Normal Goings-on

[Vyn]

For sure. They didn't just lower the bar, they removed the bar for that one. I let it expire (I think it was good for three years).

[Zzzptm]

Well, I need to raise the bar on how I look at registration times. Thought I had the test at 2:30 yesterday afternoon. They had offered me a 2:30 slot, but I had naively assumed that was PM.

I've rescheduled today for 13:45.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

^^^
Sorry! So are you saying that they seriously thought you were going to do the test at 2:30 at night?

[Vyn]

LOL would not have even crossed my mind that a 2:30 time would be anything other than PM.

[Zzzptm]

Yep, they tossed a "slot available at 2:30am" into my lap.

And, no, it did not cross my mind that 230 meant anything other than a proper 2 hours and 30 minutes after noon, when the sun is overhead and normal business hours prevail. Live and learn and next time, read carefully!

Passed this exam, so now I am a Palo Alto Certified Network Security Administrator.

[Zzzptm]

Got everyone in my family over today for well-wishing to my son, who is getting married on Halloween. That boy has a lock on remembering his anniversary!

Cake, burgers, brisket, a whole big production. Watch a hockey game on the teevee and be happy to be together one more time.

[Vyn]

Congratulations and best wishes to your son & his soon-to-be wife!

[Zzzptm]

It is official, I'm +1 in the daughter count now.

[Charger]

Congrats to your son! May there be many happy years ahead!

[Zzzptm]

Thank you! Happiness in a marriage definitely comes with a lot of learning and self-evaluation, as I've learned over the years. Hope I've been a good example to the young feller with the way I work with me missus.

[Vyn]

A long time ago, on a messageboard far, far away, there was a discussion of stereo equipment. I participated and discussed mine.

I've had this setup for years; I even did a "ten year" comparo write up for Stereophile about it. Not because it is "high-end", but because of how long I had the same crap and some of it blips into the edges of audiophile radar.

A shift in the Earth's magnetic sphere the other day impacted my thinking process and I replaced one of the components. This is a momentous occasion! Here is an action shot of the original setup taken last night, a few minutes prior to dismantling everything:



From top to bottom:

Pro-ject RM-10 turntable w/isolation base
Simaudio Moon i3.3 integrated amplifier w/balanced inputs, DAC, and phono stage
Shunyata Research Hydra Model-4
Audiosource Model EQ-Fourteen Graphic Equalizer and Spectrum Analyzer
Denon DRM-740 Cassette Deck
Denon DRA-345R AM/FM Stereo integrated amplifier

The EQ and Denon devices are from the system I had from 1993-2009 (my old, old setup) and aren't even plugged in. Was moving stuff around one day and figured I'd just set them in there to fill out the rack. Kind of like a girl stuffing her bra, I guess.

And here's the new setup:



The bra-stuffing has been removed, the turntable remains, and the Simaudio unit is gone. In its place is:

Technics SU-R1000 Stereo integrated amplifier
Technics SL-G700 Network/SACD player

I didn't change out my speakers.

The amp came with a calibration LP, so I got all of that setup. I played side one of 10cc's Bloody Tourists. It's sort of my go-to record for testing because it has a wide dynamic range and I know how it sounds. I actually heard sounds I had never heard before coming from it. I was floored.

For the network player, I setup the wi-fi connection, decided I didn't like the way I had done it, and reset that piece. I then opened up the drawer that contains my micro collection of CDs, and randomly pulled out Multi-Speed Stimulator by Dark Chunk. Not being as in-tune with CDs as I am vinyl, and not having owned a CD player except in my car, ever, I can only say that it sounded fantastic.

Today being Saturday and not having anything on my agenda, I'm going to have another go at setting up the network player, and run through the Martin era of Sabbath on the turntable.

Thanks for letting me nerd-out on stereo gear, I know it's a long post but I'm stoked

[Jack the Stripper]

That’s awesome Vyn. How much different or better does the the new set up sound compared to the old set up? What speakers you running?

I too have that Godmachine Sweet Leaf print btw 

[Charger]

Very cool setup indeed!

[Vyn]

Thanks gentlemen!

My speakers are a pair of Dynaudio Confidence C1s on stands. They're rated at 4 ohms and it takes a lot of watts to drive them. Which plays a large factor in my answer to how much different or better this new setup sounds.

My old setup worked fine and sounded great to my ears. However I did have to turn it up to really get those speakers to sing. Over the years, it was never anything I thought much about. For reference, it pushed 100 watts into 4 ohms, and was pretty much the minimum needed to get the job done.

This Technics box pushes out 300 watts into 4 ohms, and the difference in how those speakers function is striking. I can play it at non-house-shaking volumes and get the same level of resolution it took my Simaudio 50% volume to even start to achieve. With that extra umph behind them, I've noticed that previously thin sounding records (Shooting Star's debut, for example) actually sound good. I've read about this kind of thing, but it never really sunk in until now.

So far I've noticed two things other than the power bump that are better, to me anyway. First, playing records through the Simaudio always presented a tiny bit of noise even on the most pristine pressings. I always attributed that to surface noise on the disk - this was only noticeable to me on very quiet passages or on lead-ins/outs. I'm not talking about pops or clicks, but a very slight "humming" sort of noise. And even with that, it was miles away quieter than any system I had ever had before.

The same disks, on the same record player, but running through this Technics amp are dead quiet. Like, a thousand feet into a cave quiet. People who write about this kind of thing refer to it as "darkness", and this Technics is pitch black. That little bit of noise never bothered me, but what I didn't realize (because I was accustomed to it), is how much better the music sounds when that slight bit of noise is completely gone. I didn't know what I didn't know.

The second thing doesn't have anything to do with the sound. I like the aesthetics of it better lol. I appreciate the minimalist inspired design - and I've always liked amps with meters on them. Stupid, but what can I say. This thing has two knobs and one button: select an input source, adjust the volume, turn it on or off. That's it. The network unit looks practically overloaded with buttons in comparison. Speaking of which, there's a black cable in that picture that is a cat6 line connecting that device to my network. I just ran it and need to seat it properly - even though it will do wi-fi connectivity (and bluetooth), I like the idea of a solid wired connection. I'm actually playing some internet radio through it as I type this up.

Here's a link of a review of those speakers:

https://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/1107dyn/index.html

Here's a picture of the opposite of minimalist design (although it's interesting, ultimately it just looks like a busy mess to me):



Here's a wide view shot w/my speakers:

[Charger]

Oh I do hope you wear that hat atleast occationally!


POST #8000 baby!