System Photos!

I just read through this whole thread, and you definitely take the cake for most frequent system pic poster (and excellent furniture builder)! I’ve got the Teac NT-505 streamer/dac and really like it. How do you like the 501?

2 Likes

And I believe in fairies :slight_smile:

8 Likes

I like the TEAC a lot. I had a Schiit Yggdrasil in the system before, and I really think this thing holds its own. I had a matrix in the mix also, and I removed that because i think the UD-501 handles the USB noise really well.

Even though I’ve been a writer in a previous life, I don’t bother to compare these things too much. So many of these changes are minuscule, and I don’t really know that I’m hearing actual things or imagined things.

Two nits with the UD-501 tho: 1) The display has lost its will to live. Pixels are dying, but it doesn’t affect the performance. And 2) I need to leave it on or the USB input goes to sleep and it takes all kinds of futzing within roon and hqplayer to wake it back up. If I leave the power on, it seems fine.

Yes, but I get to define “a while” however I want! Might be a week, a month, a year.

Now, I was just reading about the benefits of modifying the power supply in the Mac Mini. It supposedly is life-changing. :upside_down_face:

3 Likes

Sure…you are.

:slight_smile:

Enjoy.

[Edit: @chrisj1948 beat me to it.]

1 Like


played with panorama on my cel :mask:

29 Likes

A man cave AND a “mini-me” man cave…awesome!

1 Like

Sweet :+1:t2:

Impressive, of course there is always a better set-up, but these systems look like rather non compromise systems.

The room treatment in your listening room does not look intrusive for a listening room. It looks actually really good for the purpose. Nice to see Reel to Reels.

What gets used more in the living room? The Nintendo Switch or the Stereo. I get the point of the second listening room :grinning:

I have a more serious question, since you seem to have put great effort in your room acoustics:
I see the chair in your listening room being close to the bookshelf. Have you selected that location for practical reasons or did you actually find out, that it is located in the best position for sound quality?

My listening position in the living room is approx. 1 - 1.5 ft from the wall opposing the speakers. It will be interesting to know if that matters much in your experience.

My Secondary System:

Spendor D1 mini monitors;
REL R-328 sub;
Cambridge Audio Edge W power amp;
Cambridge Audio Azur 851n streamer/dac/pre;
Audioquest Powerquest 3 power conditioner, speaker and XLR IC cables;
Signal MagicPower Power cables, and subwoofer cable;
PS Audio noise harvester.

12 Likes

How do you like your Cambridge stuff?

I have a CXA80 integrated, and I’ve been really happy with it. Bought it used so it was really reasonable (as used Cambridge stuff tends to be), but it’s been super reliable and competent. Always been curious about their higher-end offerings.

FOUR DAYS AND NO CHANGES SO THERE

4 Likes

Your self restraint is admirable, but please do not let us goad you into staying with a configuration which you are itching to change. :slight_smile:

1 Like

Goad away. I will heed until I don’t.

3 Likes

Well, to be honest, the system was completed just yesterday, and I’m having some major WiFi drop issues streaming Tidal wirelessly with the 851n that I’m trying to sort.

So way too early to say. The Edge got a class A recommended components ranking from Stereophile, for whatever that’s worth, so I’m optimistic on its potential but until I figure out why songs are cutting out every 10 seconds I can’t determine much.

It’s actually quite frustrating and unexpected because in the same room this little Integra DTM-7 stereo receiver that now handles 2.1 H/T duty exclusively for the room has generally had almost no trouble streaming Tidal wirelessly for the last 18 months (from inside a cabinet no less). A drop here or there when handling MQA files while everyone else in house doing their Internet thing concurrently maybe, but that’s it.

So yeah, the CA streamer has a way to go to win me over …

The first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem. Just sayin’…

[It’s a rainy day here in East Tennessee. I am thinking about breaking down the system and doing some shuffling around, spring cleaning and “recalibrating the room” with the Anthem Room Correction software in my Pre/Pro. This usually helps me stave off the next purchase I have been contemplating (for a day or two) :slight_smile: .]

1 Like

All kidding aside, if you have the vertical space (I mean, depending on where your ears are in relation to your speakers’ tweeter height when sitting in you sweet spot), give these a trial:

Isoacoustics Monitor Bases/Stands

I have a pair for my desk top system and really like 'em (at least for their aesthetics and height adjustment). TBH, I have not done any A/B listening. But, since they change the height of the speakers, solid comparison listening would be a bit challenging.

They are relatively inexpensive and, if you are patient, you might be able to pick up a pair on the used market. I did.

Cheers.

thanks, @scotte1

The Focals are currently sitting on those little Hudson Hi-Fi rubber dome thingies. The smaller ones, like 3/4" diameter or something. They’re at perfect ear height right now, or I’d play with some different isolation for them.

10-4.

Enjoy.

1 Like

Rack reposition (apologies, my daughter commandeered her elephant), WiFi extender added, and now all good. Break-in time!

10 Likes