank you all for the warm welcome.


welcome from a fellow Micromega fan

I've only tried the Leader, which was their budget plastic offering, but I'm happy enough with it. I'm on my second, it was easier just to buy another than fix the transport in my first. It sounds exactly the same as the Naim player I used to have and cost much less!


I don’t even have a turntable any more, no valves either and I do file audio :eek:

So basically everything sounds the same to you anyway? ;0)

The only valves in my house are the ones in my son's Marshall guitar amp, and they've gone cabluey! :0( Got record players though.

[Welder]

"So basically everything sounds the same to you anyway? ;0)"

If only it was that simple ;)
I’ve come to like the sound my system gives me and these days I tend to listen to the music more and the system less.
I still get the occasional bout of kit lust (a Brinkman Integrated being the most recent which may be within my grasp in the not to distant future) but in the end its about getting the components that work together rather than buying the “best” and hoping it will produce glorious music; doesn’t seem to work like that in my experience :scratch:

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Colin


Welcome to AOS :)


Regards D S D L

[Mr Pig]

I’ve come to like the sound my system gives me and these days I tend to listen to the music more and the system less.

That's a good place to be and sadly too few Hi-Fi buff are like that. Personally, I think it's because most Hi-Fi systems don't work very well! The most expensive often being the worst.

For what it's worth, I'm the same as you. My system is far from perfect but I relate to what it does do and enjoy music on it. I don't feel the need to change anything much.

[Darren]

Goodness Me! Piggy's back in town......
Havent seen you around since the Mana days Colin.

You 'aint any better looking mate.

Good to have you here.

[Mr Pig]

Havent seen you around since the Mana days Colin.

I've been on other forums although not many Hi-Fi ones. I get fed up with them.

[Welder]

Interesting setup Colin. I also used to have a dual Thorens TD160s set up to evaluate the modifications I carried out. The Mantra here is trust your ears which is fine if your aural memory is accurate; mine isn’t, and I have sever doubts about aural memory in general.

You are one of few people I know of here that have hung on to what are fairly dated solid state electronics. The majority of the most vocal here seem to be valve enthusiasts. I have tried really hard to “get” the passion for valves but the simple fact is I don’t.
I’ve had my Quantum’s for longer than I care to think about and the Exposure RC25 for over a decade.
I had the Quantum’s (tri amped, bi amped and single) with the Volts at various stages and a few of other bits of Exposure amplification over the years.
I even tried CD for a while; two Exposures and a Meridian 507.

“So basically everything sounds the same to you anyway? ;0)”

Well there is an element of truth here. It’s not so much that everything sounds the same but more like I don’t hear enough difference more often than not to warrant the “this months flavor excitement” or the cost and hassle of trying to match my existing kit to work well with the new. I’m incredulous when I read about a new piece of kit that drops perfectly into a system that apparently has taken endless tweaks and listening sessions to achieve “best ever” audio status. It doesn’t happen to me like that anyway. It’s taken me years of very gradual change to tune my system to my ears and listening habits.
I’m fortunate in having a few friends who not only have what I hear as outstanding systems but also have sufficient income to be able to box swap fairly regularly. Interestingly, not many of these swapped boxes are kept.

My biggest change in 30 odd years has been to get rid of my decks, records, related amplification and shelving and transfer to file based audio. Imo if there is hope for real improvement in audio that will be available at sensible prices, it rests with digital amplification and higher resolution media.

I’m not a great lover of Hi Fi forums either and being a bit blunt, forums feel the same about me apparently. I don’t really mind the bullshit but I do get a bit pissed off when I’m expected to believe or agree with it because this or that particular contributor is an established forum guru. Oh arr, and I really don’t like the trade reps or friends of trade contributing to what should be an enthusiast’s forum and not a sales pitch opportunity.
In my experience, they are here to sell and just help sustain the myths in audio because without them most would be out of business.

So yeah Colin, I’m interested in your system and what would seem from the comments you’ve made, a slightly more rational outlook than average.

[Mr Pig]

I have sever doubts about aural memory in general.

Yes and no. I think it depends on the person, some have better eyesight, some have better memories and some remember certain things better than others. My wife has a fantastic memory for dates etc, mine is rubbish! ;0)


The majority here seem to be valve enthusiasts. I have tried hard to “get” the passion for valves but I don’t.

I get what people like about valves, I think they can be lovely, but that air and naturalness is not something I miss. I go to quite a few live concerts and to be honest, they don't sound like valve amps. I think transistors give more of a sense of solidity and weight. They might sound a bit harsher and less open but they sound a lot more like a good PA, which is how I hear most live music. Don't get me wrong, I think valves are great, but I don't need them.

I'm sure there will be other amps etc out there that might be better than what I have but I don't care. We still have an old Sony CRT television. Some of these new flat panel TVs are nice but so what? Will my life be incomplete if I don't have one? No, the old Sony works just fine.

My Hi-Fi sounds pretty nice. Sure, maybe it could sound a little better but I don't need the extra quality, it would not make my life any richer. Importantly with Hi-Fi, it is impossible to attain perfection and the higher the performance of the system the harder it is to maintain a balance that works well with all kinds of music, or a balance that works at all! Some of the worst systems I've heard have been mega-buck Hi-End systems that were totally out of balance.


It’s taken me years of very gradual change to tune my system to my ears and listening habits.

Me too. Getting in the ball park is easy enough but exactly what you want takes time and a lot of small changes.


Imo if there is hope for real improvement in audio it rests with digital amplification and higher resolution media.

I think that digital music is coming of age and the possibilities are fantastic. It is quite exiting in many ways.


I’m not a great lover of Hi Fi forums either and being a bit blunt, forums feel the same about me apparently.

I know this forum claims to be different but don't they all? ;0) The problem I have with forums is that you can't walk away from the dipsticks! If you were having a discussion at a party or something and some idiot kept talking rubbish you could just get away from him. On a forum though they are always there, in your face, every day, and things can get out of hand. The frustration of having to deal with people you just don't like can drive you up the wall. I've left quite a few forums because I just don't need the grief from forum bullies in my life. It's just not that sad! ;0)

For me a Hi-Fi is like a washing machine or electric drill. It exists to serve a purpose, to do a job for me. I do not exist to serve it. When you play music on a Hi-Fi you should think 'what great music', not 'what a great hi-fi'. Provided the system provides that connection with the music I don't need to upgrade it or worry about it. I can just play music :0)

[Marco]

Hi Colin,


I get what people like about valves, I think they can be lovely, but that air and naturalness is not something I miss. I go to quite a few live concerts and to be honest, they don't sound like valve amps. I think transistors give more of a sense of solidity and weight. They might sound a bit harsher and less open but they sound a lot more like a good PA, which is how I hear most live music. Don't get me wrong, I think valves are great, but I don't need them.

Having heard your system, and knowing your priorities, I would agree - although it doesn't mean that if you heard a top-notch valve amp in your system, you wouldn't be blown away (although you might need some more 'valve friendly' speakers first)! ;)

Briks are great, but I doubt would be the ideal load for a valve amp.

As for live concerts, I also go to a fair few myself, and largely agree with your comments; however a PA system is not the benchmark I use from which to judge my hi-fi system.

My benchmark, in that respect, is acoustic instruments - faithfully reproducing (as far as possible) the sound of a piano, saxophone, acoustic guitar, etc, is for me where it's at. And that's where, in my experience, the more natural and dynamic sound of valves outperforms transistors - and the better ones can 'out-grunt' solid-state amps, too, when playing rock music at deafening levels (providing sensitive speakers are used).

The problem is that *really good* valve amps, available for sale commercially, are pretty thin on the ground - many are rather poor (compared to what others on this forum and I are used to) and give the side a bad name, which is why it can be quite easy to get a good solid-state amp to outperform many commercially produced valve amps. Indeed, this (coupled with the 'hassle factor' of valves) is one of the reasons why transistor amps are generally more popular.

Valve amps only really come into their own when they're built by experienced DIY-ers, or by specialist 'one-man band' manufacturers/audio designers who are basically enthusiasts themselves running a small business, and who aren't in it just for the money.... Yes, I know of a few! This ensures that money is spent on quality components, hard-wired simple but effective circuits, and not on bullshit.


I'm sure there will be other amps etc out there that might be better than what I have but I don't care. We still have an old Sony CRT television. Some of these new flat panel TVs are nice but so what? Will my life be incomplete if I don't have one? No, the old Sony works just fine.


Me too - we still have our old Sony CRT. And we have no intention of changing it either just to follow fashion... I detest the disposible society we live in now, and will not chuck out perfectly good equipment, simply to follow a fad!

TBH, I prefer the quality of colours on a CRT, as I find them more natural looking and less 'bleached' than those on a flat screen, when watching ordinary TV (which is all we use a TV for)....

It's only if you're into watching movies on Blu-Ray, etc, that flat screen TVs come into their own.


My Hi-Fi sounds pretty nice. Sure, maybe it could sound a little better but I don't need the extra quality, it would not make my life any richer.


I know where you're coming from, and appreciate how you feel, but never say never... I'm quite sure, just like anyone else, if you made some genuine improvements to your system, you wouldn't be able to live without them. The trick is not to have anything in your house (or system) if you can't afford to buy it. I think you've mastered that one, though! ;)


Importantly with Hi-Fi, it is impossible to attain perfection and the higher the performance of the system the harder it is to maintain a balance that works well with all kinds of music, or a balance that works at all! Some of the worst systems I've heard have been mega-buck Hi-End systems that were totally out of balance.


I completely agree, and that also reflects my own experience. Most "mega-buck Hi-End systems" I've heard, for example, those generally demonstrated by Absolute Sounds at hi-fi shows, sound very disappointing. Over-complication is one aspect of the problem, as is also paying through the nose for a 'desirable badge', where most of the budget has been spent on prettifying things, rather than where it matters most, 'under the hood', as it were!

That's why I now buy most of my gear from small, specialist, manufacturers, who make hand-built bespoke equipment and deal direct with their customers. Therefore, there are no middlemen to pay and/or any huge costs factored into the equation for advertising/marketing. I don't want to pay for any of that shit - all I want my money to go on is out-and-out sonic performance and build quality (without any unnecessary aesthetic frippery).

I care not a jot what 'badge' is on my kit!


I think that digital music is coming of age and the possibilities are fantastic. It is quite exiting in many ways.


Indeed - done *right*, music reproduced digitally via computer audio, is fantastic - but the key thing is in knowing HOW to do it right....

However, in the final analysis, I still prefer music reproduced on a top-notch vinyl set-up, as after all, our ears and brains are 'analogue'! ;)


I know this forum claims to be different but don't they all? ;0) The problem I have with forums is that you can't walk away from the dipsticks! If you were having a discussion at a party or something and some idiot kept talking rubbish you could just get away from him. On a forum though they are always there, in your face, every day, and things can get out of hand. The frustration of having to deal with people you just don't like can drive you up the wall. I've left quite a few forums because I just don't need the grief from forum bullies in my life. It's just not that sad! ;0)


I know *exactly* how you feel, as I've been on the wrong end of treatment like that on many forums before AoS was started! :rolleyes:

It's one of the reasons why AoS was born, so I could get away from all that pish....

I can assure you that this forum *is* different from all the others, as you will discover in due course. There are no bullies here, as they'd last about 2 seconds before they were booted!! There are plenty of dipsticks and daftees, though, so you'll just have to put up with those! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Mr Pig]

And that's where, in my experience, the more natural and dynamic sound of valves outperforms transistors

I know that valves can sound really nice, it's just that I don't care! ;0) I've heard a few really good Hi-Fi systems, some with valve amps, some with transistor amps. But so what? Should I beat myself up over my Mazda because a BMW might be a little better? Should I kill myself to buy a bigger house, just to have a bigger house?

Where does it end? We're very blessed, this generation of ours, that we can enjoy high quality recorded music at all. Unless of course the quest for ever-better quality becomes an obsession, the blessing becomes a curse.


never say never... I'm quite sure, just like anyone else, if you made some genuine improvements to your system you wouldn't be able to live without them.

You want to bet on that? ;0) It's a record player. I like having it, I'm in no hurry to be without it, but it's a record player. I loved my music when I had a Dual 505, when I had a Planer 3 and when I had a Bush music centre before that. There is nothing about my system that I could not live without, only things I'd rather not live without, and nothing I need to add.

[DSJR]

Hi Colin,



There are plenty of dipsticks and daftees, though, so you'll just have to put up with those! :eyebrows:

Marco.

Charmin' if the cap fits - and I can't get mine off :doh:

[Marco]

Hi Colin,


I know that valves can sound really nice, it's just that I don't care! ;0) I've heard a few really good Hi-Fi systems, some with valve amps, some with transistor amps. But so what? Should I beat myself up over my Mazda because a BMW might be a little better? Should I kill myself to buy a bigger house, just to have a bigger house?


Err, no... I was just making an observation. Smile and be happy - as I know you will :)


You want to bet on that? ;0) It's a record player. I like having it, I'm in no hurry to be without it, but it's a record player. I loved my music when I had a Dual 505, when I had a Planer 3 and when I had a Bush music centre before that. There is nothing about my system that I could not live without, only things I'd rather not live without, and nothing I need to add.

Indeed. However, as hi-fi enthusiasts AND music lovers, we're into good sound, as well as good music, otherwise you'd have stuck with your Bush music centre and not bothered with an LP12... ;)

Marco.

[Mr Pig]

otherwise you'd have stuck with your Bush music centre and not bothered with an LP12.

I think that's still kicking around at my mother's house somewhere. It's one of the worst built pieces of electrical equipment I've ever seen!

[Jonboy]

you don't like the LP12 then

[Marco]

Lol - he was referring to his old Bush music centre! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Mr Pig]

you don't like the LP12 then

It does the job slightly better than a Bush music centre ;0)