Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Now, usually, I am very cynical when it comes to certain components but after deciding to protect my equipment a little with a surge protector, my search/research led me to a 'mains conditioner and surge protector.'

I found a Tacima CS947 ( http://www.whathifi.com/tacima/cs947/review )for the same price as a Belkin multi-socket surge protector so thought I'd give it a go.

There's a definite difference and to my ears, it's quite an improvement. This has obviously got me wondering how much of an improvement I can get with Clearer Audio (or similar) power cables (and just how far in general I can push the components I've already got.)

So, does anyone use/rate upgraded cables and if so, what do think?

That 'review' says absolutely nothing about how it works and like most hifi literature, is stuffed full of total bullshit.
If your power is noisey a conditioner can help but changing power cables will achieve nothing apart from disproportionately emptying your wallet.

D_H is on the fence about this issue then.

I probably wouldn't understand 'how' it works anyway - I'm just surprised it does to the extent it does to be honest.

Not sure if it's the right thread but does anyone have any idea how I'd transfer video files from my cheapy Hitachi freeview/HDD box to my PC as an mp4 or whatever?

Hello.... as of Thursday I will be on the market for a new AV Cinema Receiver as iv sold my yamaha 5.1 to a friend as iv upgraded all my speakers and cable.
Im running Dali zensor speakers all round and some decent thickish cable along with banana plugs. Not currently running a sub as I have passed all the old speakers onto my friend but ill survive without one for awhile until i can get a active sub ( the one you plug into to power lol) i always mix passive and active up.
Any recommendations on a AV Cinema Receiver with a budget of £300 doesn't have to be 7.2 but most new ones in shops seem to be 7.2 around the £300 mark.
Mainly used for watching general tv playing PS4 and occasionally listing to vinyls and spotify at the weekend.

cheers in advance

I've always been a fan of Onkyo. Not the prettiest but good features and sound for the money. Maybe http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/onkyo/txnr646/onky-tx-nr646-blk http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/onkyo-tx-nr646/ if you're looking new.

'how' it works

It probably filters out RFI.
In which case I can believe it has an effect. I have the parts sitting in a box to build one, which admittedly has been on my to do list for a few years.

It certainly seems to have the features and the option for two more height speakers seems cool. Just can't get over the ugly looks and that remote! The remote looks worse than my Yamaha and that's pretty ugly.
But yeah that's the only issue aha

All their models are the same, I have a universal remote with mine so don't notice.

Hmm never thought about using a universal remote.

I have been drawn to this Yamaha. Looks the same as mine now but with added features

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Without a universal remote I'd need at least 8 separate remotes and I can also use it for controlling my lights.

Yep Logitech harmony 650 here.

Crap to setup but once it works it works.

One button to turn everything on for music or tv or Chromecast.

I no longer have a record player.
Dazaa has my 1200 and my 1203 has just been sent off for repair too.
Tough times.
Quite excited about getting it professionally repaired finally though.

I've been systematically upgrading with a few bits and pieces.

I've been changing one thing at a time and then listening to Steely Dan's Aja and Kraftwerk's Man Machine to see if I could detect a change and/or improvement.

For anyone interested, I've:

Isolated the speakers from the stands with sorbothane pads.

Swapped the felt mat for a lather mat.

Added a Tacima CS947 power conditioner/surge protector.

Swapped the standard platter and leather mat for an Acrylic platter

Pro-Ject Speed Box DS for the turntable.

So far, so good. I'm not sure there's an improvement in sound with the speed box but the ability to change speeds without faffing with the platter and belt is great!

Next up is a cable upgrade as I need longer speaker cables anyway, possibly a cartridge upgrade as a friends is getting rid of a Linn Adikt and I accidentally bought a tube pre-amp so I'll give that a go.

I've bagged an LFD LS0 to match my PA0 so does anyone fancy a nice little passive pre amp?
Aural Thrills Deluxe Silver
It's a stepped attenuator based unit. You do the main volume in big increments then can fine tune left/right in smaller if desired. I.e. balance control.
4 inputs
Gold RCAs
Silver / teflon wired

It's kinda shoebox/half size. Very nice neutral sound I've enjoyed it for a few years.
£50 collected Brixton / West End or £55 posted?

Pics

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Bit of a long shot, but has anyone got a volume knob that would fit a Rotel RA820?

Ended up going richer sounds today and buying one. Pick it up tomorrow and they knocked £20 off which is nice

You can get simlar looking ones at RS and Farnell. Maplin used to do them as well. I think they were called something like "extruded aluminium".

This is a day late but i have this receiver.

Is good.

Well I'm very impressed with it so far! Sounds much better that my previous Yamaha. Sounds like I have a sub even though I'm currently not running one, my old amp wasn't powering my Dali speakers as well.
Getting my head around the new controller layout and using the different sound modes e.g Dolby and dts and stuff.
Still got 2 speakers left from my old system so might see if I can use them and get 7.1

Most stuff will just switch automatically depending what the signal is coming in. The fake surround sound modes like Dolby PL II aren't really worth it.

That's a good point but if I have the speakers to hand then why not aye? Still have some banana plugs I need to use up haha.

Now I have my amp I am after a subwoofer for a small sized room but will be using it in a medium sized room in the future. I'm running all Dali speakers so a Dali sub would be nice but it's only the e9f for £399 or the smaller fazon sub for £299.
Loads of subs in the market so any other suggestions around the £300 mark?

Cheers

I'm thinking of getting some kind of all in one system. Something with a hard drive for storing lossless files, streaming, CD player, digital radio. The Sony hap s1 looks good but only has a hd. Anything I should be looking at?