Hi-Fi systems

[Kev The Rat]

The Chord will be my next purchase. At the NW Audio show last year I listened to an AB demo of the power block and without. I was stunned at the difference. I've always been quite cynical about the benefits.

just to clarify this was the power block plugged into a wall vs plugged directly into the same wall? If the block is better than straight into the wall it certainly debunks all the preconceptions I have had about such things.

 

[jazzy]

just to clarify this was the power block plugged into a wall vs plugged directly into the same wall? If the block is better than straight into the wall it certainly debunks all the preconceptions I have had about such things.

No. The power block v a normal multiple socket extension lead.
However , and to be honest I tuned out at some of the technicalities, the rep was talking about the power block being better than plugs straight into the mains due to some filtering.

 

[Kev The Rat]

Has anyone heard this ?

Can it really make a difference ?

PowerARAY - The Chord Company

Chord Company PowerARAY is a next-generation noise reduction/absorption device. Akin to the popular GroundARAY units, the PowerARAY can be connected to unused mains power sockets (wall or distribution block) adjacent to those used to power your hi-fi equipment, providing a low-impedance escape...

chord.co.uk

 

[coollino]

Has anyone heard this ?

Can it really make a difference ?

PowerARAY - The Chord Company

Chord Company PowerARAY is a next-generation noise reduction/absorption device. Akin to the popular GroundARAY units, the PowerARAY can be connected to unused mains power sockets (wall or distribution block) adjacent to those used to power your hi-fi equipment, providing a low-impedance escape...

chord.co.uk

From listening to my gf's dad, who builds his own, stuff like this helps more than you expect

 

[chrismpw]

Finished!
The new tweeters (amt style ribbons) go down further than my last ones, so I'm building new active crossovers to go down to 1.2kHz rather than 3kHz which pushes my existing woofers a bit.
Lovely open sound - if you've never listened to open baffle speakers you really should!

 

[chrismpw]

From the back.
Wiring is silver plated ptfe for the woofers, solid silver with ptfe for the tweeters.
The wood is iroko .... I was in the right place when our school lab benches were being replaced with modern crap.

 

[chrismpw]

Back again! (Thanks for unlocking @Groucho)

I've started on a new project... new speakers. Absolutely besotted by the open baffle speakers I made previously - holographic stereo imagery, I've had an itch. Those mentioned above are the 6th pair of speakers designed, since the mid 80s when I made my first, but never have I made a point source pair - my current itch.

A point source is (in theory) the ultimate ... all the sound comes from the centre of one driver - no woofers or tweeters (or worse - multiway speakers) to cause out if phase waves and smearing. The issue is that no single speaker driver is capable of doing the whole frequency spectrum justice - at least not cheaply.

Anyhow .... after researching, designing and agonising for months I found the ultimate drivers ... costing as much as a decent 2nd hand family car .... then ditched them because the owner of the French company (Phy-HP) that made them seemed overly desperate to receive my cash up front, by any means that offered zero buyer protection! So I've gone for 2nd choice ... about ⅓ of the price ... which are currently on route from Norway. Meanwhile the baffles are being made in my shed, so I can later experiment with how side wings affect the sound.

 

[chrismpw]

Progress!

(Drivers were flying there way here for delivery today, until they reached the Swindon depot. At that point I had a phone call saying they will not be delivered today, tomorrow instead. This was followed by a WhatsApp and an email to say they're due today. Not sure if this is a DHL thing, or a Swindon thing.)

The bases are temporary/prototype things.

 

[John from Bootle]

Still using CD's me Not exclusively though, got a few micro sd cards full of FLAC files that I put in a tablet and connect to bluetooth speaker or wire it to my trusty old amp if I'm in that room. Oh, and I can dive in to spotify too because my wife pays for a plan for her and the boy.

Drives the wife crazy how I can't just get rid of them all

 

[Bryan+]

Progress!
View attachment 286873
(Drivers were flying there way here for delivery today, until they reached the Swindon depot. At that point I had a phone call saying they will not be delivered today, tomorrow instead. This was followed by a WhatsApp and an email to say they're due today. Not sure if this is a DHL thing, or a Swindon thing.)

The bases are temporary/prototype things.

They look like coffins I can stick my dead face in once I’ve popped me clogs. Great idea.

 

[chrismpw]

Still using CD's me Not exclusively though, got a few micro sd cards full of FLAC files that I put in a tablet and connect to bluetooth speaker or wire it to my trusty old amp if I'm in that room. Oh, and I can dive in to spotify too because my wife pays for a plan for her and the boy.

Drives the wife crazy how I can't just get rid of them all

A couple of years ago I started putting all my cds onto a HD driver/streamer (Innuos Zen mk3). Then I fell down the dac rabbit hole to make them sound better, then I discovered the joys of streaming HD with Qobuz, (never been interested in low res streams like spotify). In two years the system has developed such that, despite my lifelong conviction to the contrary, it sounds better than vinyl!

My mate, a former fellow vinyl head has all but disowned me!

 

[John from Bootle]

A couple of years ago I started putting all my cds onto a HD driver/streamer (Innuos Zen mk3). Then I fell down the dac rabbit hole to make them sound better, then I discovered the joys of streaming HD with Qobuz, (never been interested in low res streams like spotify). In two years the system has developed such that, despite my lifelong conviction to the contrary, it sounds better than vinyl!

My mate, a former fellow vinyl head has all but disowned me!

Yeah, I used to think of myself a bit of an audiophile until about 15 years ago, now I'm just a sad old man who can't part with my beloved collection

EDIT: I've heard CD's are making a bit of a comeback though. Be interesting to see if that trend continues. Last year was the first year in many moons when sales have risen. I believe the first rise in vinyl sales in decades was as far back as 2008.

 

[Rita_Poon]

So I've gone for 2nd choice ... about ⅓ of the price ... which are currently on route from Norway. Meanwhile the baffles are being made in my shed, so I can later experiment with how side wings affect the sound.

How did you research these firms and what metrics did you use to define best and most value? Any numbers on the small family hatchback?
A correction, you've a workshop not a shed, and it's jealousy inducing. You getting done on import duty btw?
How did you select the wood? Or is it a donation like last times? What have you done with all the other speakers you've made?

If you've had time to fix the jag and then dream this up, I get the idea that maybe someone hasn't been working you to your last fibre?

 

[chrismpw]

How did you research these firms and what metrics did you use to define best and most value? Any numbers on the small family hatchback?
A correction, you've a workshop not a shed, and it's jealousy inducing. You getting done on import duty btw?
How did you select the wood? Or is it a donation like last times? What have you done with all the other speakers you've made?

If you've had time to fix the jag and then dream this up, I get the idea that maybe someone hasn't been working you to your last fibre?

I trawled forums for opinions and suggestions. Then I used chagtp fir opinions too. Then I looked up the specs for the drivers on my shortlist and their frequency response graphs - there were 3 main contenders.

In fairness the ones I selected are not ideally suited for this baffle type, but they are a brand I've used a few times and never been disappointed in what they can do. I'm expecting them to be a bit too light in bass response, but I can compensate for that with some electronics and tune it in with my sub.

There is no import duty on "speakers not in an enclosure" but there is vat applicable.

I've been worked hard pruning a year tree today!

 

[Rita_Poon]

I trawled forums for opinions and suggestions. Then I used chagtp fir opinions too. Then I looked up the specs for the drivers on my shortlist and their frequency response graphs - there were 3 main contenders.

In fairness the ones I selected are not ideally suited for this baffle type, but they are a brand I've used a few times and never been disappointed in what they can do. I'm expecting them to be a bit too light in bass response, but I can compensate for that with some electronics and tune it in with my sub.

There is no import duty on "speakers not in an enclosure" but there is vat applicable.

I've been worked hard pruning a year tree today!

I didn't know that rule on speakers. They'd have vat on a glass of water if they could.

What's a year tree?

The former speakers, sold or storage? Are these new ones made from off cuts of the mahogany benches you recycled?