Visit to Marc C.'s (SpiritOfMusic's) House in England

Hi-FiGuy

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Feb 23, 2015
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Sure, and interestingly the tt designer install is on a wall shelf, this is his preferred method. His sound, utilising simple squash balls isolation under tt on a simple steel/mdf wall shelf is exemplary. I'd certainly aim to go one better than him utilising my Stacore Adv in place of those squash balls.

I have found a way to do this, I just need to ensure what I put up won't break sweat supporting 130-150kg. That's a Hell of an accident waiting to happen NO LOL!
Does your TT manufacturer make a specific shelf for the tt?
 

Stacore

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Feb 23, 2017
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I did just this. Went to Home Depot and bought two heavy duty angle braces and 1 1/4 inch thick chunk of wood, all in 40.00 USD and instantly eliminated my feedback issue and made a big difference in the overall sound. A Stacore platform would be icing on the cake.

Hello Hi-FiGuy!

Looks like you've done a great job! I'd be very happy to serve you with a platform - feel free to drop me a mail. What TT do you have?

Thank you,
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Hi-FiGuy, no proprietary shelf w the tt. The designer just rigged up a standard shelf w careful fixings, and the squash ball isolation.

My fabricated steel shelf will have to be a fair degree beefier to accommodate the 130-150kg total load of tt + Stacore + optional Panzerholz.
 

spiritofmusic

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Just installed Tubulus Argentus DB-25 umbilical cables btwn Nat Utopia tube pre > SS psu.
www.tubulus.net
Other than a little excessive bass warmth that's easing on burn in, a nice uptick all round. Big impvt is resulting from drop in noise floor, w these cables having greater shielding.

So greater ease, lower noise, better microdynamics and ambient detail. Another set of veils lifted, getting closer to what's on the recording.

Re wall shelf for tt, I'm struggling w the logistics. My access hatch central on front wall just precludes any practical install here, and I'm reverting to Plan B, tt on Stacore Adv on inert Rogoz platform adjacent to main rack.
 
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spiritofmusic

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Just added a 775g Sound Foundations lp periphery ring
www.soundfoundations.in
and a 445g Pathe Wings panzerholz record weight
www.pathewings.com
to my analog set up, £350 the lot.

Together w the Tubulus Argentus DB-25 cables, my sound has made massive strides. It appears noise in my tube pre was certainly transmitted by the stock cable, greatly eliminated by the Tubulus, I'm astounded by the leap in clarity I'm achieving in this late stage of system optimising.

The lp ring and weight adding a nice touch of heft too.
 
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Ron Resnick

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Just added a 775g Sound Foundations lp periphery ring
www.soundfoundations.in
and a 445g Pathe Wings panzerholz record weight
www.pathewings.com
to my analog set up, £350 the lot.

Together w the Tubulus Argentus DB-25 cables, my sound has made massive strides. It appears noise in my tube pre was certainly transmitted by the stock cable, greatly eliminated by the Tubulus, I'm astounded by the leap in clarity I'm achieving in this late stage of system optimising.

The lp ring and weight adding a nice touch of heft too.

Congratulations, Marc! But I am confused. I thought all cables were by Sablon Audio?
 

Sablon Audio

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Congratulations, Marc! But I am confused. I thought all cables were by Sablon Audio?

Ron, Marc and I spoke about making an umbilical however I was reluctant to progress in the absence of factory confirmation of the voltages carried (safety) and wiring diagram (for optimising geometry / shielding).
 
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Ron Resnick

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I understand. Thank you for replying!
 

Audiophile Bill

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Ron, Marc and I spoke about making an umbilical however I was reluctant to progress in the absence of factory confirmation of the voltages carried (safety) and wiring diagram (for optimising geometry / shielding).

Good stuff Mark - professionalism!
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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I did enquire if Mark could make up a Sablon DB-25, but he was rightly reluctant without a plan. And since the Tubulus came with a no quibble 30 day sale or return offer, there was no risk.

It's proved to be wholly fantastic, showing up the stock cable as severely wanting. I'm also convinced that w my Sablon loom having already boosted my system performance by dropping noise floor elsewhere, the contrast on getting rid of this remaining bottleneck is really marked.
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Peter, well every time I adjust VTA and hear big changes (ie one setting being right rather than all being much of a muchness), I think of you. I'm also aware this means I'm cracking the code of correct setup and transparency more.

I was hoping to get my tt/Stacore up onto a wall shelf or even a dedicated higher platform, but system logistics preventing this. So I'm settling on a spiked low single ampstand type shelf from Rogoz that will enable me to have a partially isolated and critically, fully level surface, for the tt/Stacore to sit on.

I'm then looking at Bocchino IEC upgrades to all my Sablon Elite & Reserva pwr cords & ICs over the year, major GIK acoustic treatments to my room next year, and final decision on streamer/dac the year after.

My sound has just soared w recent changes, I'm determined to get back to a lot more uncritical music listening after pretty much 3 years hiatus of major upheaval re the move, bedding in the system in the new room, and sweating the details getting the analog setup way in advance of anything I've had before.
 

KeithR

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Remember when Marc was just going to enjoy the music with his "perfect" system in 2019? Didn't last two weeks hahahaha.

Here's a new tweak for you: TT power cords. Go ahead and be the first one for us :0
 
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bonzo75

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Was he planning to upgrade to Boccherini or Bocchino? Typo?
 

spiritofmusic

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Keith, where have you been? I've already upgraded my tt motor pwr cord and talked about it. You're so late to the party.
 

spiritofmusic

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Bocchino IC upgrade to Sablon Reserva and bespoke single-tier NorthWest Analogue/Slate Age tt stand ordered.

Symposium Rollerblocks installed under Furutechs distribution strip.

Specialist carbon fibre armwand to my Terminator linear tracker just arrived, soon to be installed.

Pathe Wings Panzerholz record weight in daily use.

As my GF Ra says:
"Does it make music? Will it stop me making trouble outside the house?" LOL
 

spiritofmusic

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Massive news (well, in my little cloud anyway) chez the chapel. Long awaited replacement of Terminator aluminium armwand w one of carbon fibre.

Another big reduction in veils, and several steps closer to reality. Or is that insanity?

My analog has always had advantages over my digital, but remained a tad opaque and cloudy, esp thru lower mids, meaning my digital had the edge on transparency. And thus over time, if I'm being absolutely frank, digital was less the source of optimisation angst than my analog.

The install of this carbon fibre armwand, in addition to the effects of the Stacore, has taken a lot of this doubt away, and I'm getting a massive lift in lp playback, esp into the treble, staging, imaging and air.
 
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spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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After visiting a fascinating system comprising Thrax hybrid amps and spkrs, modded Eera Tentation cdp and Aqua La Diva/La Scala transport/dac, Siltech Double Crown and Synergistic Research Galileo cables, two levels of conditioner/regenerator, SR HFTs room treatments, and a whole bunch of crystals treatments incl directional quartz on pwr cords, Goldstone and Tourmaline Black on gear (some w additional battery psus), and HRS Damping Plates, I learnt a few things.

First, the Eera remains a mighty compelling digital source, hugely analog in nature, and in many ways better than the 2x pricier Aqua 2-box.
My Eera will be going to Fidelity Audio in UK for clock etc mods.

Second, despite my huge respect for a highly impressive sound, it's SETs only for me. The uber resolving leading edge presentation, even on hybrid Thrax', brings w it a certain tension and underlying hint of fatigue that's not for me. Just lacks the last ounce of texture and natural warmth.

Third, SR HFTs are something I could certainly investigate, but I'm not sure crystal therapy in audio is my bag.

Fourth, and most fascinating, was the listening position for a pr standmount spkrs being much further back than I've ever contemplated.

Well, I've taken this on board, and am now 15' back from my Zus, spkrs a little more tilted out.

Initial impressions were of a little loss of focus, but I've perservered, and am really liking this new perspective on music. The stage is in front of me, but I'm much more aware of space, imaging, and perspective. What I'm losing a tad on focus I'm gaining much more intimacy, and music in the round.

Another step twds greater immersion and enjoyment, now my Zus are doing the whole delicacy and transparency thing way beyond anything I had even 6 weeks ago.
 

the sound of Tao

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Interesting system setup you visited Marc, I really like the Thrax amps I’ve heard though I get what you mean about sticking with your SET.

I had the Aqua la Scala formula and diva transport here for a few months at the same time my mate left his Tune Animas here for a lovely long stay (those were the days sigh) and while I haven’t heard the Thrax speakers I am genuinely surprised given the gear combo that the sound was fatiguing... could have been all the crystals maybe ;)
 

spiritofmusic

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Jun 13, 2013
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Tao, it was just a hint of it, like too much of a good thing. Up until c2005, I was convinced that ultra resolution of detail, slamming bass, and leading edge timing, was where it was at.

I was obsessed w the Watt/Puppy & Krell, Martin Logan & Musical Fidelity KiloWatt type presentations. Demoing, buying, and living w the Hovland HP200 tube preamp was the start of me preferring texture, warmth, tone density and timbral accuracy.

The system I heard was fantastically vervey, dynamic, great heft, and uber exciting. Just a tad too "seat of yr pants" as I used to worship.

But this is no criticism, it was stellar in all sorts of ways, I just prefer my system that I can melt into for as many hours as I can manage and have zero fatigue and maximum immersion.

I return from systems now, always w pointers to investigate, but v rarely if at all unhappy w the comparison at home, pining for what I'd just experienced.
 

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