Sorry now looking for a good streamer

Page 6 - Seeking answers? Join the What HiFi community: the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products.

CnoEvil

New member
Aug 21, 2009
556
13
0
Visit site
There is the potential to gain a lot of useful experience.

- Is the Linn worth paying the extra for?....the Refs will highlight any difference.

- The chance to hear the Refs and how they compare with Dali.

- What extra money gets you on the speaker front

- How your Yamaha sounds with Kef.

Should be a great day and am looking forward to hearing what you think. It should help straighten things out in your mind and show where money should be spent (or not).
 

Blacksabbath25

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2015
309
88
10,970
Visit site
CnoEvil said:
There is the potential to gain a lot of useful experience.

- Is the Linn worth paying the extra for?....the Refs will highlight any difference.

- The chance to hear the Refs and how they compare with Dali.

- What extra money gets you on the speaker front

- How your Yamaha sounds with Kef.

Should be a great day and am looking forward to hearing what you think. It should help straighten things out in your mind and show where money should be spent (or not).
Yes I am looking forward to the demo I have never heard Kefs before so that will be an experience in its self and I did try to buy a Nas today but Pc world never had the sort of Nas I wanted so I will be buying one of Amazon instead but just a 2 drive caddie so that will get the ball rolling
 

Strictly Stereo

Well-known member
Jan 29, 2018
2
0
520
Visit site
CnoEvil said:
Did you use the DACs in the Linn at all...and if so, how did it compare? Using the MDS as a transport, seems to be an expensive way of doing it and bypases the reason for using the Linn in the first place.

The Dutch & Dutch 8c has a switchable analogue/digital input. It has built-in DACs, ADC and DSP. Analogue signals are converted to digital. To avoid unnecessary conversion steps, it made sense to use the digital output from the Majik DS. However, we did actually start out by listening to the analogue output. The reason we tried the analogue output first is that the coax output was not working. It took a little time to download and install Konfig and enable the digital output.

Using the analogue output, there was a tiny bit of low level noise translated through the speakers. This would not be unusual in a more conventional system and it was completely inaudible while music was playing, but I had not heard this before with the 8c. I only picked up on it because I was fiddling with something next to one of the speakers. This noise disappeared completely when using the digital output.

It could simply be the noise floor of the Majik DS converter and preamp section, but I suspect it is actually a consequence of connecting the single ended RCA outputs from the Majik DS to the balanced inputs on the 8c. I used a pair of pseudo-balanced RCA to XLR cables for this. The 8c does support this and has switchable input sensitivity to handle the different voltages. The last time I ran a similar demo, I was using an Auralic Altair streaming DAC and a Vega DAC, both of which have balanced outputs. There is no audible noise in these systems. The speakers are currently out on loan, but when I get them back, I will experiment some more to try and pin down the cause of the problem. It is pretty minor though and certainly no reason to discount the Majik DS.
 

Paulq

Well-known member
Dec 2, 2007
333
13
18,895
Visit site
Blacksabbath25 said:
Yes I am looking forward to the demo I have never heard Kefs before so that will be an experience in its self and I did try to buy a Nas today but Pc world never had the sort of Nas I wanted so I will be buying one of Amazon instead but just a 2 drive caddie so that will get the ball rolling

Whatever you do just take your time and be sure. Personally, I was never a fan of Kefs with Linn equipment but I equally know some people who are so I would be interested to hear your own thoughts. Demos are great days
regular_smile.png
.
 

iceman16

Well-known member
BS.. I have read most of your thread and posts. Well, like me once or many times. I want to improve anything that I have. IME.. I ended with debts which hardly to pay even with stable job. First , you enjoy what u have. There’s no better than what you enjoy and like..
 

Blacksabbath25

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2015
309
88
10,970
Visit site
iceman16 said:
BS.. I have read most of your thread and posts. Well, like me once or many times. I want to improve anything that I have. IME.. I ended with debts which hardly to pay even with stable job. First , you enjoy what u have. There’s no better than what you enjoy and like..
it’s ok I am just looking that’s all and I have a load of money saved up anyway so not borrowing any money it’s just to see what out there that’s all

and to decide weather I need to change speakers or get a better streamer and if spending more makes any difference or not .
 

CnoEvil

New member
Aug 21, 2009
556
13
0
Visit site
From personal experience, my only advice, is don't connect the Refs to a cold Amp...so make sure the Yamaha has been on a while before you bring it...and then give it a while to warm up again, before making any judgements.
 

paulkebab

New member
Dec 26, 2014
66
1
0
Visit site
to give any​ speaker a good pasting to warm up the rubber parts involved in making it sound how it sounds. Cno has a point BUT make your Yam sweat those KEF's and if the dealer don't like it flash your cash in his face and walk out.
 

Andrewjvt

New member
Jun 18, 2014
99
4
0
Visit site
paulkebab said:
to give any​ speaker a good pasting to warm up the rubber parts involved in making it sound how it sounds. Cno has a point BUT make your Yam sweat those KEF's and if the dealer don't like it flash your cash in his face and walk out.

I've been informed by someone from a famous loud speaker company that drivers require warm up and not so much the amp

But in cno case the amp would also need to reach operating temperature.

Highly efficient modern amps
I'm not sure anymore.
 

CnoEvil

New member
Aug 21, 2009
556
13
0
Visit site
Andrewjvt said:
paulkebab said:
to give any​ speaker a good pasting to warm up the rubber parts involved in making it sound how it sounds. Cno has a point BUT make your Yam sweat those KEF's and if the dealer don't like it flash your cash in his face and walk out.

I've been informed by someone from a famous loud speaker company that drivers require warm up and not so much the amp

But in cno case the amp would also need to reach operating temperature.

Highly efficient modern amps
I'm not sure anymore.
I think "Operating Temperature" is the right way of putting it. I have never owned a Class D amp, so don't know it applies....but all the amps I've owned sounded poor, if they had been switched off for a while, especially if left in a cold room.

The Linn Klimax Amp that was connected in my demo sounded appalling....so I hope it was down to the fact it had not been used for a few weeks, as I can't imagine anyone wanting to spend £7700 on something that sounded so thin, harsh and over detailed.
 

Andrewjvt

New member
Jun 18, 2014
99
4
0
Visit site
CnoEvil said:
Andrewjvt said:
paulkebab said:
to give any​ speaker a good pasting to warm up the rubber parts involved in making it sound how it sounds. Cno has a point BUT make your Yam sweat those KEF's and if the dealer don't like it flash your cash in his face and walk out.

I've been informed by someone from a famous loud speaker company that drivers require warm up and not so much the amp

But in cno case the amp would also need to reach operating temperature.

Highly efficient modern amps
I'm not sure anymore.
I think "Operating Temperature" is the right way of putting it. I have never owned a Class D amp, so don't know it applies....but all the amps I've owned sounded poor, if they had been switched off for a while, especially if left in a cold room.

The Linn Klimax Amp that was connected in my demo sounded appalling....so I hope it was down to the fact it had not been used for a few weeks, as I can't imagine anyone wanting to spend £7700 on something that sounded so thin, harsh and over detailed.

The only time I've ever experienced this was the first 10 minutes of using the Hegel 360 from brand new.

After that it never really changed much for me
 

CnoEvil

New member
Aug 21, 2009
556
13
0
Visit site
Andrewjvt said:
CnoEvil said:
Andrewjvt said:
paulkebab said:
to give any​ speaker a good pasting to warm up the rubber parts involved in making it sound how it sounds. Cno has a point BUT make your Yam sweat those KEF's and if the dealer don't like it flash your cash in his face and walk out.

I've been informed by someone from a famous loud speaker company that drivers require warm up and not so much the amp

But in cno case the amp would also need to reach operating temperature.

Highly efficient modern amps
I'm not sure anymore.
I think "Operating Temperature" is the right way of putting it. I have never owned a Class D amp, so don't know it applies....but all the amps I've owned sounded poor, if they had been switched off for a while, especially if left in a cold room.

The Linn Klimax Amp that was connected in my demo sounded appalling....so I hope it was down to the fact it had not been used for a few weeks, as I can't imagine anyone wanting to spend £7700 on something that sounded so thin, harsh and over detailed.

The only time I've ever experienced this was the first 10 minutes of using the Hegel 360 from brand new.

After that it never really changed much for me
If the amp is used regularly and left on standby, that may be different.

if it is left unused for a few weeks, or gets stone cold (as in leaving my amp out in the car for the night in a sharp frost), that may explain it. My amp improves slightly after about half an hour, but has never sounded the way it did when I brought it to the dealer.

It may also explain why your Hegel sounded rough when new, as it was probably both cold and had not been switched on for a while. I think being at room temp also greatly helps.
 

Blacksabbath25

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2015
309
88
10,970
Visit site
CnoEvil said:
Blacksabbath25 said:
I will find out next week as I’ve got a demo booked with a linn streamer and Kef reference 3s
Did you go as planned?
No I had to cancel because I had to buy a new Pc and the first Pc I had brought went wrong after 3 days so I was mucking around trying to sort that out before I ended up taking it back to Pc world .

And the worse thing was I had ripped over a 100 CDs before the Pc died on me which I wasn’t very pleased about as I will have to do this again now but on a positive note I’ve got a much better Pc now and waiting on 2 WD Black 7200 speed hard drives to come so then I can get the Roon up and running again which I like and rip my CDs again then at least I’ve got some music to play through a streamer .

I will re-book the demo now I’ve got the Pc sorted out as I needed the Pc Anyway that was important to get that sorted out so I will phone them tomorrow to book a appointment so still on the cards just got delayed
 

Blacksabbath25

Well-known member
Sep 20, 2015
309
88
10,970
Visit site
CnoEvil said:
I thought as much.

Glad you got things sorted.
yes same here it’s not a problem to re-book

Ones I get the music files back onto the Pc I will be happy because before the other Pc played up I was actually streaming to the Oppo and Yamaha wxc50 to see what the difference was between them both but felt I couldn’t tell them apart from a sound quality point of view .

And I was getting to grips with Roon software as well so didn’t know what file format the Roon software was sending but now I know where to find this in the software so I know what the chain of sound is doing from Roon , Yamaha wxc50 , Oppo 203 but at the time the computer died so never got to see what they where outputting because the Roon can upsample depending on the Dac’s capacities or down sampling if the Dac hasn’t got the capability .

As I noticed that Tidal now has a MQA music in there library now so that would be great to try .
 

BigH

Well-known member
Dec 29, 2012
115
7
18,595
Visit site
JamesMellor said:
BigH said:
Why buy from PCWorld?

No wonder you are having problems.

Why not ? please explain

PCworld have a poor reputation, reading the reviews on truspilot they were worse than I expected, 80% bad. I would use a specialist that builds computers. BS has had problems, first computer went wrong after about a day. I have used Scan Computers, everything is set and tested before it is sent out. Any problems you can phone up and talk to someone about it. I had a psu fail after 5 years, did not know it was the psu at first. Anyway soon fixed. PCWorld were the worst high street shop for over charging on repairs Which report says. After sales service seems poor. I would not touch them with a barge pole.
 

nick8858

New member
Aug 8, 2011
29
0
0
Visit site
Some comments stree the need for a NAS. This isn't necesssrily so. My streamer accepts a simple USB plug in 1tb hard drive and all the music can be accessed through the app. These drives are cheap now and easy to back up too. Personally I think NAS drives are a faff. USB drive much simpler and easier.
 

nick8858

New member
Aug 8, 2011
29
0
0
Visit site
Some comments stree the need for a NAS. This isn't necesssrily so. My streamer accepts a simple USB plug in 1tb hard drive and all the music can be accessed through the app. These drives are cheap now and easy to back up too. Personally I think NAS drives are a faff. USB drive much simpler and easier.
 

lpv

New member
Mar 14, 2013
47
0
0
Visit site
it depends.. if you like to add some more files you need to disconnect and connect again your hard drive ( not very convenient).. maybe hard drives are cheap but personaly I dont like noise they produce ( unless you can hide them away) and solid state drives arent as cheap
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts