Didn't We Have A Lovely Time

[Coyote Jim]

Where can I start except am I not lucky to have the most dedicated dealer out there.
No distance a problem and unreserved support for his clients.
I couldn't get a dealer I trusted nearby and I made contact with Peter even although he is hundreds of miles away from me.
I'm compelled to write this little update as I was expecting to be sitting in audio nirvana this evening with a new Ekos SE/1 sadly no.
The upgrade is still happening and the deck is in readiness for some TLC.
The arm was changed today all set up and put in place for a listen and Oops not as engaging as I expected at all.
So the arm was removed all connections checked and tight " although I did notice an irregularity of the size of shrouds and colour sleeves on the tag wires.
Maybe cosmetic but at that price and my OCD they were not staying.
So Peter installed the tag wires that came with Krystal and reset everything and went for round two.
Something was much better more attack and speed and bass went very deep and more tuneful than before.
During listening Peter noticed that the system not playing had become " noisy " some noise is apparent on Phono inputs at very high volume not playing but when we looked at the volume it was only 50 I stream radio at a lower volume than than.
It's a constant whoosh and hiss but both channels at the same time even swopping inputs around didn't change anything the noise moved with the input.
Now we're scratching heads especially with Peter being so far away from me.
Peter came to the sofa called the shop and is shipping a new Radikal Urika Ekos SE and Krystal to eliminate the problem.
And another flight each way.
What dealer has that level of commitment and level of stock to support his Clients.
Problems are very upsetting but how can you not be gobsmacked with a support like that.
I've heard people sniping from time to time about Peter this and Peter that and how can he support such a wide customer base and the answer is simple he gets off his arse and makes it happen and hats off to him for it " a quiet few days will make the heart grow fonder.
So support your local or not so local dealer even when it goes pear shaped he won't hide.
Just in case of confusion Peter is Cymbiosis

[Mr Fixit]

Thanks Jim for writing the update for the guys as I've received several emails asking how we got on today and I'm only now getting on top of my mailbox again. - Lots of enquiries atm due to Linn's imminent price rise!

Just a couple of things to add:


Following the initial installation of the SE and the subsequent listening tests in which whilst it was obvious the SE was better than the Ekos 1 it was replacing, it was agreed that we were not getting the kind of improvements that either Jim or I had expected. As Jim said; the tag wires as supplied in the SE box were slightly variable in their appearance and the size of the plastic shrouds protecting the tags.

So, before going further with the listening tests I decided to change all four tag wires for a replacement set.
Once everything was correctly installed again, we recommenced the listening tests and to our surprise and pleasure we both felt there were significant improvements in sound! It was only at this point that I decided that it was appropriate to now conduct listening tests; varying the tracking force of the Krystal in order to ensure we were tracking at the very best tracking weight. It was at this time that I started giving the system more beans and took volume over 50. Everything sounded good but while I was changing the tracking force and much nearer the speakers I was rapidly aware of an excessive background hiss coming from the speakers. Consequently, I stopped what I was doing and immediately started investigating this and in the end reinstalled the turntable with the original Ekos 1 arm and had the deck sitting in the jig to next to Jim's system affect some noise checks. The result was the same with the original arm.
So, at this point we can rule out the arm. However there are a lot of other variables which need to be assessed. Additionally with a very low listening levels, there's also a question in the back of my mind as to whether the noise was pre-existing or not. It's annoying and once recognised you cannot ignore this sound, and Jim felt the noise was not there before.

On this occasion working on a known LP 12 and upgrading just the arm for Jim, all I had with me was the arm and set-up gear, no other spare bits of kit to swap in and out in order to narrow down and then pinpoint the issue. Yes the Ekos SE was checked fully in the shop by me before I sent it to Jim. But faced with this conundrum I have already organised to test first thing tomorrow morning and then to ship up to Jim a Krystal, Ekos SE, Radikal and Urika in order to hopefully have everything to . One of the fortunate realities here is I keep everything in stock new and ready to go. So no time wasting on ordering the gear up.

So armed with the necessary gear to substitute in and out hopefully I can resolve the problem next week. The first day I am clear of any previously arranged appointments is Thursday 30th and so I will be playing déjà vu at East Midlands airport at 6 AM in the morning arriving in Glasgow or maybe even Edinburgh at about 9 AM this will give us the whole day to go through everything before I fly home again in the evening. Additional to the list above I will be taking earth wires and a test meter. Additional connecting wires are necessary as we can't rule out the possibility that the Radikal to Urika power and signal cable is actually the culprit or system earthing. This seems unlikely, but I want to have as much covered as I possibly can.

So, watch this space and I'll get this sorted for Jim ASAP.

KR

Peter

[Jazz Club]

Jim/Peter,
What a bummer guys.
Sorry to hear it all went a bit Pete tong.
Never nice when the unexpected happens.
Roll on next week.

[Mr Fixit]

Jim/Peter,
What a bummer guys.
Sorry to hear it all went a bit Pete tong.
Neve nice when the unexpected happens.
Roll on next week.

Indeed.

As I speak, I have everything I will send up to Jim in readiness for next week now running quietly here at the shop.

All I have to do later this morning is find a suitably big outer box and book my flights!

KR

Peter

[shellspeed]

Good things come to those who wait Jim

[Mr Onion]

As I said to Jim earlier, Oh Poo!

Remember, it will be worth the wait and just goes to show what a perfectionist and all round great guy Peter is.

[apye]

Gutted for you Jim, hope everything gets sorted soon.

[Mr Fixit]

Good things come to those who wait Jim
Kazoo'ed in a Tidal wave - Time to get Spaced.

When at the conference on Monday I heard the new KDS/3 with Katalyst!

Think Lingo > Radikal in terms of sound quality upgrade!!!

Review in Oct Hi-Fi+ - I suggest anyone interested should go and buy it..............

Cannot reproduce the original here for obvious reasons.

KR

Peter

[shellspeed]

Juicy snippet, Anything else interesting?

[Pediatrik]

Good things come to those who wait Jim
Kazoo'ed in a Tidal wave - Time to get Spaced.

When at the conference on Monday I heard the new KDS/4 with Katalyst!

Think Lingo > Radikal in terms of sound quality upgrade!!!

Review in Oct Hi-Fi+ - I suggest anyone interested should go and buy it..............

Cannot reproduce the original here for obvious reasons.

KR

Peter

Is the Katalyst a separate product as Lingo/Radikal or is it something within the DS enclosure?

[dan steel]

Never mind Jim, you can have more time to watch the Labour Conference now.

[Coyote Jim]

Never mind Jim, you can have more time to watch the Labour Conference now.

Big hand for Jezza

[Coyote Jim]

image.jpeg

What about this new Radikal Urika Ekos SE and Krystal just in case and Peter only left last night
Think the word on the street is "SUPPORT"

[dan steel]

Never mind Jim, you can have more time to watch the Labour Conference now.

Big hand for Jezza

If you look hard enough you might see me.

[Coyote Jim]

Gutted for you Jim, hope everything gets sorted soon.

Thanks Andy,
Let me know how you get on

[The Flatearther]

At one point while he was fitting my Radikal in the kitchen he said "Steve I really need you to shove off and let me have total quiet please as I dont want this setup to be 99% right I want it absolutely perfect for you, so I need to get my ear inside the deck and have total quiet please.". It was worth sitting in the garden waiting for though, as the result was phenomenal!

[Wenge1]

.
Oh bugger is the phrase I shouted out loud when I just read of you travails Jim. At least you have had a good peak at what the Ekos Se is capable of Jim, and from I read you liked what you heard. Once the hum is sorted you will never look back mate ..........

[apye]

Gutted for you Jim, hope everything gets sorted soon.

Thanks Andy,
Let me know how you get on

Will do Jim
I have to leave the deck with Colin and hopefully get it back early next week.
That suits me fine as I am having a new carpet fitted on Tuesday so my kit will packed away tomorrow!

[Jazz Club]

At one point while he was fitting my Radikal in the kitchen he said "Steve I really need you to shove off and let me have total quiet please as I dont want this setup to be 99% right I want it absolutely perfect for you, so I need to get my ear inside the deck and have total quiet please.". It was worth sitting in the garden waiting for though, as the result was phenomenal!

Steve,
Peter does that with everyone.
He gets to a point when you know you have to bugger off and leave him in silence.
Or just shut up and watch what he does.

[Mr Fixit]

At one point while he was fitting my Radikal in the kitchen he said "Steve I really need you to shove off and let me have total quiet please as I dont want this setup to be 99% right I want it absolutely perfect for you, so I need to get my ear inside the deck and have total quiet please.". It was worth sitting in the garden waiting for though, as the result was phenomenal!

LOL! Sometime even I need quiet Steve - Especially when it's a very slight suspension knock refusing to be dialed out whilst maintaining a pistonic bounce


KR

Peter

[Mr Fixit]

At one point while he was fitting my Radikal in the kitchen he said "Steve I really need you to shove off and let me have total quiet please as I dont want this setup to be 99% right I want it absolutely perfect for you, so I need to get my ear inside the deck and have total quiet please.". It was worth sitting in the garden waiting for though, as the result was phenomenal!

Steve,
Peter does that with everyone.
He gets to a point when you know you have to bugger off and leave him in silence.
Or just shut up and watch what he does.

Some retailers insist on doing it all behind closed doors... The laying on of hands etc

I'm happy for owners to really understand their LP12s if the want to. It's great fun IMHO, but if I feel that I do need a bit of quiet to concentrate and get things dead right, then I will pipe up and ask for a bit of quiet. It's for your benefit.

KR

Peter

[Mr Fixit]

image.jpegWhat about this new Radikal Urika Ekos SE and Krystal just in case and Peter only left last night
Think the word on the street is "SUPPORT"

Yes, in at 7am this morning. Everything on test until just before 7pm this evening. All boxed, packed up and ready for collection by 7:30pm.

I asked Wayne to arrange a collection for tomorrow late this afternoon before he left for home hence your notification.

The test went as expected - No noise to speak of, even at higher volume levels.

I just have to book my flights now.

KR

Peter

[Coyote Jim]

image.jpegWhat about this new Radikal Urika Ekos SE and Krystal just in case and Peter only left last night
Think the word on the street is "SUPPORT"

Yes, in at 7am this morning. Everything on test until just before 7pm this evening. All boxed, packed up and ready for collection by 7:30pm.

I asked Wayne to arrange a collection for tomorrow late this afternoon before he left for home hence your notification.

The test went as expected - No noise to speak of, even at higher volume levels.

I just have to book my flights now.

KR

Peter

Peter,
That's super try and make it a long day and stay for dinner etc any timing or airport is perfectly OK.
Everything is cool and great you're well on the case.
This'll teach me to nick the electricity from the street light.
Joke

[Jazz Club]

Jim,
One more sleep to go
I hope everything goes to plan tomorrow.

[shellspeed]

I'll second that