An Audio Expert Comment & Another Upgrade

[Pider]

Originally Posted by Yamaki

My search for a streamer for the second system ended today with an accepted offer at another site for a SimAudio Moon MiND 180 streamer. It's on the way! Soon I'll have this system wrapped up and operating as it should be operating...finally...

Congratulations!

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Yamaki

My search for a streamer for the second system ended today with an accepted offer at another site for a SimAudio Moon MiND 180 streamer. It's on the way! Soon I'll have this system wrapped up and operating as it should be operating...finally...

Congratulations Michael, a very nice setup you're developing. I'd be very interested to hear how you like the MiND, I'm thinking about upgrading one of my squeezebox touches and this is on the short list.

[Yamaki]

Thanks, John! You are up early.

Tony, this is my second MiND 180. I have one in my main system and I was an early adopter of this product back in 2012.

I was given the opportunity to provide user input and suggestions on the interface and Apple app soon after I acquired the first one.

After some back and forth, SimAudio implemented some user suggestions and came out with a revision late in 2013 which I find much easier to use and provides some nice user customizable touches.

Come on down sometime and we can look at mine if you wish.

[adhesiv]

Is it capable of DSD out?

[Yamaki]

I don't think they support DSD yet, Jayson.

The specs are:

UPnP Renderer (Universal Plug & Play)
· DLNA 1.5 Compatibility
· Online content from vTuner Internet Radio & "Music Services" upgrades
· Local Playlists, Gapless Playback & Silent track scanning
· File Support up to 24-bit/192kHz for all file formats
· Supported file formats: Wave, FLAC, FLAC HD, AIF, AAC, ALAC, MP3 (vbr/cbr), WMA-9 ,OGG Vorbis
· S/PDIF, TosLink & AES/EBU digital outputs
· 100Base-T RJ45 Ethernet interface & IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi interface inputs
· WEP, WPA, WPA2 Wi-Fi encryption support

[adhesiv]

Bummer, I think the Aries has my name but the MiND had me intrigued. Enjoy!

[Antonmb]

Originally Posted by Yamaki

Thanks, John! You are up early. Tony, this is my second MiND 180. I have one in my main system and I was an early adopter of this product back in 2012. I was given the opportunity to provide user input and suggestions on the interface and Apple app soon after I acquired the first one. After some back and forth, SimAudio implemented some user suggestions and came out with a revision late in 2013 which I find much easier to use and provides some nice user customizable touches. Come on down sometime and we can look at mine if you wish.

thanks Michael, for the kind invitation. I'd enjoy that, but I'm a good 5-6 hours from Portland so it will be tough to arrange.

[Yamaki]

No worries, Tony. But if you ever get down Portland way and want to say Hi, just PM me!

[Yamaki]

Well, this has turned into quite the evolution.

A 2-channel system that was originally cobbled together from mismatched bits and pieces that were cast aside, stored or rescued to be re-used in some form or fashion as my whim dictated over time has now become very very pleasing and wonderful to listen to.

It started with a pair of McIntosh pieces I found at an estate sale a few years ago. Dusty, neglected and slightly abused, they begged me to take them home. Even though I wasn't shopping for any audio gear at the time, I couldn't say no.

The C28 was in decent shape although the controls were scratchy and the bulbs were out. But it all seemed to work so it made it's way to the truck. A few weeks later it was all clean, tuned up and ready to go:



It's rack mate, a MR77 tuner, was in much worse shape. The wooden case was distressed, the dirt and dust inside resembled the Kalahari desert and it's poor face had been severely abused:



It required a bit more work and time but in the end, the MR77 glistened like it was new, and sounded even better:



Next up came my very old, but very serviceable, laid back and rolled off ADS L880 speakers. I've owned these since new and they've entered and left more systems than I can name at this moment. Having suffered the slings and arrows of small children poking their delicate fine mesh front screens, having been rolled off their stands numerous times, and despite having been abused by the occasional speeding tricycle; they still sound good.



A few more cast offs (parts and pieces from my main system, actually) came into play - two Emotiva UPA-1 monoblock amplifiers, an Emotiva XDA-1 DAC, a Belkin power center, a Sonos Connect & Bridge, plus an older pair of no-name cables. Then came the wiring!



Lastly, I had an Elemental Designs A5-350 subwoofer that I laboriously rolled UP the stairs to the second floor to become one with the rest of the gear:





c'mon, sub...did you really think you could hide????



I made the sub work, even though it is clear across the room in a corner in an alcove, by employing a SubCast wireless system. They work pretty good and I had no expectation that it would sound that good either!

voila`, we have a system!





Then it all changed...

[Antonmb]

Came out very nice Michael, especially the Mc gear in the wooden cases.