giant steps...

You’re just proving that the run-in / warm up is part of the fun – you just couldn’t resist, could you?

Chris

you may be spot on chris.

one word springs to mind to describe the signature of this cdsii player. authority.

and i am astounded by the fact that the sbl's have not been found wanting -- they are responding to this new feed very well indeed.

let the good times roll...

enjoy

ken

The CDS should be blowing your skirt up from cold. if i assume i understand the idiom -- yes, it did, emphatically so.

What comes in the ensuing weeks is icing on the cake. ahhh, but i want more cake, not just icing

I didn't bother leaving a disc on permanent play, when I got mine; I just enjoyed it burning in with normal listening sessions.

brave man!!

i will leave a cd on repeat as recommended by my dealer till tomorrow at least -- and see what important additional musical cues i can pick up.

many thanks and

enjoy (what use would all this be if we didnt!!!???)

ken

what racks are you using right now? mana has been on my shopping list for a while. now that i have taken the box upgrades as far as i want to go, mana has rippled to near top now. initially this will be a sound table for my lp12, but i will wait till things have settled down a bit, then i will revisit this rack issue. i am not going to change my isoblue yet (supporting the sources) -- nor quadraspire (in the spare system right now). what i might do is swap the projekt for my quadraspire for the power components - will see.

in the meantime, i will

enjoy

ken

to reduce the strain, i decided to support the hydra joint on a little cardboad box (it came with some linux s/w i bought some time ago). this raised the joint and immediately relieved the strain on the xps power cable.

but i wasnt prepared for what happened next. i was playing nat02 input. the sound was better!!! naaaaah, this cant be right, so, much to my inconvenience, i removed the little box, (this time without connecting the xps), and the music deteriorated a little, put it back, same positive effect? so i have now left the little box in place -- its actually a little too big, so if i find a smaller one will replace it. (i wonder if a microsoft box will sound as good? )

i think this may be related to what someone was saying about dressing mains (and other) cables, something i might need to address specifically sometime soon.

enjoy

ken

i finally managed to install my lp12/xx2 today. slight panic when i connected my prefix to hicap and then to bnc's on back of 52. no music, just a buzzing sound. it was then i remembered i swapped my 52 sometime ago and this one i have now doesnt have line level boards connected to the bnc's. will sort that out later. so, instead connected the hicap directly to 2b on 52, thus using 52's power.

the first record i played was joe cocker's "organic". hmmm... i dont remember my first day with arkiv I being this good. reminded me of my troika days. what an experience!! i didnt do a proper comparison against the cdsii - for that i would need more or less same music, but on the basis of the character of what i was hearing -- so far the lp12/xx2 is winning by quite a wide margin. the cdsii sounds very good indeed right now, but i guess it really does need to warm up a bit more to approach the almost spiritual musicality of the lp12/xx2.

i will leave the cdsii on repeat again tonite and see what happens during the next few days. i gather from peter at infidelity that the run in is in fact not necessarily monotonic -- in other words, sometimes performance will deteriorate (all things, like mains,being equal). when this up/down cycle is over, then the unit can be pronouced fully run-in.

i didnt have a long vinyl session, but, my god, the sound of that lp12 still haunts me even now as i type this post...

enjoy

ken

Whenever I plan to listen to both LPs and CDs in the same evening, I ALWAYS play the CDs first.

Why ? Because no matter how good the cds1 sounds and how much I enjoy the cds1 music, the LP12/Ecoss/Arkiv ALWAYS sounds sooooo much better. And not just with the equivalent CD/LP. No! The LP12 always sounds soooooo much better - full stop. It haunts me !

Leaves me wondering how I could ever have enjoyed listening to the cds1 in the first place.

However, next night, so long as I listen to the cds1 first, I am fooled again into enjoying its music.

Enjoy (as you say) - both your cds2 and your renewed LP12/new cartridge

Cheers

Don

like you, when i listened to my cdsii in isolation -- it was absolutely fab, much better than cd2. but in comparison with turntable, different ball game altogether.

as i say, i'd like to revisit this issue in a few weeks time when my cdsii is fully run in. will let you know what if there any significant swing twds the cdsii -- which i hope will happen.

enjoy

ken

In a nutshell, yes. The LP12 (to my ears) is a more satisfying sound than my fully run in/warmed up cds1.

I normally try to run the LP12 platter for 24 hours before listening to lps and I use an Audio Technica stylus cleaner for at least 10 minutes before listening. Not only does this clean the stylus, but I think it 'massages' the cartridge assembly, keeping it fit and well ! I also use the 'green stuff'

I keep the LP12/Lingo/Linto separate from the cds1 and both are separate from the pre/power amp and the supercap and CDPS. But they all run off the same spur, through the same Kimber block and Graham's Hydra. I have seen posts here suggesting the LP12/Lingo/Linto can adversly affect the cds1/2 but I havn't experimented - too busy enjoying the music as it is.

BTW as I said recently, my cds1 took over 5 weeks before I felt at all happy (never mind impressed) with the sound - perhaps Naim are breaking them in a bit now ?

Look forward to your updates over the next few weeks

Cheers

Don

it would be useful if you had a dealer reasonably near -- then you could compare a few alternative upgrade routes and see which one is the best for you.

sorry, not very useful. i hope you get this sorted soon.

enjoy

ken

How is the CDSII / LP12etc love fest, or are you now a re-born vinylist. (That is not a derogatory comment - but the explanation is boring). In fact it is probably a sign of my jealousy.

I have my new XPS. I got it yesterday (ok Friday mid afternoon UK time but that is not significant) and I am v happy so far.

The short story is - wow, so much extra detail, but ooh sounds a little hard/shouty and tight (I know what I mean) not like my CDX.

The difference in 24 hours is huge, the system has not stopped playing, and my 9 year old daughter has reconsidered her view on "old folks" music - that is to say I carried on playing what I like and she wants to hear more - she doesn't necessarily like everything (it would be strange if she did) but...Dedicato is a big hit.

I propose to reserve my opinion ... save to say

"Drew - Thank you very much. I'm sorry if I pestered you but it was worth it to me."

Chris

Ken C - "so far the lp12/xx2 is winning by quite a wide margin"
_____________________________________________

Must get the LP12 setup and the cartridge checked, not done so for a couple of years. Was reasonably happy until the Black SNAICS swung significantly in favour of the CDS1 which currently wipes the floor with my LP12 (Aro/Prefix/Hicap/XX1
/52/super /SNAXO/ super/4x135/SBL)on all but the very worst CDs

Definitely!!

the LP12 should wipe the floor with a cds1 and the difference is a lot more than a Black Snaic. My LP12 has Eccos1/ArkiveA/Lingo/Linto and sits on an Audio Tech table.

On the other hand, I have just posted on NigelP about his duff cds2 and a couple of little resistors which were replaced and brought his cds2 to life.... so perhaps its my cds1 which needs sorting out.... oh crickey how confusing this is all getting !! HEEEEELLLLPPPP

Cheers

Don

Cheers

Don

quote:

---

How is the CDSII / LP12etc love fest, or are you now a re-born vinylist.

---

i was very impressed with the cdsii straight from the box and i felt it was definitely better than my old cd2, even at this early stage of the cdsii's warmup cycle.

but i guess another way to describe my re-acquaintance with vinyl is wickedly good.

but its early days yes, and the cdsii has gone leaps and bounds since last week. i left it almost running continuously for about 4 days, with very little interruption to sort out one a problem. i can definitely sense some fireworks during the next couple of weeks. and its nice to enjoy both media.

it will be interesting to find out how i feel about my lp12 vs cdsii after say 3 or 4 weeks.

enjoy

ken

quote:

---

I'm about 4 weeks ahead of you with new CDS2. It does keep getting better, but after the first few weeks the next really big leap (after about six weeks) was switching the power off for a couple of days. No idea of the reason why, but when powered back up the improvement was really significant.

---

many thanks. i will try to remember to power cycle after 6(? weeks and assess what happens.

quote:

---

The CDS2 is brilliant, and I guess we have to be grateful that it makes listening to CDs a real pleasure. It just isn't an LP12 with a good disc on a good day ...

---

so far, i definitely agree with you. but as i mentioned to chris d, the beast is improving all the time. it may just boil down to the fact that a good cd player will never play music like a good record player because of some deep intrinsic factors that i cant pretend to understand. we'll see.

enjoy

ken

To sum up

Enjoy your CDS2

Enjoy your LP12

Just choose your material wisely and stop bloody well comparing all the time!

P.

[This message was edited by P on TUESDAY 26 June 2001 at 20:35.]

"Just choose your material wisely and stop bloody well comparing all the time!"

i may actually have the "fingerprints" somewhere, so will give this a spin.

"Why keep on trying to compare the CDS2 with an LP12?"

its good clean fun thats why. better than taking certain tablets or smoking stuff.

"I can understand that you're maybe questioning your judgement on having spent a quite considerable ammount of spondoolics on a silver beer mat "

no, i am not. i am very happy with my cdsii, however it turns out in relation to my lp12. i definitely question my judgment on just how much i have spent on hifi in total, not the cdsii specifically. but i can easily justify that by the amount of fun i get from my system -- sometimes, its frustrating when things go wrong, but most times, i am up there on cloud 9...

grateful if you could suggest some more of these well recorded contemporary jazz recordings -- sounds like something i would like.

many thanks for your thoughts.

enjoy

ken

quote:

---

and I use an Audio Technica stylus cleaner for at least 10 minutes before listening.

---

don a: as far as i know, this cleaning technique is a no-no as far as dynavector catridges are concerned. in fact, i think they also discourage the linn abrasive stuff. i am not sure how i am meant to remove the really agressive dirt off the stylus, for example, bits of vinyl. any dynavector user know???

enjoy

ken

Glad you mentioned green stuff and Audio Technica vibrators are no-no for Dynavectors.

Iv'e had Linn cartridges for so long it never crossed my mind that these products might not be universally used for cleaning.

Dangerous thing this Forum, sometimes !!

Sorry I can't help with best way to clean Dynavectors - what did Infidelity suggest ? (was it Infidelity ?)

Cheers

Don

yes, it was infidelity. i think they just use the green stuff. i will inquire with dynavector directly to make assurance doubly sure. i dont want an accident with my new cartridge.

enjoy

ken

my xx2 also came with this blond brush. i cannot see how this will clean off bit of vinyl that apparently gets stuck to the needle (if linn are to be believed??)

don't know where the lint comes from, since i only listen to music naked

hmmm.. what an interesting idea! will try this and may be i will never need to clean my stylus again!!

enjoy

ken

Do a search on me and 'green'. I have written about this before.

Rushing around Dev.

quote:

---

what would make the bits so sticky that a light brushing doesn't get rid of it?

---

Heat?

I advise anyone who thinks a soft brush is enough to clean a stylus to take a look at their stylus with a powerful microscope. I used to use a brush until I took my turntable to the local dealer, complaining that it sounded awful. The main problem, it turned out, was the thick coating on my regularly cleaned stylus.

I've lost my piece of Linn green stuff, so I only use an Audio Technica cleaner - with either dilute isoproply alcohol [cassette cleaning fluid] or (very occasionally) water. It needs at least two or three minutes to work - Audio Technica's suggested 20 seconds is rather optimistic.

Using solvents on styli that are glued into place can harm the glue joint...

I can't think of any reason why using a fine abrasive should be inappropriate for any brand of cartridge. But they have to be applied with restraint - two or three strokes in the same direction as the movement of the record should be enough.

--Jeremy

[This message was edited by Sproggle on WEDNESDAY 27 June 2001 at 13:44.]

I can't think of any reason why using a fine abrasive should be inappropriate for any brand of cartridge.

will try to find out from dynavector themselves...

enjoy

ken

and this is with a hicap powering the snaxo -- my old supercap is at naim for a course of anti-biotics.

music beckons...

enjoy

ken