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Reflecting on Sarah (Read 57214 times)
Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #250 - 08/04/24 at 21:02:50
 
So the reason I’ve been MIA on this thread is because of two main reasons:

1) Struggling to spend time in the rig.  This is due to some healthcare concerns with my parents over the past two months plus the heatwave in NJ is making it exceedingly hot and stuffy in the basement.  It’s not atypical for me to do 30 min sessions and bolt.

2) I’ve been busy tweaking and evaluating the following:

AUVA EQ footers from Stack Audio
Teddy Pardo LPS for my first switch in the chain (Netgear) that is connected to my modem
SDFB and super piggy for my Phoenix Net
SmoothLAN Network Filter from Stack Audio

I first tried the AUVA EQ on my DAC and was very happy with the result.  Night and day difference from the isoacoustics Zazen Platform it was resting on.  I was so enamored with it that I ended up getting footers for my Phoenix Net Switch and Streaming Transport and they too, added further refinement.

After mulling, trying, failing, and then mulling for another year, I ended up getting a Teddy Pardo LPS for my Netgear Switch.  That too was a positive. More subtle than the AUVA EQ’s, but still there.

Getting my fourth SDFB and power cord from Mark for the Phoenix Net was yet another enhancement—that was a forgone conclusion based on the SDFB track record to date.

I also decided to checkout the Stack Audio SmoothLAN Filter and got some positive results there as well.

All in all, I’m getting much better bass, much more detail (I don’t know why that surprised me), better soundstage/layering (with a special nod to depth), more dynamics and increased resolution.  There is this sense of undeniable sonic mass in the notes, which I can’t get enough of and the vocals are even more intimate, clear, and in the room.  A lot of the recordings that I’m intimately familiar with sound new—and that can only be a good thing!
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Kamran
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #251 - 08/08/24 at 02:58:35
 
One thing I forgot to mention—-after my second Cryotone 5AR4 v2 arced, I reached out to Don and he is no longer recommending that particular rectifier for Sarah.  I am getting a replacement 5U4 next week, which I’m also currently using in place of the 5AR4.

In the meantime, I think undersold how amazing the music sounds with the AUVA EQ’s in my last post.  The first set of footers on my DAC added cavernous bass, more drive/slam with grip, the sound signature became just a tad rounder at the edges vs. being precise making it a touch warmer (which I dig), and the soundstage, while certainly a touch bigger, was not necessarily because the scale increased (which has happened before), but I was getting this sense of a hole being plugged.  Like there was missing pieces in the notes—that were now suddenly fully realized.  I don’t know how else to explain it.  And oh, better PRaT was also another positive outcome.

The additional footers added depth and detail, that I thought I had plenty.
However, over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been just awestruck at how much deeper I’m listening in to the recordings with so much more micro detail that I didn’t realize was there.

I’m slowly going to work my way towards getting AUVA EQ’s under all my gear.
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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will
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Posts: 3047
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #252 - 08/08/24 at 15:16:46
 
Hey Kamran. Sounds like the Auva EQs are doing the right things for you. I find all the more worked out feet help in their own ways, but also adjust the sound differently...especially those with "compliant damping" seeming to be more difficult to work out with a high level of transparency and neutrality.  Though perhaps sounding great to a lot of folks, to me some I have tried were a little over damped. As a point of comparison, I wonder what feet you used before these?
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All Modified: PSA-P5>DIY Strip/Shunyata Defender>RevolutionMacMini/Amarra-KTE Singxer/Gustardx20pro/ZBIT/ZR2/CSP3>LaoChen 300B/845>Omega SAHOMs/AudioSmile Tweeters,SVS Micro3000>Pi PCs and DIY PCs, ICs, USB, I2S, Speaker>SR and aluminum w ball bearing feet +
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Kamran
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #253 - 08/08/24 at 16:13:24
 
Hey Will— Good to hear from you!

I would say there is definitely more transparency with the new footers. I’m hearing ever deeper into the recordings over the past couple of weeks and the difference over the isoacoustics platform that my DAC rested on is anything but subtle. The Innuos gear has really good anti-vibration footers to begin with, matched to the resonant frequency of the chassis, so I didn’t have aftermarket footers for them but after learning that a lot of Stack Audio customers had AUVA EQ’s underneath their Innuos gear convinced me to give it a shot and it was a homerun on both counts.

I would highly recommend you give them a shot. Josh @stack audio is a gem to deal with.

Cheers,

Kamran
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Lon
Seasoned Member
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 24899
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #254 - 08/08/24 at 16:34:43
 
Great to hear about the Stack footers. I read good things about them on another forum. One person replaced VooDoo Cable IsoPods (which I use) with them and said they were a little better. I ordered a set of 4 to try under my PS Audio P15.
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HR-1,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod; Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD, DAC Mk II, P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls, Reference spkrcbls; Mapleshade SamsonV3; VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones: Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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will
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Posts: 3047
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #255 - 08/09/24 at 13:27:59
 
Thanks Kamran, I should just order some and try them, you are right!
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All Modified: PSA-P5>DIY Strip/Shunyata Defender>RevolutionMacMini/Amarra-KTE Singxer/Gustardx20pro/ZBIT/ZR2/CSP3>LaoChen 300B/845>Omega SAHOMs/AudioSmile Tweeters,SVS Micro3000>Pi PCs and DIY PCs, ICs, USB, I2S, Speaker>SR and aluminum w ball bearing feet +
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #256 - 10/13/24 at 05:52:38
 
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #257 - 10/13/24 at 23:45:26
 
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Geno
Seasoned Member
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Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2155
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #258 - 10/14/24 at 00:24:43
 
Beautiful photos Kam. An absolute work of art!
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(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU222
Cambrge Audio CXN(ModWright)
Crown XLS-1002
SL1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsm Aida MKll cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b
Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R
ZLC Power Cond
Lii Audio PT-10 OR F-12 OR Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffle
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #259 - 10/15/24 at 00:53:27
 
Thanks Geno— I wanted to capture how a small light source (my Schitt Mani’s powered on state) illuminated it from behind.  I really dig how the second picture captures the contours of the amp and its shadow on the butcher block platform, the overhang of the SE input cable, and the translucency of the wbt connectors of my speaker cable going in to the binding posts—in addition to the beautiful glow of the tubes of-course.
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #260 - 11/08/24 at 21:59:10
 
My first year anniversary with Sarah!

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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Lon
Seasoned Member
****


"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 24899
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #261 - 11/09/24 at 00:28:17
 
Congrats Kam!
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HR-1,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod; Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD, DAC Mk II, P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls, Reference spkrcbls; Mapleshade SamsonV3; VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones: Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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Tony
Seasoned Member
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"Life without
..music is
inconceivable"
A.Einsteln

Posts: 697
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #262 - 11/09/24 at 00:35:45
 

Congratulations indeed! I've followed your journey, and that too has been fun. May the next year be even better!
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SE84UFO25 | STR-1002 | ZBIT | Cambridge CXNv2 | Denafrips Terminator DAC | Denafrips Gaia DDC | Decware I/Cs | Decware Pwr Cbls | ZWIRE Speaker Cbls | Omega SAHOM & KEF KC62 | Furman Cond l GIK Room Trmt
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #263 - 11/09/24 at 00:39:00
 
Thx Guys! The journey has been amazing and continues to be. The last year, especially, has been pure sonic Bliss!
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Lon
Seasoned Member
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"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. Dick

Posts: 24899
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #264 - 11/09/24 at 00:45:04
 
It's an amazing machine, and I think you'll agree it educates you. And though you think by now you have a Master's Degree, if yours is like mine it is pushing you towards a P.H.D.!
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HR-1,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod; Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD, DAC Mk II, P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls, Reference spkrcbls; Mapleshade SamsonV3; VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones: Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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Geno
Seasoned Member
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Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2155
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #265 - 11/10/24 at 01:15:49
 
Man, does time fly! Seems like just the other day, that you posted you had received it. Congrats, and I hope each passing year with it, is better than the last!
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(2)SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) OR Sansui AU222
Cambrge Audio CXN(ModWright)
Crown XLS-1002
SL1210MK5(KAB Mods) Soundsm Aida MKll cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b
Otari MX5050-Bll2 R2R
ZLC Power Cond
Lii Audio PT-10 OR F-12 OR Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffle
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #266 - 11/13/24 at 01:27:21
 
Thx Geno—time does seem to fly by when you’re having a good time!

Lon: Educational experience for sure!
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Dominick
Seasoned Member
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Still like that old
time Rock and Roll!!

Posts: 1331
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #267 - 11/13/24 at 23:40:30
 
Can’t believe it’s already been a year.  You have had an amazing journey thus far…and now you have a new journey ahead of you.  Looking forward to your future posts.  After hearing Sarah in your setup…I was truly amazed!!  Congrats!!  

Dom
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Rasp. Pi 4 [Roon], Schiit Bifrost True Multibit DAC, ZBIT, ZROCK2, My Audio Cables Ultra Silver+, ZSB, CSP2+ 25th, DAG Cables, DHC1, Torii MKIV 25th /2 White Zen SE84C+ 25th mono’s, Rega P2 Turntable, White top ZP3, Velodyne Dual Firing Sub, ERR’s [Bubbinga Wood]
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #268 - 11/15/24 at 04:53:29
 
Thx Dom!

Speaking of new journey—-I was able to snag a great deal on Pure Audio Project Duet 15s with Voxative PiFe drivers (vs. the AC 1.6) and their beautiful Walnut Baffle with IsoAcoustics GAIA footers.  The story of how I got them is pretty epic, but it’s going to get too long to write and it’s better told in person—Dom and Nigel can attest to that.  Let’s just say I was partly in the right place at the right time, partly faster to act, and partly very very lucky.  Word on the street is that I left someone heartbroken at CAF…

Extremely happy with how they’re pressurizing the rig but still in the early stages of getting to know them, especially understanding the external crossover topology.  I’ve already changed the orientation of one of the jumpers (on each crossover) that attenuates the high frequencies (suit to taste) and was pleasantly surprised how I nailed the placement without listening first.  And when I tested the center imaging:

‘Jennifer was dead center.’

Imaging is sitting higher now (which I dig), the soundstage increased in size and there is more scale. The Voxativ’s are very natural compared to the decidedly spicier nature of the Fast 15s (which will take some getting used to), and they also are bringing this undeniable sonic mass to the presentation, which is fascinating.

Initially, I heard the left driver sputter with no rhyme or reason. It happened randomly (and very briefly) 3 times in six hrs of initial evaluation—so anything but constant.  I then untucked the crossover cable to the Voxativ between the frame and wood baffle (so it hangs more freely) and tightened the screw in terminals on the crossover and made sure it was not co-mingling with the crossover cable for the Eminence bass woofer (both their separate ways)— that has seemed to fix it.

Needless to say, I’m going to have to let my beloved Fast 15 Baffles go.  Will be posting on Classifieds by tomorrow.

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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Kamran
Seasoned Member
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #269 - 11/28/24 at 20:04:22
 
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Bottlehead
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Posts: 557
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #270 - 11/29/24 at 05:32:42
 
Wow, Kam!! Those are really beautiful! Congratulations. Those have been on my “interested in” list for years now, but I need another pair of speakers like I need another hole in my anatomy. Enjoy, and good luck with the sale of the magnums.

Randy
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Kamran
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #271 - 11/29/24 at 06:32:07
 
Thx Randy!
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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Zork
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Posts: 25
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #272 - 11/30/24 at 19:37:38
 
These are really great speakers and very difficult to tire from.  I've had mine for around 2 years.  If you do hear any strange sounds coming from them it's many times the wiring in the crossovers which has been pretty easy to fix by moving and tightening them by elimination. I had one finicky resistor that was sympathetically rattling.  Nothing since. Glad you got it fixed.  
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Kamran
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Sarah

Posts: 1122
Re: Reflecting on Sarah
Reply #273 - 12/01/24 at 01:16:21
 
Thx Zork! Yes, that’s exactly what I did and that seemed to resolve the issue. Another thing I did was to move the xo from the base of the frame to resting it on a pad on the carpet behind each speaker.  The result was instantly audible with less vibrations impacting the xo.

I’m upgrading the xo cables later this week so I have the same sound signature from amp to each driver.
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Innuos Pulse Streaming Transport and Phoenix Net Switch-Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC-Ic0n4 Autoformer Passive Pre-Sarah 300B SET Amp-ZBIT-GIK Room Treatment—Walnut Pure Audio Project Duet 15 w Voxative PiFe-P.I. Audio MajikBuss & Puritan PSM 156 Conditioners
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