Search found 49 matches

by AlbannachFE
2022-09-04 11:40
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Tune Dem of Headphones
Replies: 168
Views: 202437

Re: Tune Dem of Headphones

That is likely because Grado have just replaced the entire e series with a new x series. The x series are claimed to have improved drivers, a better cable that is now fabric wrapped and a more comfortable padded headband. The prices of all models except the 325 have gone up a bit, from $150 for the...
by AlbannachFE
2020-12-31 12:58
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

+1 for Mikeg & Ron The Mon's contributions re. SBLs and Armageddon - spot on!

Also, while Lingo/ARO can prove quite good (though, unsurprisingly, not as good as Armageddon/ARO), Armageddon/Ekos? Not so much... IME.
by AlbannachFE
2020-08-16 11:03
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

I'm not wedded to Naim; in fact I've been interested in trying Rega's CD players, and more recently, Audio Note's; however, to date, nothing has come to fruition despite my (significant) efforts to secure some for trial. :-( Did I read this right? No one is interested in letting you try their equip...
by AlbannachFE
2020-08-16 10:29
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

You are a true Naimee that's for sure. I think I have one foot in the Prat camp and one in the Tune camp. I suppose one benefit is that I can hear how both sides offer genuine musical benefits, but I also wonder if folks firmly in one camp or other get more pleasure from their system. I suspect we ...
by AlbannachFE
2020-08-15 20:02
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

I think a better source might be required, but: Linn amps - timing not great, and rhythmically poor; it all sounds a bit of mess, tbh, and not very interesting; the music plods along with not much seemingly happening to engage the listener. Naim amps (32.5) - much better timing, and rhythmically in ...
by AlbannachFE
2020-03-05 16:23
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Brikin' It !
Replies: 106
Views: 71125

Re: Brikin' It !

Charlie1 wrote: 2020-03-05 16:21
AlbannachFE wrote: 2020-03-05 16:19BTW, Charlie1 - with the Vahalla deck, what's the phono stage?
Just the NAC12
That might be part of the reason for my (apparent) preference, as Linn's amplification has never really 'hit the spot' for me.

edit: It's Urika with the Radikal?
by AlbannachFE
2020-03-05 16:19
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Brikin' It !
Replies: 106
Views: 71125

Re: Brikin' It !

On a quick listen, I prefer the Valhalla LP12; a bit less controlled and less refined, but swings better, and is more engaging musically, to my ears. The Radikal LP12 seems a bit 'matter of fact', and the music doesn't really 'speak to me' as much. Again, this is through crappy laptop speakers, so I...
by AlbannachFE
2020-03-03 13:00
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Brikin' It !
Replies: 106
Views: 71125

Re: Brikin' It !

@Charlie1 Adding a PSU to a Naim pre results in a far more revealing set-up, so it could be that your apparent dislike of them is related to that? When I owned a 72/140, and added a Hi-Cap, it was clearly better in many respects, but the end results didn't seem quite as much 'fun'; the simple, 'broa...
by AlbannachFE
2020-03-01 20:25
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Brikin' It !
Replies: 106
Views: 71125

Re: Brikin' It !

@ charlie1

Do you still have the 250, by any chance?
by AlbannachFE
2020-03-01 20:22
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

SNIP So back to these three clips. I knew that there would be some interesting takes on them because of what they are and I was certainly right! So the quick breakdown: Clip A My original US "Aqualung" album. Almost certainly a first pressing as I bought it as soon as it was released. Clip B The 25...
by AlbannachFE
2020-02-28 11:27
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Seems I'm in a minority of one, then! I prefer Clip A - B & C sound, well, weird, like a different recording almost; the vocal, while clearer and more detailed, doesn't really sound like Anderson to me, it seems rather strident and hard, and it 'sticks out like a sore thumb'. Clip A is more coherent...
by AlbannachFE
2020-02-17 18:18
Forum: HiFi
Topic: ATC SCM11 with Boazu?
Replies: 3
Views: 5357

Re: ATC SCM11 with Boazu?

Hello, Has anyone tried ATC SCM11 with Boazu? I went from small Elac bookshelf speakers to Linn 109 and found it as a really good upgrade. 109 play more confident. But I want more. I am looking for more body and power, and I think that the bigger volume of the ATC cabinets can give this? They are p...
by AlbannachFE
2020-02-17 17:59
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Remembering Julian Vereker
Replies: 24
Views: 19194

Re: Naim Getting Worse?!

Thanks for the background info Ron. Just as a matter of interest, do you have an explanation for why the Naim amps appeared to get worse, to some people, as time went by? Eg, Nait 1 (red) >>> Nait 1 (green) >>> Nait 2 etc. Or were they wrong to think so? Interesting information Ron, and a really go...
by AlbannachFE
2020-02-17 17:55
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Remembering Julian Vereker
Replies: 24
Views: 19194

Re: Define "Servicing"

The 250 was only just serviced by Class A, but I’ve not compared it to another one. I listened to it prior to service and the overall character was much the same as post service. The Hicap was also serviced by Class A, but back in 2017. I will just have to bear in mind your comments for now. Charli...
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-23 21:09
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Fact? Opinion, surely? One that not everyone would share, I'm guessing (no experience of CB myself, BTW, but I'd be very surprised if they weren't as capable (IMO) as their Olive descendants?). Re. your apparent dislike of pre/PSU, am I correct in thinking that you mentioned previously that you don...
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-23 20:24
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Tune Dem of Headphones
Replies: 168
Views: 202437

Re: Tune Dem of Headphones

Thank you Tendaberry & ThomasOK - lots of helpful info., much appreciated. :-) ThomasOK - any plans, in the near future, to further investigate the current Grado range, to see which you feel are the 'stand out' models (they seem to have a lot of 'phones, these days!)? I would like to do that, it is...
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-23 20:20
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

I had 135 with my kans they were the best I would love to hear 135s with anything, but ultimately, I just don't get on with the preamps fed by separate PSU. Something about it (maybe timing) that doesn't suit me. That and the fact that the CB preamps are not all that great (musically) , and I can u...
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-20 00:40
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

Great stuff, charlie1 - very musical (I'll have to have a more 'in depth' listen to see which is my favourite). BTW, how fantastic is the bass line in "You're the One That I Want" ?! Always loved it! :-) Shame you didn't get on with the outboard PSUs, as the 250 is a very special amp, IMO. JV was ce...
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-17 00:34
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Remembering Julian Vereker
Replies: 24
Views: 19194

Re: Remembering Julian Vereker

A true visionary, whose interest was the reproduction of music (which you'd think would be the norm for Hi-Fi, but, IME, isn't), I'm still using JV era Naim to this day, in preference to anything else that I've heard (including modern Naim). Sadly, I never had the pleasure of meeting the great man, ...
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-17 00:18
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Tune Dem of Headphones
Replies: 168
Views: 202437

Re: Tune Dem of Headphones

Thank you Tendaberry & ThomasOK - lots of helpful info., much appreciated. :-)

ThomasOK - any plans, in the near future, to further investigate the current Grado range, to see which you feel are the 'stand out' models (they seem to have a lot of 'phones, these days!)?
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-09 12:28
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Tune Dem of Headphones
Replies: 168
Views: 202437

Re: Tune Dem of Headphones

Any experience with the current 'e' Grados, in comparison to the previous 'i' variants? (I'm looking at you, ThomasOK! ;-) ) Also, are the G cushions, as used in the Statement and Professional ranges, any more comfortable than the L cushions? I tried SR60s a long time ago, and found them rather unco...
by AlbannachFE
2020-01-01 16:12
Forum: HiFi
Topic: thank you and a wonderful new year
Replies: 15
Views: 12733

Re: thank you and a wonderful new year

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr

Slàinte Mhath!
by AlbannachFE
2019-11-15 12:42
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Playground for practical listening exercises
Replies: 7076
Views: 4740977

Re: Playground for practical listening exercices

1. Steinway
2. Bösendorfer
3. Fazioli (a rather distant third)
by AlbannachFE
2019-11-07 19:42
Forum: HiFi
Topic: Linn Ikemi still going strong
Replies: 5
Views: 7642

Re: Linn Ikemi still going strong

Thanks, Thomas. Yes, it's a 'Karik III/Numerik in final spec with the Slimline SMPS in both', so I guess that Ikemi probably isn't worth the change. My player of choice is still the original Naim CDS, but the K/N is a nice alternative that I 'fire up' from time to time; I would love to try a Sondek ...