My (limited) hi fi journey

[Marco]

Hi Marc,

Where can you get good stands for the 50/100s by the way ?

I know Mana did 'em, but most of the studio stands are over 1m tall for placing them behind the desk.

You're in luck if the ones I have will fit

I'm in the process of selling the Mana stands and Soundstages (various additional 'levels' to increase isolation and bring the stands up to ear level) that I had under my Spendor SP100s, which I think have a similar footprint to the ATC100s...

Do you know the dimensions of the 100s and I check?

Meanwhile, here are some piccies of the stands and stages in question:




A sample Soundstage (I have four):



Let me know what you think.

Marco.

[Marc B]

hi Marco

base dimensions of the 100s are 39x58cm

This bloke with the 50s isn't answering emails now so I'll assume he's sold them local.

Are you selling them ?

The look like the right type of stands.. if you remove the glass bits off them.

[Spectral Morn]

Hi Marc

You will need to leave your Passlabs (MartinT can confirm this or not as the case may be as he has a Pass pre) pre on all the time, for it to develope that mid bloom. It is my experience with a number of Solid State pre-amplifiers that they need to be left powered up or in standbye mode, if that feature is there, in order not to sound lean and tonally blanched.

Moving from valve pre to solid state can be a wee bit of a shock at first. The presentation is very different (usually) and can at first sound leaner (sometimes that is part of the permanent sound), but generally ime the sound will flesh out and grow richer after a week or so of being on. Also play around with mains leads and isolation products. I would try RDC cones under the pre.

Switching to balanced (if its true dual differential)is a fantastic thing imo/e. My system is mostly balanced (and valve) and I would find it hard to go back to single ended designs.

I have a Pass labs Xono phono stage and it is very good, but needs to be left on all the time (Pass don't include an On/Off switch so I assume this is by design). It needs 2 weeks to come on song fully.

Enjoy your new purchases.


Regards D S D L

[Marco]

Hi Marc

Yes they're for sale, but you need to use the glass shelves for the stands to work properly

I'll check the dimensions and let you know.

Marco.

[Marc B]

Hi Marc

You will need to leave your Passlabs (MartinT can confirm this or not as the case may be as he has a Pass pre) pre on all the time, for it to develope that mid bloom. It is my experience with a number of Solid State pre-amplifiers that they need to be left powered up or in standbye mode, if that feature is there, in order not to sound lean and tonally blanched.

I believe MartinT used to own one of these preamps and quite possibly this exact unit. That is, if he's the same Martin T who wrote the review on Audio Review

I've noticed the balance shift slightly over the last 24 hours. I'm not sure if it's the new DAC changing or the preamp but it sounds really open.. not bright but like there is nolonger any sort of roll off on the top end.

The mids are still a little phasey sounding and recessed, I'm hoping this changes over the next few days as it sounds wonderfull apart from the slight mids problem.

I'm quite happy with my swap so far :-)

Quick question... Is there an input sensitivity switch inside the preamp ?

The knob goes to 12 o'clock on normal listening and can go to full without it scaring the shit out of the next street. I don't have the right size hex bolt to take the lid off and I'm wondering if I can adjust the gain via a jumper or something inside before I go and hunt the correct hex bolt down?

I've just ordered some Chinese XLRs from ebay..
EBay link
They aren't advertising them as VDH but a closer look on the pictures shows the cable is labeled as VDH D102 Mk3.
If it turns out they use the same wire then it's a bargain for £20 a 1m pair.. if not then it's the same price as the budget studio mic cables.

Yes they're for sale, but you need to use the glass shelves for the stands to work properly

I'll check the dimensions and let you know.

Marco.

Ahh the Mana madness of setting the shelves up correctly

[Spectral Morn]

I believe MartinT used to own one of these preamps and quite possibly this exact unit. That is, if he's the same Martin T who wrote the review on Audio Review

I've noticed the balance shift slightly over the last 24 hours. I'm not sure if it's the new DAC changing or the preamp but it sounds really open.. not bright but like there is nolonger any sort of roll off on the top end.

The mids are still a little phasey sounding and recessed, I'm hoping this changes over the next few days as it sounds wonderfull apart from the slight mids problem.

I'm quite happy with my swap so far :-)

Quick question... Is there an input sensitivity switch inside the preamp ?

The knob goes to 12 o'clock on normal listening and can go to full without it scaring the shit out of the next street. I don't have the right size hex bolt to take the lid off and I'm wondering if I can adjust the gain via a jumper or something inside before I go and hunt the correct hex bolt down?

I've just ordered some Chinese XLRs from ebay..
EBay link
They aren't advertising them as VDH but a closer look on the pictures shows the cable is labeled as VDH D102 Mk3.
If it turns out they use the same wire then it's a bargain for £20 a 1m pair.. if not then it's the same price as the budget studio mic cables.



Ahh the Mana madness of setting the shelves up correctly

There might be a gain set up jumper within. E-Mail Pass Labs and ask, or PM MartinT and ask him. You will need an American sized allan key.

I think your mid range issue will go with a bit more warm up.

Regards D S D L

[Marco]

Hi Marc,

Ahh the Mana madness of setting the shelves up correctly...

Lol - well that and the fact that otherwise the speakers won't sit level on the stands, or fall through the hole, if they're small enough

Anyway, I've measured them and the 100s won't fit - perhaps 50s would, though?

The dimensions are: 42.5cm (wide) x 49.5cm (deep), so I'm not sure if you'd have a use for them.

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

A sample Soundstage (I have four):

What size is the board on that Marco??

[Marco]

Hi Andre,

51.5 x 49.5cm

Marco.

[Jonboy]

You will need an American sized allan key.
Regards D S D L

?? I think you mean an imperial size allen key as the Americans work in feet and inches and Unified threads, UNC and UNF