nil Posted May 24, 2023 Posted May 24, 2023 Thoughtfully summarized. Thank you sir, I appreciate the effort. I'm sure it will be appreciated by other readers as well. It did feed into my prejudices, but hey, good to have them confirmed (I suppose?) D'ya wanna sell those bulky old Tannoys?
Bronal Posted May 26, 2023 Posted May 26, 2023 Does anyone know the recommended bias settings for the Cyber 800 Mk2 monoblocks with KT150 valves? Common sense would suggest in the middle, but I remember that the recommended setting for the 845 monoblocks I used to own was 3/4 towards the maximum.
andyr Posted May 26, 2023 Posted May 26, 2023 On 09/04/2023 at 3:26 PM, graham121 said: It sure is a phono stage, I have one myself now, purchased mine from Greg a couple of years ago now https://www.osbornloudspeakers.com.au/r-40 a week after the Cyber 880i and the Titans. I don't have much experience with other phono stages to compare but it does the job for me. I understand your DL-160 is a HOMC, with an output of 1.6mV. So do you select 'MM' or 'MC' on the front panel, for that output level? Why I ask is that the specs I found for the Ref 40 say: gain in MM mode is the standard 40dB - which is a bit low for 1.6mV output cart. 50dB would suit better, as 40dB expects to see an input of around 5mV. and it offers between 5 and 1000 ohms loading for MC - yet the specs for the DL-160 say it likes 47k loading! (Actually "over 47k"!)
graham121 Posted May 26, 2023 Posted May 26, 2023 3 hours ago, andyr said: I understand your DL-160 is a HOMC, with an output of 1.6mV. So do you select 'MM' or 'MC' on the front panel, for that output level? Why I ask is that the specs I found for the Ref 40 say: gain in MM mode is the standard 40dB - which is a bit low for 1.6mV output cart. 50dB would suit better, as 40dB expects to see an input of around 5mV. and it offers between 5 and 1000 ohms loading for MC - yet the specs for the DL-160 say it likes 47k loading! (Actually "over 47k"!) I use either setting, obvious difference being the volume dial on the Amp gets cranked around further when on the MM setting. But in blind tests, I am not able to identify which is which when at the same in room volume setting.....
Willmax Posted May 26, 2023 Author Posted May 26, 2023 (edited) I'm also using a DL160 cart with MM 50K setting, like Graham's suggested, the volume needs to be turned up further which is what I prefer to do. Edited May 26, 2023 by Willmax
andyr Posted May 26, 2023 Posted May 26, 2023 2 hours ago, Willmax said: I'm also using a DL160 cart with MM 50K setting, like Graham's suggested, I don't believe Graham's phono stage has a 50k loading option? However, yours is the appropriate choice, with your phono stage. But you may find your DL-160 sounds better at 100K loading. 3 hours ago, graham121 said: I use either setting, obvious difference being the volume dial on the Amp gets cranked around further when on the MM setting. But in blind tests, I am not able to identify which is which when at the same in room volume setting..... Then, indeed your phono stage/cartridge combo is perfect for you. 1
Willmax Posted May 26, 2023 Author Posted May 26, 2023 1 hour ago, andyr said: I don't believe Graham's phono stage has a 50k loading option? However, yours is the appropriate choice, with your phono stage. But you may find your DL-160 sounds better at 100K loading. Then, indeed your phono stage/cartridge combo is perfect for you. I'd have to try and give it another listen.
andyr Posted May 26, 2023 Posted May 26, 2023 8 hours ago, Willmax said: I'd have to try and give it another listen. From the pic you showed ... your phono stage only offers 50k ohms? 1
Willmax Posted May 27, 2023 Author Posted May 27, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, andyr said: From the pic you showed ... your phono stage only offers 50k ohms? Correct as that is the preamp I'm currently using in that setup. However, what I meant to say was that I might want to give it a try with another preamp that I have. Edited May 27, 2023 by Willmax
andyr Posted May 27, 2023 Posted May 27, 2023 27 minutes ago, Willmax said: Correct as that is the preamp I'm currently using in that setup. However, what I meant to say was that I might want to give it a try with another preamp that I have. Great that you have another phono stage which allows 100k. I will be most interested to hear how you think the sound is, with 100k vs. 50k (using that other phono stage).
Willmax Posted May 30, 2023 Author Posted May 30, 2023 On 24/05/2023 at 6:20 PM, nil said: D'ya wanna sell those bulky old Tannoys? Haha not really, I've only just re-done the surrounds on mine, about 6 months ago so they are sounding great and will hopefully last for another 10-15 years!
Willmax Posted May 30, 2023 Author Posted May 30, 2023 On 27/05/2023 at 10:13 AM, andyr said: Great that you have another phono stage which allows 100k. I will be most interested to hear how you think the sound is, with 100k vs. 50k (using that other phono stage). Hi @andyr I've tried the preamp with the 100k setting and unfortunately I could not hear any difference whatsoever between the two settings.
andyr Posted May 30, 2023 Posted May 30, 2023 2 minutes ago, Willmax said: Hi @andyr I've tried the preamp with the 100k setting and unfortunately, I could not hear any difference whatsoever between the two settings. Don't be worried about that, W!
Willmax Posted June 4, 2023 Author Posted June 4, 2023 Heads up for anyone looking for a Cyber 100 15th Anniversary, here's your chance 1
Willmax Posted June 9, 2023 Author Posted June 9, 2023 Evening all, I continue to thoroughly enjoy the sound of the 845 SET amps paired with the NS1000. Who would have thought hey. 5
Keith R Posted June 14, 2023 Posted June 14, 2023 I purchased an ifi zen stream 6 months ago to see if streaming was as good as it sounds (forgive the pun) without making having to make a substantial financial outlay in case it wasn't, and it is good, very good, so I am looking to upgrade to a more serious streamer. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with or knowledge of the Consonance DS1 streamer.
jamsquirrel Posted June 24, 2023 Posted June 24, 2023 I grabbed a DS1 recently that was on half price sale to replace (upgrade from) a Pro-ject Stream Box S2 Ultra (I also own a zen stream, which I'd place very roughly as being in the same league as the Pro-ject). Big step up and away from what was there before. For one thing, bass is far more present and defined/articulate. There's also a "less fraught" or "more relaxed/easy" sense to music - a comment I've seen made in reference to more expensive streamers that are considered to be "a step up" from the likes of the Pro-ject or Zen etc. (eg lumin) Anyway. For what it's worth, I'm running from a hardwired DS1 to Denafrips Pontus 12th via USB to Kiinki M1 and out to Totem Arro's One quirk. There are LED lights indicating when the unit is charging or running on battery. But the charge indicator only indicates that charging is over if the unit is coming from the "off" position - in other words, there seems to have been an expectation that people switch their stuff off when not listening. From past experience with the aforementioned streamers, switching things off is not a happy experience. But with the DS1 it just picks right on up from where it was in terms of IPS addresses and interfaces - no hassles. Another plus is that initial set-up is the easiest I've encountered with any streamer and they helpfully point to a piece of downloadable software that will find and display the ips address of every device connected to your network. hope that's of some use. 1
Keith R Posted July 3, 2023 Posted July 3, 2023 Thanks for your thoughts jamsquirrel. I understand the DS1 has native support for qobuz, which the zen stream doesn't. BubbleUpnp skips tracks occasionally which can be annoying, so wouldn't need to use that on the DS1. Expect I'll upgrade before the end of the year. 1
jamsquirrel Posted July 4, 2023 Posted July 4, 2023 I'm going to add this further "quirk" for anyone else who might stumble across this exchange while looking for info on the DS1. After unsuccessfully flaffing about with the i2s connection (between the Opera and the Pontus dac), I discovered that Opera have seemingly configured their end of the i2s connection to operate on DSD only. In other words, (and easily enough) I had to change the settings on their platform and within Roon to DSD direct to get i2s working.
Willmax Posted July 15, 2023 Author Posted July 15, 2023 Heads up, cracking deal here with the KT150 Octet, be quick fellas:
Kaynin Posted July 15, 2023 Posted July 15, 2023 44 minutes ago, Willmax said: Heads up, cracking deal here with the KT150 Octet, be quick fellas: Good spot for a newbie. Damn good value with the 150's. 1
Willmax Posted July 15, 2023 Author Posted July 15, 2023 9 minutes ago, Kaynin said: Good spot for a newbie. Totally!! 1
mbz Posted April 5, 2024 Posted April 5, 2024 Anybody been able to source replacement switches? I've got the reference 1.3 passive/TVC where the mode switch (un/balanced) has exploded/seperated into two. I've tried to put it back together (diy literate) but making a mess of it. Will continue googling...
Willmax Posted April 7, 2024 Author Posted April 7, 2024 I'd try contacting Greg Osborn and see if he can get Consonance to supply a replacement for it. 2
mbz Posted April 7, 2024 Posted April 7, 2024 Yeah, I didn't want to hassle the guy. I pull switches apart (for cleaning) all the time. I just need to take a BEX then have another look at it. That mode switch is never used, always set to unbalanced. Suspect the clamping mechanism opened up on one of the warmer days we've had. Probably needs a cable tie around the clamping mechanism???
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