Question What's your next HiFi purchase?

[A-Line]

In what way are the Volex ones better than the factory issued ones?

Yes. There's a certain stock # for these cords and I no longer have that stock number. The cost of each power cord is £7.00 ea

 

[A-Line]

Yes. There's a certain stock # for these cords and I no longer have that stock number. The cost of each power cord is £7.00 ea

I got the info on Volex from the guy that owns and operates Crimson Electronics. His first name is Peter.

 

[A-Line]

I got the info on Volex from the guy that owns and operates Crimson Electronics. His first name is Peter.

Here's a link: https://crimsonelectronics.com/amplifiers.html

 

[Gray]

Yes. There's a certain stock # for these cords and I no longer have that stock number. The cost of each power cord is £7.00 ea

Yes, I understand they're £7 each.

But I asked what it is that makes them 'better' than the factory supplied mains leads.

 

[A-Line]

Yes, I understand they're £7 each.

But I asked what it is that makes them 'better' than the factory supplied mains leads.

Sonically, because sonically is all that matters, these cords made the sound more 3D, cleaner sound, and broadened the sound stage. Not a lot of tweaks that can do all of that for £7.00.

Interpretations are mine of course but also not that a room full of people heard the same thing so having "golden ears" is not a requisite prior to a demo.

 

[A-Line]

Sonically, because sonically is all that matters, these cords made the sound more 3D, cleaner sound, and broadened the sound stage. Not a lot of tweaks that can do all of that for £7.00.

Interpretations are mine of course but also not that a room full of people heard the same thing so having "golden ears" is not a requisite prior to a demo.

*note rather than not.

 

[Dom]

Except that it's nothing to look at - and it's hidden inside an out of sight plug.

Maybe I should have said trinket or bric-a-brac? My point is that there worth is similar to an ordinary fuse or about 10p.

 

[Friesiansam]

Everybody's mains power comes from the same power station, wind turbines or solar panels, as everyone else in their neighbourhood. down the same power lines via the same sub station etc, then your own house wiring. That the last metre of cable might make a very noticeable difference, makes no sense.

 

[podknocker]

Everybody's mains power comes from the same power station, wind turbines or solar panels, as everyone else in their neighbourhood. down the same power lines via the same sub station etc, then your own house wiring. That the last metre of cable might make a very noticeable difference, makes no sense.

Exactly. One of the cheapest and most effective ways of reducing noise is the careful use of ferrite rings. Spending a gazillion pounds on a mains lead, which just standard copper inside, is a daft idea. It's the same mindset that thinks expensive speaker wiring will be effective, when it's standard copper after the speaker binding posts. The signal leaves the amp and then gets 'polished' somehow, on its way to the speakers? Speaker terminals use various materials, but the crossovers and voice coil windings will be standard copper.

 

[Revolutions]

"Shall I compare thee to a kettle lead? Thou art more lovely and more temperate."

 

[Friesiansam]

"Shall I compare thee to a kettle lead? Thou art more lovely and more temperate."

"Yer avin a laff mate."

 

[James105]

Sony CDP-C325M, £25 quid on ebay, part of my nostalgia search.

 

[Jasonovich]

Ok I didn't purchase the WiiM Ultra Streamer, I came close to, that was until I looked at the small detail, it won't play DSD. OK for most people this isn't a game changer but since my collection of music is stored on DSD format (about 17K+ songs), it was too much of a compromise. I wasn't really interested in using it primarily as streamer, I have the WiiM Pro Plus for that.

I wanted all that touch screen goodness, and it would have been the ideal replacement for my SMSL SD-9 network player, which is destined to be auctioned on eBay.

Shame it wasn't to be, but I did purchase the excellent Matrix Mini i-4, it doesn't come with a remote, I got this as well from the same vendor.

The original price was £650 but selling for little as £500, if you look around. The Eversolo DMP-A6 which were originally priced £850 are now going for £600ish. There's two on eBay for £649, I was really tempted but couldn't justify paying extra £150 over the Matrix, especially when the two are sonically matched, except the later, is more a minimalistic alternative to DMP-A6.
Doesn't have Bluetooth or WIFI, headphone socket or digital outputs. I don't care for that much, just want to play my SSD's at the highest quality.

I do have buyer's remorse but it's done, I will claim back a little from selling the SMSL. The delivery should take a couple of weeks.

View: https://youtu.be/41yHr6YgBjg?si=v329nb68vHFrqQhO

View: https://youtu.be/2cg-6roELr8?si=tfHa1zIVT8Ug7OUH

 

[podknocker]

Matrix Audio Element P Streaming System

Matrix Audio Element P Streaming System joins the Element series of simplified systems designed to transform streaming and digital audio playback. Housed in an anodised aluminium case, simply pair the Element P with a pair of passive speakers for all your hi-fi needs in one unit. Available in...

www.audioaffair.co.uk

I've not heard of this brand and this model looks great and is on offer.

 

[Jasonovich]

Matrix Audio Element P Streaming System

Matrix Audio Element P Streaming System joins the Element series of simplified systems designed to transform streaming and digital audio playback. Housed in an anodised aluminium case, simply pair the Element P with a pair of passive speakers for all your hi-fi needs in one unit. Available in...

www.audioaffair.co.uk

I've not heard of this brand and this model looks great and is on offer.

Matrix make quality products, the one you mentioned has an integrated amp. Nice!

 

[podknocker]

Bit of an obscure brand and we don't see any reviews of these products. I'd like WHF to review the Element P streaming amp.

 

[Dom]

Don't you think the WHF review of the Roksan Attessa was late in coming.

Its a shame it only got 4 stars.

However, it still seems a quality amplifier, one I would happily own if I could afford it.

 

[podknocker]

Comparing the Roksan Attessa, the Leema Quasar and the Matrix Audio Streaming Element P together would have been interesting. Different amp topologies, apps and very different pricing, but still a good review if it had appeared.

If I buy a new streamer, I'm making sure it doesn't have things I don't need, like a phono input or CD player. It's not going to be a cosy sounding A/B amp and will be a Class D circuit, with a display. I don't need Dirac correction or any other DSP EQ etc.

These things also allow you to connect TVs and gaming consoles etc. One box solutions were dismissed a while back, but the 'many box' setup is not necessary in my opinion. Several separates and they are all around 70% fresh air inside, because of this idea that everything needs to be 'the standard' 44cm wide.

You can get all the chips and features inside a small, neat and tidy design now. The HIFI Rose RS520 for example. It's amazing, even at the cost and it allows the addition of an SSD for local storage.

Advanced All-In-One Network Streamer RS520

Beyond Audio, HiFi ROSE

hifirose.com

 

[Jasonovich]

Bit of an obscure brand and we don't see any reviews of these products. I'd like WHF to review the Element P streaming amp.

WHF usually sticks to their mainstream stuff, I'm not sure they can operate outside their comfort zone. Other publication and YT bloggers have reviewed Matrix products - See HiFi Choice review of the Element X below. - not the P, I'm sure somebody has reviewed it -

Matrix Audio Element X

Forget about Keanu Reeves and his super-cool, black leather-wearing gang of mercenaries fighting back against machines in a simulated reality, this Matrix refers to the mathematical concept of portrait and landscape, the balance of two dimensions – neither of which involves fancy shades or...

www.hifichoice.com

It's like the HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled, quite possibly the best headphone on the planet but it's lost to WHF!

HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled Planar Magnetic Headphones Review

HIFIMAN's new planar magnetic flagship is one of the boldest designs ever made. The Susvara Unveiled builds upon the already-excellent Susvara and ditches the grilles for a fully open-back design aiming to improve sound quality and accuracy. It also has more efficient updated drivers tuned to be...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[DougK1]

It's like the HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled, quite possibly the best headphone on the planet but it's lost to WHF!

HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled Planar Magnetic Headphones Review

HIFIMAN's new planar magnetic flagship is one of the boldest designs ever made. The Susvara Unveiled builds upon the already-excellent Susvara and ditches the grilles for a fully open-back design aiming to improve sound quality and accuracy. It also has more efficient updated drivers tuned to be...

www.techpowerup.com

And look absolutely hideous! Typical Chinese bling, not classy at all. I'm not sure if they know how to do understated and classy.

This is a prime example of a Chi-fi brand gaining traction in the market then thinking they can go stupid with pricing, taking punters for mugs. They're up against some world class leaders in this industry with years of experience and R&D. This headphone probably costs max about of 10% of the retail price to actually produce.

I'll stick with my usual tried and tested suspects for hi-fi: Japan, US, EU, UK. I'll only gamble with Chi-fi if it's cheap and these headphones do not fit in that category.

Just my opinion

 

[podknocker]

They do look awful and 8 grand is nonsense. They have no idea.

 

[DougK1]

They do look awful and the hard metal headband is going to be really annoying. They have no idea.

I see you have a pair of Sennheiser's, Pod, they know a thing or two about headphones. Got a few pairs myself, the most comfortable being the HD650

 

[Friesiansam]

8 grand is mental for those headphones, although I should point out, it's the leather piece below the hard metal band, that is in contact with the head. It's a very bad design that leaves the drivers so exposed and vulnerable to damage. No way I would buy, no matter what they sound like.

Focal Stellias may get on the radar, one far off day...

 

[podknocker]

I see you have a pair of Sennheiser's, Pod, they know a thing or two about headphones. Got a few pairs myself, the most comfortable being the HD650

Had my HD600 cans about 20 years and they still sound amazing. They give me loads more ambience and detail than my HIFI. I listen to Spotify through the headphones, plugged into my PC and it's incredible. The layering, reverb and panning effects on tracks are much more obvious than through my Omnia and speakers. I want a HIFI that sounds a good as my headphones! They were half price at £150 and worth every penny. I think the latest version are £270 on Scan's site. Still a bargain. After a few tracks, I forget I'm wearing mine. So comfy.

 

[Roog]

My next HiFi purchase will probably include DSP room correction so i suppose it could be a streaming preamp like the NAD M66 or Lyngdorf integrated 'all in one' plus my speakers or maybe even active speakers, so it could be a minor change of just the front end or a full scale change about!

Its a bit scary