f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Well perhaps you should take that as a pointer to the fact that just maybe your view is not shared by those that run the forum. Do you really believe you know better than them how the place should be run?

Excellent

RobJenks

Hi-Fi and us nuts are searching for Nirvana and never find it .
The weakest link has to be us!
Best tips for golden ears ?

Listen at night
Get a job working in a library
Turn off all electrical equipment in house
Clean out ears
Trim ear hair
Wear ear plugs 3 hours before listening
Get yourself a pair of "Big Ears"
Dont drive a WRX
Dont listen to AC/DC

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Hmmmmmmmm, told you

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

You sure did Geoff, I spent quite some time at weekend trying this kit both with and without the PSX-R and there is an unmistakable difference to the high frequencies with the PSX connected. I will have to test further and see what difference it makes to the CD8 and if its significant I suppose I will have to buy another.



Bonus = system looks better on top of the PSX-R too.







Ive bought some mains leads as well amongst other things... should be here tomorrow.

Mark Mac

Well, this is mine...
Not the most powerful, not the most modern, not the highest of "techs", but by far the sexiest looking....

Jamz3k

would there be any call for a Hifi/Home cinema section on this forum down near the computer related and DIY section?

I really would enjoy reading good reviews on kits and cables by those who actually own them etc. Can't get into avforums myself doesn't have a good vibe to it.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

My first experience of a PSX-R was with the old CD7, which I heard at demo. I thought the CD7 was good, then they brought out the one with the "Q" chip in it, and THEN put a PSX-R on. The difference was chalk and cheese.

I sometimes wonder what effect another pair would have on the Smart Powers..............., or what effect an offboard DAC with IT'S own PSX-R would have...................I think it'd result in a divorce.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Good Hi-Fi input and drive stages is all about the rectification to achieve stable DC supply rails Thats why both my old 1970's Sony and 1990's Technics amps runs uprated higher spec caps. Partly because old ones get tired with age/heat (especially caps from new Hi-Fis of dubious Chinese origin), and partly because the replacment items "should" be of better tolerance. Rectifying the suppy lines and providing good transformer isolation is not a complex science. All you want is is minimal ripple under load, low noise and good voltage regulation. Something a £25 300watt PC power supply does quite easily I may add

The question I ask, why doesn't cyrus provide this already integrated without the need to buy a seperate unit? I fully comprehend they work; but there is nothing stopping them supplying it internally integrated into their components as standard, especially when half a Hi-Fi component's internals is taken up by the main transformer and power supply circuitry.

As for mains cables; decent kettle lead suffices - its ok for 13amps, the average amplifier only draws 0.8 amps on full volume. The PSU will handle the noise, spikes and drops outs.


Anyhoo; My Hi-Fi: Nothing to brag about....A pair of Infinity Primus 362s, accompanied by two manky pairs of wharfdale diamond IIIs, a pair of KEF K-series, some home made jobbies using Seas drivers, as well as a horrible sounding pair of Eltax bookshelfers, all in the attic somewhere until I eventually sort out my home cinema (hence no pics).

Meanwhile My Technics SUX901 amp and SLJ-300 turntable (matching tuner, CD and tape deck are in the attic) sits next to my PC abusing a pair of a Wharfdale diamond 7s bookshelfers (which still haven't died yet, despite punishment), that cost me £25 from Currys six years ago.

I also have a G.E.C stereogram with full valve input and drive stages, which, when it works (valve issues ), sounds super smooth in a 1960s Hi-Fi time-warp kind of way. And a 1970's Sony Music system, that was the victim of my teenage ventures into audio electronics, as such its power amp and power supply are creations of Frankenstein. Still sounds good though.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Given the circuitry and cost of a new PSX-R, I'd say it was done partly to keep the costs of other components down, unless you WANT that level.

Also, it's been shown that getting a power supply ofboard has noticeable effect especialy on very low current draw items like a preamp or a CD player. Something to do with isolating magnetic fields

All I can say is, it works.

Power Junkie

iTrader: (1)

The PSX-R drives different parts depending on the unit, on the CD player it drives the motor, the integrated amps it drives the pre section. It does make a difference and for the cost of it compared to other brands at a higher price it can still beat them in musical terms.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

At around £250 used, it's certainly a cheap upgrade for Cyrus, which is already decent stuff.

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

My second PSX-R arrives tomorrow and I will be auditioning Mark Grants G1000HD interconnect against both my Chord and a £2 version with a mate who wont have a clue which is connected to which input. Should prove an interesting evening.

If I get time will also try these new power cables out as well. Im hoping work is quiet tomorrow afternoon so i can slip away an hour early. lol

ChefDude

+1 for a home cinema/audio section !!

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

For those of you interested, this is whats inside a PSX-R

Dingdongler

Glad to see you are giving Mark Grant cables a go and taking a scientific approach to things. I'd recommend you take a look at the audio myths video I put a link up to prior to the auditions. It gives some useful information about how audio perception can play tricks on the mind.

Good luck

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, I watched it ihn its entirety, very interesting indeed. I like the build quality of this Mark Grant stuff and have bought six of his power cables too. Im going to have a play around with mains conditioning on the Amplifier and its own PSX-R Vs not in case they pull the available current down too much.

UPDATE:
Audio T called me an hour ago to say the stuff landed early so I just got back and have a boot full of new gear. I cant wait to get home. A mate of mine is bringing a £300 Carbon Van Der Hull Phono cable to add to the mix too.

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

LOL, you have it bad, Stu

Just don't forget "The law of diminishing returns"

I remember turning turntable mats upside down and blu-tacking cartridges to the headshell, then swearing it made a difference.

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Dont worry, as the owner of a tuning company I fully understand the law of diminishing returns.
That said, its probably the same reason I believe you should "Do it once, do it right"

Power Junkie

iTrader: (1)

I have never heard a mains cable or conditioner do anything i like (or much difference) The interconnects really do make the systems sound different, i dont agree with the costs but it does make in some cases a big difference. With Cyrus products Atlas cables work very well, depending on speakers Chord can be a little bright but also very good.
I think im going to upgrade my Cyrus Mono X's to a Bryston 4b sst, Its an awesome amp.

what would scooby do

Thanks for posting this up - very interesting and gives a whole new insight into the peadoaudiophile market

TelBoy

Can i drag this back onto page 1?


People might remember my system, but in summary it's Mark Levinson CD, Roksan vinyl, Chord amplification and Krell speakers. Does the job

But i recently got a "new" cassette player, a CR-7E. Kid in a sweetshop again


As for cables, i'll extend an open invitation to anyone who can be bothered to come and listen to the difference they can make. Not being rude, but the better the system, the more obvious the effect.

I spent hours auditioning speaker cables. I eventually settled on Nordost SPM because i couldn't afford Valhalla in the length i needed. But the difference was staggering. Same with interconnects. Beyond a shadow of a doubt. I've had the same cables now for several years (mainly Transparent and Madrigal) because they produce a sound that's pleasing to my ears. But i can change that sound in an instant just by changing the cables. Again, anyone is welcome to come and hear it for themselves. Some things in hi-fi are left field i'd be the first to admit. But the means to carry electronic signals? That's a very real variable, as real as the components themselves.

TelBoy

If you ever get a chance, try Russ Andrews' Mega Clamp Ultra. Especially if you're a bass junkie. I'm not Russ Andrews' greatest fan when dealing with them direct, but some of the products do work, including this item. Definitely worth an audition in my opinion.

jsh1

iTrader: (1)

I am going to give my opinion on this, for what its worth.

There is a massive amount of BS spoken about cables and for the most part, it is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.

If however, a scientific approach is taken with intelligent cable design and manufacture then the differences that can be made are staggering.

I worked for Nordost and they are one of a very small amount of cable manufacturers whose cables do exactly what is claimed. Their manufacturing process is incredibly high tec and if you attend a Nordost demonstration at any of the Hi-Fi shows, I defy anybody not to be able to tell the difference.

Essentially, not all cables are a waste of money or "fake"

Jason

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

The biggest difference I EVER saw in a system was in speaker cables. I was auditioning a Linn Axis turntable at a Linn dealer in Hull, using my own amp, a Sony, at that time, and a pair of Linn speakers. I watched the guy setting up and queried if the weird looking speaker cable made a difference.

He immediately shouted through to his mate, "We've got another one, bring the other speakers", and a second set of the same speakers appeared and were wired using what everyone used for speaker connections at that time: bellwire, or very similar.

My amp was able to switch between speaker outputs, and I COULD NOT BELIEVE the difference. WITH the weird speaker cable: clear and tuneful, with the bellwire, it was like someone threw a blanket over the speakers.

The weird stuff was just QED 79 strand, and I bought some as soon as I went home. It was like listening to a new system. I heard stuff on my vinyl that I hadn't heard before.

corradoboy

Like putting remoulds on a Ferrari then running it on 2*

Adrian F

I have A bottom end Naim system which i like but i dont believe that the claims for these cables is true and if you go into Proaudio they dont worry about cables like Hifi people do but i would love to be proved wrong, i suspect people know the cables are being changed and just imagine the change in sound?

corradoboy

There is a degree of placebo effect, but when auditioning cables it is recommended that you get someone else to change them and not tell you which is which. After listening, draw your conclusions and then see which was which. That's how I've always done it, and my mates who are into hi-fi and have often been there whether I was purchasing, or them, seem to always corroborate my opinions. An RF signal is delicate and susceptible to many influences, and in such the cable can make or break the sound.

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Adrian,

part of the point is that Naim specify relatively basic cables and 'design' the cable connection into the circuit - so the electronic characteristics of impedance, resistance and capacitance are accounted for. Which is also why Naim recommend cable lengths and speaker cable lengths.

There are one or two exceptions - a Chord Silver is excellent for a Naim CD player and you can now get a HiLine cable for the high-end CD players.

So playing with cables on a Naim system usually brings limited value and Naim dealers mostly go with this attitude.

I am sure this post has DinglyDell spitting up his cornflakes!

Dingdongler

Yes, Russ Andrews are a very respectable company. Hold on a minute aren't they the lot who were taken to task by the advertising standards agency for spurious claims

ASA - ASA Adjudication on Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd

Dingdongler

Jason, you make it sound very scientific (the appraisal process I mean, I accept the manufacturing process is) but then why has it never been scientifically proven that either you can hear a difference or measure one when comparing very expensive cables like Nordost to another well constructed one (for a tenth of the price)