Your latest purchase

[Jasonovich]

Received my SPF (fibre optical network cabling) today.

I'm experimenting between two ethernet 2.5G/10.G switches, the idea is not using RJ45 cabling to link one to the other, using fibre instead, thus isolating the noise that is usually generated from copper cabling.

It is compromised slightly Virgin Media Router doesn't have SPF only RJ45, so signaling still relies yard or two of copper cabling. Had it came with an SPF, it would have been better to connect TCXO switch directly into the router, thus further minimizing the noise from copper.

I ordered it with the SPF module - see below:




Just waiting now for AliExpress to deliver my TCXO switch and linear power supply.

 

[gasolin]

wrong power cable c13 not c5

 

[Jasonovich]

I've been doing some boring purchases lately, just small incremental updates to my Hifi in the study.
My linear power supply for my TCXO network switch arrived today.

Excellent quality throughout, I have to say. Really clever these Chinese, there are two DC jack outputs 2.1 and 2.5 but only one power cord, one end is 2.1 and the other, 2.5, works both ways.
This is 5v 2amp supply, it even allows you to manually adjust the juice, nice.

 

[Gray]

I've been doing some boring purchases lately, just small incremental updates to my Hifi in the study.
My linear power supply for my TCXO network switch arrived today.

Excellent quality throughout, I have to say. Really clever these Chinese, there are two DC jack outputs 2.1 and 2.5 but only one power cord, one end is 2.1 and the other, 2.5, works both ways.
This is 5v 2amp supply, it even allows you to manually adjust the juice, nice.

View attachment 11690View attachment 11689
View attachment 11688View attachment 11686View attachment 11687

I'll leave aside questions of whether a better PSU can affect a network switch - or whether indeed the network switch itself can affect sound 😉

But a couple of questions you can answer:
1) Is there any difference between the outputs of the two DC sockets?
2) If the adjuster is for current - why would you need any less than the most it can supply?

 

[Dave_]

I'll leave aside questions of whether a better PSU can affect a network switch - or whether indeed the network switch itself can affect sound 😉

Fools and their money...

 

[Jasonovich]

I'll leave aside questions of whether a better PSU can affect a network switch - or whether indeed the network switch itself can affect sound 😉

But a couple of questions you can answer:
1) Is there any difference between the outputs of the two DC sockets?
2) If the adjuster is for current - why would you need any less than the most it can supply?

It's just something I'm tinkering Gray, curiosity got the better of me 🙂

1. Both 5v outputs with two different common jack sizes 2.1 and 2.5 allowing better compatibility. I believe you can use both simultaneously but this would reduce the amp-age.

2. The adjuster not sure I'll ever use, weird Chinese thing?




The original TCXO switch came without a power supply, hence the linear supply. Optical fibre is immune to noise, I want to daisy chain this to another switch, then run short RJ45 cables between my Primare Streamer and Network NAS.

I was hoping this little experiment will be an incremental improvement in sound quality that's my outer persona talking, while my inner persona is actually saying, optical fibre is fr*ggin cool and can't wait to mess around with it! 🤣🤣

 

[Gray]

The adjuster not sure I'll ever use, weird Chinese thing?

Is it to trim voltage, so nothing to do with current?

 

[Jasonovich]

Is it to trim voltage, so nothing to do with current?

Not really sure, I need to check manual which I just tipped in the recycle bin. I can check it online.

Ps.
I got a bit more info, it's to increase (decrease?) the output voltage.

 

[Gray]

Ah...thanks.

I don't know, merely guessing Jason.
Must be voltage 🤔

 

[Jasonovich]

I don't know, merely guessing Jason.
Must be voltage 🤔

Yes sorry Gray, read it wrong. Deleted - see above reply 🙂

 

[Noddy]

I finally found some Kef S2 stands on eBay to go with my speakers. I could afford the £450 Kef were asking but it just seemed to be an outrageous amount to pay for simple steel supports. The ones I got look like new, I paid £208 plus car mileage as I picked them up in person. The seller was very pleasant, definitely no chav. I gave the £5,000 Leica camera he was also selling a pass.

And I finally bought an AudioLab DC Block as the humming from the amplifier last week was ridiculous. I suppose it should outlast me.

B&W 603 S3 speakers and a Wiim Mini.

Is your optical cable a bit loose when you insert it into the Wiim Mini input socket? Just curious cos mine is appalling.

 

[Gel]

I finally found some Kef S2 stands on eBay to go with my speakers. I could afford the £450 Kef were asking but it just seemed to be an outrageous amount to pay for simple steel supports. The ones I got look like new, I paid £208 plus car mileage as I picked them up in person. The seller was very pleasant, definitely no chav. I gave the £5,000 Leica camera he was also selling a pass.

And I finally bought an AudioLab DC Block as the humming from the amplifier last week was ridiculous. I suppose it should outlast me.

Is your optical cable a bit loose when you insert it into the Wiim Mini input socket? Just curious cos mine is appalling.

Connection was ok, I think it was my to do with my amplifier and needing a firmware update.

 

[Noddy]

Connection was ok, I think it was my to do with my amplifier and needing a firmware update.

Thanks. It must be my Wiim Mini then, there’s reports of the same online, it must be batch variation or something they’ve fixed.

 

[daytona600]

Audio Note Cobra 28wpc Valve Integrated with DAC
Picked up from Gumtree for a Song this week

 

[Jasonovich]

My feedback on my latest purchase and network SPF experiment, Good News and Bad News.

Bad news first, I couldn't get the SPF fibre to work. I think the main Virgin Media router needs to be SPF enabled, you can't just daisy chain two network switches, Oh well, maybe in the near future all routers will have the SPF function.
Money wasted but lesson never learnt, what is my next project? 🤣



The good news?
My second hand Onkyo C-55VL SACD is an excellent sounding player, it's very resolving but smooth. The Marantz SA8000 SACD in my Bedroom-Fi is a different beast, has a little more sparkle not as laid back as the Onkyo both decent players.
Looking for a decent SACD player these days can cost you your entire monthly wage packet, it really makes sense to go second hand. £230 it's a steal, I highly recommend this Onkyo player to anyone looking to invest in SACD.

I'm listening to TimeOut - The Dave Brubeck Quartet SACD, as I type, nice album.

 

[Al ears]

There's no 'i' in Onkyo....

 

[Jasonovich]

There's no 'i' in Onkyo....

Aye Aye! 🙂

Thanks, I'll just correct that.

 

[Al ears]

Aye Aye! 🙂

Thanks, I'll just correct that.

sorry to hear the bad news....

 

[Jasonovich]

sorry to hear the bad news....

You know, curiosity killed the cat, I should have left it alone. 🙂

The experiment is still born, If Virgin doesn't have a router that can feed off from SPF signal. I can ask them, maybe they can provide at a small cost.
Any way, I'll put it on pause for now.

 

[Jasonovich]

You know, curiosity killed the cat, I should have left it alone. 🙂

The experiment is still born, If Virgin doesn't have a router that can feed off from SPF signal. I can ask them, maybe they can provide at a small cost.
Any way, I'll put it on pause for now.

Well, actually it can be done on my existing Virgin Media router but a lot of R'sing about. Is it too much to ask, a noise free internet!
I like to think SPF is the future but we're not there yet 🙂

I had some extra hours listening to Spotify, via the TCXO HiFi ethernet switch, I daisy chained it to another switch (connecting only Primare Streamer and NAS) via traditional RJ45 Cat cable.
The sound seems to have fleshed out a bit, better separation, more fuller, not as thin and tinny as before. Not quite CD but pretty good all the same.

 

[twinkletoes]

Thought I’d treat myself to some Neat Patite Classics and solid steel stands in a raw finish.

The klipsch heresy 3 will probably moved on. Though I am thinking about putting the in storage. Not sure I can bring myself to sell them

 

[Jasonovich]

I was in two minds about purchasing second hand Denafrips Ares 15th new version, the seller only had it for 10 months and was looking to upgrade to Denafrips Pontus.

Ares cost £1.8K new and selling for just £549+£5.88 postage, I was going to buy but I kept thinking about the Gustard R26II.

So I thought, let me cool off and think about it tomorrow. This morning delivery of my Bosch washing machine arrived but there was damage to the panel, back it went. Not a good start to the day!

I revisited my DAC dilemma, do I really want to pay £1.6K for a Gustard R2R DAC? My mind raced back to the Denafrips, it's such a good deal.
Ok, do it Comrade, so I went on to eBay... $$^^*@~!!!! Sold - damn!


You blink, you lose!


Anyway, I'll just have to wait when the prices drop, or find an ex-Dem, open box, second hand etc.

I thought I share, see in the photo, this Chappy is using dumb bells to weigh down his speakers, what a brilliant idea!

 

[RTHerringbone]

Thought I’d treat myself to some Neat Patite Classics and solid steel stands in a raw finish.

The klipsch heresy 3 will probably moved on. Though I am thinking about putting the in storage. Not sure I can bring myself to sell them

Interested to hear your thoughts on the Classics. I have them paired with the same amp as you and I think it's a great combination.

 

[Revolutions]

I thought I share, see in the photo, this Chappy is using dumb bells to weigh down his speaker, what a brilliant idea!


View attachment 11720

No wonder he needs to weigh them down - he's positioned them right next to the play areas of hifi's two greatest enemies: children & cats.

 

[Jasonovich]

No wonder he needs to weigh them down - he's positioned them right next to the play areas of hifi's two greatest enemies: children & cats.

🤣 true.