System Pics 2016

Massimo Bertola posted:

I am one who tries and then admits failure. I've tried (alternatives) and all I could get was boredom. So, since I cannot live without a (Naim) system, here's mine (it's deja vu I know).

 

CDX2 (my third one)

HiLine (lost count)

NAC282 (a first!)

NAP200DR (my third 200, my first DR)

N-Sats/N-Stands (my fifth pair, third in cherry)

Only derogation from canon, TelluriumQ black speaker cables instead of NAC A5 (or the excellent Vertere Pulse X mini I last had). The only apparently successful experiment.

P.S. Guizu SRW-2A rack.

Mi manca questo posto e le gente che vi abitano!

(Richard - I promise you needn't moderate that foreign language post...)

E...cosa e' successo al Rega Apollo?

Hi Mark,

the Apollo went to a very happy friend, and I had his very nice CDX2... These exchanges of boxes are not unusual in this crazy hobby, certainly not in this place you miss and in which you are always welcome!

Max

pixies posted:

An earlier pic by Dave***T looked similar to my set up, so thought I would try to be clever and mirror his shot...

I have a pair of S400's coming today and my set up would be very similar to yours before I decided to separate my components. Im keen to see more of your set up, please ; )

Hi Monkadill. You can see a bit more of my set up in the System pics 2015 thread. Page 31. Just use the search facility to make it easier. Also my system details are in my profile. Hope that helps and good luck with your S400s.

Here's my update photos... home demo ongoing of the Sopra 2's. Got these with virtually no break in at the dealer and the first 48 hours weren't wowing me (to say the least)... but now with about 100 hours they are really starting to come on song and I can't see them going back. Just no comparison with the previous Proac's (which were amazing speakers... but it's not a fair fight to attempt to compare the 2). Also new since my last update is SL speaker cable and an SL interconnect.

Experimenting with setup at the moment. About 20 degrees of toe in is sounding pretty good... focused soundstage and a little less punishing for off axis listening. Going to leave the speakers in this position for a few days and then experiment again with less toe in and see if my opinion changes :-)

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

 

That is a superb room (and system) - Focal's look great 

Good to see all the Dead pics, CDs etc. Are those the vinyl versions of the early Dicks Picks that I can see? If so, how are they? Would love to hear some Dead concert recordings on that system!
Clive

Thanks Clive. As for the Dick's Picks on Vinyl... I only buy the ones that are mastered from from the original analogue tapes... the first and second releases was mastered from CD (!) and the 6th was a recording from the early 80's when the band was relying on cassette masters from their soundboard... so I passed on those. I have volumes 3,4,5 which were mastered from the original analogue 2-tracks... and they sound great :-)

I have all the GD digital stuff (CD, DVD, Bluray, etc) that has been released... well... there is one significant release that eluded me, but at some point I'll pick it up on eBay or something.

I love all music... but I really really love the Grateful Dead.

james n posted:

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

 

That is a superb room (and system) - Focal's look great 

No offence ZipperheadBanjo & James, and everyone to their own an' all that, but that orange.... aaargh.  I just couldn't 

(OK, maybe if they were absolutely free gratis, 'cos I actually quite like the way those things sound)

LOL... no offence taken RJ... that's why they offer different flavours :-)

I didn't care for the walnut finish, and figured I had enough black in the room already. And the imperial red... well obviously... that would have just been obnoxious :-)

I rather like the orange, and they do go very nicely in that room. It's the black ones that are really hideous. 

Zipperheadbanjo, love those speakers, I wasnt brave enough to have the electric orange,  that said, I do love the black, and of course they do sound rather good....

I like the orange too. It looks like it could be a perfect match with my orange Brompton..

Richard Dane posted:

I like the orange too. It looks like it could be a perfect match with my orange Brompton..

I know Bromptons are flexible but I'm not sure where you would fit those on the bike!
Clive

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

Thanks Clive. As for the Dick's Picks on Vinyl... I only buy the ones that are mastered from from the original analogue tapes... the first and second releases was mastered from CD (!) and the 6th was a recording from the early 80's when the band was relying on cassette masters from their soundboard... so I passed on those. I have volumes 3,4,5 which were mastered from the original analogue 2-tracks... and they sound great :-)

I have all the GD digital stuff (CD, DVD, Bluray, etc) that has been released... well... there is one significant release that eluded me, but at some point I'll pick it up on eBay or something.

I love all music... but I really really love the Grateful Dead.

I didn't realise any of those DPs were mastered from analogue. The only non-GDP vinyl I have bought was Two from the Vault by Light in the Attic and I was disappointed - no significant advance over the CD, I felt. I have bought a lot of the reissues/live releases over the years but I am trying to be more selective now. I won't buy more  from the Brent period and beyond. And with so many box sets and the complete '72 suitcase I have plenty to listen to!! What was the significant release that eluded you? Not Fillmore West I hope! That would be an expensive hole to fill.
Clive

Cdb posted:

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

Thanks Clive. As for the Dick's Picks on Vinyl... I only buy the ones that are mastered from from the original analogue tapes... the first and second releases was mastered from CD (!) and the 6th was a recording from the early 80's when the band was relying on cassette masters from their soundboard... so I passed on those. I have volumes 3,4,5 which were mastered from the original analogue 2-tracks... and they sound great :-)

I have all the GD digital stuff (CD, DVD, Bluray, etc) that has been released... well... there is one significant release that eluded me, but at some point I'll pick it up on eBay or something.

I love all music... but I really really love the Grateful Dead.

I didn't realise any of those DPs were mastered from analogue. The only non-GDP vinyl I have bought was Two from the Vault by Light in the Attic and I was disappointed - no significant advance over the CD, I felt. I have bought a lot of the reissues/live releases over the years but I am trying to be more selective now. I won't buy more  from the Brent period and beyond. And with so many box sets and the complete '72 suitcase I have plenty to listen to!! What was the significant release that eluded you? Not Fillmore West I hope! That would be an expensive hole to fill.
Clive

Jeffrey Norman did the remastering on volumes 3,4,5 (and 6 I believe)... and 3,4,5 were mastered from the original 2 tracks. I believe the 2 track analogue mixes were digitally transferred to at 24/192 and then the lp's mastered from that... at any rate it's a step up from the CD's. I get your point though... I'm selective as well regarding the GD remastered vinyl since it's so pricey. 

It was the Fillmore West box that eluded me... I have the 3 CD mini compilation, but not the box. Some day... and if not, I'll live. Brent years for me... at least from 89-90 was one of the peaks of the band, and probably my personal favourite era. The second Spring Tour 90 box (mastered from the multi-tracks) is pure ear candy. If you haven't heard any of it, at least get 3-28-90 (released commercially as "Wake up to Find Out". Essential.

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

Here's my update photos... home demo ongoing of the Sopra 2's. Got these with virtually no break in at the dealer and the first 48 hours weren't wowing me (to say the least)... but now with about 100 hours they are really starting to come on song and I can't see them going back. Just no comparison with the previous Proac's (which were amazing speakers... but it's not a fair fight to attempt to compare the 2). Also new since my last update is SL speaker cable and an SL interconnect.

Experimenting with setup at the moment. About 20 degrees of toe in is sounding pretty good... focused soundstage and a little less punishing for off axis listening. Going to leave the speakers in this position for a few days and then experiment again with less toe in and see if my opinion changes :-)

The orange is great! As a Clemson fan those are just the best!

rjstaines posted:

james n posted:

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

 

That is a superb room (and system) - Focal's look great 

No offence ZipperheadBanjo & James, and everyone to their own an' all that, but that orange.... aaargh.  I just couldn't 

 

(OK, maybe if they were absolutely free gratis, 'cos I actually quite like the way those things sound)

They look great in the picture IMO... not sure if I could live with them... and I'd have to change the wallpaper don't think they go with William Morris red!

Eloise posted:

rjstaines posted:

james n posted:

Zipperheadbanjo posted:

 

That is a superb room (and system) - Focal's look great 

No offence ZipperheadBanjo & James, and everyone to their own an' all that, but that orange.... aaargh.  I just couldn't 

 

(OK, maybe if they were absolutely free gratis, 'cos I actually quite like the way those things sound)

They look great in the picture IMO... not sure if I could live with them... and I'd have to change the wallpaper don't think they go with William Morris red!

Well I will grant you that if I was going to be putting them in our living room or a major traffic area of the house, I wouldn't have gone with Orange. But... they are only ever going to live in my listening room, which is a space with absolutely no regard to interior design, and 100% regard to super comfy listening to awesome sounding tunes.

And no... they would absolutely not work with William Morris red :-)

I think the color works extremely well with the pine floor and the acoustic panels you have up ... well done.  very tasteful.

Yeah, I dig the orange !

varyat posted:

Yeah, I dig the orange !

Me too. Awesome.

I like those in orange and I normally can't stand the look of focal speakers. 

I think for a Deadhead, the speakers should be in dayglo orange!

Zipperhead - Do you have access to the 69 box music - if not I could provide copies - you could post via my wall. Otherwise, I'm not pursuing the Dead theme - there's a lot more to be said, but it is a distraction from the thread. 

Clive