New Amp, Speakers …and more

Lovely amplifier Mat, I'd love to know what was the fault with the Cambridge amp and the Denon turntable?

Loved hearing all of this. Always interesting to hear the different challenges people have based on the limitations of the rooms in which they're playing music. I certainly wish I had more space for the "ultimate" audio setup, but that's not the case. What a beautiful amp that is with the VU meters! Can't wait to hear about the new turntable. I was wondering how you were going to use your sugarcube in your new setup given the limitations of the space near your new amp. I guess just run a very long RCA from the turntable into the sugarcube, then the line out goes into the pre-amp, then back to your new amp? No need to answer here - maybe you can mention in your video about the new record player. Enjoy the new setup!

I’ve noticed a few videos you’ve made contain amplifiers which are 100v line compatible. I may not have found it yet but have you made or considered making a video about 100v and 70v line? It’s an interesting technology, one I’ve installed in many commercial environments.

Just catching up with this and the Oddcast. My dad bought Monitor speakers back in the 80s, which he later gave to me, and which were in use in my flat right up until a few years back, when I replaced them with some Dali ones (his suggestion again), so if the build quality is just as good, your Monitor ones should last a very long time!

This Amp, looks amazing 😍 How can you not love big VU?!

Glad the components are sorted out and your hi-fi sounds precisely the way you wanted it to. With the essential VU meters, of course

Would love a video of your Cambridge amp going to get repaired by Mend It Mike.

I really liked that Technics amp but in the end I passed on it because the tape out or fixed out only works with analog inputs and not digital. Pity.

In my mid 60’s I don’t think I could tell the difference between my £500 Audioengine powered speakers and a £6000 Yamaha amp. And I wonder how many people could, in truth. Just realised I’ve been watching long enough to remember you buying the old amp!

Loving the look of the Technics SUG 700M2. That’s a pretty sexy looking beast 🩶🤍

Great update Mat.Im totally in the chrome/aluminium, bouncy meters camp. I am very impressed and also quite jealous of your amazing set up- no stone has been left unturned!! I hope you have good security and alarms on your workshop/mancave, you never know who's watching your vids, i am speaking from experience sadly. Look after yourself and look forward to your next update. P. S. Do you still have your reel to reel player in your set up??

This video felt a bit like Storytime with Uncle Mat, and I'm all for it. BTW 9:43 old mate Mr. External Phono Preamp All The Things sounds like the kind of chap who'd pay £200 for oxygen-free speaker cables

Lovely setup! I'm surprised the amp's remote doesn't have discrete input buttons. Do you use an universal remote to drive your gear?

Very cool! I've been looking at that Technics as well. My vintage Accuphase power amp seems to be on it's way out, so I needed a replacement. I also really liked the look of it, but the price... And I bought this amp because it still has a pretty decent phono stage in it, which is what I use. No seperate one. And I'm supposed to be the audiophile. I also just switched speakers. But I did go for the smaller size. Hmm, not quite sure. They sound great, but a bit small. So, I added a sub. What a difference that makes! Still, love your replacements! Your speakers really do look quite nice to be honest!

Very nice additions to your hifi. Not surprised that you have new speakers as I thought your old floor standers might be a much for your new office. I did something similar in my 11ft x 10ft space and swapped my large floor standers for some Q acoustics stand mount speakers. Really nice amp too, can’t match that, although my ‘open box’ Marantz 7000n is nice and mellow.

Nice-looking amp - very much the kind of thing I prefer. (I also 'suffer' from that problem of caring about how devices look: the rational part of my brain may well be thinking, "but this is the best, it sounds incredible, it has the best blah blah blah", but more visceral parts of my brain are thinking, "yeah, but it's hideous" or, "I don't care, it's about as interesting to look at as a breeze block". This part of my brain usually wins.) Anyway, I enjoyed the video - thank you - and just wanted to say I hope you get many, many hours of listening pleasure from your new purchase. Cheers, Mat.

Great video, Mat. Glad you’re happy with your stereo 👍 I’m now in a similar place. After having Missons & Mordaunt Short speakers, a few years back I went to Richer Sounds & did a listening test - and as a result I have a pair of Monitor Audio silver floorstanders. Still the best speakers I’ve ever had. I do use a Denon AVR-3600H but have it set to use 4 amps & bi-wire the fronts. BTW - I blame you 😆 - I now have a DAT which is something I’ve lusted after for years. A fully refurbished Sony TCD-D3 Walkman one which is awesome. So I’ve been copying some of my rarer vinyl to DAT at 48kHz so I don’t have to play the vinyl. (I know you’re not a huge DAT fan but it was the one I wanted, and am super happy with it!)

Good GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). That’s quite the edge case on the number of (well labelled) inputs required! The satisfaction shows 👏.

You have so many hi-fi components connected up with so many cables. Are you worried that one day the whole setup will achieve sentience and try to take over the world?

Nice hi-fi equipment choices. Some years back I needed some very small bookshelf speakers that were actually going on a "bookshelf", well mantel to be correct. I bought the smaller Monitor Audios which were fine. I also bunged the ports (as so close to a wall). In my case I needed bass light as sitting next to wall that joins to neighbours. I ended up upgrading to a used pair of Spendor SA1. These are closed box infinite baffle speakers so no port "chuffing" to worry about. They have limited bass extension due to being infinite baffle but with simple vocal tracks, I get blown away by them. I found a nice white pair which look great against a modern slightly off white painted wall. Whilst watching I was thinking of one other Japanese company still producing hi-fi components, Denon.

Having mental blocks are frustrating; and it certainly doesn't improve with persistent migraines. Has your heat wave held on? In my locale we had a 'feels like' temperature average 105°F/41°C for a whole of seven days. I'm through with the summer already. 😛 This video made me feel like you were talking to me about your new setup. The difference would be me asking for audio demonstrations and afterward asking to visit with Bees Knees (unless he runs away from strangers). I'm looking forward to your record player update; I'm interested to see what's new. 🙂 Have a great weekend and take care. 🤍

Thank you Mat and I was one of the people who commented asking about the amplifier and I appreciate you making the video about it. Honestly and you're right, I don't necessarily care why you got it, however it is nice to have people's opinions and I know the British individuals predilection to downplay their own value and the British sensibility of self- deprecation, however you are valued and people do like what you have to say and appreciate what you have to say, me included. Anyway thank again for another wonderful video. PS. I do remember the old days, I've been watching since 2015 roughly speaking, I miss the old spycam videos and I also miss you doing your motorcycle headcam videos, those were awesome and I liked seeing the countryside where you live, maybe you can do some more motorcycle videos in the future if you feel up to it of course

I really do enjoy the theory behind your changes. As far as listening volume, I didn't think I listened at a particularly low volume until I had to give my old Braun amp a rest and found that a car stereo I had spare would run my bookshelf speakers perfectly fine at normal volume. It's still doing it now.

Lovely video! Stupid side note: Might be funny to use your security camera’s perspective one time when you are talking to the camera.

Take all the time you need! Can’t buy new brains on eBay… yet ❤️