Hello from Carlos in the UK - A growing desktop system

RootScript · « **on:** 7 Jan 2016, 03:44 am »

My name is Carlos (nick: RootScript), I'm based in the UK and I just wanted to introduce myself.
I'm interested in low powered tube amplifiers, in a near-field listening setup, with as high sensitivity speakers as I can find//afford.

I have recently (late 2015) developed a love of the little MiniWatt S1 from 2009, and I am currently enjoying tweaking my setup & trying to document my progress.

It would be nice to collaborate with others who might enjoy a similar desktop//near-field setup.

I've read quite a lot of useful threads in the audiocircle forums, and had not signed up before as I had nothing to contribute at that time.
So now I'm here & ready to get involved

RootScript · « **Reply #1 on:** 25 Jan 2016, 09:05 pm »

46 views zero replies in 3 weeks - I guess I'll just welcome myself

System update:

Is anyone else interested in small tube desktop setups?

Phil A · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 Jan 2016, 09:44 pm »

Welcome to AC! - don't have tubes for the desk top at the moment.

Blackmore · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Jan 2016, 09:47 pm »

That's a great line of tube amps. Welcome

Guy 13 · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Jan 2016, 09:52 pm »

A warm welcome to AudioCircle Mr. Carlos

Guy 13

ebag4 · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Jan 2016, 09:57 pm »

Welcome Carlos! No desktop system at the moment however I do enjoy low powered tube amps, currently running a Bottlehead Stereomour with 2A3s and waiting on a 300b Bottlehead kit called "Kaiju".

Best,
Ed

ArthurDent · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jan 2016, 10:04 pm »

Greetings & Welcome to AC Carlos

Nice looking setup(s). Sorry your initial intro got missed.

RootScript · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jan 2016, 10:49 pm »

Thanks Phil A, Blackmore, Guy 13, ebag4 & ArthurDent - I feel more than welcome now.
I've been 'away from music' for many years as 'music was banned form the workplace'

, so I have made up for it in a short period of time; this is my amp collection form the last 2 months.

Looking forward to being more involved in the community here.

TrungT · « **Reply #8 on:** 26 Jan 2016, 12:24 am »

Welcome to AC

Triode Pete · « **Reply #9 on:** 26 Jan 2016, 12:44 am »

Welcome to AC! Have fun!

Cheers,
Pete

mresseguie · « **Reply #10 on:** 26 Jan 2016, 02:34 am »

Hello, Carlos.

Sorry about the initial silence, but it happens every now and again, I guess.

Welcome to our neck of the woods.

Michael

brooklyn · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 Jan 2016, 05:04 am »

Welcome to the Audio Circle..

RootScript · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Feb 2016, 07:41 pm »

Thank you for your warm welcomes TrungT, Triode Pete, mresseguie & brooklyn - the community spirit here is very much appreciated

System upgrade: Added Bowers & Wilkins XT2 speakers, and a tiny Schiit Vali 2 preamplier.
I have the volume on my main tube amp (Telefunken tubes) at 100%, and use the Vali 2 preamp as a volume control:

It is starting to look a little bit more respectable (I removed the weakest link A2+ speakers

).
The clarity & amount of detail has greatly improved with the addition of the B&W Nautlius tweeters, one of my better buys

A DAC upgrade is next on the cards > Sabre 9018 is looking suitable to my needs.

RootScript · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Feb 2016, 08:22 pm »

I nearly forgot to mention, I did a 'behind the scenes' upgrade. I added an AG500 AC regenerator to ensure I have a stable & spike free 230v, with 6 IEC outlets for all my audio equipment & it also has a UPS battery too.

After much discussion with my friends, it was time to upgrade 'the weakest link' in my system 'speakers', and also the electricity supply to everything. No more dirty DC polluting my AC power.
I've learnt a about a lot of things here (as isolated components), but it also helps if looking for the 'weakest links' in your WHOLE system, including your power supply.

Brad · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Feb 2016, 08:27 pm »

+1 on the power. I recently had a dedicated circuit run, and it was at least as significant as a major component upgrade.

Welcome to AC - where are you located in the U.K.?

RootScript · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Feb 2016, 08:32 pm »

Quote from: Brad on 18 Feb 2016, 08:27 pm

+1 on the power. I recently had a dedicated circuit run, and it was at least as significant as a major component upgrade.

Welcome to AC - where are you located in the U.K.?

Bedfordshire Junction 11 off the M1 motorway (about 30 miles north of London), but my hometown back in London, Brentford in Middlesex.
What about yourself Brad, where abouts are you?

Brad · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Feb 2016, 11:12 pm »

Hi Carlos,

I'm in Houston, TX (but I'm a Sunderland fan!)
Lot of expats here.
I've been to the U.K. just once, last year. A week in London/Bromley/Manchester, then a week driving around the NE (Yorkshire Dales, Durham, York, Sunderland etc)

It looks like you changed your speaker setup a bit to accommodate those B&Ws - more nearfield.
It's probably close to headphone sound, but with less discomfort

Cheers

RootScript · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Mar 2016, 01:17 pm »

System update with REL Acoustics T-Zero bass system.

Also upgraded my speaker & subwoofer connections to 6mm & 4mm LF-OFC diameter cable. Termination was painful (1 hour preparation, 3 hours termination).

The green background scale is in inches (This cable is as fat as my fingers now, 1 inch at it's fattest point):

Will post more (silver DIY interconnects), and maybe some new Nordost quality cables (not made by me) (If I feel brave enough to purchase them)

It's a nice dream

but financially impractical. But it is a good idea to get a demo loan of these Nordost cables, as they can revel holes/weaknesses in the rest of your system & would allow you to have a good 'point of reference' when buying less expensive cables.
If anyone wants a recommendation on good quality (bang for buck) speaker cable, look for the Van damme LC-OFC cable, the 6mm dual shotgun cable is about £7 per meter, but is very well made directional cable. Van damme cables are a very good choice before you go to any exotic cables & are a very good starting point I think.

Hope you guys like the new additions? (I can FULLY recommended REL Acoustics subwoofers (the T-Zero is perfectly refined for a desktop setup))

JLM · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Mar 2016, 02:31 pm »

Belated welcome (your thread probably came in during a busy time and got buried).

I've been running near-field (in-room) for 10+ years. Looks like you have a good sized desk facing near a wall. Like your collection of small amps. Have you ever considered headphones?

Have you considered active monitors? (Your old A2+ are powered speakers, that's different.) Active speakers use one channel of amplification per driver and a low voltage crossover upstream of the amps. The advantages of active design are huge: cheaper/smaller, more coherent (you don't hear separate woofer/tweeter), more dynamic, very flat frequency response, and unbelievably deep/full bass. The recording/mixing professionals use them in very similar settings. But for their work they need a very analytical/dry/revealing presentation that most would not find enjoyable for home entertainment. But home versions are out there. Audiostream.com and soundonsound.com are good places to start looking.

With active speakers you need only a source (computer with DAC), and a volume control (some actives have a volume control on the front so even that can be eliminated). In fact, there are a few active speakers that include a DAC (but as fast as DAC technology is changing I wouldn't go that far). How's the Schiit preamp working for you? I looked into them but determined that they're really primarily designed for headphone use. But I'd highly recommend a Bi-Frost multi-bit for a reasonably priced system running single-ended (RCA) interconnects.

Did you have power aberrations? I find they are very localized and personally have never had a need for AC regeneration/etc. And other than tidying up, why are you bundling your cables together? Most worry about EMI/RF leakage/shielding issues between cabling if close by and especially if they are paralleling.

smk · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Mar 2016, 04:05 pm »

Welcome RootScript!

We've all viewed Multi-Kilo Pound statement systems. I like to see is affordable stuff for the masses.

Sorry if that's not quite right but I'm from the other side of the pond.