Complico - It Suddenly Hits You - December 2013

I always remember a Peter Serafinowicz sketch Complico where everyday items are sold with complicated formulas - it's ludicrous but highlights when sometimes you have lost the plot.

 

Around Christmas I have re-evaluated my system and have removed the ifi usb, TeraDak U9 power supply and Acoustic Revive USB 1.0-SPS so that I am now directly linking the Macbook Pro to the Berkeley Alpha UBS by the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB.

The main reason for this was the slightly lacklustre performance of the Tellurium Q Black Diamond USB compared to my previous Tellurium Q Graphite USB. Was the Black Diamond not up to scratch or was it being choked by the downstream components?

After removal of the ifi usb, TeraDak U9 power supply and Acoustic Revive USB 1.0-SPS there was a definitive improvement in bass tightness, separation and fine detail - the Black Diamond USB was being choked.

Having recently bought the Light Harmonics USB and AES/EBU cables it's going to lead to evaluation between the Acoustic Revive 1.0-SPS, Tellurium Q Black Diamond and Light Harmonics USB leads and the Acoustic Revive and Light Harmonics AES/EBU cables - the USB shootout will be fully detailed in the future with two leads for sale. The Light Harmonics AES/EBU will not arrive until April 2014 so a little while to wait for that contest.

Hence Complico - from now on it's one in one out - that's a promise.

Chord Chameleon Silver Plus Interconnects - February 2004 - Part 4

The words kept ringing in my head "you really should try some Chord interconnects" and early in the new year buoyed with the success of my new Spendor floorstanders I found myself again in Gloucester Hifi.

I am advised to look at the Chord Chameleon Silver Plus interconnects and purchase 2 No - 1m pairs for between the NAD C520 CD player & Quad 34 preamplifier & preamplifier to Quad 306 power amplifier.

These are handsome cables - bright blue and incredibly thick compared to my bog standard wire leads with silver connectors - very excited to hear the difference they will make to my system.

The first connection is between cd player and preamplifier and yes there is an improvement in the sound but not anywhere near what I expected - disappointed. 

Next connection between preamplifier and power amplifier - absolutely amazing - the largest transformation I have ever heard by introducing a new component into a stereo system still to this day.

What can I say - it's night and day better - I play all my favourite cd's for hours and discover instruments, percussion and bass lines that I have never heard before - I am totally hooked - these interconnects are fantastic.

The audio bug was now in my bloodstream - hours after the euphoria of the Chord Chameleon's I was starting to plan my next purchase................

Spendor S5e - December 2004 - Part 3

My first trip to an audio dealership had left me completely bemused - did I have dodgy hearing or was the sales guy a knob?

I decided that the sales guy was indeed a knob and that this time I would do more background reading regarding suitable speakers so bought a copy of What HIFI and off I went to peruse the speaker section.

After a few days I noted some speakers that I would want to trial and dealerships that stocked them - one of the speakers was the Spendor S5e and they stocked them at (the sadly defunct) Gloucester Hifi in Three Cocks Lane which is near where I work.

A lunchtime visit immediately presents a more caring and supportive environment - no hurried demo here but a lot of questions concerning my listening preferences, room size, speaker placement positions and list of existing equipment - and they like Quad kit!

A demonstration is arranged and the Spendor S5e's sound mighty fine - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here and The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main Street have great spacial presentation, detail, tone, timing and clarity - these are my new speakers without doubt.

As I prepare to shell out the cash the owner Phil casually asks that I may like to try out some Chord interconnects which should make a massive difference to my system - I didn't realise it then but the hook was already in my mouth and I didn't feel a thing..........