ThirdDrawerDown Posted October 27, 2012 Posted October 27, 2012 The Cary SLP 2002 preamplifier arrived this week. I celebrate its arrival and the end of my need for a certain radio-cassette system with speakers as my back-up system. In terms of system architecture the lack of a preamp has been like wanting a keystone to drop into an arch. Dear me! Lots of inputs on the back of this preamp so it turns out I need just one splitter box. Currently running (inputs) EAD Enlightened Audio Designs Ultradisc 2000 CD player Thorens TD 160B Mk II turntable with Infinity Black Widow tone arm and Amber cartridge, also Amber phono stage Sansui TU 9900 AM/FM receiver Sangean internet radio WFD-1T Plus Computer PC with audiophile sound card Technics 5 CD carousel player SLPD827 Tape deck tba (currently testing several vintage decks) Thor power conditioner - essential in Melbourne Western Suburbs thanks to my power utility Motto: we trust in smart meters + dumb luck Cary preamp SLP 2002 Cary power amp CAD 120S Bower & Wilkins speakers CDM 1NT 3
maximus Posted November 27, 2012 Posted November 27, 2012 Just caught this thread, Murray that Cary looks amazing...what a piece. There were some nice spendors in the classifieds a couple of months back for 800 odd. I'd reckon they'd make a sublime combo. cheers Frank. 1
ThirdDrawerDown Posted September 5, 2013 Author Posted September 5, 2013 Frank - lovely to hear from you! the search for the ideal speakers continues. Currently these are on loan - and although a joy, I'm not quite there yet, they don't quite have the inky blackness of background that I'd like a single piano key to fade into... Altecs from a kind-hearted man ... but they have confirmed one thing: bass is beautiful. I had a friend willing to buy some Ambers on my behalf, this would get around the WAF issue, but when push came to shove the seller didn't come through.
maximus Posted September 6, 2013 Posted September 6, 2013 Hello Murray, I'm only a passing interest these days. Still gander on occassions. Yes, I can imagine that free flowing bass from the altecs ; crickey! they're huge. Complete contrast to the B & W's. One distinct pattern I've noticed ie: many SNA'ers seem to chase their tales, myself and many more experienced 'files' included. We start off with smaller "6" inch drivers then end up with anything from 8 to 15 inch. Says something about bigger drivers hence Amber, altec and Tannoy and the bass they bring to the table. The odd thing is this process sometimes takes years to realize. Murray, I believe the 'inky' blackness you're referring to could be at cabling end. If the Cary's have balanced inputs, you might be surprised to try a balanced cable. I've recently changed all interconnects to balanced...tomb like results on some recordings, but damn expensive. Best of luck Murray.....any abnormal results, please notify. Regards Frank. 2
Juicester Posted September 6, 2013 Posted September 6, 2013 Having owned some B&W 705's i can say that yours are no doubt suffering from being as close to the wall boundaries as they are.... 1
WhakPak Posted September 6, 2013 Posted September 6, 2013 I've recently changed all interconnects to balanced...tomb like results on some recordings, but damn expensive. Not expensive if you make your own. I came up 1 balanced cable short for my installation and I made it using very cheap Cat5 network cable (probably less than 10 cents/foot), plus Neutrik XLR shells on either end, soldered with 7% silver Mundorf solder. Hard pressed to tell the difference between my cheapie DIY and a $500 cable.
maximus Posted September 7, 2013 Posted September 7, 2013 Not expensive if you make your own. I came up 1 balanced cable short for my installation and I made it using very cheap Cat5 network cable (probably less than 10 cents/foot), plus Neutrik XLR shells on either end, soldered with 7% silver Mundorf solder. Hard pressed to tell the difference between my cheapie DIY and a $500 cable. I respect your findings brodricj but in my experience I tried many(stacks) of entry level well known $150-300 balanced cables with ordinary results. Harsh and edgy, much preferred single ended until a friend advised I use a more expensive cable ie: siltech, Purist audio because he believed my system deserved it. So, I tried the Purist audio Aqueous Aureus, wow!, what a revelation, won't go into superlatives, but I'm an extemely happy camper. Good luck with your DIY brodricj, I wish I was as fortunate.....'financially'. cheers Frank.
ThirdDrawerDown Posted April 10, 2014 Author Posted April 10, 2014 (edited) Forthcoming or under way: Speaker upgrade CD player upgrade Build the subwoofers / bass units Soundproof the leaky wall Build a rack Upgrade the PC Upgrade cables Upgrade the listening position. PHOTOS OF PIONEER TT AND HOMEBUILT PHONO STAGE The phono stage dates from early 1970s. The Pioneer turntable is fine for listening purposes but has a cosmetic issue and a mechanical issue. positives - sounds good comes with original packaging antiskate new belt new cartridge and stylus runs at 33 rpm auto retunr function works when record stops playing cue lever for lowering arm onto turntable works negatives the cue lever to lift the tonearm doesn't work or doesn't work swiftly. There is a defective spring in the interior of the TT which I have tried to repair but cannot. As a result if you want to lift the tonearm off the TT partway through a recor you have to lift the headshell by hand. the cosmetic apprearnace. This was stored in a garage and had a corrosive splash spray on it. As a result there are marks on the lid and on the front and top. I have tried to photogrpah as many of these as possible so you don't have a wasted journey. In detail - Most of the splash is on the lid and the best advice for sound quality is to not use a lid anyway (I have a silk scarf over my TT until I need to use it). (However we don't have children in the house, a cover can be useful here). I have tried over half-a-dozen methods to clean the lid and the body and failed. The body has a few splashes, the lid bore the brunt. A replacement lid would be about $80-$100 haveing done this for another TT. See photos I tried to take the worst angles possible so they looked really bad. The mat is very ordinary. I would consider replacing it. Edited June 29, 2014 by ThirdDrawerDown
ThirdDrawerDown Posted May 14, 2015 Author Posted May 14, 2015 (edited) Time for a system update. @@djb loaned me some 15" Altecs but they are now back home with him. Thank you djb, they were a wonderful indulgence, particularly when I sat on the couch between the two speakers. Bass! They have been replaced by @@gat474's marvellous Zaph zd5's which he was in two minds about selling, rightly so, and for actually doing so deserves great credit. Thank you again Glen, your generosity I remain grateful for. The EAD CD player has been replaced. The Thorens TD 160 has been replaced. Current system: The CD player is a Marantz SA14S1 Turntable is a Roksan Xerxes. These come in two flavours: collapsed and uncollapsed. This unit has never collapsed and so is a somewhat rare representative of the type. It has the Black Widow arm fitted. Amber phono stage and cartridge. I keep appreciating the Amber gear the more I get into this hifi thing. The Cary amps remain the heart of the system. The ZD5's, on Atacama stands. Perched on the zd5's are djb's Tannoy supertweeters. A small unit that isn't a Pi does duty from the PC network. Internet radio is a Sangean. The Sansui is a TU 9900 Additional bass drivers are the next step, with room adjustments to come after the renovations. A 4 x 10 miniDSP waits for the carpenter to finish start. Interconnects once the speakers get sorted out. Edited May 14, 2015 by ThirdDrawerDown 1
djb Posted May 14, 2015 Posted May 14, 2015 Heard much of this system over recent years I look forward to hearing the TT Sounding mighty fine
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