Messages

76

HiFi Audio DIY / Re: ProAc 2.5 speaker inspire

« on: August 20, 2016, 06:45:18 PM »

Thanks for the info, will keep that in mind when I source for the crossover parts. Yes the bitumen sheets may just do the job and will need to source this from hardware store. For the speaker box , did you source the MDF board locally and get it cut locally? or you purchase the speaker box from china source? Anyway when I actual start the project will need more info from you as you have past experience in building this speaker, for now I am reading up the design info before proceed to build it.

You have a few options on the speaker cabinet,

1. DIY

You can get MDF sheets of various thickness from Ban Heng Long in Syed Alwi Road. They will cut to size for a small fee, and also sell veneers. The biggest obstacle for this route is routing - you are on your own here. If you have no experience in making your own cabinet, or veneering, I can understand that this option is a bit daunting.

2. Martin Electronics

Auntie Martin has some carpenter contacts to make cabinets for her. Warning, he isn't cheap and neither is he incredibly enthusiastic about taking on assignments. I suppose it depends on how busy he is.

3. Our enthusiastic audiophiles

I know that Synthesis does cabinets for people, and is happy to also do up the crossover too while he is at it.

I took option 2. When I built this project (This was at least 10 years or more ago), there weren't any cost effective ways of shipping the China cabinets over. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions on this project. Drop me your e-mail via PM and I'll send you a PDF guide on this project. Many of us used this as a bible and has a number of variants of the crossover for you to try.

77

HiFi Audio Equipment Discussion / Re: Audio companies with a Singapore connection

« on: August 20, 2016, 06:36:17 PM »

Creative can qualify??
 

Good question. If you asked that 5 years ago, I would have said no. Its current efforts - some are actually quite good. I thought the latest E-MU wood headphones were quite impressive.

78

HiFi Audio Equipment Discussion / Audio companies with a Singapore connection

« on: August 17, 2016, 12:33:47 PM »

Know of any Singapore audio companies, or companies with a Singapore connection ? Here are some of the top of my head. Contribute if you know of any,

1. Robertson Audio

I heard that the designer / owner was related to long time audio retailer, Hwee Seng. Anyway, these guys were already making a name for themselves in the 80s.

2. Diva Audio

TS Lim's tube designs were actually exhibited in a number of overseas shows and reviewed in a number of publications.

3. Genesis

Current owner, Gary Leonard Koh was from Singapore.

4. Loit Design

Singapore designer and company.

5. Dita earphones

Singapore company.

79

HiFi Audio DIY / Re: ProAc 2.5 speaker inspire

« on: August 16, 2016, 10:06:37 PM »

Oh, this post brings back plenty of memories. This was my second DIY project after a TQWT Fostex FE103.

At that time, Troels guide was the definitive resource for information.

A word of advice, it doesn't make sense to me to stinge on crossover parts. The finished product will surprise you with the performance possible. Mine was made using Sonic Cap capacitors, Solen aircore inductors and Mill non-inductive resistors. Not sure whether mine still works though - the 18W/8535 driver has a nasty habit of failing in our humid weather. I've replaced mine twice over already.

To simulate the bituminous pads used by Proac, you can paste roofing bitumen sheets on the inside of the cabinet. The original Proac crossovers will surprise you - cheap plastic and electrolytic caps, but they sound marvelous.

80

HiFiCafe Coffee and Tea discussion / Re: What's brewing today?

« on: August 16, 2016, 07:06:15 PM »

I get my beans from Highlander at Kampong Bahru. They are quite disciplined in the roasting schedules and stock, so you have quite a good guarantee of freshness when you buy.

81

HiFi Audio Equipment Discussion / Speaker placement

« on: August 15, 2016, 01:36:04 PM »

Here is link to an article about speaker placement that I've found to be very useful. You will be surprised how often a setup is crippled by poor speaker placement.

http://www.audiophysic.de/aufstellung/index_e.html

82

HiFi Audio Equipment Discussion / Outstanding value equipment or accessories that you have tried

« on: August 14, 2016, 03:37:48 PM »

Hello everyone. Audio equipment and accessories can come with really eye popping pricetags. But I'm sure that once in a while, you would have encountered something that redefined your idea of good value and performance. Here is my list. Care to share yours ?

Amp - Job 225. I am still a bit unsure how Goldmund / Job managed to do this. Most of its DNA is derived from a much more expensive model. Powerful, compact, highly detailed yet musical. USD 1,699

Speakers - KEF LS50. Pin sharp imaging and staging. Incredibly detailed sound for its price bracket, with a lusciously creamy midrange. It's not budget speaker price territory, but it comes dangerously close to a lot of more expensive speakers out there. SGD 1,850 per pair.

Cables (Interconnects) - Cerious Technologies Nano Reference interconnect, or the latest model, the Graphene Extreme. It has a detailed liquidity that you typically only find in mega buck cables. Cerious cleared out the Nano Reference at under USD 300, and the Graphene can be purchased at a slight premium over this if you are an existing customer of Cerious.

Cables (AC) - Triode Wire Lab's Digital American. Slightly rich, but the overall tone is extremely refined and quiet. It has a near ideal mix of fullness, speed and dynamics. USD 499

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HiFiCafe Coffee and Tea discussion / Re: My Coffee with Milk

« on: August 14, 2016, 03:10:28 PM »

Wow, talk about a dark roast ! I recently got a small batch of unroasted Arabica beans from a friend's plantation in Indonesia. I'll let you know how it turns out after roasting.