Post by cooksferry on Nov 20, 2017 10:02:41 GMT 12
I did fit the Gold Lions with my good pair and ran them a few times as a check and all was good. They have been filed away as backup as I've returned to the Psvane KT88s at this stage. Cost too much not to use them. While I've not sat down to try a comparison I do feel the Psvane are a little cleaner sounding, not quite as fat in the midrange.
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 5, 2017 6:22:55 GMT 12
New Tannoy XT6F speakers arrived yesterday. A moment of concern seeing a large gash in the side of one container but fortunately plenty of air between the box and the speaker so no damage. Fitted them up with new Tellerium Black II cables. Certainly quite different to the Monitor Audios that I've lived with for around 10 years. At this stage I'll reserve any judgement until the new year and a few hours on them. Interesting to see that tannoy recommend quite a severe toe in while a couple of reviewers have felt that straight works better. For now running with the manufacturers layout. I dont feel that their finish, while very good , is quite up to the standard of the MAs but my wife thinks they could almost be allowed into the house. High praise indeed.
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Post by deano1974 on Dec 5, 2017 6:52:21 GMT 12
New Tannoy XT6F speakers arrived yesterday. A moment of concern seeing a large gash in the side of one container but fortunately plenty of air between the box and the speaker so no damage. Fitted them up with new Tellerium Black II cables. Certainly quite different to the Monitor Audios that I've lived with for around 10 years. At this stage I'll reserve any judgement until the new year and a few hours on them. Interesting to see that tannoy recommend quite a severe toe in while a couple of reviewers have felt that straight works better. For now running with the manufacturers layout. I dont feel that their finish, while very good , is quite up to the standard of the MAs but my wife thinks they could almost be allowed into the house. High praise indeed. Congratulations on your newest member of the family 😁
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by foveaux on Dec 5, 2017 16:17:26 GMT 12
Hey Cooks, Yay - give us some pics... You will need to acclimatise to the dual concentric/point source nature of the Tannoys c.f. MAs. - i.m.h.o. and experience, a more 'natural' and musical concept. Tannoy will have done the listening hard yards for you, so stick with their recommended toe-in. Let us know how the 'burn-in' goes. I'll be particularly interested in your thoughts on the bass reproduction from the down-firing port. Get 'em into the lounge before Winter too!
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 6, 2017 6:00:22 GMT 12
Don't know if stereo gear in the lounge is a good idea. The last time I had any equipment there my son stuffed a tomato sandwich into the loading tray of the tape deck and the cat scratched the hell out of the speaker cloth, oh and some one pushed the tweeter domes in as well. Cat and son no longer around but not sure if I trust my wife and her enthusiastic dusting. This is not a good time of the year for me to be trying out new audio gear or records as my listening time is sporadic . Can't waste those wonderful long fine evenings and the garden can be a demanding mistress.
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Post by Citroen on Dec 6, 2017 7:05:24 GMT 12
The last time I had any equipment there my son stuffed a tomato sandwich into the loading tray of the tape deck and the cat scratched the hell out of the speaker cloth, oh and some one pushed the tweeter domes in as well. Cat and son no longer around Yeah, I'd kill them too if they did that to my equipment!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2017 12:22:36 GMT 12
Don't know if stereo gear in the lounge is a good idea. The last time I had any equipment there my son stuffed a tomato sandwich into the loading tray of the tape deck and the cat scratched the hell out of the speaker cloth, oh and some one pushed the tweeter domes in as well. Cat and son no longer around but not sure if I trust my wife and her enthusiastic dusting. This is not a good time of the year for me to be trying out new audio gear or records as my listening time is sporadic . Can't waste those wonderful long fine evenings and the garden can be a demanding mistress. You gotta train the kids from birth man. My kids know my gear is sacrosanct and it’s about the one rule they’ve never broken... anyhoo, speakers look great! Enjoy sir!
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 6, 2017 15:06:47 GMT 12
Don't know if stereo gear in the lounge is a good idea. The last time I had any equipment there my son stuffed a tomato sandwich into the loading tray of the tape deck and the cat scratched the hell out of the speaker cloth, oh and some one pushed the tweeter domes in as well. Cat and son no longer around but not sure if I trust my wife and her enthusiastic dusting. This is not a good time of the year for me to be trying out new audio gear or records as my listening time is sporadic . Can't waste those wonderful long fine evenings and the garden can be a demanding mistress. You gotta train the kids from birth man. My kids know my gear is sacrosanct and it’s about the one rule they’ve never broken... anyhoo, speakers look great! Enjoy sir! At 33 and 31 yo it's a bit late to start training them now . On the plus side the gear wasn't great, el cheapo Akai separates from around 1980.
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Post by Citroen on Dec 6, 2017 15:33:23 GMT 12
Don't know if stereo gear in the lounge is a good idea. The last time I had any equipment there my son stuffed a tomato sandwich into the loading tray of the tape deck and the cat scratched the hell out of the speaker cloth, oh and some one pushed the tweeter domes in as well. Cat and son no longer around but not sure if I trust my wife and her enthusiastic dusting. This is not a good time of the year for me to be trying out new audio gear or records as my listening time is sporadic . Can't waste those wonderful long fine evenings and the garden can be a demanding mistress. You gotta train the kids from birth man. My kids know my gear is sacrosanct and it’s about the one rule they’ve never broken... anyhoo, speakers look great! Enjoy sir! That's because you're one helluva scary f'er! But I know what you mean. You can control your own to a certain extant but its the friends that I'm worried about.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2017 12:43:32 GMT 12
That's because you're one helluva scary f'er! But I know what you mean. You can control your own to a certain extant but its the friends that I'm worried about. My wife tells people I’m lovely. And dude, she is ALWAYS right!? 😂
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Pundit
Post by SL1210 on Dec 7, 2017 16:18:33 GMT 12
New Tannoy XT6F speakers arrived yesterday. A moment of concern seeing a large gash in the side of one container but fortunately plenty of air between the box and the speaker so no damage. Fitted them up with new Tellerium Black II cables. Certainly quite different to the Monitor Audios that I've lived with for around 10 years. At this stage I'll reserve any judgement until the new year and a few hours on them. Interesting to see that tannoy recommend quite a severe toe in while a couple of reviewers have felt that straight works better. For now running with the manufacturers layout. I dont feel that their finish, while very good , is quite up to the standard of the MAs but my wife thinks they could almost be allowed into the house. High praise indeed. Congratulations on your newest member of the family 😁 Identical twins even!
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Pundit
Post by SL1210 on Dec 7, 2017 16:21:30 GMT 12
Don't know if stereo gear in the lounge is a good idea. The last time I had any equipment there my son stuffed a tomato sandwich into the loading tray of the tape deck and the cat scratched the hell out of the speaker cloth, oh and some one pushed the tweeter domes in as well. Cat and son no longer around .... Have they been seen since or is it a case of 'Ask no questions ...'
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Post by deano1974 on Dec 7, 2017 19:19:01 GMT 12
How are they sounding? I lnow your busy with the gardening but you must have found some time for a listen
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 8, 2017 6:12:13 GMT 12
How are they sounding? I lnow your busy with the gardening but you must have found some time for a listen Managed a whole half hour so far and unless it rains this weekend I wont be adding to that. First impressions very mixed, ie I want my Monitor Audios back followed by Oh, that sounds different and better.
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 11, 2017 6:34:09 GMT 12
Another couple of hours up over the weekend and a few thoughts which I'm sure wont end up in stone. Less boxy than the MA speakers, the Tannoys disappear although the soundstage may be a bit smaller. That could be in part to the fairly severe toe in I'm employing at the moment. Bass appears to be well controlled but less depth and body than the MA although I haven't really played any bass heavy tracks as yet. Vocals, a bit mixed. Moments that are magical followed by some less so. Integration of the music is handled much better and there doesn't appear to be any emphasis on any particular part of the audio band. Have had a couple of what the hell moments with some explosive drumming popping out of the mix . A better exploitation of dynamics perhaps?
Still hours to go before I'm satisfied I have a handle on the XT6F, hard to wipe 10 years with the Monitor Audio out in such a short time frame.
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Post by Owen Y on Dec 11, 2017 8:29:11 GMT 12
BTW are these lspkrs brand new? (If so, of course then some long hrs of running in will be needed - eg. John Bonham on repeat perhaps )
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Post by cooksferry on Dec 11, 2017 8:56:17 GMT 12
BTW are these lspkrs brand new? (If so, of course then some long hrs of running in will be needed - eg. John Bonham on repeat perhaps ) Yes, brand new.
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Post by foveaux on Jan 14, 2018 10:59:32 GMT 12
Righto Cooks, show us some pics of your Tannoys in your man cave please... and an update on how they are sounding with more hours on 'em now. Suggestion - I see its predicted 30 degs in Invers today...too hot to be gardening: get an ice cube into yr single malt and get a few more hours on the speakers?
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Post by Owen Y on Jan 15, 2018 10:56:39 GMT 12
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Post by cooksferry on Jan 16, 2018 6:15:23 GMT 12
sorry gents, music not getting any attention just now. Been busy wrestling with erecting a new garden shed , working etc. At this rate the music room will be just a winter hang out. Besides who wants to be stuck inside when our wonderful summer is here to be enjoyed. Foveaux, you wont have seen Oreti Beach looking much better than this. Hope it stays in this condition for the Burt Munro events that're not far away.
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Post by foveaux on Jan 17, 2018 9:49:22 GMT 12
Noted re your priorities Out for a paddle...good man! Yes, looks a special day at Oreti and with 'Foveaux' strait suitably calm - you can't beat it when its like this. No cars/people: north end?
"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]
"Free - I miss that band, but when I look back, we were very young" [Paul Rodgers]
848 posts
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Post by cooksferry on Jan 17, 2018 11:43:34 GMT 12
Noted re your priorities Out for a paddle...good man! Yes, looks a special day at Oreti and with 'Foveaux' strait suitably calm - you can't beat it when its like this. No cars/people: north end? No, South end of the beach via the entrance through Sandy Point nearest the river mouth. Pic taken about 11am and Gesuina and I had the beach to our selves.
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Post by cooksferry on Jan 22, 2018 6:42:56 GMT 12
Went a bit silly on Sunday and swapped the Dynavector XX2 from the Wand arm for the Hana SL. Quite a noticeable difference. I'd been a bit dissatisfied with the system running the Dyna with the highs sounding a bit bright . Swapped out the Telerium cables for Cloth Ears set and that settled things down a little but things just weren't as engaging as I'd wanted so cue the swap. If I had the make a distinction I'd put the Hana as more musical, the Dyna more 'Audiophile". By audiophile I mean that individual pieces were more easily picked out of the mix , drum especially were much more explosive , bass notes had more attack and bite. I found it a little like looking at a cluster of individual trees rather than seeing the forest as a whole. Next item is to swap the speaker cables back and maybe put the XX2 onto the Project arm . I'm not totally convinced that the AT mono cart currently fitted adds much to just turning the selector switch from stereo to mono. It was the first session I've had where I haven't finished thinking that the Tannoy speakers were a mistake. I'm not knocking the XX2, I have no doubt that it's a better over all cart than the Hana but things just weren't happening the way I's hoped. System synergy.
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Post by cooksferry on Feb 15, 2018 6:25:02 GMT 12
Small update to the system due soon. At the end of the month sending the Wand arm back to Simon for an upgrade in wiring and changing the terminations to XLR. The change to balanced isn't for any sq reasons, just that I run the Wand arm into the balanced inputs on the phono stage. The Project arm uses the RCA inputs. At the same time will be returning the phono ic to Cloth Ears for him to do his thing and swap one set of RCAs for XLR. At the moment the chain is cartridge to RCA to XLR which probably isn't ideal. Not expecting great changes but a little of my occasional OCD will rest easier.
Still have very few hours on the Tannoys(curse of a wonderful summer) but feeling happier that I've made a good choice. Gone back to the Tellerium speaker cables, cost too much not to give them a proper chance. Main problem for now is that I spend such a small amount of time in the music room that everything has just warmed up and it's time to pack up. Cds in the bedroom system often sound better as the cdp and headphone amp are on 24/7. Or maybe the Saturn is just a better spinner than the Cambridge.
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Post by cooksferry on Mar 17, 2018 8:35:01 GMT 12
Arm back from Simon@Wand with upgraded wiring (Nordost Odin 2) and cable from Cloth Ears suitably re terminated. Been nearly a week and nothing assembled as I've been too busy providing more storage space for the vinyl over flow which had extended to 4 plastic crates on the floor. Changed that to vertical stacking with some wooden cubes from JB Hifi. With a light sand and some Danish Oil they don't look too bad. Unfortunately I dont have the room for any serious DIY in that direction for now.
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Post by deano1974 on Mar 18, 2018 19:47:37 GMT 12
Hows the speakers going cooks?
Manager & Product specialist at Rapallo AV & HI-FI
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Post by cooksferry on Mar 19, 2018 6:37:10 GMT 12
Hows the speakers going cooks? Still up and down over them. With a few changes to the system all around the same time there's a bit to take in and I'd be lucky if I've managed 40 hours since Christmas. Most of the time the valves in the amp have barely had time to get to the sweet spot and it"s over. Might be the only bright side to winter when I can get some extended listening time. I did manage to get the WAND arm reinstalled on Saturday and do hear a definite change with the new Nordost wiring. While I have been contemplating a LPSU for the phono stage and maybe another set of phono ics I feel I'm into diminishing returns territory for future purchases and the best bang for my buck would be a new, double current size, music room....and that's just not going to happen.
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Post by cooksferry on Mar 29, 2018 9:55:26 GMT 12
Finally over came my usual indecision and have just ordered a Std Linear PSU from Swagman. Still tossing up over another cable from the WAND to the phono stage. Currently running one of Brendan's ics but I'd like another as a comparison and maybe a subtle change. Be a bit pissed though if I spend several hundred on a new cable and find the Cloth Ears one is preferred. I had been looking at Tellurium or Shunyata cables but now leaning towards Wireworld Eclpise. Whatever I do in that direction this will be in all probability my last add on for the Stereo setup....although I have on the odd occasion pondered the practicalities of fitting a third arm to the table dedicated to mono, or just another WAND arm by its self with a mono cart ready mounted which would make a change a matter of minutes. As ever though other non audio projects keep getting in the way and are of a more practical nature. Having just managed to clear 7 of the Warehouse plastic milk crates full of my sons books out of my room I can now access the audio rack without taking a deep breath and shuffling sideways .
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 9, 2018 7:30:37 GMT 12
joy of a wet, colder weekend, I got a few guilt free hours with the stereo. I've been giving a final setup some thought and which ever way I went would stay in place till the end of this year at least. So deep breath and swap around cartridges, how anyone enjoys this task I'll never know. Bloody nerve racking for me at times but the Dynavector XX2 is now back on the WAND with the Audio Technica mono cart reinstalled on the Project arm. The newly purchased Wireworld Ecplise IC (XLR) fitted between the WAND arm and the Project phono RS. Ran through several lps and actually managed a long enough session to get the vales/amp up to speed. Pretty happy with the results although I may yet drop the tail of the WAND down very slightly. Geoff Husband on the TNT site is a huge Dyna fan and has always contended that they sound their best like that and It's not a huge task to have a play with that in mind. With a mono cartridge installed I did have thoughts about removing the Mapletree stereo/mono switch box as I could detect a real difference in mono mode with a mono cart but will leave it in for now as it means that I can use the Dyna XX2 in mono if wanted. The Melody amp has 3 sets of inputs so I've added a 2nd set of cables from the Mapletree switch box to the amp for a play about . Currently running KLEI ics but added a pair of WBT cables that I've had for years. The cables are marked WBT but I've never managed to find any online information about their construction . I'd say they date back to the 80s as I purchased them 2nd hand about 20years ago. Last piece for the system is the Swagman LPSU which shipped from Hong Kong last week. To facilitate room on the rack I've removed the Yamamoto headphone amp and that has shifted to a position near my listening chair. I intended to run the Fiio player through it and that means I can listen via headphones without dragging the chair halfway across the room.
I have been harbouring thoughts about selling at least one of the two headphone amps in the music room and possibly a couple of headphones as well. So rarely used now and a big change in listening habits from a few years back.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 9, 2018 9:40:58 GMT 12
Added a Project VCS vacuum unit today. Not too big so fits into a niche in my room and nice and quick in use. Two minutes tops for a clean and quieter than I thought it would be. I can see many more lps being cleaned now than the rigmarole using the manual KAB. A bit more than I wanted to spend but looking long term a worth while investment. cooksferry may be gratified to see this review of the ProJect VCS posted by Mikey Fremer just 3 days ago: (Although he digresses all over like a N Jerseyan.) I do like the platter-less design. www.analogplanet.com/content/pro-jects-most-excellent-499-vc-s-wet-vacuum-record-cleaning-machine
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