Hi Fi set up

[richardw42]

Hi. Just posted my HC in another thread. The same applies here. I'd be grateful for any comments or any tip & tweaks.

A brief history. Probably 20 or so years ago I used to play around with hi-fi on a strictly budget level. I then spent the next two decades with a series of ever more gimmicky but ultimately unfulfillinf minisystems.

Then about a year ago I bought an Arcam Solo Mini and some BR1s. I was happy at first but was a little underwhelmed with some stuff (esp Metal).

I thendecided to sell the Arcam and have a HC which I could use for music. My source was a Marantz BD5004 which was good but fell a little short so I added a Rokan KC1 CDP which I got off ebay.

All was well for a couple of months but thought I'd like a dedicated hi-fi so added a Musical Fidelity XA2 ad RS6s to the CD Player.

This brings me to my current set up. I've kept the lovely amp, I changed the KC1 for a Roksan Kandy K2 and after moving RS6s into the HC, got a pair of B&W CM7s. I also added the Chord Chameleon SP interconnect.

In the first couple of photos I've tried to show the geography of the system in the room the 2nd pic is more or less from my main listening position.

The stand is an el cheapo one (about £20), but there is no traffic near or in the room that would cause vibrations.

 

[idc]

I would look at isolation feet between your kit and the rack. My MF amp is a hybrid and I can hear a resonance from the valves even opening a can of Coke due to the vibration in the air that causes. Something like oak cone feet or a granite place mat could help.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Richard,

Nice set-up you have there. Just a minor observation, but have you considered some type of cable tidy sleeving as recently posted by AlmaataKZ (see 'my dream system.oh maybe one day....')?

Nick

 

[richardw42]

When I look back at photo you're right, cabling is a bit of a mess.

The components are not in line of sight of anything but if/when I get a better rack, I'll take the opportunity to tidy up a bit

Yes, the stuff in AlmaataKZ's thread would be ideal.

 

[Anonymous]

richardw42:

When I look back at photo you're right, cabling is a bit of a mess.

The components are not in line of sight of anything but if/when I get a better rack, I'll take the opportunity to tidy up a bit

Yes, the stuff in AlmaataKZ's thread would be ideal.

My son would very much like to know where you got the Darth Vader artwork above your AV set-up?

Nick

 

[richardw42]

I got mine from ebay abut 6 years ago for about 70 or 80 quid ?

It's pretty big, as you can see from photo. Thats a 46 inch screen under it.

Not exactly the same (but very similar and a wee bit smaller) saw this one on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DARTH-VADER-STAR-WARS-CANVAS-ART-BOX-PRINT-PICTURE-797-/160517382704?pt=UK_Art_CanvasGiclee_RL&hash=item255f94e230

This one is framed and you could enquire about bigger sizes. Be careful to check ad to see its on a frame. Bought good one of a Tuscan Raider once and it cost as much again to get it framed.

 

[Anonymous]

richardw42:

I got mine from ebay abut 6 years ago for about 70 or 80 quid ?

It's pretty big, as you can see from photo. Thats a 46 inch screen under it.

Not exactly the same (but very similar and a wee bit smaller) saw this one on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DARTH-VADER-STAR-WARS-CANVAS-ART-BOX-PRINT-PICTURE-797-/160517382704?pt=UK_Art_CanvasGiclee_RL&hash=item255f94e230

This one is framed and you could enquire about bigger sizes. Be careful to check ad to see its on a frame. Bought good one of a Tuscan Raider once and it cost as much again to get it framed.

Cheers Richard

 

[richardw42]

I wanted to make a couple of aiitions so thought it was about time I changed my stand. Original one cost about £30 off ebay and was a bit rickety and not big enough.

So got a Blok Stax 400.

Have also got a Sonos ZP90 connected via a Chord Opitchord (opitcal cble) to Arcam rDac, then Chord Crimson Plus (had spare pair) to amp.

I use the Sonos ipad app for this ZP and the one in my TV Room. Very cool !!

 

[BernardLanguillier]

Quick update on my setup that has undergone very extensive changes these past 6 months (only the speakers and speaker cables remain).

Main source is now Mac mini 2010 running OSX 10.6.6
Hard drive type: Internal
OWC 200GB Mercury Extreme Pro RE SSD for OSX and apps, music stored in
external Lacie 2TB USB2.0 fanless disk unit
Internal memory installed: 8GB (OWC)

Software music player(s): Pure Music 1.74a and iTunes 10 mostly playing from memory
Control of the mac mini done through VNC (Desktop sharing) from iMac over wifi, Remote = Apple Remote (iPhone for now)

Amplifier: Devialet D-Premier hybrid A/D class
Pre amplifier: Devialet
External DAC: Devialet
The Mac mini is connected to the Devialet though a Weiss Int202,
Interconnect types: Oyaide
Neo-W d+1394 firewire cable between Mac mini and Weiss Int202 (mostly
irrelevant as it is asynchronous), Wireworld Platinum Starlight AES/EBU
cable between Weiss Int202 and Devialet,
Power filtering and chord: BlackNoise 2500 feeding an Esoteric/Acrolink 7N-PC7100 power cable to the Devialet.
Speakers in this system: B&W 804s

Unsurprisingly, it does sound pretty good and the sound of the B&W 804s is finally pretty exciting. I realize now to what extend my previous amps (from Rotel to Nuforce) were unable to drive the 804s well.

Cheers,
Bernard

 

[ID.]

Nice. I wanted to get some of the Acrolink 7n (99.99999 pure) OFC cabling, but pretty pricey. They are OEM manufacturer for Esoteric so make the Mexcel cable series for esoteric as well as providing the internal wiring.

The whole setup must sound great. Pictures please

 

[BernardLanguillier]

I'll work on pics.

I got the cable second hand at less than half its initial street price here in Tokyo, wouldn't spend that much on a cable otherwise.

Cheers,
Bernard

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Richard,

I just bought the Devialet. My plan is 100% streaming. But I noticed that streaming with de Devialet means that you always have to have a laptop active. Or do you have a solution that an I-pad alone is enough without having the laptop active on the network?

Do you play 24-bit music. I-tunes can't so I was wandering if you solved that problem too.

I stream from a NAS.

Greetings from Holland!

Danny