+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 5 of 5

Thread: Another system change

  1. #1
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Seaton, Devon, UK

    Posts: 13,241
    I'm Adrian.

    Default Another system change

    So today I made a trip to Bristol and visited Chris(Hornucopia). Chris had recently put his ACOUSTIC ENERGY HI-FI STAND up for grabs for a small charity donation as he had not used it for several years and is having a bit of a clear out. I was very lucky to spot it early on and could not believe my luck as it was just what I had been looking for to move my hifi off an old and not very good TV stand, which was in an awkward position in front of the window and radiator.

    So up to Chris's and a chat with him and his wife over a lovely cup of coffee and then Chris showed me his several systems. In his basement he has his main system and I was very interested and impressed by his Ocellia speakers, for those that know they are not only impressive to look at they all sound outstanding. Chris popped me onto his wonderful hanging listening chair, very 60's, and put on a selection of music. The clarity and detail was just stunning, and what a soundstage, as I commented to Chris, Los Lobos sounded as if they were stood in front of me in the room, and you could easily pick out every instrument, very, very musical and impressive. I know Chris is thinking of selling them and if I had the money I would probably have brought them home, although explaining that to Sue would have been a challenge.

    Chris also showed me his hand built floor standing speakers which are simple horns made of dense foam hooked up to his computer, I will let Chris explain but what I heard was again rather good.

    So thanks very much to Chris, Sue likes the stand and is pleased now she can get to the window, and I am very pleased to have such a good isolating stand and all my hifi neat and tidy.

    Here it is at home after a clean and carefully setting it up to get level and stable. It's interesting as the stand is on spikes which sits on a metal plate which is itself on spikes and that then sits onto another metal plate with spikes into the floor. I presume the two different plates are used to isolate/damp different vibration frequencies.

    [IMG][/IMG]

    [IMG][/IMG]
    Listening is the act of aural discrimination and dissemination of sound, and accepting you get it wrong sometimes.

    Analog Inputs: Pro-Ject Signature 10 TT & arm, Benz Micro LP-S, Michel Cusis MC, Goldring 2500 and Ortofon Rondo Blue cartridges, Hitachi FT5500 mk2 Tuner

    Digital:- Marantz SA-KI Pearl CD player, RaspberryPi/HifiBerry Digi+ Pro, Buffalo NAS Drive

    Amplification:- AudioValve Sunilda phono stage, Krell KSP-7B pre-amp, Krell KSA-80 power amp

    Output: Wilson Benesch Vector speakers, KLH Ultimate One Headphones

    Cables: Tellurium Q Ultra Black II RCA & Chord Epic 2 RCA, various speaker leads, & links


    I think I am nearing audio nirvana, but don’t tell anyone.

  2. #2
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

    Posts: 99,005
    I'm Grant.

    Default

    Sounds like a good time. Nice stand
    Regards,
    Grant .... ؠ ......Don't be such a big girl's blouse

    I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply-doesn't-work
    .... ..... ...... ...... ................... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
    FIIO K7 BT, M11 PLUS, BTR7, KA5 - OPPO BDP-103D - PANASONIC UB450 - PANASONIC 4K ULTRA HD TV - PIXEL 6 - AVANTREE LR BLUETOOTH - 2* X600 SOUNDCORE - HEADPHONES INCLUDE, FIIO, NURAPHONES', FOCAL, OPPO, BOSE, CAMBRIDGE, BOWER & WILKINS, DEVIALET, MARSHALL, SONY, MITCHELL & JOHNSTON - 2*ZBOOK'S- MERCURY BD ROM, ROON, QOBUZ, TIDAL, PLEX, CYBERLINK, JRIVER - MULTI HDD'S -

    Oh my god! There's nothing wrong with the bidet is there?

    “Nothing discloses real character like the use of power. It is easy for the weak to be gentle. Most people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really is, give him power. This is the supreme test. It is the glory of Lincoln that, having almost absolute power, he never abused it, except on the side of mercy".

    “You see these dictators on their pedestals, surrounded by the bayonets of their soldiers and the truncheons of their police ... yet in their hearts there is unspoken fear. They are afraid of words and thoughts: words spoken abroad, thoughts stirring at home -- all the more powerful because forbidden -- terrify them. A little mouse of thought appears in the room, and even the mightiest potentates are thrown into panic.”

    "You don't have free will. You have the appearance of free will.”

    “There's a war out there, old friend. A world war. And it's not about who's got the most bullets. It's about who controls the information. What we see and hear, how we work, what we think... it's all about the information!”


    ***SMILE, BE HAPPY***

  3. #3
    Join Date: Apr 2010

    Location: Bristol, since 1978. Current house since 1996!

    Posts: 909
    I'm Chris.

    Default

    After 30 years running my cafe-with my own blend coffee amongst other things a feature - I'm glad you liked the (Ethiopian) Coffee.
    (Ethiopia is reputed to be the original source of the coffee plant)
    Also good to briefly share the Ocellia's magic with you!
    If folk want to investigate further (prepare for a long read!!) you can try here.
    http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/ocellia/ocellia.html
    Mine are the top level .21 Calliopes (Grandis Silver Signatures)
    AS to the 'horns'...they are more like tuned pipes in a way.
    Zigmahornets, using a Dave Merrill 3 inch driver which you can read about here...
    http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/z...gmahornet.html
    For... -it's another story- reasons, I used 1+1/2 inch polystyrene for the cases.
    It worked well enough, sound quality-wise, to persuade me from Avantgarde Duos to the Ocellias.
    Glad the stand has found an appreciative -Sue! - home.
    Yes, the Ocellias are available for sale-circa £7K!! Cost near £17K, I believe, now!!
    My tinnitus reduces the listening habit somewhat, though I still enjoy them when I play there.
    Adrian. Try Paco de Lucia; Gerardo Nunez;Rafael Riquieni;Tomatito; then a bit of Baden Powell for Brazilian jazz.
    Ojos de Brujo....the list is endless.....
    Might even sell the 'hanging chair.....am slimming life gradually.IMG_2773.jpg
    Chris.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Seaton, Devon, UK

    Posts: 13,241
    I'm Adrian.

    Default

    Chris, yes the coffee was very nice, and as far as I’m aware my first Ethiopian brew, very good.

    I won’t say more about the speakers, but I am going to tell my best friend about them, he is in a better position than I to purchase, and I am pretty sure he would love them. So you never know we may meet up again, he is visiting me in a couple of weeks. I know people say they are more suited to classical, but they worked very well with the music I heard through them, which wasn’t classical.

    As for the chair I could easily live with it in my life, just let me know if you choose to part with it, but I think you should hang it in your lounge if you still enjoy it.

    All the best,

    Adrian
    Listening is the act of aural discrimination and dissemination of sound, and accepting you get it wrong sometimes.

    Analog Inputs: Pro-Ject Signature 10 TT & arm, Benz Micro LP-S, Michel Cusis MC, Goldring 2500 and Ortofon Rondo Blue cartridges, Hitachi FT5500 mk2 Tuner

    Digital:- Marantz SA-KI Pearl CD player, RaspberryPi/HifiBerry Digi+ Pro, Buffalo NAS Drive

    Amplification:- AudioValve Sunilda phono stage, Krell KSP-7B pre-amp, Krell KSA-80 power amp

    Output: Wilson Benesch Vector speakers, KLH Ultimate One Headphones

    Cables: Tellurium Q Ultra Black II RCA & Chord Epic 2 RCA, various speaker leads, & links


    I think I am nearing audio nirvana, but don’t tell anyone.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Apr 2010

    Location: Bristol, since 1978. Current house since 1996!

    Posts: 909
    I'm Chris.

    Default

    It's just a case of ...'too many chairs'. I'm not likely to be using the 'suspended' chair much now.
    Just dismembered the 7' Waterbed.......
    Chris.

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •