Greetings from Basingstoke, UK

[MartinT]

Hello from not so sunny England! I've been passionate about music all my adult life and started building hi-fi components as a teenager. Cut to 40 years later and I have assembled a system and collection that gives me great satisfaction. My tastes run from prog rock through female singer/songwriter to classical - especially the big late 19th/early 20th century orchestral pieces and much choral music, branching off into oddities like trip-hop and electronica. I am lucky enough to live on my own in a detached house with a decent listening room (by UK standards) so I can listen at any time.

System
Sources: Ayre C-5xe SACD player, heavily modified Technics SL-1210 Mk.2, Dynavector DV507-II arm, Shelter 5000 cartridge
Phono Preamp: Aurorasound VIDA
Preamp: Pass Labs XP-20
Power amp: Chord SPM-1200E
Speakers: Usher Dancer Be-20
Regenerator: PS Audio P10
Cables: Yannis, SLIC Innovations, Tellurium Q, MCRU
Rack: Solid Tech Radius Duo 3

I'm happy to talk and share. Will show photos when my post count allows

MartinT

[Mike]

Welcome to Audioshark.org Martin! Nice system. Chord gear is excellent, but doesn't have good distribution here in America.


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[MartinT]

Thanks, Mike. Even in the UK Chord is under-appreciated by audiophiles and most of their output goes into professional applications. I would characterise their power amps as incredibly transparent and dynamic with great headroom. I've had mine for 13 years and have still to hear a better power amp in my system.

[joeinid]

Welcome to the forum Martin! Thank you for joining.

[highEndguy]

Bienvenido Martín

[MDP]

Welcome to AS Martin, glad you found us !

[NorthStar]

Hi Martin and welcome to the Shark!

[MartinT]

Thanks, everyone

[CPP]

A most welcome to ya

[MartinT]

So where can I get an impression of where the majority of members outside of the US are from? It looks like a reasonable international membership to me.

Also - are there any good sounds to be had in Houston? My sister lives there and I shall be returning this August.

[the professor]

Welcome to AS!

[dlb2]

Welcome Martin!

[socfan12]

Welcome to AS, Martin!

[MartinT]

Thank you, everyone.

[MartinT]

My system as it was not long ago (I have a new phono preamp now, replacing the Whest and Hashimotos).

[MDP]

Beautiful room Martin !

[Myles B. Astor]

Welcome to Audioshark.org Martin! Nice system. Chord gear is excellent, but doesn't have good distribution here in America.



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I think Jay Rein of Blue Bird Music in Canada was the NA distributor. The 85K Chord monoblocks sounded great on the Estelon speakers at CES and was thinking of getting the scaled down version SPM 6000 Mk. 2 for review and to try on the Magicos. Either that or Constellation.

[Toobs]

Martin
Welcome to Audioshark

[sharkmouth]

hey Martin, welcome to as

[MartinT]

Hello everyone, it's been a good while but I thought I would pop back in and see how everyone is. I have since moved house and changed my system ethos quite dramatically. I now stream Qobuz hi-res exclusively, having sold my turntable, SACD player and record collection. Sound quality is by far the best I have ever experienced and, of course, my 'collection' has several million albums in it!System comprises Asus/Volumio streamer > Mutec MC-3+ USB reclocker > LKS MH-DA004 DAC > Burson AB-160 XLR buffer > Belles SA-100 power amp > Usher Dancer Be-20 speakers. PS Audio P3 & P10 regenerators. Audioquest, Coherent & MCRU cables.My new room is a converted double garage.

[MartinT]

Hello everyone, it's been a good while but I thought I would pop back in and see how everyone is. I have since moved house and changed my system ethos quite dramatically. I now stream Qobuz hi-res exclusively, having sold my turntable, SACD player and record collection. Sound quality is by far the best I have ever experienced and, of course, my 'collection' has several million albums in it! System comprises Asus/Volumio streamer > Mutec MC-3+ USB reclocker > LKS MH-DA004 DAC > Burson AB-160 XLR buffer > Belles SA-100 power amp > Usher Dancer Be-20 speakers. PS Audio P3 & P10 regenerators. Audioquest, Coherent & MCRU cables. My new room is a converted double garage.

[joeinid]

Wonderful upgrade/updates. Your room and system look great.

[Andik777]

Hello everyone, it's been a good while but I thought I would pop back in and see how everyone is. I have since moved house and changed my system ethos quite dramatically. I now stream Qobuz hi-res exclusively, having sold my turntable, SACD player and record collection. Sound quality is by far the best I have ever experienced and, of course, my 'collection' has several million albums in it! System comprises Asus/Volumio streamer > Mutec MC-3+ USB reclocker > LKS MH-DA004 DAC > Burson AB-160 XLR buffer > Belles SA-100 power amp > Usher Dancer Be-20 speakers. PS Audio P3 & P10 regenerators. Audioquest, Coherent & MCRU cables. My new room is a converted double garage.

Beautiful room and equipment. Thanks for sharing.

[MartinT]

Thanks, guys. Do you get Qobuz hi-res streaming in the US yet?

[UltraFast69]

Thanks, guys. Do you get Qobuz hi-res streaming in the US yet?

Hi - Yes, Qobuz is here in force


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[MartinT]

Fab! I'm finding Qobuz streaming very good indeed. Even standard res 16/44 sounds excellent, 24/96 and 24/192 even better.