Cables with BNC Connectors/Adapters Are Generating A Superoir SQ

[Matt]

do you use Neutrik BNCs with your Van Damme cable?

Hey Matt,

Am I using a Van Damme cable ?

Peter

Peter,

if you deny that it is a VD 278-475-000 I will apologize.

KR

Matt

[PeterSt]

Haha, no need to apologize at any time. And of course I just was teasing (not only today). So .
But smart or good of you to do this with so few data.

Now you can answer everybody's questions.

Oh, the answer was Yes. And no you know which of those too. Haha.

Best regards,
Peter

[Matt]

Now you can answer everybody's questions.

Best regards,
Peter

Haha, Peter,

do not overestimate my capabilities. But after publishing the specs it was an easy task.
And the Neutriks are the NBLC75BVZ17.

BTW, I like your approach: You discover sonic advantages with the BNCs and change immediately your NOS1a for the better.

ATB

Matt

[manisandher]

But let's wait until Mani has a judgement. He will have all on Tuesday, but it will last until next weekend before he is there to apply the "amp" adjustments.

I replaced the regular RCA input connectors in the Orelinos with the 75Ω BNC connectors that Peter provided me. (Oh, and if Peter ever tells you that anything is a "no job", don't believe him.)

My (second) NOS1a came back with 75Ω output connectors installed (and a beautiful "75 B" inscription on its front faceplate). In the box was also a 10m pair of Peter's 'Blaxius' cables.

I've had everything set up since Saturday evening (I've hopefully crawled under my floorboards for the very last time), and here are my thoughts (sorry for the bullet points - I don't really like them, but it's just more efficient doing things this way):

Immediate Impressions

•   ultra, ultra-smooth
•   the whole sound-stage is now placed well behind the speakers
­   - cymbals generally waaay back in room (but still totally crystal clear)
­   - voices 1-2m behind speakers
•   perception of slightly compressed dynamics (compared to before)
•   nothing jumping out independently into room (in front of MF/HF horn), and absolutely nothing annoying – I could imagine listening at high SPLs to virtually anything, without any listening fatigue
•   loads of deep bass ... at long last!

On further listening

•   this is NOT a hazy, soft, woolly sound at all – there’s incredible detail
­   - easy to distinguish between different types of cymbals
­   - I'm hearing nuances I've never noticed before
•   beautiful balance to sound (maybe a little bottom-heavy, but this will be easy to adjust if I decide I want to)
•   double bass now resonates beautifully (maybe not quite as much as at Paul’s place with his Orelino speakers, but a quantum leap over the ‘paper-bass’ sound I've had with the Orelos up until now)
 
I'm really, really enjoying the sound I have right now (looking forward to the next listening session is always a good sign, and one that I've not had for a while). And more importantly, I'm totally, absolutely convinced the system is now more musically satisfying than before.

A MASSIVE thank you to Peter. Man, where would we be without you?

More to follow (I'm sure)...

Mani.

[Edit: My (second) NOS1a, which I'll refer to as '75 B' from here on in, has had the 'Nick/Paul mods' applied to it by Paul, namely; a bunch of Black Gate caps, and a Dexa USB clock with independent PS. The Dexa really shouldn't make any difference to a NOS1a, but I cannot comment on the effect, if any, that the BG caps might be having on the sound.]

[PeterSt]

Hey Mani,

I replaced the regular RCA input connectors in the Orelinos with the 75Ω BNC connectors

I recall a particular person living very close to your wife, who once made a remark towards two other guys living at more distance from your wife about "Bert's nomenclature". Has to be a UK thing ?

beautiful balance to sound (maybe a little bottom-heavy, but this will be easy to adjust if I decide I want to)

and

[Edit: My (second) NOS1a, which I'll refer to as '75 B' from here on in, has had the 'Nick/Paul mods' applied to it by Paul, namely; a bunch of Black Gate caps, and a Dexa USB clock with independent PS. The Dexa really shouldn't make any difference to a NOS1a, but I cannot comment on the effect, if any, that the BG caps might be having on the sound.]

Yes. This is what I noticed myself, though a bit difficult to judge because I could only listen briefly to your 75B taking it cold out of its box;
I found the bass to be more than impressive - up to possibly a bit over. So I said "possibly" and I too can't really say it is because of the BG's. The Dexa shouldn't be of influence (but who knows) with the notice that you refer to the "USB Clock" (this might be not clear to everyone).

And Mani ...

A MASSIVE thank you to Peter. Man, where would we be without you?

... please keep in mind that it only took me a lot of time (and some $$$ as well - that not much dfferent from others including yourself) but that without Joachim the whole subject would not have been here.
But then of course I gracefully accept your thanks because it was something I could see working and *had* to make something out of it; almost more scaring than exciting because of the whole new subject (for me).
Possibly it has been more a subject of "see ? cables are a hoax" and now I can only hope that "tomorrow" nothing has changed your mind. And/but might you encounter an off-day, that happens here too - totally not sure why or how. Will be okay the next day. So just "announcing" it.

On behalf of more than me, thank you for the feedback !
Peter

[PeterSt]

Allow me to show the below picture. This is most certainly not to get everybody's attention and motivate to yet upgrade AGAIN, but this one if officially there so it has a "right" to be shown;

Like I told earlier in this topic, it is nice that we got this far with it all, but I seriously don't know how to apply it to people in a consistent fashion. So before it is asked again : it needs the appliance in the NOS1 (that part seems doable for you out there but is to be tested by me) but it also needs the BNC connectors at the amp's end. This is way more tough for almost eberybody. Without the latter it is "guessing" while in the mean time you (or we !!) adjusted your NOS1(a) maybe without reason. So it all "fell over" me and I don't know how to continue really. This is rare () and I don't know how to deal with myself. Like this post (or picture) maybe better shouldn't be there. But it *is* about vast progress if you ask me, so ... grrrr ...

Peter

[Scroobius]

Hi Mani,

Glad to hear that you like your new "Blaxius" cables. But you while you were installing yours I was also doing the same to my system. So I now (as of yesterday) have "Blaxius" in my setup. Everything should be the same as yours and Peters except that I have not yet received the resistors to increase the output impedance of my NOS1a to 75ohm - that will happen later in the week (hopefully). Anyway not withstanding that "Blaxius" in my system is very very impressive indeed and hugely better than the other coax interconnects I tried recently. The sound is very detailed with excellent imaging and dynamics.

However. the interesting thing is that the difference between "Blaxius" and my previous specially made up interconnects (the ones that were installed here when you cam for a listen Mani - see my previous posts) is not as big as I was expecting. With Blaxius the sound is cleaner more dynamic and a bit less "fat" in the mid range. Of course increasing the output impedance of NOS1a may make another big change but somehow I doubt that (but I hope it does of course). If I was to put it on a scale of 1 to 10 I would say my interconnects were at 8.5 and Blaxius are at 10. Now for me that has to be surprising because the construction and materials of Blaxius and my i/c's is so totally different. So all in all it is a surprise that the quality of the sound really is quite similar between the two i/c's. The character of the two is very similar (i.e. neutral).

So could it be that the difference in sound between our systems was actually down to the interconnects? my previous interconnects are special I have heard them against many many others (mostly at the shop of a hi fi dealer friends) and nothing came close. So it really is saying something that "Blaxius" is better. But I am still really surprised at how close they are.

When I heard Peters system over in Holland I did feel that his interconnects at the time were holding it back I would love to hear it again with Blaxius - but maybe I know what it sounds like anyway!

Anyway at the end of the day I am sitting here listening to my system wondering how on earth would it be possible to improve on this quality of sound reproduction.

By the way it took a few hours for the sound to settle down with the new Blaxius as there was a slight rough edge to start with but it seems to have settled down beautifully and quickly within only a few hours use.

Anyway Kudos to Peter another stonking success!!!

Cheers

Paul
 

[Scroobius]

'Nick/Paul mods' applied to it by Paul, namely; a bunch of Black Gate caps, and a Dexa USB clock with independent PS

Just to point out that many of the Blackgate's will have been removed by Ciska during the upgrade to NOS1a. Particularly those around the DAC power supply have all been removed - and it is those that made the really big difference to the bass pre upgrade. So what is left I would not expect to make a huge difference to the bass really. Maybe there is only thing better than a BG and that is no BG. !!

Cheers

Paul

[PeterSt]

Paul, teaser ! 

Small remark after some deliberation over here :
No BG's have been removed from Mani's NOS1. (Nick's the same). Yours though went differently because we never really tried (especially the ones which should be moved) and Ciska gave you the ones in your hand which would be "left over" with the message (and I think it was me who told you that in advance) : you can re-assemble them yourself of course, if you want. Two things :

For Nick we left them in because he wouldn't care about "no-sight" and for Mani we left them in because otherwise we would be destructive and Mani would need to call you in again. And for your situation ? we just thought it wouldn't fit - but didn't try either.

Long story, but maybe necessary to convince Mani (and you) that nothing changed there (except for the "no sight" if you remove the cover).

Regards,
Peter

[manisandher]

Peter, you just beat me to it. This is what I had just typed:

Just to point out that many of the Blackgate's will have been removed by Ciska during the upgrade to NOS1a.

Having taken a quick peek inside my 75B, I think the Blackgates are still there. I counted at least 5 large red Blackgates...

Mani.

[Scroobius]

Paul, teaser !    Small remark after some deliberation over here :
No BG's have been removed from Mani's NOS1. (Nick's the same).

MMmm interesting.

 

[Scroobius]

Another night on with the new "Blaxius" interconnects and wow are they good. They seem to be significantly better tonight than the first night. That may in part be down to some tweaks I made to get the PC noise back down to the minimum again. To be honest I have been preoccupied with my new Orelino's and had somewhat neglected the PC setup following a rebuild prior to the Orelino's arrival.

Listening now the very tiniest details are easily and effortlessly presented. The dynamic, tone and timbre of instruments is so lifelike it really is jaw dropping. Symbols are incredibly realistic. I have never heard anything like this from any system anywhere before.

The gap has grown significantly between my old interconnects and the "Blaxius" - good as they were my old i/c's cannot match up to this now.

And I have not received the resistors to increase the Zout of the NOS1a. Presumably they are in some postman's bag wondering around a country lane lost somewhere.

The only slightly odd thing is the sound sitting in the "sweet spot" between the speakers - there are some phase like effects just moving the head slightly. I just wonder if it is necessary to get the speakers exactly positioned now to get best effects - I will get the lasers out and see how accurately I can set them up. But hey that is a trivial observation this sound quality is simply stunning.

Cheers

Paul

[christoffe]

Hey Joachim, I'm also interested in your impression of the RG 223 solid, silver coated, copper cable you ordered.

Brian

Hi Brian,

after a "break in" time of appr. 10 days the SQ improved a "hell" and the sound is really amazing, much better than with the H + S cable. Voices, mids and basses (kick drums) are great.

Since Mani and Paul are on "Cloud 9" with Peters Blaxius BNC cable I have ordered a pair for a comparison.

Joachim

[christoffe]

The only slightly odd thing is the sound sitting in the "sweet spot" between the speakers - there are some phase like effects just moving the head slightly. I just wonder if it is necessary to get the speakers exactly positioned now to get best effects - I will get the lasers out and see how accurately I can set them up. But hey that is a trivial observation this sound quality is simply stunning.

Cheers
Paul

Hi Paul,

since I'm using a laptop (battery removed) the "sweet spot listening position" is not mandatory anymore/again and I'm sitting in my prefered "off axis" sofa, AND the SQ is much better than with my PC. It is another/higher league.

Joachim

[boleary]

Hi Brian,

after a "break in" time of appr. 10 days the SQ improved a "hell" and the sound is really amazing, much better than with the H + S cable. Voices, mids and basses (kick drums) are great.

Since Mani and Paul are on "Cloud 9" with Peters Blaxius BNC cable I have ordered a pair for a comparison.

Joachim

Thanks Joachim, very much appreciate this. Now, of course, I 'm hoping to hear your impression of the "silver coated copper" versus the Blaxius, though based on Peter, Paul and Mani's impressions, I'm pretty sure I know what it will be. Still, will be interesting to hear your thoughts.

Brian