Today I visited my dealer to return a Chord Shawline ethernet cable I had on home demo. Didn’t find it much better than the basic cable I use. No problem. Perhaps I should use it with a proper switch as well. Anyhow, I was then more or less in anti cable mood.
On my way out - ”perhaps you would like to try this second hand Chord Sarum tuned array interconnect between pre and power amplifier in your naim system?” Why not, no harm to try and get more experience.
A few hours of music with it between the HiCap DR and 250 DR and I think this is now the last bit of gear I bought 2023 . This was a good cable which, I have to say to my surprise, brought many improvements. Now I’m pro cable.
I have a Chord Signature Tuned Aray between the 250DR and Hicap DR in my system. There was a small but noticeable difference when it replaced the standard Naim cable that came in the box. A slightly cleaner and more dynamic sound with blacker background. The Sarum Tuned Aray must sound awesome.
Yes, this turned out to be a good move, even if not a planned one!
I’m still surprised by the improvements. Especially as the Sarum cable dosent’t even go the whole length from the 282- HicCap DR - 250 DR. Between the 282 and HiCap the original naim cable still is the interconnect.
And my latest bit of gear is……… an iPad 11”, 256GB.
“Not HiFi”, I can hear the cries, however……
It controls the four RPi-based streamers (MoOde Audio) in the various systems, and has enough memory to hold a substantial part of our music library (in compressed AAC format, of course).
Awaiting a set of Chord Sarum Super Aray DIN - XLR between my 552 and 500 to battle my current Witch hat Morgana. Anyone else compared those? The Morganas was a huge uplift from the originals IMO.
Oh dear - recently went to a 282/250 and said that was it - a “friend” has let me borrow a super lumina cable to run from hi-cap to 250 - I hope he doesn’t want it back for a while or ever
Talk about bottom end slam it’s gorgeous straight from the off - gonna let this baby settle in a while then decide “if” he can have it back. Wasn’t there an old law which said possession is nine-tenths of the law?
I have been auditioning this Ultra Carbon TC-40 record clamp, compared to my old HRS ADH 850gr clamp. This thing is a massive 1022 gr. The HRS ADH has a rubber base and steel otherwise, while this Ultra Carbon has a stainless/carbon-fiber base.
The Ultra-Carbon adds more air and detail to the treble extension. At first I thought it was less warm than the HRS, but once I got a bit more used to it and listened more I realized that warmth was really more of a veil over midrange detail and the new clamp brings that out. I also learned I was tracking very slightly too light and the new clamp – with the improved resolution – exposed that. I increased tracking from 1.65 gr to 1.69 gr.
Enjoy your recent turntable upgrades, specially the Atlas, which must be something.
If I may ask, why don’t you plan to add a Clearaudio power supply for the motor ? I can’t imagine that this upgrade would not be really significant. Maybe no more shelf place ?
The Clearaudio Professional Power 24v is a LPS for $1000. I bought a MCRU LPS for my Ovation – for less than $400 – years ago. Some time ago the support tech for the Clearaudio US distributor recommended I get the Clearaudio. When I told him I have the MCRU LPS he said I should be good with that.
I didn’t knew you had already the MCRU. So maybe it would indeed not add really something. But maybe you could try at home one day.?
Recently SME upgraded their power supplies for the existing SME 20 and 30 decks. Different reviews point how different the turntables sound now.
I have compared in the past the VPI turntable with and without the SDS ps. It was very noticeable.
Probably not. It’s not something my dealer ever stocks, and I’m not going to ask them to get one if I’m not serious about buying it. I don’t know what it would add, except a nicer case and Clearaudio branding to match.
My dealer once had the Smart Power, but the 12v version for the the Performance CD, etc. That’s the battery-based PSU. The 24v version for Ovation costs something like $3k. Anyway, the dealer had so many issues with their demo unit failing they sent it back, and never carried (or recommended) it again.
On some turntables, the nicer PSUs provide better speed control, which is something that makes them sound better. However, my Ovation has the OSC (Optical Speed Control) feature that maintains consistent speed. You still have to dial in absolute speed (33 1/3, 45) with a strobe, but once set the OSC maintains accuracy in terms of wow and flutter.
. This was a good cable which, I have to say to my surprise, brought many improvements. Now I’m pro cable.
