System Pics 2017

Over the past year I have become a somewhat semi-detached member of this forum as a bad case of upgraditus has somehow led me away from Naim, after many happy years with a 5 series based system.

I still use NAC A5 & the 2 week old Focal Sopra No. 1’s are Naim related I suppose, the rest of the stuff is in my profile.

I think the Sopra’s are superb, they are very easy to place & fill the room with the sort of sound approaching what I hear at Symphony Hall Birmingham. I am not using the supplied stands I (and probably more importantly, my wife) think they are a bit too tall.

Anyway I am now fully recovered with no further changes planned.

Probably thing that has made the greatest impact on my listening habits is having over 1500 cd’s instantly available on the Innuos Zenith, I have rediscovered my Jazz collection for a start.

Mr.Tibbs posted:

james n posted:

rsch posted:

 

Regards

Roberto

Still great looking kit. 

Couldn't agree more James.  I might have to prise a certain 42.5 away from Tibbs Jnr one of these days as along with my NAP110 and CB Hi-Cap just look so right with Chrome Gale 401s. That wee 110 can really drive the 401s wonderfully well into the bargain

Mr Tibbs

Strangely, it seems to me that the CB kit has more of a timeless quality to it than either the olive or all black kit. It just looks so right.

It has the perfect aesthetic, imo. Just perfect...

Morton posted:

Over the past year I have become a somewhat semi-detached member of this forum as a bad case of upgraditus has somehow led me away from Naim, after many happy years with a 5 series based system.

I still use NAC A5 & the 2 week old Focal Sopra No. 1’s are Naim related I suppose, the rest of the stuff is in my profile.

I think the Sopra’s are superb, they are very easy to place & fill the room with the sort of sound approaching what I hear at Symphony Hall Birmingham. I am not using the supplied stands I (and probably more importantly, my wife) think they are a bit too tall.

Anyway I am now fully recovered with no further changes planned.

Probably thing that has made the greatest impact on my listening habits is having over 1500 cd’s instantly available on the Innuos Zenith, I have rediscovered my Jazz collection for a start.

Very neat. Those Sopra 1s look lovely in black. 

Morton posted:

 

Is that a Sonic Screwdriver in a vase on a plinth in the corner ?

A Sonic Screwdriver would be nice, my normal tool of choice is a hammer!
I'm afraid, more prosaically, it is just a gas lighter to help ignite our temperamental gas fire.

Nothing new, but i liked the light and reflections 

Brilliant Avatar there Chico 

An excellent choice, if I might say. I couldn't have chosen better myself. 

I've not seen any CD555's in this post, how strange?????

That's because their owners are too busy supping ambrosia with the Gods, on Mt Olympus. Not to be confused with Ambrosia.

C.

Hungryhalibut posted:

An excellent choice, if I might say. I couldn't have chosen better myself. 

i like tiger portraits, too.

Meni,
Great photo of a lovely room.  
One question though:
How did you bend your FRAIM shelves so much, without them cracking?

Best regards, FT

hi all, new level for the dvd5. strange, but it sounds different (better) with the new level... have a nice weekend, Christoph

Foot tapper posted:

Meni,
Great photo of a lovely room.  
One question though:
How did you bend your FRAIM shelves so much, without them cracking?

Best regards, FT

It's a mistake when the camera builds the picture. Looks like panoramic mode was used. Just look at the preamp 

Finkfan posted:

Foot tapper posted:

Meni,
Great photo of a lovely room.  
One question though:
How did you bend your FRAIM shelves so much, without them cracking?

Best regards, FT

It's a mistake when the camera builds the picture. Looks like panoramic mode was used. Just look at the preamp 

I didn`t do anything .i trust my dealer and he did it

Having given the Hugo and DAVE a try in my system ip place of my trusty QBD76HDSD, I thought I'd pop the Hugo TT in there for a few days. Early days but I'm not sure what to make of it so far. It's very smooth, perhaps a bit too refined in comparison to the Hugo & QBD. Relaxing though.

Tony i don't know if its the photo or not but the colour of the output level looks  too high for what many consider optimum performance for (552/252 etc) Naim preamps. I set at turquoise / dark cyan - 

OK that's interesting Simon. I've set it to line-level (or rather, our mutual dealer has) and subjectively the volume sounds the same as that of my QBD DAC, which is fixed. So you're suggesting I place it in preamp mode and turn the volume down to turquoise?

My Hugo sounds best with the volume set to purple (into Klimax Kontrol) and better sat directly on a wooden shelf (Quadraspire) rather than glass/balls/cups.

There's a small problemette in setting the volume - I failed to pick up the remote when I collected the Hugo TT & there's no way of changing volume without it. Edit - Might be able to set up my Harmony Ultimate remote to control this.

you can change the volume by turning the volume control left or right yourself, it moves. It is the one that has the light shining on top of the unit. 

I've tried Hugo TT into 552/500, very nice. Hope you like it.

Tony - yes and I a few others have found it  better that way with Naim  - the way the Hugo is designed there is no real 'line' level - its an adjustable output signal level with a defined signal level for the so called 'line' level. As  Ali says you can simply rotate the circular volume control with your thumb and it will change colour. The volume control is above the sample rate  window indicator and one with the indent around it. Try it I suspect you will prefer the turquoise level - the sound will appear to breath more naturally and have an improved sense of  ebb and flow with seemingly improved micro dynamics and shading  dependent on recording - it is all subtle of course - but it is an incredibly accomplished source where such subtleties seem to make a difference

S