fishball79

N@Z, Whats so bad about LPs? You dont like em? I give you my address, pay for shipping i help u get rid of em

Mackie, My experience with commercial tweaks is very limited so I won't know if its any better than the BDRs or goldmunds... Balls of Steel is a poor man's Darumas... I'll let uknow what i think in email N@Z, Yeah nice cdp, the marantz... also using TDA1541 DA, similar to mine in the Teac... nearly bought one too! Weight won't be problem for ceramic or plastic plates...

Mackie, You mean Balls Of Steel? Well fi i told you, your own experience would be biased and nulled

Basically the coins becomes focal point where vibrations along the surface of the component would converge unto the coins? I would think so. Similar commercial products would be Totem Beaks

Oh yes Muddy Waters - Folk Singer, another very souful album..... Anyone know where to get the cd?

Ok Mackie covers alot in his thread so i'll just describe what Balls Of Steel does in relation to his explanation What the blu tac mainly does is to keep the spoons still so the bearings would be allowed to move. However, it WILL dampen vibrations slightly. I wouldn't use dampening materials between component and shelving save equipment that are really subjected to heavy vibrations, ie loudspeakers, the very source of the vibrations. For blutac under loudspeakers, it ISN'T dampening in the normal sense as you are altering the way the drivers are reacting to the enclosure. Electronic decks are 'stiff' in the loosest sense in that there isn't any part of it designed to emit vibration. Bearings are allowed to move freely within the spoons. Vibrations passing through a normal equipment would be 'earth' at the feet that is between component n shelf. But not before the innings are 'shaken' slightly. Electrons has mass. Sound pressure and vibrations thus affects them. Period. What the bearings does is to lessen the vibes a components the innings suffer from. When the vibes hits innings, the bearings will allow the equipment to be pushed about verrrrrrrrrrrry slightly. Another main benefit is that only 3 points of the chassis come into contact with the shelf. Thus reducing any vibes to transfer from air/ground up thru rack/shelf to component. Most importantly I tried and it works. The most ideal isolation would be a seperate room... and a very powerful remote... maybe a kid to help change cd

Oscar Peterson Trio - We Get Requests, on a good stereo you can hear how well timed the trio is and despite this being jazz covers of pop songs then... certain parts of the songs can sound exciting! Zwan - Mary Star of the Sea, especially track 2, Settle Down. Has glorious guitar riffs 3/4 the end of the song that realky strikes a chord with me deep down

Mackie, I previously used no longer than 30 cm interconnects, the short length was sometimes a pain when i rearrange equipment or loan new ones. In the end cables are meant to ease life.. to me anway so i know think cables of any kind should be as long as needed... and under 1.5m

Mackie, What about shielding? If you have shielded interconnect and non shielded speaker cables, the system would be less subject to RF if it has long IC and short SC? WHen your OCOS come you have no choice but to grapply with 10' cables heehee

N@Z, Lemme know if you find any bearings, I oso want Generally the harder the ball the better, tungsten ones are better than your run of the mill stainless steel but also costlier.

When's the meeting guys? If i get my materials in time i'll rush a set of cables over for your guys to test as well...

n@z, Freeplay of balls *hehe* is very important in this design... will elaborate more tonight

I personally prefer loudspeakers to grados and details isn't as important to me. The Aegos has sufficient detailed so i can survive on them lor. Plus grados are very uncomfortable for me after 2-3hrs... I previously bought a pair of Sennheiser HD497 but sold it off after a week cos it's lacking in fidelity.

Ultimate album - Jimi Hendrix, particularly Angel Muddy Waters - Folk Singer

Firefox, Hey congrats, POP liao right? Glad the hantus in Tekong didn't get ya... any stories to share? Hope you get a good unit... Guyferd, The reason why Mackie refuse to tell you the results is to prevent psyching yourself into believing the effects described. The best state of mind to be in when comparing something is to have an OPEN MIND

Sipher & Mat, Well I'd like to test the cable first to see if it'll sound good. PM me with the length and termination you need (mini to mini, mini to rca or rca to rca) so i'll have a record of who wants what.

No, the cd player feet are no longer supporting the cd player chassis, only the 3 bearings

Fishball's Cheap & Dirty Balls-Of-Steel To get more comments on this design, i decided to post it here. Buy 3 of the largest flattest spoons u can find or tiny sauce plates or wasabi plate. Experiement with different materials, ceramic, melamine, steel... ~$5-10 for 3 3 1/2" stainless steel ball bearings ~$5-10 each A pack of blu tack ~$2 1) Blu tack the spoons on the shelf in a triangular position. Best to place 2 spoons along the side where the cd player is heavier. Make sure spoons are relatively flat 2) Place bearings in spoon and cd player on top. Make sure bearings aren't pressing against any uneven surface of the cd player chassis Isolate the cd player! I've tried this on marble shelving before. It improves details, soundstaging and had really good low bass. One caveat was everything sounded slightly harsher and vocals more sibilant. As this was the nature of my equipment, the isolation revealed it. So givit a go with different sorts of saucers for the bearings to tweak the sound. I believe ceramic ones give the most pleasing sound. Here are some concept art: http://www.geocities.com/fishball1979/balls_of_steel/ Please let me know of a good host that will allow posting of pictures here. This is my original idea, its based on some threads in Echoloft some time back. That said, the pics are mine.

AE Aego 2 costs about $600+ in Singapore, not a good price imho. They retailed for AU$1100 but I found some brand new ones on sale @ AU$300. They are active so $300 is for a complete speaker/amp package. It comes with speaker wires, interconnects, all the cables u need to get started.

gIMME 15 MINS, i'll post some pictures to illustrate what i've been yabbering about

Eh hem... havent used Grados since i got the Aegos... Grados quite uncomfy after 2+hrs... Unfair statement tho, cos speakers came when during exam period... exams still on till end of june... havent found optimum placing for sub... Lets just say if i want critical listening i'd use the cans, everydya listening + games the Aego. I rather listen only to Aego than only Grados.

Guyferd, When 2 persons argue over the same product giving highly extreme point of views, it is really an argument of their experiene with the same product in different room, placement, musical taste and any personal bias! Both are right in their own way but if you can see how each arrive at their conclusion, you're the winner.

Isolate the cd player! Fishball's Cheap & Dirty Balls-Of-Steel Buy 3 of the largest flattest spoons u can find or tiny sauce plates or wasabi plate. Experiement with different materials, ceramic, melamine, steel... ~$5-10 for 3 3 1/2" stainless steel ball bearings ~$5-10 each A pack of blu tack ~$2 1) Blu tack the spoons on the shelf in a triangular position. Best to place 2 spoons along the side where the cd player is heavier. Make sure spoons are relatively flat 2) Place bearings in spoon and cd player on top. Make sure bearings aren't pressing against any uneven surface of the cd player chassis

Guyferd, I spend just as much if not more time in front of the comp too. I got a good compromise between sound, portability and size... sub/sat systems! I think even a lowly (in comparison to mackie's mojo rig) Klipsch Promedia 2.1 or VIdeo Logic's sirrocco crossfire (if u can still find em) are good stereos...

Mackerel, Got chance try. It sounded to me like OCOS jr with less transparency and bass details.