Evolving Second System

Posted by: George F on 26 December 2015

Sometimes evolution revisits an old and much love ancient component. 

I have a MAC Mini with iTunes [AIFF files] in vanilla software set up - no additions beyond the MAC iTunes software.

Having parted with the DAC V1 as being too much money for me tied up in replay, I bought a £5 mini jack to mini jack cable and connected up my now fifteen year old Tivoli Model One Radio. It is blissful straight off the analogue output of the Mini. Not loud even at flat out, but very direct and enjoyable. I tried the experiment of comparing streamed BBC Radio Three with the Trough Line onto NAP 100 driving a single ESL on recordings being broadcast on Radio Three. Similar magic from both, though the ESL will go much louder, and has more in the lowest two octaves of music. In practice the Tivoli goes loud enough, so the spare on the ESL is not actually used. 

I have found an inexpensive second hand DAC for the Mini, but it will be interesting to see if this brings any significant quality advantage over the bare Mini analogue output. A fortnight will bring that option into my house. I have a great suspicion that the Mini will not find itself feeding the ESL again even via the shortly to arrive DAC, but the ESL will probably remain for exclusive use on VHF [FM] for live and delayed BBC Radio Three Broadcasts, where the speaker’s subtleties are amazing, but wasted on commercial recordings as such, where these subtleties have been ironed out.

It is delightful to find the Tivoli has lost none of the magic it had when it worked well on VHF or when fed with a good CD player as in years of old ...

ATB from George

 

Posted on: 26 December 2015 by Joff

George,

All good here too, music flowing loud and proud.....

Hope you had a good day yesterday, and I'm thinking about one of these foffa bikes for a bit of fun.

Joff

Moderated Post:  commercial link removed

Posted on: 27 December 2015 by Christopher_M

George, What of the Tivoli into the Nap100 and then single ESL? Or is that what you've done? (I couldn't follow).

Joff (as I must now learn to call you), That chair was gorgeous. Hope you still have the XS pre-power and the Kans 

Chris

Posted on: 27 December 2015 by Joff

Chris,

Since we moved house last year my chair is now doing duty in our much bigger bedroom.

The 152/155 have moved onto pastures new and my original Nait 3, now with George's DAC V1 fed by an Apple TV 3, driving the Kans is back in service.

Joff

PS sorry to hijack your thread George.

Posted on: 27 December 2015 by Christopher_M

Thanks Joffe, gutted about the pre-power but on the plus side, you still have the chair. George please clarify, I love the Tivoli and I would like to know whether your Tivoli into a Nap100 and ESL leaves the much feted Troughline for dead, and with no aerial palaver.

C.

Posted on: 27 December 2015 by George F

Dear Chris,

Sorry for some imprecision! Trough Line, NAP 100, ESL for radio till about 21:30 hours, and alternatively MAC Mini [analogue out], Tivoli. so two unconnected routes that separate FM/VHF and the digital side. I plan [have bought, but not arriving till the New Year] a much more modest DAC than the V1 for the MAC, but essentially this will remain the second system, and am hoping that some Senn- HD 600 headphones will allow the MAC with [cheaper] DAC to shine well enough.

After dark listening not to annoy the neighbours ...

Best wishes from George

Posted on: 28 December 2015 by Allante93

Mac Mini Airport Extreme to Airport Express to Emotiva Dac 1> Audioquest XLR IC > Primare Pre 30 >  XLR Audioquest IC > Arcam P1 Mono Blocks > Linn K 20 > Vienna Acoustics Baby Grands( Award winning Speakers 2008)

Not Bad Nice Sounding Hi FI, But when I want more of a live performance I resort to Living Room:

Cdx2> Hi Cap DR > 282 > 250.2 > 200 > 250.2 > Passive PMS Tri-Amped Briks Linn K 20 Standard Naim IC's 

I share Cdx2 with both Systems.