System Pics 2022

Dancing Queens.

The system shown is our most used one, the AV system. Saving pennies to add a Nap 100 for rear loudspeakers.

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Eggcellent!

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… hens popular!

I thought you were demonstrating a different form of cable lifting technique :rooster:

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I’ve recently made a significant improvement to my setup to address something that’s been very slightly upsetting the balance for a while now; I’ve pulled off the badges from my speakers. It’s such a little thing but to me it looks so much better. This is the view from where I usually sit to listen to music in the evening.

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Roosters!?

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Lovely room HH. Intrigued to know what percentage of your listening is P10 vs NDX2 these days?

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This evening I finally ‘installed’ the new/old stock Cyrus Soundkey that I bought on to my father’s i-pad that he uses to stream Idagio (top tier SQ plan).

We listened to:
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves - Liverpool Philharmonic.
Franz Lachner: Festival Overture in E Flat major
Fossils and The Swan - Saint-Saens.

Were were very impressed by the upgrade in SQ and, at 1.7v max output, the little DAC definitely has enough output to drive his Arcam amplifier. My dad was amazed how such a little device can do so much sound-wise.

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Looking good HH

Just out of curiosity - width between speakers and how far to listening position ?

I’m experimenting with my new Neat Petite 30’s

Much appreciated HH

Bevo

Gone.

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Gone.

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If the floor issues are still nagging at you a tad (and even if not), if you haven’t already(?), you could investigate/try Townshend Seismic Podiums. I think these can still be obtained on a sale or return basis (if in the UK).

IME, the bang for buck improvement was material.

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My ES stack project system is nearly complete. Very happy now with each component as they are all from a matching era (1991ish) with similar branding ( see the ES logo on the bottom right hand side of each box). Also, they are a good balance of quality and cost as they are all around the middle of the Elevated Standard ES range of the time, any step-up to the very highest components would be a serious outlay for a small perceived improvement (I.e I am running a X333ES CD player which was purchased for £30 (bargain of the century, it’s quality is fabulous) but they are worth around £250, an X555ES is around £500 and an X777ES £1000+ and most likely only on the German market) Anyhow, cannot add anything else as the stack would rise too far above the sofa and might start to cause matrimonial disharmony!! Positioning of components in the stack feels correct now
Next steps are to purchase a set of wood sides so I can fabricate a full set for each component, as I think the chances of an original set for every component is minimal. The 1000ESD digital Pre-amp brings many possibilities to immerse in 90 tech, would love to hook up an old handicam or laser disc player through it, or maybe a top of the line VHS and a 5.1 prologic surround set-up and feel like a 90’s Japanese salaryman who has just blown his life savings!

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Eventually someone will need to address the elephant in the room.

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Your system and room look really nice HH. Just a couple of things I’m curious about if you don’t mind me asking. Firstly I notice the system seems to be very close to that central heating radiator. Does it get warm (the system I mean!) when the heating is on? Secondly I’m puzzled as to your choice of listening position. Not between the speakers as convention dictates. Any particular reason for this? Perhaps you will soon follow dear old Jimmy Hughes (of 1980’s Hi-Fi Answers fame) advice and turn your speakers around so that they face the wall! Thanks.

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My daughters are at your house. They like to take some walk.

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What are the badges HH?

I’d rather have it a bit further from the radiator but it doesn’t seem to get too warm. I’ve had the system in that location for most of the 30 years I’ve lived here.

As to the location, as many will know, I lost the hearing in my left ear in early 2020. It was during the first lockdown and therefore couldn’t get it checked. I suspect Covid was to blame. I have hearing aids that Bluetooth the sound from the left to my functioning right ear. Everything therefore comes into my right ear. If I sit between the speakers the effect of having only one ear is much more pronounced and at times can be deeply upsetting, as it emphasises what I know I’m missing. By sitting off to the left, the effect is much reduced - in fact I don’t really notice it - so it’s much easier to just enjoy the music without being reminded of what once was.

That said, even before the hearing loss I’d often sit there, or in the chair at the other end. I’ve never been one for worrying overly about the ‘sweet spot’ and have always believed a system should sound good wherever in the room you are, rather than just from a particular position.

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It’s about 1.8m tweeter to tweeter, and the room is 3.6m across. Over the years all the speakers have been in pretty much the same place barring a few cm.

The speakers originally had little metal ‘ProAc’ labels stuck into the bottom of the grilles. I’ve now taken them off. The Rega shelf came with a Rega sticker on the front, which I also removed.

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