System Pics 2018

Paul Quigley ie posted:

Meerkat posted:

Gazza posted:

Meerkat posted:

My new 282/HiCapDR/300DR, complemented by PMC Twenty5 26s. All needs a few more days to burn in. NDX 2 to follow soon.

The fireplace was ripped out to accommodate the Twenty5 26s

Looks very nice, the NDX2 will finish it off a treat.

Yes it will Gazza. The oak unit is going, and the TV will go on the wall????

I had a stand just like that.  

I liked the sound with a nut and ball under the four corners of each shelf ????

That stand is 28 years old. It was considered the mutt's nuts in the early 90's...Obviously things have moved on. 

I tried the dome nuts on my old system (ND5 XS) five years ago. I'm not doing dome nuts, or any other kind of nuts

TK421 posted:

Mission either 760's or 780's?

Perhaps a Cambridge Audio Sub?

Yes bang on TK421

and as I know the rest of you will not sleep unless I tell you they are Q Acoustics Concept 20's.

Mike Sullivan posted:

My old system went to the media room, here with Totem Hawks, a Cambridge CXUHD Bluray, UC2, Core, NAP100 and Apple 4K TV and the 65inch OLED screen and very old Rega 3. The old speakers (to the sides) have been stored away for a future project...

Mike:

I've run Hawks for a number of years now .. first with a NAP 200 and for the past couple of years with a 250DR .. you need a lot more than a NAP 100 to get the best out of those puppies .. 

John Willmott posted:

Mike Sullivan posted:

My old system went to the media room, here with Totem Hawks, a Cambridge CXUHD Bluray, UC2, Core, NAP100 and Apple 4K TV and the 65inch OLED screen and very old Rega 3. The old speakers (to the sides) have been stored away for a future project...

Mike:

I've run Hawks for a number of years now .. first with a NAP 200 and for the past couple of years with a 250DR .. you need a lot more than a NAP 100 to get the best out of those puppies .. 

Thanks John, I've run them with a Nova and they did lift quite a bit. I needed replacement speakers for the media room, so decided to run the Hawks with the NAP100 (which I already had, rather than use a lesser speaker) and use the Forest Signatures with the Nova in the lounge (as that is another lift in SQ again). I'd be interested to know how far I could go with running a more powerful power amp with the UC2 and Hawks though, or whether another path would be better?

Mike Sullivan posted:

John Willmott posted:

Mike Sullivan posted:

My old system went to the media room, here with Totem Hawks, a Cambridge CXUHD Bluray, UC2, Core, NAP100 and Apple 4K TV and the 65inch OLED screen and very old Rega 3. The old speakers (to the sides) have been stored away for a future project...

Mike:

I've run Hawks for a number of years now .. first with a NAP 200 and for the past couple of years with a 250DR .. you need a lot more than a NAP 100 to get the best out of those puppies .. 

Thanks John, I've run them with a Nova and they did lift quite a bit. I needed replacement speakers for the media room, so decided to run the Hawks with the NAP100 (which I already had, rather than use a lesser speaker) and use the Forest Signatures with the Nova in the lounge (as that is another lift in SQ again). I'd be interested to know how far I could go with running a more powerful power amp with the UC2 and Hawks though, or whether another path would be better?

Mike:

The 250DR is the most I've run through the Hawks so can't really address your question .. having said that I went from a NAC 202 thru 282 to the 252 and at each juncture the Hawks responded magnificently .. they are a very very good speaker ..

Mike Sullivan posted:

John Willmott posted:

Mike Sullivan posted:

My old system went to the media room, here with Totem Hawks, a Cambridge CXUHD Bluray, UC2, Core, NAP100 and Apple 4K TV and the 65inch OLED screen and very old Rega 3. The old speakers (to the sides) have been stored away for a future project...

Mike:

I've run Hawks for a number of years now .. first with a NAP 200 and for the past couple of years with a 250DR .. you need a lot more than a NAP 100 to get the best out of those puppies .. 

Thanks John, I've run them with a Nova and they did lift quite a bit. I needed replacement speakers for the media room, so decided to run the Hawks with the NAP100 (which I already had, rather than use a lesser speaker) and use the Forest Signatures with the Nova in the lounge (as that is another lift in SQ again). I'd be interested to know how far I could go with running a more powerful power amp with the UC2 and Hawks though, or whether another path would be better?

Mike,

Had Hawks with a 112/150 amp combo which gave a lovely sound. Upgraded to Forests from there, now run 272/250DR through PMC 25.23s.

Totems were beautiful speakers especially the Hawks (found the Forest's treble to be occasionally shrilly at higher volumes) but the PMCs are more musical IMHO.

Gordon  

gsr posted:

Mike Sullivan posted:

John Willmott posted:

Mike Sullivan posted:

My old system went to the media room, here with Totem Hawks, a Cambridge CXUHD Bluray, UC2, Core, NAP100 and Apple 4K TV and the 65inch OLED screen and very old Rega 3. The old speakers (to the sides) have been stored away for a future project...

Mike:

I've run Hawks for a number of years now .. first with a NAP 200 and for the past couple of years with a 250DR .. you need a lot more than a NAP 100 to get the best out of those puppies .. 

Thanks John, I've run them with a Nova and they did lift quite a bit. I needed replacement speakers for the media room, so decided to run the Hawks with the NAP100 (which I already had, rather than use a lesser speaker) and use the Forest Signatures with the Nova in the lounge (as that is another lift in SQ again). I'd be interested to know how far I could go with running a more powerful power amp with the UC2 and Hawks though, or whether another path would be better?

Mike,

Had Hawks with a 112/150 amp combo which gave a lovely sound. Upgraded to Forests from there, now run 272/250DR through PMC 25.23s.

Totems were beautiful speakers especially the Hawks (found the Forest's treble to be occasionally shrilly at higher volumes) but the PMCs are more musical IMHO.

Gordon  

Hi Gordon,

Did you have the Forest Signatures, which I have, they reportedly resolved the treble issue from the regular Forests? Mine are still breaking in though, which is very long as you will know?

I’m interested in the 272/250DR as a future upgrade to the Nova, as a 2 box solution. It will be a few years out and I’d rather the 272 with the new architecture and streaming platform, another option would be the NDX2/SN2, I wonder how they would compare? Either way, I’d keep the Nova as a second system with the Hawks, they are a lovely speaker aesthetically and just sound very natural and engaging.

HiFiman posted:

I have new stands on order I was tempted to buy the Target MR60 from Bryston but they are based in Canada so I opted for the next best thing some Custom Desgin SQ404 in black.

I own SQ404 stands, excellent stands and made local to me. I have visited the unit a couple of times and Paul, the owner, is a really knowledgeable, helpful, and nice guy. Really interesting to see the traditional manufacturing skills at work. They also have a lovely collie dog on site. It's amazing sometimes when you discover what's just down the road.

I had the Custom Design stands that had four pillars around a central wider Pilar are they the same? I had the central pilar filled with attabites they weighed a ton. 

I used them with Guru QM 10’s. 

Halloween Man posted:

HiFiman posted:

I have new stands on order I was tempted to buy the Target MR60 from Bryston but they are based in Canada so I opted for the next best thing some Custom Desgin SQ404 in black.

I own SQ404 stands, excellent stands and made local to me. I have visited the unit a couple of times and Paul, the owner, is a really knowledgeable, helpful, and nice guy. Really interesting to see the traditional manufacturing skills at work. They also have a lovely collie dog on site. It's amazing sometimes when you discover what's just down the road.

I currently use the RS303 even though they look horrid they are well made, really looking forward to receive the SQ404 should be about a week.

Thanks for reporting on the SQ404 build  quality etc 

Bob the Builder posted:

I had the Custom Design stands that had four pillars around a central wider Pilar are they the same? I had the central pilar filled with attabites they weighed a ton. 

I used them with Guru QM 10’s. 

I think the stands you owned were the FS104 

What I like about custom design SQ404 is the squareness of the design, matches well with my Edwardian room. Built like tanks with superb finishing. Must partially fill with sand or inert filler though to dampen tubes and stop ringing. The top and base are acoustic plates - some sort of polymer sandwiched in-between to prevent vibration.

Mike Sullivan posted:

gsr posted:

Mike Sullivan posted:

John Willmott posted:

Mike Sullivan posted:

My old system went to the media room, here with Totem Hawks, a Cambridge CXUHD Bluray, UC2, Core, NAP100 and Apple 4K TV and the 65inch OLED screen and very old Rega 3. The old speakers (to the sides) have been stored away for a future project...

Mike:

I've run Hawks for a number of years now .. first with a NAP 200 and for the past couple of years with a 250DR .. you need a lot more than a NAP 100 to get the best out of those puppies .. 

Thanks John, I've run them with a Nova and they did lift quite a bit. I needed replacement speakers for the media room, so decided to run the Hawks with the NAP100 (which I already had, rather than use a lesser speaker) and use the Forest Signatures with the Nova in the lounge (as that is another lift in SQ again). I'd be interested to know how far I could go with running a more powerful power amp with the UC2 and Hawks though, or whether another path would be better?

Mike,

Had Hawks with a 112/150 amp combo which gave a lovely sound. Upgraded to Forests from there, now run 272/250DR through PMC 25.23s.

Totems were beautiful speakers especially the Hawks (found the Forest's treble to be occasionally shrilly at higher volumes) but the PMCs are more musical IMHO.

Gordon  

Hi Gordon,

Did you have the Forest Signatures, which I have, they reportedly resolved the treble issue from the regular Forests? Mine are still breaking in though, which is very long as you will know?

I’m interested in the 272/250DR as a future upgrade to the Nova, as a 2 box solution. It will be a few years out and I’d rather the 272 with the new architecture and streaming platform, another option would be the NDX2/SN2, I wonder how they would compare? Either way, I’d keep the Nova as a second system with the Hawks, they are a lovely speaker aesthetically and just sound very natural and engaging.

Hi Mike,

No, I had a pair of the standard Totem Forests so glad to hear that the Signatures resolved the issue and you like them. I was tempted to go down the Nova route but all reviews and forum feedback at the time said the 272/250DR would be the better combo and I'm well chuffed with it. Haven't heard a NDX2/SN2 system so couldn't comment.

Whatever we have, they're great systems!!

Gordon 

newyearmessages2019.com happy new year 2019 in advance

On this cold wet autumnal day, it's nice to be inside enjoying my other system. 

Great photography James 

HiFiman posted:

HiFiman posted:

New stands are on order to replace the Custom Designs RS303

20 hours on the clock for my new Tab10 signatures bloody hell these sound good probably the best speaker I have heard in any living room. Spirit of Eden first track there's audible footsteps that i have never picked up on before and this is one of my favourite albums!

Sorry to repost my picture

 

 Hi HiFiman

Curious to know at what point in the first track that you hear the foot steps. What is the version of Spirit of Eden are you using? Ihave the original CD, the remastered CD and the the digital Studio Master. It is my favourite album of all time. 

Many thanks

Neil

HiFiman posted:

I have new stands on order I was tempted to buy the Target MR60 from Bryston but they are based in Canada so I opted for the next best thing some Custom Desgin SQ404 in black.

I use the CD FS104 sig with the top-plate sized specifically for the 10. Very tempted to ahem ‘listen’ to the 10 sig as I like the ‘classic’ so much...hmmm.

G

badlyread posted:

HiFiman posted:

[…] 20 hours on the clock for my new Tab10 signatures bloody hell these sound good probably the best speaker I have heard in any living room. Spirit of Eden first track there's audible footsteps that i have never picked up on before and this is one of my favourite albums! 

 Hi HiFiman

Curious to know at what point in the first track that you hear the foot steps. What is the version of Spirit of Eden are you using? Ihave the original CD, the remastered CD and the the digital Studio Master. It is my favourite album of all time. 

Many thanks

Neil

I have just listened to the Simply Vinyl reissue LP and noticed a tapping sound four times near the end of the first song. To me they sound more like sequences of damped drum strokes.

But what do I know, I even prefer Laughing Stock to this album 

Surely the first time I’ve seen a SPU on a Sondek.  Is that Night Train on the platter?

HiFiman posted:

HiFiman posted:

New stands are on order to replace the Custom Designs RS303

20 hours on the clock for my new Tab10 signatures bloody hell these sound good probably the best speaker I have heard in any living room. Spirit of Eden first track there's audible footsteps that i have never picked up on before and this is one of my favourite albums!

Sorry to repost my picture

 

Nice tidy 3 box system there!

badlyread posted:

HiFiman posted:

HiFiman posted:

 

New stands are on order to replace the Custom Designs RS303

20 hours on the clock for my new Tab10 signatures bloody hell these sound good probably the best speaker I have heard in any living room. Spirit of Eden first track there's audible footsteps that i have never picked up on before and this is one of my favourite albums!

Sorry to repost my picture

 

 Hi HiFiman

Curious to know at what point in the first track that you hear the foot steps. What is the version of Spirit of Eden are you using? Ihave the original CD, the remastered CD and the the digital Studio Master. It is my favourite album of all time. 

Many thanks

Neil

First track The Rainbow Eden Desire 7min 45 secs there is foot steps going right to left in the back ground. 

24/96 version, bundled with the vinyl as a download

Mulberry posted:

Surely the first time I’ve seen a SPU on a Sondek.  Is that Night Train on the platter?

Yes and Yes it tracks perfectly at about 4 grams I have a small thread about it called 82 mono switch.

HiFiman posted:

Great photography James 

Cheers HiFiman. Hope those Tab Signatures are settling in nicely. Proac seems to have had a hit on their hands with the 10.