What was the last bit of gear you bought in 2023?

It won’t be here for a few weeks, but I put my name down for an ND555. No time like now to appreciate decisions for the rest of my life.

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A loan, that surprisingly turned into a purchase…

Audioquest Vodka Ethernet cable for the final run between my PhoenixNET and KDSM.

That’s it now for 2023. Happy New Year all.

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Have you tried any other audiophile switches previously? I’m curious about this as well, looks like a well made product with some nice features. Let us know your thoughts, I’ve been thinking about trying this switch as well, still haven’t pulled the trigger, still on the fence if they can make a difference. Seem to have those that have tried ethernet cables/switches & say they make a difference & those with network background that typically say it’s physically not possible based on how it works.

Surprised there haven’t been more pics of some FM/DAB+ tuners over the last few days😉

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Any comments on the final purchase…….i did eventually try the diamond, but found it…….sort of artificial. Back to AQ Vodka and it just sits better in my system.

I’ve used Bonn N8 (cascade) and Cisco 2960 (cascade) previously. The SW6 made noticeable improvements to SQ to my ears in my setup. I’m really pleased with this purchase.
I’m also using an external 10M ocxo clock with the SW6.
My current chain: router-ethernet-fmc-fiber-sw6-ethernet-NDX2.

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A couple of days ago a NAP250DR found its way onto the base of the Fraim…

…mint 3 year old example with full fat Powerline

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Dipping toe in vinyl again . Sounds great . Dug out stuff I have listened to for 20 years

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Congratulations!

Just seen your system . Looks awesome . Naughty pete tried and failed . Good one you . One life …one life

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I don’t know if you’ve seen it yet. There is already a thread about this switch (Click here).. Happy new year everybody!

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Wow, congratulations - it’s a great time to get one here and will last a lifetime as you say. It will be a very big step up, but it also takes a very long time to fully burn in.

What’s happened about the V2’s then……

I’ve got them on demo still. I really like the way they sound - and my wife even said that she thought the Janis Joplin album of hers we were listening to was a different recording as it sounded a lot better.

Unfortunately she’s still not keen on the black monolith aspect to them, so in looking for something in a wood veneer, ideally front ported. There are a couple of options still on the table, so I’ll be doing something on that front soon

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Uhm yes it did :rofl:

I was fascinated by the possibility one could add a source to an amplifier. That’s a new one on me. But I have way too many sources for that to be an option. I even got one balanced XLR socket on the preamp and I’ve had to decide between my Berkeley DAC or my Ayre SACD player. Actually, it was a no-brainer to choose the DAC because I’m really into streaming via Roon.

I’m like you, I’m not into tube rolling. I plan to stick with the stock tubes. I’m eager to see how long they last. Luxman claims they will last a longer time and I sure hope so as it becomes expensive to be replacing tubes on a too regular basis. My system is playing pretty much every day.

They really do sound that wonderful. And even better, they do suit my speakers to perfection. I have Quad ESL-63 electrostatic speakers and I’ve tried them with solid state gear and I always return to tubes.

You have more resistant fortitude than I because once I heard them I just couldn’t resist them. Even when faced with their way over budget cost.

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Luxman claim the EL-84 output tubes on the SQ-N150 should go for 10 years as they push them so lightly. One of mine did suddenly go with a flash after about 3.5 years.

While you can just go online and order a new matched set. Luxman strongly recommend getting the amp back to the mothership for a full set of not just matched but Luxman spec tubes. Apparently, they reject between 40% and 60% of all the tubes they get as not being within their spec.

Cost-wise, getting them changed at the factory was about 3x the cost of buying something off Amazon (which I know from experience, dead tubes and problem tubes are utterly rife), which seemed reasonable. They swapped them all out in 10 days and charged me $400. I just consider it the cost of running tubes.

Your information that Luxman fails so many tubes is bad news - even shocking! Nevertheless, I dont plan to send mine back to the factory. I am acquainted with a fellow who has a tube business and I feel I can trust him to make sure I have good tubes.

But good news that they are used lightly and therefore last a long time. I play mine almost every day of the year!

I think Naim reject the same sort of percentage of components like caps and DAC chips. There is working to spec, and working to Luxman/Naim spec.