My 2019 Update Thread - My final system I think.

[Pigmy Pony]

Though the airborne vibration could still reach the important bits via the components' casework. But iirc Gaz has taken steps to address this in the past.

[Barry]

A wooden bell wooden work...

Here's some glass speakers:

https://waterfallaudio.com/en/collec...s/victoria-xt/

Boom boom! But that is exactly my point.

I was unaware of those Waterfall Audio speakers, so perhaps you can have speakers using a glass enclosure - I would be interested in hearing them.

[Pigmy Pony]

If you could keep tropical fish in them, that would be interesting

[Barry]

The blurb says that 'safety glass' is used. That will improve the damping, but they don't say whether it is laminated or toughened glass that is used. Laminated glass has a higher damping factor than toughened glass.

[Macca]

The blurb says that 'safety glass' is used. That will improve the damping, but they don't say whether it is laminated or toughened glass that is used. Laminated glass has a higher damping factor than toughened glass.

Toughened glass. I've had a listen to them, not bad but nothing to write home about.

[Gazjam]

Though the airborne vibration could still reach the important bits via the components' casework. But iirc Gaz has taken steps to address this in the past.

True 'Dat...

In the Stands Unique rack,
Each corner of the shelves are supported on a ceramic ball bearing, sitting in a brass Nyloc nut, soldered to the standard flat brass shelf pegs.

So probably not yer standard glass support.

Great long thread over on the Naim Forum where a guy was trying to dissect how the Naim Frame rack worked (glass shelves/brass/ball bearing support) and that inspired to to try it on my own rack.
Had great results, a noticable difference.

All about seeking out the last 5% that you can get with your existing gear for me.

[Barry]

Shouldn't that be the Naim 'Fraim'?

[Pigmy Pony]

Shouldn't that be the Naim 'Fraim'?

Well, Juliet famously said "a 'Fraim' by anyone other than Naim would sound as sweet", or something like that

[Gazjam]

Shouldn't that be the Naim 'Fraim'?

Probably

[Gazjam]

Fun with power supplies…

Upgraded linear psu boards and transformer fitted to the T8 and tested as working.
absolutely silent, no hum buz or anything.

When I had it cracked open applied some Silent Coat damping sheet material to the inside of the lid, adding weight and reducing vibration.

I’ve pretty revealing gear so felt it was all worth doing?
Felt there was more potential with the T8, and the new T10 seems more of a side grade to me.
Wouldn’t want to spend anymore on a Streamer, so making the most of what I have.

The upgraded PSU and case damping, along with the Stack Audio feet, SR Purple Fuse should all bring out the best in it.
Clean power and power cabling already taken care of.

New PSU will take a bit of time for the run in, lots of new caps, but just letting the new PSU do its thing over time.
MIGHT try a better USB cable than the stock one that came with my Holo May Dac, but wouldnt spend a penny without trying one first.

On the T8 there’s a couple of SSD slots in the base, so you can run it as a Server as well as a Streamer with your own local files.
I’ve about 4TB worth of music, so I’ve ordered a 4TB SSD to transfer my music files and store them on the T8.

The Eversolo App integrates your local files with streaming services similar to (but not as good) as Roon.
So just control all my music from the big IPad.

The T8 is a much better solution than Roon, where you had to have a separate computer running in the background.
One black box does it all, perfect.

Build quality on the T8 is fantastic, but you can tell construction has been done to a BOM cost…as always.
Lid was a bit rattly in comparison to side panels, due to way it fits together, so damped the inner lid with Silent Coat.
Did similar mods to my Oppo 203 which improved picture and sound.

So,
Jobs a good ‘un.



BEFORE AND AFTER

AC FILTER BOARD



DC VOLTAGE REGULATOR & FILTER BOARD


* Note the upgraded big Nichicon caps, the stock ones are Eversolo branded.
The OCC copper connector between the PSU and the motherboard? Pretty smart.


TRANSFORMER



*WEE HOURS IN THE MORNING EDIT*

First track played after power-up, just a favourite from YouTube over Airplay into the T8.
Seconds in I could tell, YUP, better than before.
Just more of everything, and more to come as it burns in.
So a job well worth doing.

Was already hitting that diminishing returns sweet-spot with the stock T8 I felt?
think I’d need to spend a LOT more on a Streamer to get a substantial improvement like this?

So whilst not inexpensive for these mods,
to me it’s great value for money.
You can hear where the moneys went, as opposed to blingy casework or famous brand markup.