System Pics 2023

Now I’m used to my new hearing aids - maybe they’ve been running in ha ha - just can’t get over how good my little stereo sounds.

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It would sound better on a dedicated rack/stand…

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3 rack Mana :smile:

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But you don’t know that, as you haven’t done a comparison between a dedicated rack/stand and my little table. It’s just hifi orthodoxy that makes you suggest it.

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Like many of your suggestions on here. You know it’s a compromise, but that’s fine; you clearly enjoy the system and that’s all that matters. :+1:

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As it happens, I had £1,600s worth of Isoblue before getting my table. Before deciding whether or not to keep the table, I carefully compared the two, and could hear no difference, so I kept the table and sold the Isoblue. The table is solid ash, and is very light and also very rigid, being a tripod construction. In comparison with many ‘proper’ stands, I suspect it’s actually very good.

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Looking at the system i shouldn’t think the speakers are putting much energy/vibrations into the room/floor to start with. So probably not really any problem to fix.
Plus only one box, so again no real problem to overcome.

You only need to fix problems is you actually have them. That’s why we get so many different responses on everything to do with this hobby.

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Nothing new here, but there could be…:face_with_peeking_eye:
A preloved XPS-2 with DR upgrade, with excellent provenance and recently serviced at Naim has come up.
The price is very favourable but, having never heard one, I’m not sure just how much of an upgrade it will really bring🤔
I would welcome views from anybody with real world experience of a system similar to mine receiving such an upgrade.
Thank you
Simon

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I had an XPS on my nDAC before I went NC and can say it was a very worthwhile addition. But what happened to the I’m done quote from not so long ago?

:wink: :+1:

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Do I spy a Nak in that rack @BigAl?

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Has the speaker on the right had too much wine :joy::joy:

With a 300 in the system I’d be looking for a 555PSDR.

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Ivor Tiefenbrun, before the era of posh audio racks, prescribed that his LP12 were placed ‘on a light, rigid coffee table’.

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Great setup. Some lovely vintage gear there.
What are the silver/gold units to the right if I may ask?
:+1:

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Dealers🙄

You do indeed, Kev. It’s a DR2. I’ve also got BX125 in the loft, which unfortunately does not play. A shame, as I thought it replayed better than the DR2: not easy to get repaired in Kent…

The Technics deck below the Nakamichi does work, though!

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Nope, I’m looking at an XPS not a 555🤷🏻‍♂️

The big lump on top of the r/h stack is a Sony DVPS9000ES dvd player which will do SACD playback, and below that is my Sony CDP -XA555ES cd player. Both were bought new (at different times!) 20 years or so ago.

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Fantastic!
It’s great that you’re the original owner and I assume looked after them. I bet they sound good too.
I wish I had something like them :+1:

Thank you! They are actually in excellent condition for their age.

The DVD player was an extravagant purchase (particularly in the opinion of a chap I worked with at the time), and the CDP replaced a hopeless Arcam Alpha +, which I simply threw away.

You have piqued my interest now: the CDP I bought from the SONY Centre in Ilford on 30/09/2000, and the DVD on 11/08/2001 from Hi-SPEK in Finchley

I also have a Sony STD777ES tuner in the loft :flushed:

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