Obelisks, upgrades and a 10 year old 180

Guys,

Thanks for the feedback. I will move the HiCap and see what happens, I will also try moving the speakers around, unforunately I am a little restricted on moving them too far out.

Alan, who/what is TopCat (I hope this is not a dumb question ?!?) ? I am unable to run a dedicated mains supply, but I am very interested in a decent block.

Swifty.

Please email me: aschouvaloff@aol.com if you'd like to hear a superb Obelisk based system in Surrey that didn't cost the Earth.

Alex

Guys,

The speakers are about 3 years old so are quite well played in. I will try the HiCap on the CDP and the mains block (Thanks for the heads up on TopCat Alan, don't want to get anyone in trouble !!), I will then need to sort out the other components...

How do I know if the 180 does need re-capping ? What will change/improve in the sound ?

Swifty.

Guys,

Moved the speakers out further and moved the HiCap to the CDP, definitely an improvement in the bass, however the top end is now a little over bright, I guess this is from running the 92R without a HiCap.

I am looking into the mains (I am waiting to hear but might have missed out on the Russ Andrews courtesy of TopCap), I am also going to look around for a 102/NAPSC + HiCap...then it will be the turn of the 180, that will probably end up driving my Compass' as rears on an AV system with a replacement driving the Obelisks...of course might need to brush up my bank robbing skills in the meantime to feed my continuing habit !!

Thanks again to everyone,

Swifty.

quote:

---

Originally posted by simon atkin:
Alex has hit the nail on the head, the Obelisks need a good power amp in front of them.

When I first got mine I was using 135's and even though they sounded good it wasn't until I changed to a Dynavector HX1.2 that they really came alive!

Having said that if the music has bass you can be sure that the Obs will find it!!!!!

Alex,

Have you ordered your L300 yet?

---

I hope Simon is not suggesting the 135's are not good power amps, they are, in fact they are excellent. However it would appear that the Dynavector HX1.2 matches the Obelisks better. So in this application the Dynavector HX1.2 may outperform the 135's however in many other configurations the 135s significantly outperforms it.

I have no experience of Obelisks.

I changed my speakers and amps a couple of years ago.

I had Monitor Audio 852 powered by NAC 110.

I auditioned SBL's, EPOS ES22's with both 135's and the 1.2 I preferred the 135's over the 1.2 with both speakers. I bought 135's and SBL's.

I also auditioned various other combinations in other auditions, but the above summarises the 1.2 vs 135 demo's.

Interestingly at the same audition I also demoed some Shahinian speakers (can't remember which, about £2000) but just did not like them at all, I can't remember if I tried them with Naim and Dynaverctor amps or not

My colours are nailed firmly to the DV mast.

I was at one of Nick's 1.2 dems and it sounded cleaner and duller than his 135s. I'm not surprised he bought a 500.

Generally, I think Naim amps work best together and the same goes for Dynavector. I've trawled various DVs and plonked them cold into systems where they've performed quite well. Get them home again and they sound crap for at least 24hrs. The funny thing with warm up is its the boogie factor which factors in last. Surprisingly, noone's offered to plonk a pair of stone cold 135s into my system.

Obelisks also don't like trundling about; and they really don't like Isolda speaker cable which may help explain the DHM failure.

I tried some Obelisks in my system a week ago. From cold they were awful and didn't work in my normal listening position. After a couple of hours when they'd settled (and I'd settled further forward) they started to boogie like buggery with my HX1.2. They really did!

Alex

I vote for a combination of 1&2, the bigger place should put a smile on her face. She can redecoarate around your system and you get her and your naim gear.

do you really want to go out there and be single again? What am I saying...I'm single and love it.

Simon, you are single with a 52/S-Cap and 135's...some of us are single with a lot less...hypothetically, what is the other woman like ??

Swifty.

Simon,

If you choose option 3 may I suggest you lend me the L300 for safe keeping.

David

Simple, Simon,

David's only hinting at what you should do.

Marry both women. Buy a very small cottage. Raise a family, of eight. Get livestock, chickens, goats, pot-bellied pigs. Grow copious amounts of vegetables and ganja.

So as not to tarnish your idyll with material things, you give me the 1.2. If all this and the music in your head is not enough I will donate my Tivoli radio.

Alex