System Pics 2022

Nak back from a service

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I guess it depends on the app, and the network… None of those problems here. App taken care of by Roon, and an Ethernet network seems much easier than Naim cable dressing and the massaging of Burndies…

I had a new 555DR on order to match with an NDS I had bought but with the rethink on sources I let that go and will pick up again in the future, once the serviced NAPs are singing and everything settles down…

…but thoughts will then inevitably turn to a CD555

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Lovely doggy too! Reminds me of the HMV dog for some reason, I think it must the dark ear patches.

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Started as a new thread (“Why I love cafe’s in Japan”) but moved it here instead.

Here in Sapporo, my regular cafe has this sitting amongst the coffee cups. Not an unusual sight at all.

Accuphase preamp into proper McIntosh of yesteryear and a second zone (multiroom!) going out to the Altec Lansing tube amps driving old Klipsch speakers.

I’m sitting opposite it now, as I do for a few hours every weekend, enjoying a cuppa, a bit of cake, and smooth jazz.

I really wish I’d taken more pics of my regular cafe spots back in Tokyo. Plenty of chipped, grime encrusted LP12s and scuffed JBLs. To me, the worn state of the gear is a sign of respect from constant use.

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Very nice! Thanks for posting this. I am a kind of Japan fan and a couple of months ago I read about those café’s in one of my favourite German hi-fi websites. Maybe someone is interested (unfortunately only in German language, but maybe an online translator could help):

A visit of one these “Kissas” is definitely on my list for the next Japan trip.

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Very nice! May I enquire who did the service as I have a CR7A which probably needs a service. It is a North American model which I purchased from Electronic Service Labs in New York State, it is on a voltage adaptor and works very well in the UK.

Cheers

Tim

Hi.
Nak Central Audiolabs in Sevenoaks did the work.
Not cheap, but will hopefully keep the machine going for another 30+ years

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Thank you for the link. Wonderful if this tradition has a renaissance in Japan. Here in the forum there would probably also be enough people who would visit such a cafe - with Naim equipment. Maybe a gap in the market and a nice idea also outside Japan… :slightly_smiling_face:

Just don’t expect amazing sound quality. As you can see in the above pic and the pics in the German article, space is of a premium in Japan. And setting up a hifi properly takes space. The above is actually quite good - there’s ventilation. Normally there is not enough ventilation and speakers are obstructed by fixtures.

But it isn’t purely about sound quality so much as the experience. Just like the exact same tea is more enjoyable out of a nice teacup compared to drinking from a jar, the experience of relaxing in a Japanese cafe is enhanced by the shrine to music.

These cafes almost never just have hifi. There is often a collection of musical instruments around the place. My regular haunt has some very battered string instruments under the stairs,

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Spending the best part of the morning on cleaning out this mess. Gosh what a dust magnet & trap these systems are… :grimacing: :neutral_face:

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That’s the Live Oblivion, I think ?

If you’re interested, there’s a new release out on Bandcamp called Auger Incorporated which is a compilation of some very old tracks from his archives as well others over the years.

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Yes Cemil, it’s the live Oblivion. I am aware of the new album of Brian. But the music is not so fun as in the first Oblivion albums. I prefer to put my lps.

Any chance to have a picture of your wonderful system ? Constellation, Magico, SME…. Impressive !

Good point :wink:
I saw that someone showed a picture of his statement system hidden away with curtains
I have tried to make a rule for cleaning during winter. In summer it’s difficult not to break a sweat after lifting the first power supply or 300 head unit

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Yes, of course. Here you go:






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:+1::+1::+1:. Very nice! Thanks.
What are the 4 boxes on the floor, at the right of the speaker?

Power Supply and DC Filter for the Constellation Preamp and Phono stage (one pair for each).
The preamp is the one sitting on the left with the display on as I had just changed the volume before taking the pic. Phono stage is the one to the right of it (same looks, no knobs)

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Wow - that’s quite a system !

The only item I recognized was the AT637, glad to know I’m not the only one still using one. As for the rest of the system looks very impressive and due to my sheltered existence haven’t heard any of it but trust it works for you.

Thank you very much - it is.