System Pics 2018

Thanks guys  for the likes and comments - much appreciated! Missus says thanks too

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Max_B posted:

Thank you. It's a Guizu (Chinese furniture company also building stuff for audio) single shelf of which I superimposed three, using their own spikes and protectors. Having no children, pets and a very sensible and caring wife I simply put them one on top of the other, each decoupled from the others. I periodically check their vertical alignemnt with a tool I made (four 90° angular rigid lengths of hard cardboard I place at diagonals).

Max

Thanks - craftsmanship looks outstanding

And, in a way, it is: the internal structure of each shelf, of which I post a pic,  is very interesting and studied to be the least possible resonant.

On the other hand, tolerances are not always the closest, and shelves may minimally differ from one another; they claim not using nails or screws and they wholly assemble them with wood and glue; then, of course, you screw the spikes in and everything becomes relative...

M.

Richard Dane posted:

Looking good with the RPM Max.  

I remember that Guizu made some lovely stands for the LS3/5a/Harbeth P3.  I have no idea how they performed but they looked really nice.

And a quick search of the internet...

They also do this, in two heights:

that I find particularly nice and elegant.

Max

With regards to the ethics and morality of our consumer habits in general , as is often the way, intuitively we rail against the the high ticket items as being the obvious target of our more questionable consumer indulgences. However, I would take the opposite view and argue that as high ticket items often derive their value from a smaller number of well paid talented people, who design and manufacture such goods, and are likely to have a far longer working life. It follows they will have a far lower environmental and human impact.

What I find far more disturbing is being able to buy 100% cotton t-shirt in Primark for £3, or a cotton shirt with all the labour intensive sewing that is required for £10. Someone in that supply chain is almost certainly getting shafted, and that's before you consider the environmental impact of their production, my guess is Stella McCartney can afford to be far more ethical about her sources and they will be worn for a lot longer than anything from Primark.

We are living in a time of cheap easy disposal, your smart phone is getting a few years old and the battery is losing it's charge, oh I'm due an upgrade, and so it goes. Personally I don't stray far from Naim, not that I doubt there are better value products out there, but I know that in all likely hood in twenty years I will still be able to have it repaired, and that is a far better model of consumption in my eyes.

Not wishing to have an argument or look like I'm picking on you Max B, but I would also be quite suspicious of the sustainability of what looks like a hardwood of the shelving system you are buying from China. They don't have the best track record on environmental care. That said, it may be something you've checked out and are happy with, but it should be factored into any purchases we make.

The other aspect to the high ticket item is of course the money that could otherwise be put toward better uses, but that debate really applies to almost all aspects of our lives, holidays, cars, trips to the cinema, anything really beyond your primary requirements. I do however agree that sometimes the amounts spent on listening to music can be a little uncomfortable, I just think it's a more complex debate that we need to have.

Just a word of moderation here; This is the System Pics thread.  Please could posts show pictures of hi-fi systems.

If members wish to discuss further the morality and ethics of purchasing hi-fi kit then by all means, please do so, but could you take it to a new thread, preferably in the Padded Cell.  Thanks.

And so, in the spirit of this thread, here's another shot of the Rega playing some Thomas Dolby...

Well said Richard, I will join you....

An old favourite cartridge.

Back on track with a splash of pink.

Yay, cartridge shot. Count me in.

Normality restored - thanks chaps

Tony2011 posted:

An old favourite cartridge.

Ah that takes me back Tony.I had one once and I think it cost less than £100.My memories of it are a bit dim as it was 30 years ago and upgraded to a Linn Asaka  on my Ittok but do remember it was very neutral and a good all rounder.No sonic fireworks but very pleasant non the less.I also remember there was a P 78 a Garrott tuned variant of it which as supposed to be tasty.Just like the Linn Asak and Asak T

Hope all is well with you mate

Cheers Ian

TK421 posted:

Back on track with a splash of pink.

I thought at first you had a lovely view of the sea behind your turntable... :-)

Eloise posted:

TK421 posted:

Back on track with a splash of pink.

I thought at first you had a lovely view of the sea behind your turntable... :-)

I wish. Unfortunately, I just see other brick boxes front and back.

That's my feature wall in Teal Tension which I threw on New Years Day (I was bored).

Roksan Shiraz with Northwest Analogue modded ruby cantilever, with Jethro Tull under the diamond. (Just had a look at the Northwest Analogue website, I think that is my Shiraz on his cartridge repairs page.)

Eoink posted:

Roksan Shiraz with Northwest Analogue modded ruby cantilever, with Jethro Tull under the diamond. (Just had a look at the Northwest Analogue website, I think that is my Shiraz on his cartridge repairs page.)

Funny comparing the front end cabling and ‘dressing’ with the current shots from behind the racks!

G

GraemeH posted:

Eoink posted:

 

Roksan Shiraz with Northwest Analogue modded ruby cantilever, with Jethro Tull under the diamond. (Just had a look at the Northwest Analogue website, I think that is my Shiraz on his cartridge repairs page.)

Funny comparing the front end cabling and ‘dressing’ with the current shots from behind the racks!

G

Mayhe I should remove the cartridge and dress the wires. (Not going to happen in case I sounded serious.)

Nice thread of dust below the stylus as well, I should probably have checked the record rather than just pull it from the shelf for the picture.

In the twilight of its years now, a bit like its owner.

Richard Dane posted:

Just a word of moderation here; This is the System Pics thread.  Please could posts show pictures of hi-fi systems.

If members wish to discuss further the morality and ethics of purchasing hi-fi kit then by all means, please do so, but could you take it to a new thread, preferably in the Padded Cell.  Thanks.

And so, in the spirit of this thread, here's another shot of the Rega playing some Thomas Dolby...

Great new twist to the pictures thread as soon as I work out how to post pictures I will post one of my new Dynavector 20X2L.

MDS posted:

 Fjeld posted:

Photo is courtesy of my wife, hence the placement of the chair and the red wine....... 

That, sir, looks superb. The photo could grace a glossy magazine. 

Audiovector? I have a white pair too - the predecessors and they are GREAT. Sadly not often available

Tony2011 posted:

An old favourite cartridge.

Haven't seen a P77 cartridge for many a year, Tony. Glad to see one at least still going strong.

sjw posted:

MDS posted:

 Fjeld posted:

Photo is courtesy of my wife, hence the placement of the chair and the red wine....... 

That, sir, looks superb. The photo could grace a glossy magazine. 

Audiovector? I have a white pair too - the predecessors and they are GREAT. Sadly not often available

 

Haven't seen many Audiovector speakers around here sjw! Nice to know that there are others who loves their Naim "served" with the easy load these Danish quality speakers represent. Audiovector used to be the importer of Naim to Denmark and if I'm not mistaken they still use Naim when they develop their speakers.

A Van den Hul serviced Dynavector XX-2 on a Vertere SG-1 tonearm.

NickSeattle posted:

Beautiful, classic seup, Rob.

Nick

Thanks nick. 

Rob

dave-mac posted:

 

 

 

Dave

i have been looking at the IsoAcoustics stuff. Quick question, do the screw into the speaker instead of spikes ? Or do the speaker spikes sit in them ?

cheers Rob