Firstly i must say hi to all ML owners, i registered years ago when i bought my first pair,(Vantages), but clearly messed up my login as i never could get in. I re registered as i would like to share my latest project with my Spires.
Essentially, i decided to re-house all of the electronics in a separate cabinet, to isolate them from the vibrations and magnetic effects of the bass driver. The work was fairly straightforward, taking around 3 hrs per side on top of making the new cabinets.
Before the change i thought that they were a very good speaker anyway, my ancillary components should allow any change to be audible. After the work was complete i must say i'm surprised that ML don't offer this, though in their defence i think the extra box, complete with umbilical's, doesn't get the wife too exited..
The clarity and detail is in my mind a significant improvement, i am hearing discs in a way that is more expressive, in a way i'm listening to the sound of a musician playing an instrument, rather than the sound of the instrument alone, there is a profound human presence to the recordings now, which i'm sure ive not felt so often before. Separation is better too though i'm not clear why this would be, i wasn't expecting that, perhaps a result of the new level of detail? The bass also i feel is tighter and more rhythmical, also deeper and adds a truly fundamental ingredient to the flow of the piece.
I've attached some photo's, though i have since further modified the esl umbilical to a individually shielded design of 19 awg. (Photo's of new leads are now shown). I did make up the leads myself too. They are sliver plated copper, covered in cotton sheath, wrapped then shielded and wrapped again, the 3 sets are braided together. I treated these like an interconnect lead.
Shown with the first set of leads..
And the new set..
WBT Spades are now used.
The internals in their new cabinet.
I have now added the updated photo's with the new umbilical's. I also posted this on uk based, as i am, HiFi Critic forum, here:
http://www.hificritic.com/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=267
There are more photo's of the work there.
Regards to all,
Ps
Essentially, i decided to re-house all of the electronics in a separate cabinet, to isolate them from the vibrations and magnetic effects of the bass driver. The work was fairly straightforward, taking around 3 hrs per side on top of making the new cabinets.
Before the change i thought that they were a very good speaker anyway, my ancillary components should allow any change to be audible. After the work was complete i must say i'm surprised that ML don't offer this, though in their defence i think the extra box, complete with umbilical's, doesn't get the wife too exited..
The clarity and detail is in my mind a significant improvement, i am hearing discs in a way that is more expressive, in a way i'm listening to the sound of a musician playing an instrument, rather than the sound of the instrument alone, there is a profound human presence to the recordings now, which i'm sure ive not felt so often before. Separation is better too though i'm not clear why this would be, i wasn't expecting that, perhaps a result of the new level of detail? The bass also i feel is tighter and more rhythmical, also deeper and adds a truly fundamental ingredient to the flow of the piece.
I've attached some photo's, though i have since further modified the esl umbilical to a individually shielded design of 19 awg. (Photo's of new leads are now shown). I did make up the leads myself too. They are sliver plated copper, covered in cotton sheath, wrapped then shielded and wrapped again, the 3 sets are braided together. I treated these like an interconnect lead.
Shown with the first set of leads..
And the new set..
WBT Spades are now used.
The internals in their new cabinet.
I have now added the updated photo's with the new umbilical's. I also posted this on uk based, as i am, HiFi Critic forum, here:
http://www.hificritic.com/forum/default.aspx?g=posts&t=267
There are more photo's of the work there.
Regards to all,
Ps
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