It's that time of year again, so welcome to System Pics 2016. Let's hope it's a happy and healthy year for everyone.
Here's are a couple of pictures of my stuff to get us started: with the exception of a Powerline everything is changed since this time last year, even the carpet and paintwork.
Few pics of a system in progress... currently trying to figure out where to put a PSU
Gorgeous system Adam. Looks to have a high SAF, in the 9+ range.
Indeed - approved by the Management. My very patient wife even auditioned several turntables with me before we chose LP12. We both fell in love with the sound of it....
That's a very nice looking LP12, Adam. And with a wife who can actually hear the difference between turntables you should have no problem explaining the need for all the LP12 upgrades!
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Indeed. She also had a very clear preference for a mains cable for the LP12. It coincided with mine. Amazing...
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by ken c
Martin M posted:
Tonight we're going to party like it's 1989.....
what a lovely pair of DBLs !!!
enjoy
ken
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by Martin M
Deek76 posted:
Love it Martin, what is the album by the way?
Thank you. Its Song: Ohia's Magnolia Electric Company. If you like Neil Young, then you'll like this.
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by Romi
Martin M posted:
Tonight we're going to party like it's 1989.....
I notice you have Mana Acoustics, are they more effective in regards to sound then Naim Fraims?
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by Martin M
Hi Romi,
I'm the wrong person to ask I'm afraid. I've never compared them and am not a believer in the necessity for or the efficacy of hifi stands for electronics.
Posted on: 05 January 2016 by hungryhalibut
Ah, Mana, that brings back memories. I never owned it but was always intrigued by the stacks with seven sound bases and various tops. It's a bugger to dust, as Martin's fine picture demonstrates. Fraim eventually did for Mana I believe.
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Clive B
Hungryhalibut posted:
Ah, Mana, that brings back memories. I never owned it but was always intrigued by the stacks with seven sound bases and various tops. It's a bugger to dust, as Martin's fine picture demonstrates. Fraim eventually did for Mana I believe.
Fraim may not have been solely responsible for the demise of Mana, but it sure as hell gives it a run for its money in the 'bugger to dust' category!
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Martin M
Hungryhalibut posted:
Ah, Mana, that brings back memories. I never owned it but was always intrigued by the stacks with seven sound bases and various tops. It's a bugger to dust, as Martin's fine picture demonstrates. Fraim eventually did for Mana I believe.
Nigel,
I think Mana did for Mana really. It was quite easy to go mad with the stuff and render your living room into a 'hifi-gimp' pad. And industrial chique isn't for everyone (or anyone apparently). Mana does allow you to set up a record player 'just so' (i.e. smack on level and in my case it stays that way) and that does seem to have a beneficial to the LP12 it previously provided an alter to....To my ears, the SME is an improvement on that and doesn't suffer from the dry/boring sound it's sometime labelled with. Else I'm mad, deaf or an infidel.
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by hungryhalibut
It's all good with Mana. There's no need to be a Naim sheep. I don't use Fraim either - too big, too fiddly, too bling and - as others have said - a pain to dust.
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Dev B
Hi Martin,
Happy new year
Amazing system! I am sorry I haven't got back to you - would love to pop over some time.
DBL's are epic!
BR,
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Martin M
Hi Dev,
Happy new year to you too.
Thank you.
No problem, feel free whenever you get the chance.
Martin
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by Martin M
Hungryhalibut posted:
It's all good with Mana. There's no need to be a Naim sheep. I don't use Fraim either - too big, too fiddly, too bling and - as others have said - a pain to dust.
Hi Nigel, I have heard one or two odd sounding system with Mana stands. I'm not sure the stands were the issue though. My issues with Fraim are a bit more basic, I don't think that stands are system maker or breaker, my electronics are all hidden away so I can't see them in any case (very Sound Advice in Loughborough) and I'd rather spend the money on a family holiday. Having said all that, I bought a Muso for upstairs and I like that thing a lot!
Posted on: 06 January 2016 by rjstaines
KRM posted:
rjstaines posted:
Space optimisation (fitting it all in) required Fraim layout sub-optimisation... So here is my sideways Fraim in the
context of the listening area. (sorry, no feet... camera lens is not that wide !)
Hi RJ,
Gorgeous system and room, plus an ingenious solution to the excessive width of the Fraim.
I see you have B&W centre and rears for the surround sound, but what exact models are they and do you find they integrate well with the stereo fronts?
I have B&W 804Ds with Monitor Audio and would like to go for all B&W, but can't justify the money or the space required for an all 800 surround package.
Keith
Hi Keith, the centre speaker is the FP4 and the rear & front presence (that you see up there) are something B&W stopped doing years back, and sorry I don't know what they were, other than eBay 'specials' at a much reduced £40 a go!!
And the integration?... almost non existant today... total mismatch, in fact. But I am by no means a video fan - the TV is hardly ever on, and movies are played at Christmas (only). Having said this, there was a time when I had the B&W 800 series centre & surrounds AND 804D's like you, and that was great with an AV1 & DVD5. Thing was it wasn't used, so went the way of all redundant audio kit... to someone who would appreciate it (via fleabay), while the 804's turned into 803's, and then into 802s and I concentrated on two channel audio. But I wish you good fortune and many interest free credit card offers to help you on your way
Posted on: 07 January 2016 by WTCRP
Magnus Hultstrand posted:
@analogmusic Yes it sure is. Works better than I thought :-) And looks way cool IMO
@catalinmetal Yes Sir! That is correct
Selling or storing away the Nait 2 ???
Posted on: 07 January 2016 by GT
p. posted:
Love these speaker stands. What are they?
Posted on: 07 January 2016 by joerand
Indeed. Three-point speaker stands make a lot of sense - provided you're in a household without unruly children, a wagging Labrador, or a Clouseau-esque maid.
Posted on: 08 January 2016 by p.
GT posted:
p. posted:
Love these speaker stands. What are they?
They are from the Italian brand Solidsteel, the model is SS
Posted on: 08 January 2016 by Clay Bingham
Joe
I love the term Clouseau-esque. May I borrow when appropriate? With proper attribution of course!
Posted on: 08 January 2016 by Magnus Hultstrand
WTCRP posted:
Magnus Hultstrand posted:
@analogmusic Yes it sure is. Works better than I thought :-) And looks way cool IMO
@catalinmetal Yes Sir! That is correct
Selling or storing away the Nait 2 ???
Storing it. Have used it for over one year in my main system. Will maybe put it to use at work in my secondary system. But sell it? Nah, too cool. I love it
Posted on: 08 January 2016 by hungryhalibut
The final change to my little system. Now there's nothing to do but enjoy the music.
Posted on: 08 January 2016 by MDS
Hungryhalibut posted:
The final change to my little system. Now there's nothing to do but enjoy the music.
Good stuff, HH. Very professional photo, too. Shows the grain of the bamboo shelf much better than I managed previously.
Mike
Posted on: 08 January 2016 by ChrisH
Hungryhalibut posted:
The final change to my little system. Now there's nothing to do but enjoy the music.
Mm, nice touch Nigel!
No more itches for you to scratch now.
im scratching the XPS itch at the moment having borrowed it from my dealer for a few days....
