My AOL free trial ends soon so my post enthusiasm must soon diminish. Therefore I must ask my Mana question. . .
System again. . . CDX, 82, CDPS, 250, 250, 2Hi-Caps in that order sitting on a standard Base rack which I've just bought cheap (already had shelves). LP12 on Base02 shelf on top of old Sound Org rack. Lingo on old Sound Org table.
B&W N805s on hne cableway granite stands.
I want Mana so I called Damien expecting the advice to start with Reference Tables for sources.
Instead he advised a rack but I explained that I'd just bought Base.
So his advice, based on my limited budget, was to put Sound Frames under the speaker stands as a first step followed by Sound Frames on top of my Sound Org rack/table for the sources. Damien wanted me to be gobsamcked by my first venture into Mana and thought the speakers the first place to start. Now I know that the flat earthers hate B&W but I like the round earth end to my system.
Damien also seems to like round earth elements so I presume he is not puting Sound Frames under the speakers just to "Flatten" them - maybe he hopes to iron out one of Naim's weaknesses (IMO)- the very top end. Maybe he hopes to reveal, with my initial step, how much the rest of my system needs Mana! - once hooked. . .
So, calling Mr Pig, pd and all the Mana avangelists, what would be your first Mana step with my system (about 600UKP to spend at first).
Shall I take Damien's advice (I have no instinct not to)? How well will Sound Frames work on top of the old Sound Org supports? And what would be my second step?
Thank you in advance
Alex S
ps Please don't tell me I need more Naim boxes - I've decided to maximise the potential of what I have (hence the RPG foam in other threads).
Posted on: 26 May 2001 by Alex S.
I too have a second system of 32.5/HC/110 - terrific.
My best ever upgrade was stopping listening to my CDX and starting listening to my LP12 again;
and stop calling me Alec
Posted on: 26 May 2001 by Alex S.
I once went on a football tour of St Peterburg, Novgorod and Valdaii (phonetic spelling). Valdaii is where Yeltsin had his holiday booze palace on the lake. It is also where they make or made exceedingly large bells and Zenit cameras.
At the post match do I was presented with a crummy looking Zenit rangefinder; my prize for being the most inept bladder booter on show (something to do with a bottle of vodka and a dozen blinis at half time).
This camera has taken better pictures than any of my Contax, Nikon, Olympus, Cannon cameras (in that order - seem do have been progressively downgrading my photo gear as I have been upgrading my Naim boxes; infact some cameras have actually financed Naim gear, perhaps I've got it all wrong). You are perhaps fortunate that I am so crap at posting links that I dear not try to post photographs.
ps
quote:
You see, it gets pretty boring after a while
after just 849 posts?
I post/visit a lot because of my work set up - I glue/polish/paint bits and pieces and this (posting) is more fun than watching the stuff dry. Just.
Posted on: 26 May 2001 by Mick P
Chaps
This is easy......Pigs Hifi...is old, cost a fortune and isn't working....but never mind
ITS ON MANA
Whatever you do......don't take advice off this man. Its bad for you bank balance and ears.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Alex S.
Mr P. thanks for stopping by.
I am tempted to take your advice (it was also Damien's first call), trouble is I feel a bit mean and pissed off having to chuck out all the supports I have. I was hoping to add to them rather than take them away (at this stage).
Would it be really silly to put sound stages under base and sound org racks and sound frames on top of them (for sources) or do I need to start afresh with Mana everywhere - I think I can guess the answer but is Base & Mana truly incompatible - Base just seems neutral to me, a non-rack rack - perhaps this could be good? Perhaps Mana under and over it will give it that ME lift?
Sorry to hear about your 250. It may not please you to know that my (working) 2 cost little more than your (bust) 1. - beware the Loewe scattered dealers.
I don't know where you live but if its any use to you I would be happy to lend you one of my 250s while you get yours fixed (especially if its between 18 June - 3 July while I'm away). 1 250 is not radically different from two and certainly livable with in the short term. So rather than me e-mailing you for your number you can e-mail me for mine if your interested.
Alex.
Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Alex S.
It was just an observation not a complaint - I'm off to try the Black Madonna myself.
Regards, Alex
ps if you only liked Whitesnake I would be less tempted by your enthusiasm for Mana.
Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Alex S.
I thought it might interest viewers to see a different type of box
apologies in advance for the probability that all you will see is a long string of html nonsense.
Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Willem van Gemert
Alex,
I think a Sound Stage underneath your existing stands is a waste of money. A Sound Stage is used to lift an existing Mana stand to the next "phase". It means you need to have at least one Mana stand (Sound Frame, Mini Table, Amplifier rack, etc.). I would start small with a Mini Table and experiment a bit. If you like the Mana effect and decide to buy a rack or a shelf for your LP 12, you can use the table to reference it.
Ciao!
Willem
Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Alex S.
Thanks for a) advice b) puting up with my technophobincompetitis.
Back to my Mana
I'm going to do what Damien suggested (sort of) - put Sound Frames under the speakers - if that works I'll Reference the sources - if that works I'll get a rack - if that works I'll start moving on up.
Alex - back to work.
Posted on: 27 May 2001 by Alex S.
so
Oh dear
Lance no offence but if Mana owners themselves can't decide whether its a good thing then I may soon start self exfoliating. (A cheap shot really I know you've a problem with your tubes).
Its a bit like Mick telling me to get Mana and then telling me to try Hutter - did he do that just to lure Vuk?
BTW did you know that Holland is in the Far East:
On the back of my "Hot" prawn crackers is written the following authenticity twaddle:
quote:
Conimex imports the very best spices and other raw materials from many Far Eastern countries to ensure their products have the authentic taste of the Orient
Next to this tosh appears the legend "Product of Holland".
Posted on: 27 May 2001 by ken c
chris many thanks for report.
when you tried with the cdsii, was the fraim dedicated or did you have other equipment on it (e.g. nac52)?
I will try the Linn on it next, but this will take a day or so as I have to change the setup slightly so that the Linn will reach the scap from two different tables.
really looking forward to this!!
enjoy
ken
Posted on: 28 May 2001 by Alex S.
(with a bit of Hutter thrown in)
Looks set to run and run (with a lot of fallings out along the way)
It will be many months before I post my flag to any mast for fear of having to unpost it rapido.
Posted on: 28 May 2001 by Alex S.
. . .is that certain people pretend to own certain naim systems in the hope that this brings them a little kudos and reflected glory. . .
. . .these must be very sad people indeed. . .
. . .anyway. . .
. . .I'm off to listen to my Matsui Midi System. . .
. . .total PRaT.
Posted on: 28 May 2001 by Dev B
Nice to see you post here. I have to say it was getting a bit hard acting as your spokesman.
What is all of this about you being bored with hifi?
Nice pictures. Do you have them posted anywhere?
By the way, =>Catch<= was posting pictures of you in his profile page and Petrik posted a picture of you before you shaved your head and beard. I thought all of that was rather strange.
Dev
