Steever Posted December 21, 2020 Author Share Posted December 21, 2020 Self terminated Nordost Solar Wind speaker cables for the second Cyrus/Mission 782 system. these are tri-wired 1.5m lengths. The filaments are so fine on this model cable so it’s a very delicate task to strip them all and takes quite some time to do. the DIY Flatline Gold RCA cable in the back ground has a Red Dawn RCA pair coming to replace it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted December 23, 2020 Author Share Posted December 23, 2020 New-to-me Mission Elegante e81 speakers arrived this morning (thank you Gumtree seller). no time was wasted adapting the stands for my 750LE (now in storage) with a new top plate. just waiting for the paint to dry as I write this. these will make a nice upgrade from the little Canton CD10II satellites I have in surround side for home theatre. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted January 9, 2021 Author Share Posted January 9, 2021 (edited) Got back from a very wet Sunshine Coast today to find my Audax midrange drivers waiting for me. I also installed this afternoon, just about the prettiest surround speakers I’ve ever seen. will play with them (levels, etc) later on. Right now, just chilling to some nice Bobby Vega in stereo. Edited January 9, 2021 by Winno 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted January 26, 2021 Author Share Posted January 26, 2021 Y’day, I asked my local I.T. guy to pop around and pick up the aging Mac Mini for some TLC. We got it new about 6 years ago and have just used it everyday without conducting any maintenance on it, etc apart from my DC/LPS work a few weeks ago now. it was returned today with a new SSD fitted. Apart from a massively decreased boot time, the sound is now significantly improved. I don’t know why but the sound is now right in my room and images so much more strongly. I was throwing around the idea of a Cyrus streamer at one stage but at a fraction of the cost for what I’m getting now, I’d be crazy to go down that road I reckon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broadz Posted January 27, 2021 Share Posted January 27, 2021 looking fantastic Winno! I'm hardly surprised considering how detailed your car audio builds have always been over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted January 28, 2021 Author Share Posted January 28, 2021 2 hours ago, broadz said: looking fantastic Winno! I'm hardly surprised considering how detailed your car audio builds have always been over the years. Thanks mate. Car audio is still a thing for me too. I’m in the middle of building my best one yet in a Macan. Taking it slowly though as I’m recovering from a mild stroke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted January 29, 2021 Author Share Posted January 29, 2021 Today, my 782 speakers had their modded midrange drivers and faceplates fitted and finally played music. I'm very happy with the outcome which is a relief considering the time and cost put into them. I remember the original versions well from selling them previously. This pair is a significantly improved version with the returns so good I’m not worried about any potential over-capitalization. If anything, I’m worried they’re now better than my newer and bigger (and also rebuilt) e83s downstairs. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 With the audio source pretty much sorted on the main system, my thoughts returned to bettering the power feeding the system. I generally use no filtering and rely on distribution from a couple of Bunnings power boards. A necessary evil. I decided today to fish out an old commercial grade Elsafe filter and modular board. I remember using this on my old Audiolab/Whise system and being surprised at the audible improvement it made to things. I didn’t keep using it because it’s damn ugly. Tonight I plugged all digital sources, both preamps and my PSX-R into the Elsafe and the rest (monoblocks, FM tuner, stereo power amp, etc) into another standard power strip. True to form, things seemed to improve with enhanced immediacy and detail and a clarity I didn’t know I didn’t have. I think I’ll leave it this way for a while. no pic as it’s a boring silver alloy box with a flexible modular, multi-socket set on the end of a thick mains cable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted January 30, 2021 Author Share Posted January 30, 2021 On 28/01/2021 at 9:09 AM, broadz said: looking fantastic Winno! I'm hardly surprised considering how detailed your car audio builds have always been over the years. thanks bud. good to see you here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broadz Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 On 30/01/2021 at 11:53 PM, Winno said: thanks bud. good to see you here. Same to you mate. I swear I must be one of the original members who joined stereonet but have barely posted anything... unlike CAA or MEA where I was regular. I've noticed there are a few of us original CAA members who have moved on from car audio and now have a little extra disposable income to dabble in the depths of hifi and theatre. That's where i'm at now: building my first proper hifi/theatre setup. Keep up the high quality work mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted February 2, 2021 Author Share Posted February 2, 2021 I’m off work for the next month for medical reasons and have lots of time on my hands. I’ve got the space and I kept two records from when I used to vinyl and nostalgia is calling. I’ve started looking at the dark side. Maybe something from Denon again. I used to have a DP-45F which I modified and had great fun using. Hmmmm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaky Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 17 hours ago, Winno said: I’m off work for the next month for medical reasons and have lots of time on my hands. I’ve got the space and I kept two records from when I used to vinyl and nostalgia is calling. I’ve started looking at the dark side. Maybe something from Denon again. I used to have a DP-45F which I modified and had great fun using. Hmmmm... I see there a few Denon DF-45F's for sale ATM. https://www.hifishark.com/model/denon-dp-45-f I've been looking at getting a DP-80 motor unit and doing a mod on it. https://www.hifishark.com/model/denon-dp-80 A great mod thread for this unit here. https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue-source/179115-monsterizing-denon-dp-80-a.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted February 3, 2021 Author Share Posted February 3, 2021 4 minutes ago, Tweaky said: I see there a few Denon DF-45F's for sale ATM. https://www.hifishark.com/model/denon-dp-45-f I've been looking at getting a DP-80 motor unit and doing a mod on it. https://www.hifishark.com/model/denon-dp-80 A great mod thread for this unit here. https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue-source/179115-monsterizing-denon-dp-80-a.html there sure are. I’d prefer one from USA as they have user switchable voltage. The Japanese ones are 100V only and require a tranny to use here. there are few mods to be done to all these. I mass loaded mine and upgraded the audio cables but this time, I’ll go further. A 45F would be nice but I’d even go higher up if I could. No matter what though, I still want the full auto functionality. I realize this limits outright Fidelity but ease of use is kinda a biggie for me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweaky Posted February 3, 2021 Share Posted February 3, 2021 4 minutes ago, Winno said: there sure are. I’d prefer one from USA as they have user switchable voltage. The Japanese ones are 100V only and require a tranny to use here. there are few mods to be done to all these. I mass loaded mine and upgraded the audio cables but this time, I’ll go further. A 45F would be nice but I’d even go higher up if I could. No matter what though, I still want the full auto functionality. I realize this limits outright Fidelity but ease of use is kinda a biggie for me too. I know what you mean, auto functionality is nice to have, but with units like that, and of that vintage, I've always been worried about things possibly not working as they should, and not knowing how to fix them, more trouble to fix if that was ever to become the case, especially with the arm movement. Denon are renown for their reliability and pretty much TANK like construction, as you probably already know, that's why I like them as well. The main thing to look out for is if the magnetic strips on the inside on the turntable platter that control the speed are in good nick, if they are there is seldom a problem My intended built was going to be OTT, with a Dynavector arm.....one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted February 14, 2021 Author Share Posted February 14, 2021 (edited) I added a new source to my system today: a Rega RP40. it’ll match in aesthetically with the Cyrus gear (it’s in a brushed silver finish) and provide ample opportunities for tweaks and improvements. ive already got a list of resource pages in my online bookmarks for everything from tonearm rewiring to VTA adjustment to counterweights to machined sub platters and so on. im very tempted to order mods right now but I’ll wait to see if vinyl is a thing for me again before sinking more $$$ into it. Edited February 14, 2021 by Winno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 unboxed but no phono stage yet. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RobbC Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 On 15/02/2021 at 10:38 AM, Winno said: unboxed but no phono stage yet. ah there it is. I wondered what it was going to be. Looks like it will fit in nicely...very nicely I suggest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 20 hours ago, RobbC said: ah there it is. I wondered what it was going to be. Looks like it will fit in nicely...very nicely I suggest... Yes, I've got a silver thing going I guess you could say. It's almost a perfect match to the Cyrus gear. The red will last only as long as I still have the glass platter installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RobbC Posted February 18, 2021 Share Posted February 18, 2021 6 hours ago, Winno said: Yes, I've got a silver thing going I guess you could say. It's almost a perfect match to the Cyrus gear. The red will last only as long as I still have the glass platter installed. Mate it is a great thing when form and function are satisfied. I bet it doesn’t happen that often in this hobby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 This morning I ordered a new phono stage and new platter, sub platter, and dual belt kit for the Rega. I’m also eyeing up a new counterweight, cartridge, silver tone arm rewire kit and isolation footers. very quickly this got very spendy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 (edited) Well, that was fast! Edited March 2, 2021 by Winno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pops110 Posted March 3, 2021 Share Posted March 3, 2021 11 hours ago, Winno said: This morning I ordered a new phono stage and new platter, sub platter, and dual belt kit for the Rega. I’m also eyeing up a new counterweight, cartridge, silver tone arm rewire kit and isolation footers. very quickly this got very spendy You’ve jumped in the deep end, have fun. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted March 3, 2021 Author Share Posted March 3, 2021 So the small package was my new phono stage. it’s tiny. I’m only running the Elys40 MM cartridge standard on the RP40 so I did some jumper juggling in the P75 as it came set up for low output MC. I also dialed back all VTF on the dial and set it via the counterweight and digital force gauge instead. I’ve done this previously and found it improved things. Then it was time for my first LP in nearly 18 years: Windham Hill’s Sampler of New Electronic Music - Soul of the Machine. This was my favorite LP from back then and one of two records I kept when getting rid of all the others. The music started and I have to say, it was quite an emotional moment as memories of my early 20’s came back. The music reproduction itself was also sensational. Why oh why did I go digital only all those years ago! I’m definitely hooked again and apart from the great phono stage, everything else is standard fare (for now ). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share Posted March 11, 2021 (edited) A couple of weeks ago now I stripped all the gear out of the entertainment unit and put the AV stuff and surround speakers into their boxes and down into the garage. Two of the power amps are sold and I have a few other bits (Cyrus and Mission) still for sale. The proceeds of those sales will fund my new cartridge (Dynavextor 20X2L) and maybe even an arm rewire (Incognito Silver as the Nordost option is crazy money). For now, the Rega is sitting on a foamed core and laminate board and IsoAcoustics Isopucks on my entertainment unit. We’ll be moving to an apartment later this year and I’ve started to look at what I’ll need then. I’m planning on having nothing except my subwoofer and TV between my speakers. The Cyrus Hark stand will be reassembled for all electronics except the monoblocks and will sit off to the outside of one of the speakers. The Hark is no good for a turntable so I picked up another Moon lamp table from Harvey Norman. Early shopping but it was done because I didn’t want to find them discontinued when time to move. It’ll have the ProLight board bolted to it through Sorbothane gaskets and the turntable will sit on top on Orea Indigo footers. These steel legs are rigid and light weight and ideal for the Rega. I’ve already tapped the feet and fitted M8 steel spikes which will allow easy leveling. I’ll also have to source about 8m of Nordost Red Dawn RCA cable to make up new cables feeding the monos. I’ll also need a new HDMI cable as well. Edited March 11, 2021 by Winno 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steever Posted March 15, 2021 Author Share Posted March 15, 2021 Some bits arrived today from Argentina. bearing sleeve, ceramic bearing, sub-platter, platter, double belt pulley and a couple of silicone belts. Despite a whole lot of very positive feedback about Tango Spinner, I actually found the sound lost its bounce and actually became a little thick sounding once the parts were fitted and the system fired up again. Bringing it all back in line again though was a Michell clamp (delrin Rega version) which was also delivered this afternoon. The boppy tempo and detail is back and it’s all sounding much nicer now compared to y’day. I also added a dash of lime spirit level to match up with the Cyrus gear. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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