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Post by jimbo on Feb 10, 2021 17:21:54 GMT
Cant wait to hear this BT2 preamp ---very soon....
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Post by antonio on Feb 11, 2021 2:52:21 GMT
The only downside to this particular case was the IEC mains connector hole wasn't pre-cut. Takes a while to do it manually. Hi Alan
Its one of those jobs that can be a real pain, originally had a square hole punch the same size and an IEC but only good for steel casework (how long ago ) then an upmarket dremel and some real nice 12mm double cut burrs rip it out in around 5 minutes, lots of swarf though!
Now I use a laser cutter up to 8mm it makes life so much neater now but appreciate the hassle it is. Nice work by the way Always nice to have a laser cutter when you need one MrC.
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Post by macca on Feb 11, 2021 7:41:34 GMT
That's what Goldfinger used to say.
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Post by misterc on Feb 11, 2021 9:54:22 GMT
Always nice to have a laser cutter when you need one MrC. Antonio It is a great piece of equipment and very useful for not just audio, our power supply and RF designs also benefit greatly for its ability to produce custom internal casework. Though I must admit I have my figures wrong our unit is capable of 4mm's not 8. Our new machining equipment being delivered in (hopefully) 4-5 weeks is a water jet cutter looking forward to giving that work out on some case designs we have been working on.
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Post by antonio on Feb 11, 2021 13:09:27 GMT
Only pulling your leg MrC, although I think you knew that. I can imagine it would be very useful in your line of business. Just looked at the cost, probably £300 for the hobbyist, so still not cheap for something you would only use occasionally.
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Post by misterc on Feb 11, 2021 14:02:32 GMT
Only pulling your leg MrC, although I think you knew that. I can imagine it would be very useful in your line of business. Just looked at the cost, probably £300 for the hobbyist, so still not cheap for something you would only use occasionally. Hi Antonio Your can purchase a good hobbyist laser etcher for that sort of outlay unfortunately one that will genuinely cut that thickness is well into five figures, the water cutter was somewhat more reasonable, though still into five figures. We are a stage much further on these days. However Ali express et all you can find some good deals and equipment for you guys at home.
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Post by antonio on Feb 11, 2021 14:45:50 GMT
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Post by firebottle on Feb 16, 2021 16:08:11 GMT
The Pegasus is here. It's black so doesn't photograph that well if you don't try hard enough So what does one say, it's fookin' fantastic. We do a lot of listening during the day from the radio using a DAB tuner. The 'digital revolution' to get everyone onto 'perfect' DAB is basically cobblers as the bit rate is usually only 128kbps, however it can surprise. The Topping D90 Dac certainly made the DAB sound better than the inbuilt Dac and occasionally a particular artefact in the music would catch one's attention. The Pegasus has improved the sound again, it has greater clarity overall. The improvement has now revealed the limitation in dynamics with the DAB system which wasn't apparent before. From the audio server the improvements in sound through the Pegasus are quite dramatic. More detail is apparent through a combination of less digital glare and the absolute separation of every note and timbral quality. It's a cliche but I have heard more detail in tracks played. Everything is more natural sounding with a body to instruments and voices that is missing in part from Delta sigma Dacs. The transparency reveals a very extended bass response but really clean as well. Very pleased that I took the plunge, will report back after a lot more hours have been put on it. PS Just trying CD, just as impressive.
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Post by electronumpty on Feb 16, 2021 16:13:18 GMT
Looks like a true stealth dac!
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Post by gninnam on Feb 16, 2021 18:15:31 GMT
Looks like a true stealth dac! The Darth Vader of DACs!!
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Post by electronumpty on Feb 16, 2021 18:51:01 GMT
Looks like a true stealth dac! The Darth Vader of DACs!! "Ares, ...you are my ...son..."
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Post by firebottle on Feb 16, 2021 19:25:24 GMT
You can't say Ares in front of a Pegasus, sacre bleu!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2021 19:38:29 GMT
Have you popped the lid off yet? Just wondered what you thought of the build quality if you have.
I can get one of these from Audiophonics.
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Post by jimbo on Feb 16, 2021 19:53:07 GMT
Nice moody shot that Alan.
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Post by electronumpty on Feb 16, 2021 19:55:36 GMT
You can't say Ares in front of a Pegasus, sacre bleu! Apologies, that little bit of Sith in me comes out now and then. 👹
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Post by antonio on Feb 17, 2021 1:10:28 GMT
'Bloody hell that's arrived quickly!' I would love to try one of these or the Pontus, it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry has an Ares. Pleased you're enjoying it Alan, surely it will only get better over the next few hours of use.
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Post by firebottle on Feb 17, 2021 8:22:51 GMT
Have you popped the lid off yet? Just wondered what you thought of the build quality if you have. I can get one of these from Audiophonics. The pictures I have seen show a very nice construction.
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Post by jimbo on Feb 17, 2021 8:25:37 GMT
Imagine popping in all those resistors Alan!
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,358
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Post by Bigman80 on Feb 17, 2021 8:33:08 GMT
Have you popped the lid off yet? Just wondered what you thought of the build quality if you have. I can get one of these from Audiophonics. The pictures I have seen show a very nice construction. Why don't they shield that Transformer? So easy to do!!!
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Post by firebottle on Feb 17, 2022 10:13:00 GMT
30 years for a change of direction.Getting to that in a moment, I realise it's been a year without posting on this thread. Gone is the Dac shown above and in it's place a lovely Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 3. Another addition is the new Bigbottle Ultime phono stage, a real game changer. However the really big change has been to the speaker department. I have had the Quad ESL57's for about 30 years, give or take. Been thinking of trying more conventional speakers and when a pair I liked the look of came up I went to audition. Needless to say the audition went well and I now have a fabulous pair of Theil CS2 2 floorstanders. They are a design by the famous Jim Thiel, 3 way with slow crossover slopes. They sound amazing, more bass weight than the 57's ever had, but very open and precise. From research it seems these are about 30 years old, coincidentally. A very happy bunny!
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optical
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Post by optical on Feb 17, 2022 10:18:19 GMT
30 years for a change of direction.Getting to that in a moment, I realise it's been a year without posting on this thread. Gone is the Dac shown above and in it's place a lovely Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 3. Another addition is the new Bigbottle Ultime phono stage, a real game changer. [img src=" i.imgur.com/p2c6RRhm.jpg" style="max-width:100%;" src="https://imgur.com/p2c6RRh" alt=""] OOOOOOO . . . . intrigued . . . I'm thinking the speakers are part of the change perhaps?? (sorry if I've blown the lid off things there!). Haha, a year . . . . best make it a good one! Holo is probably the nicest looking DAC around and the case construction and board layouts are a feat to behold from what I can see.
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Post by firebottle on Feb 17, 2022 10:25:50 GMT
Had a little difficulty posting the pics, all done now
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optical
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Post by optical on Feb 17, 2022 10:30:48 GMT
30 years for a change of direction.Getting to that in a moment, I realise it's been a year without posting on this thread. Gone is the Dac shown above and in it's place a lovely Holo Audio Spring 3 Level 3. Another addition is the new Bigbottle Ultime phono stage, a real game changer. However the really big change has been to the speaker department. I have had the Quad ESL57's for about 30 years, give or take. Been thinking of trying more conventional speakers and when a pair I liked the look of came up I went to audition. Needless to say the audition went well and I now have a fabulous pair of Theil CS2 2 floorstanders. They are a design by the famous Jim Thiel, 3 way with slow crossover slopes. They sound amazing, more bass weight than the 57's ever had, but very open and precise. From research it seems these are about 30 years old, coincidentally. A very happy bunny! Passive bass radiator thingy on the bottom? They do look nice Alan. How are you finding the different presentation. Ultimately, I still can't live without the detail of stats . . . . but most seem to be able to. You probably need a while to adjust anyway. Great find.
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Post by misterc on Feb 17, 2022 10:33:01 GMT
I like Thiels a lot Alan, had many over the years great speakers they should put a smile on your face.
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Post by firebottle on Feb 17, 2022 10:40:02 GMT
Passive bass radiator thingy on the bottom? They do look nice Alan. How are you finding the different presentation. Ultimately, I still can't live without the detail of stats . . . . but most seem to be able to. You probably need a while to adjust anyway. Great find. Yes 'auxiliary bass radiator' at the bottom instead of a port. The presentation is very good, the biggest difference is the players are in front rather than up towards the ceiling. The detail is a really strong point of these, a few reviews talk of 'static like performance. i don't think I am missing much at all. Not many this side of the pond I believe.
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Post by firebottle on Feb 17, 2022 10:41:13 GMT
I like Thiels a lot Alan, had many over the years great speakers they should put a smile on your face. I can agree with that Tony, certainly smiling here
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optical
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Post by optical on Feb 17, 2022 10:43:22 GMT
Passive bass radiator thingy on the bottom? They do look nice Alan. How are you finding the different presentation. Ultimately, I still can't live without the detail of stats . . . . but most seem to be able to. You probably need a while to adjust anyway. Great find. The presentation is very good, the biggest difference is the players are in front rather than up towards the ceiling. Not tempted to string em up there in the same place as the 57's just to find out Alan?!?!
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Post by macca on Feb 17, 2022 10:47:23 GMT
Don't know if they are the same ones that were for sale that I was looking at the other day but I was tempted especially as the price was reasonable.
I tried to buy some years ago off of Stan Beresford but he decided not to sell.
Open midrange like the ESL but without all the drawbacks. Really good speakers, congratualtions.
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Post by brucew268 on Feb 17, 2022 11:11:52 GMT
Back in the day, some described Thiels as a bit forward in the HF so assume they are fairly revealing of upstream components. With the level refinement in your system, I would imagine that comes out nicely. Never heard any though. Congratulations.
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Post by antonio on Feb 17, 2022 11:38:59 GMT
Congratulations on your new Thiel's, I saw them for sale as well, just don't need another pair of speakers. Very pleased you are enjoying them, I guess this will leave the ceiling looking a little bare. They look great in your room by the way.
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