joz Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Looks great, some familiar looking gear there. Where did the pre come from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 Your place originally ;-) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 So how has it all come together ? Sounding? I'm missing them Btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleach Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Looks good @@blybo! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) The best analogy I can come up with is that it all sounds effortless now. The pre has certainly added some dynamics and more bass weight overall. Still a very detailed sound considering it's a tube pre, but perhaps a shade more laid back than the Arcam it has replaced. You are welcome to visit them @@joz Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited January 11, 2016 by blybo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 What are you doing now with the Arcam, I love those little amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 11, 2016 Author Share Posted January 11, 2016 What are you doing now with the Arcam, I love those little amps. The FMJ a28 and Diva P90 are both in the classifieds. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 The best analogy I can come up with is that it all sounds effortless now. The pre has certainly added some dynamics and more bass weight overall. Still a very detailed sound considering it's a tube pre, but perhaps a shade more laid back than the Arcam it has replaced. You are welcome to visit them @@joz Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk May need to.It's like the kids leaving home. They were part of the family. They did so many things right in my system. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted January 12, 2016 Share Posted January 12, 2016 1 month on and a lot has happened. I've just acquired an Elektra pre and done a bit of a re-arrange, looks lovely with its stable mate I'm going to make a mini rack to separate the Cullen Sonos, Nighthawk phono pre and Apple TV Very happy with this system now. Not sure there is really anything to upgrade in the short/medium term Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk gorgeous...the elektra focal match is a very nice one, can just imagine it sounds just lovely together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 Now very happy with the sound. I've got an opportunity tonight to crank the gear. 2Ch whilst I have dinner and pack for a quick trip, and HT room once I'm sorted for the night. The only thing I think I'd change now is furniture related. I might do a qubeloc similar to yours for now and then get a nice blackwood cabinet when the girls are a bit older. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 May need to. It's like the kids leaving home. They were part of the family. They did so many things right in my system. Hey Joz, welcome any time. Have you run XLR vs RCA comparisons? Are they a truly balanced design? My Dac also has balanced out so just wondering if there would be any gains... except extra gain... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joz Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Give a try but as I mentioned elsewhere, in my case it was mainly like swapping any other I/Cs. But it's not an exxy exercise unless you go for unobtanium type cables. Not sure though if they are true balanced, I may have to check with Arthur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 I think I have a bad xlr, tried last night but right channel got no sound, fine with RCA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satanica Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 It must be hot in Melbourne at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I think I have a bad xlr, tried last night but right channel got no sound, fine with RCA. have you swapped around the xlrs to narrow down if a cable issue ? especially if cheaper band shop ones they dont even solder these . have had that happen with one of them where loose connection and then discovered its just a loose crimp. returned those and never to buy again ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samman Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 Loved following the evolution of your set up , Arthur does make a wonderful product. The Elektra pre/pro combination is an absolute treat, punches way,way,way above it's price point. Congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 have you swapped around the xlrs to narrow down if a cable issue ? especially if cheaper band shop ones they dont even solder these . have had that happen with one of them where loose connection and then discovered its just a loose crimp. returned those and never to buy again ! Not as yet, I'm currently near the Swiss/Italian boarder. I left 42 degrees to come to minus 4 [emoji944] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Not as yet, I'm currently near the Swiss/Italian boarder. I left 42 degrees to come to minus 4 [emoji944] had dinner there once...be rather doing that then swapping cables Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Goulash soup for dinner even though I'm in Italy, it was Austrian/German territory for much of its history. Nice blend actually. and I'm now wide awake at 2:30am 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 (edited) Hmmm, they're pretty tall aren't they... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited May 9, 2016 by blybo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerav Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 You scroll down and they just smack you in the face, what's the wife say about them. Maybe shouldn't call it a budget system any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 hmmm ... for trial or to stay ? yep sure moved past "budget" a while back ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sime Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Millionaires budget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 Millionaires budget Second hand as per almost everything in the system. Actually the Cullen Sonos Conect is the only thing now that was bought at retail. Audiolab cd/DAC was new but at 2nd hand pricing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blybo Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 (edited) hmmm ... for trial or to stay ? yep sure moved past "budget" a while back ! We'll see what SWMBO says. I've got them over a meter into the room now listening to Melody Gardot. Sublime but can't be left so far off the back wall which may get old pretty quickly. Can't believe that I've got at least 20% more volume gain on the pre amp for roughly same output of my Focals. Previous owner was running off a Primaluna tube integrated. I think they are signing better with Elektra oomph behind them.These speakers cost exactly half what my Focals did so I've actually cheapened the system [emoji12]. They are different, not better or worse. If I only listened to jazz/singer song writer type stuff the Maggies would win, but the Focals have it for rock or complicated pieces. Surprising as Maggies are always talked about as being so fast. Will need a mod to edit my original heading, too old now for me to change. Edited May 9, 2016 by blybo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts