Lyngdorf TDAI 3400

[tmallin]

In post #79 above I mentioned the need to put your iPad controller on the floor beside your listening chair once you get down to serious listening. The sound reflecting off the metal and especially the glass of an iPad held in your lap can SERIOUSLY affect the imaging and staging you hear from your system. I would not have believed the extent to which this is true if I had not experienced it for years in my own systems. It could be that this effect is more serious in my rooms since I listen in the fairly near field, only about 50 inches from my speaker drivers, but be aware of this if you aren't already.

I think that the best, most sonically neutral position for the iPad is to place it on the floor leaning against the chair with the glass facing the chair. This allows you to more easily grasp the top edge of the iPad, rather than having to get your hand all the way down to floor level.

Another excellent storage method for your ipad controller is to keep it in the cloth-covered large pocket of an over-chair-arm caddy made for remotes and drinking cups or flasks. Links to the two of these I use in my Blue Room system are here and here. These hang over the chair arms and have long "tails" you can anchor under your seat cushion. These provide enough padding to eliminate the audible effects of sound reflecting off an iPad, a drinking flask, or even remote control wands. While these caddies won't work with every type of chair, they work fine for the small upholstered chairs I use and which I think is one of the best kinds of audio listening chair.

 

[Holmz]

In post #79 above I mentioned the need to put your iPad controller on the floor beside your listening chair once you get down to serious listening. The sound reflecting off the metal and especially the glass of an iPad held in your lap can SERIOUSLY affect the imaging and staging you hear from your system. I would not have believed the extent to which this is true if I had not experienced it for years in my own systems. It could be that this effect is more serious in my rooms since I listen in the fairly near field, only about 50 inches from my speaker drivers, but be aware of this if you aren't already.

Yeah but I can see my reflection in it and it creates the visual image that I am actually singing the song.

 

[tmallin]

New Lyngdorf "My Lyngdorf" Control App

Lyngdorf now has a new control app findable in the App stores under the title "My Lyngdorf." The major change this app brings is color plus a bit "slicker" user interface. You can continue to use both the new app and the old one once you download the new "My Lyngdorf" control app onto your controlling tablet. I think this new app is meant to take advantage of the color display on the new TDAI-2210 and forthcoming Lyngdorf products. No firmware update is needed or offered to take advantage of the new My Lyngdorf app.

Other than the color display, the new app does not add much new functionality. It arranges things differently, but not necessarily better. The new app does allow adjusting settings without opening a separate internet window which is a bit more convenient. However, listening via AirPlay or Roon still requres using your iPad's dedicated Roon and AirPlay functions rather than just the My Lyngdorf app.

The most changed function is how the new app deals with internet radio stations. I am not sure the new app is better in this respect at all, except for providing color icons for stations. One apparent weakness of the new app is the difficulty finding internet radio stations which broadcast in full FLAC (44.1/16 or better resolution). Some are there, others are either not there or difficult to find. With the old app, Airable has a separate category for FLAC stations which works flawlessly. The new app may be adding access to stations not contained within Airable; that is not yet clear to me. Certainly the new My Lyngdorf app calls attention to stations listed by certain aggregation services (such as Calm Radio) other than Airable and that may be helpful to some listeners.

The new My Lyngdorf app also provides a super-long list of categories for internet radio stations and those categories do not seem to be listed in any particular order. You scroll horizontally to access each category and there is a great deal of overlap among the categories. This certainly is not as user friendly as it could be. I definitely prefer the way Airable stations are organized by the old app.

In its initial release this new My Lyngdorf app also seems to have difficulty with the Local stations function for finding geographically local internet radio stations. The new app is only finding one such station for my location. The old app finds all the local stations I would expect and thus works perfectly. Both apps can localize retrieval to individual countries or look globally.

I may have more to say about the new app as I gain experience with it.

 

[KrellFan1]

New Lyngdorf "My Lyngdorf" Control App

Lyngdorf now has a new control app findable in the App stores under the title "My Lyngdorf." The major change this app brings is color plus a bit "slicker" user interface. You can continue to use both the new app and the old one once you download the new "My Lyngdorf" control app onto your controlling tablet. I think this new app is meant to take advantage of the color display on the new TDAI-2210 and forthcoming Lyngdorf products. No firmware update is needed or offered to take advantage of the new My Lyngdorf app.

Other than the color display, the new app does not add much new functionality. It arranges things differently, but not necessarily better. The new app does allow adjusting settings without opening a separate internet window which is a bit more convenient. However, listening via AirPlay or Roon still requres using your iPad's dedicated Roon and AirPlay functions rather than just the My Lyngdorf app.

The most changed function is how the new app deals with internet radio stations. I am not sure the new app is better in this respect at all, except for providing color icons for stations. One apparent weakness of the new app is the difficulty finding internet radio stations which broadcast in full FLAC (44.1/16 or better resolution). Some are there, others are either not there or difficult to find. With the old app, Airable has a separate category for FLAC stations which works flawlessly. The new app may be adding access to stations not contained within Airable; that is not yet clear to me. Certainly the new My Lyngdorf app calls attention to stations listed by certain aggregation services (such as Calm Radio) other than Airable and that may be helpful to some listeners.

The new My Lyngdorf app also provides a super-long list of categories for internet radio stations and those categories do not seem to be listed in any particular order. You scroll horizontally to access each category and there is a great deal of overlap among the categories. This certainly is not as user friendly as it could be. I definitely prefer the way Airable stations are organized by the old app.

In its initial release this new My Lyngdorf app also seems to have difficulty with the Local stations function for finding geographically local internet radio stations. The new app is only finding one such station for my location. The old app finds all the local stations I would expect and thus works perfectly. Both apps can localize retrieval to individual countries or look globally.

I may have more to say about the new app as I gain experience with it.

I think the new app is an immense improvement over the old app - primarily bc if the slick tactile feel it delivers when adjusting volume. The new "flywheel" is a market improvement and love how I get physical feedback when adjusting the volume. That in and of itself is fo rme worth the price of admission. No count tweaks and improvement will roll out over the next few months relating to Internet Radio "Airable."

 

[tmallin]

"Tactile feel" when adjusting volume? Perhaps I don't have my iPad Pro controller adjusted for this. But with my iPad, the new volume wheel works just like the one in the old Lyngdorf app: it spins to control the volume. There is no haptic or other touch or sound feedback.

Anyway, for my all-streaming system, I rarely use the Lyngdorf App's volume control anyway. If I'm in Roon, I use the Roon volume control. If I'm in Qobuz Direct, I use the Qobuz Direct volume control. For AirPlay sources I use the iPad's own volume control. Keeping the Lyngdorf App open just for volume control seems pointless to me since the other dedicated apps have to be open to select and change programs anyway.

One of the few weaknesses I have identified of the Lyngdorf system is just this fact: the Lyngdorf Apps (old or new) can't access content within Roon, Qobuz, Tidal, or AirPlay. You have to use the dedicated Roon, Qobuz, Tidal, or AirPlay apps to select content. The Lyngdorf Apps control only program selections from the 10 preset radio channels. It only contols the volume from Roon, Qobuz, Tidal, and AirPlay, not program/stream choice.

I do very much like the fact that I can open and use the full functionality of the Lyngdorf App from any computer in my home as well as from my iPad controller. Thus, sitting at my computer desk as I am right now I just open the favorite button for my Lyngdorf app and change the volume or select one of my 10 preset radio channels without having to do that on my iPad or iPhone. This functionality is also very handy when running Room Perfect from outside my audio room, or constructing custom Voicings to create a desired frequency response. I can create the Voicing via the Lyngdorf App and check its effect on the frequency response (as measured via, for example, OmniMic v2) in real time from two different windows on my desktop computer while outside the audio room.

 

[KrellFan1]

Tactile feel" when adjusting volume? Perhaps I don't have my iPad Pro controller adjusted for this. But with my iPad, the new volume wheel works just like the one in the old Lyngdorf app: it spins to control the volume. There is no haptic or other touch or sound feedback.

A lot to unpack here Tom, but to keep this post as brief as possible, let me just say that you are both correct and incorrect. Yes, it's true that there is no haptic control with either of the two iPads that I have. However, if you have a current iPhone, then you absolutely will experience the haptic feedback which is only supported (apparently) on the iPhone. It's great, so check it out.

You and I have different experiences, likely based on the fact that we use different music servers, so I think a lot of our experiences are unique to the server and player that we use. As an Antipodes customer, like most of us, our preferred playback method is Squeeze. This is why it resides at the very top of the Antipodes hierarchy. Most of us agree that it sounds vastly superior to Roon but all that said, we all agree that Roon has the most superior interface among music apps. For music discovery there is nothing better.

So even though I have a lifetime subscription to Roon, I've discovered Jplay, which actually is far more robust than Roon relating to Qobuz and in terms of sound quality, I would place it in between Roon and Squeeze. Jplay does not sound as good as Squeeze but MUCH better than Roon! And the GUI is quite nice and I LOVE the fact that I do not have to change my player preference within Antipodes dashboard on either my Mac or iPads. Jplay uses a different server protocol that runs independently which is quite nice. So I will use it while at my desk when I want to stream Qobuz content AND to discover new content via Qobuz. And I can also use it to listen to my content stored locally on the internal SSD Drive that resides within my K 41 music server. Antipodes does not yet support Qobuz Direct but I understand it is coming by late fall. For me, it's a totally unnecessary feature because I can access Qobuz content almost immediately from Jplay, for which I have an annual subscription and will likely go for their lifetime subscription, which is less than half of what Roon charges. For the record, I am a Roon lifer thoughtless days RARELY use it. In a word, it (Jplay) not only sounds better, but it is considerably more robust though again, it's interface does not deliver in a way that.Roon does. Better than Squeeze for sure but nothing rivals the user interface of Roon. But close! They offer a free 2 week trial if interested.

So in closing, with respect to the complaint you offer relating to the shortcomings within Lyngdorf, I do not experience the same because I am ( I think) using a different music server and player than you are. I have no such issue at all because I am a Control4 customer and can either use my Control4 remote or grab my iPhone if I simply want to change a source from Apple TV or OPPO Blu-ray and stream music from any of the playback systems.Antipodes makes available. And of course I can use the remote to adjust volume as well with C4, though tbh, I much prefer to grab the iPhone bc I can SEE the volume level MUCH better with my iPhone or iPad thanI can view the LED screen on the MP-6-0 some 12 feet away.

Finally, I guess I would ask if you've had the chance to view the short video provided by Lyngdorf in their mass email that went out yesterday. I've developed a very close relationship with Claus who is the USA lead for the company and he has some brief but excellent points that he covers with respect to the new app. I am sure you can find it on their website, no doubt, or on their YouTube channel. In any case, I will attach a screenshot of my Antipodes dashboard so you'll have a sense of what I am talking about regarding the many playback options available to us as Antipodes customers.

Cheers,

 

[KrellFan1]

"Tactile feel" when adjusting volume? Perhaps I don't have my iPad Pro controller adjusted for this. But with my iPad, the new volume wheel works just like the one in the old Lyngdorf app: it spins to control the volume. There is no haptic or other touch or sound feedback.

Anyway, for my all-streaming system, I rarely use the Lyngdorf App's volume control anyway. If I'm in Roon, I use the Roon volume control. If I'm in Qobuz Direct, I use the Qobuz Direct volume control. For AirPlay sources I use the iPad's own volume control. Keeping the Lyngdorf App open just for volume control seems pointless to me since the other dedicated apps have to be open to select and change programs anyway.

One of the few weaknesses I have identified of the Lyngdorf system is just this fact: the Lyngdorf Apps (old or new) can't access content within Roon, Qobuz, Tidal, or AirPlay. You have to use the dedicated Roon, Qobuz, Tidal, or AirPlay apps to select content. The Lyngdorf Apps control only program selections from the 10 preset radio channels. It only contols the volume from Roon, Qobuz, Tidal, and AirPlay, not program/stream choice.

I do very much like the fact that I can open and use the full functionality of the Lyngdorf App from any computer in my home as well as from my iPad controller. Thus, sitting at my computer desk as I am right now I just open the favorite button for my Lyngdorf app and change the volume or select one of my 10 preset radio channels without having to do that on my iPad or iPhone. This functionality is also very handy when running Room Perfect from outside my audio room, or constructing custom Voicings to create a desired frequency response. I can create the Voicing via the Lyngdorf App and check its effect on the frequency response (as measured via, for example, OmniMic v2) in real time from two different windows on my desktop computer while outside the audio room.

https://jplay.app/ Here you can check out Jplay if interested

 

[tmallin]

"There is a lot to unpack here" only because you seem to have lost the point of this discussion. I was not talking about the sound quality of this or that streaming source or device at all. The discussion was about the functionality of the new My Lyngdorf App vs the old Lyngdorf App.

So you like the sound of Antpodes using Squeeze. Fine. I haven't used Squeeze since I owned Squeezebox Touch devices more than 10 years ago at the dawn of the time when Tidal was being made available as the first high resolution digital streaming source.

And it is apparent that you are not using the volume control of the new My Lyngdorf App, or at least don't need to, since volume control would be through JPlay or your Antipodes streamer, not the Lyngdorf piece. Like me, you aren't using the Lyngdorf app to control volume, or at least don't need to use it. Why you would use it when you are controlling everything through your Antipodes streamer, Squeeze, and JPlay is puzzling. And certainly your are not using the Lyngdorf app to select content within JPlay, Squeeze, or any other streaming source. Adding JPlay, Squeeze, or the Antipodes equipment does not magically enlarge the functionality of the Lyngdorf App, old or new.

I have lifetime subscriptions to both Roon and JPlay. I used JPlay for a while, but tired of it because it was relatively unstable and unreliable in terms of playing, stopping, and changing programs, Qobuz included. Its internet radio function was difficult to use in terms of loading channels into memory and it refused to load about 50% of channels at all, for reasons I could never figure out. Besides that, the sound was more detailed sounding than Roon, but was this way primarily because it clearly added brightness to the sound--the highs were slightly elevated in level, that is. Qobuz Connect (which was added to the Lyngdorf server within 24 hours of its release to the general public) sounds a bit clearer than Roon but is NOT brighter sounding than Roon or the regular Qobuz. And, as you say, Roon still has the hands-down best GUI in the business.

You use the "more robust" description of JPlay as to Qobuz vs. Roon and I can't imagine what that descriptor means in this context. Roon is flawless in its dealing with Qobuz in my experience. Are you experiencing poor connectivity/interruptions in playback, forgotten or dropped favorites, etc.?

As to a slick tactile feel and physical feedback from the new My Lyngdorf volume wheel: I am primarily interested in sound quality and functionality. I could care less about such a tactile feel. I think the tactile feel is meant to mimic the feel of the physical volume knob on the Lyngdorf equipment. Except for testing that knob to see if it worked, I never use that physical knob to control volume. And there is no "price of admission" for the new My Lyngdorf App since both the old and new apps are free and can each be used at will.

 

[KrellFan1]

"There is a lot to unpack here" only because you seem to have lost the point of this discussion. I was not talking about the sound quality of this or that streaming source or device at all. The discussion was about the functionality of the new My Lyngdorf App vs the old Lyngdorf App.

So you like the sound of Antpodes using Squeeze. Fine. I haven't used Squeeze since I owned Squeezebox Touch devices more than 10 years ago at the dawn of the time when Tidal was being made available as the first high resolution digital streaming source.

And it is apparent that you are not using the volume control of the new My Lyngdorf App, or at least don't need to, since volume control would be through JPlay or your Antipodes streamer, not the Lyngdorf piece. Like me, you aren't using the Lyngdorf app to control volume, or at least don't need to use it. Why you would use it when you are controlling everything through your Antipodes streamer, Squeeze, and JPlay is puzzling. And certainly your are not using the Lyngdorf app to select content within JPlay, Squeeze, or any other streaming source. Adding JPlay, Squeeze, or the Antipodes equipment does not magically enlarge the functionality of the Lyngdorf App, old or new.

I have lifetime subscriptions to both Roon and JPlay. I used JPlay for a while, but tired of it because it was relatively unstable and unreliable in terms of playing, stopping, and changing programs, Qobuz included. Its internet radio function was difficult to use in terms of loading channels into memory and it refused to load about 50% of channels at all, for reasons I could never figure out. Besides that, the sound was more detailed sounding than Roon, but was this way primarily because it clearly added brightness to the sound--the highs were slightly elevated in level, that is. Qobuz Connect (which was added to the Lyngdorf server within 24 hours of its release to the general public) sounds a bit clearer than Roon but is NOT brighter sounding than Roon or the regular Qobuz. And, as you say, Roon still has the hands-down best GUI in the business.

You use the "more robust" description of JPlay as to Qobuz vs. Roon and I can't imagine what that descriptor means in this context. Roon is flawless in its dealing with Qobuz in my experience. Are you experiencing poor connectivity/interruptions in playback, forgotten or dropped favorites, etc.?

As to a slick tactile feel and physical feedback from the new My Lyngdorf volume wheel: I am primarily interested in sound quality and functionality. I could care less about such a tactile feel. I think the tactile feel is meant to mimic the feel of the physical volume knob on the Lyngdorf equipment. Except for testing that knob to see if it worked, I never use that physical knob to control volume. And there is no "price of admission" for the new My Lyngdorf App since both the old and new apps are free and can each be used at will.

Actually, Tom, as I thought I mentioned, I often DO
use the My Lyngdorf app for volume control. I essentially have two preamplifiers - with the MP 60 serving as a preamplifier outputting signal to both my Krell stereo amp as well as the Lyngdorf MX – 8400 multi channel amplifier when watching or listening to video that supports multi channel. But in both cases, I control the volume of each respective preamplifier, which is always set at alone can adjust volume levels as all of my music apps like Roon, Saueeze and Jplay are set to fixed. So is my OPPO Blu-ray player set to fixed. Everything is controlled by my preamp. Maybe I am missing something, but I always presumed that that was really the only option unless a person was not using a preamplifier and instead of going directly from source to amplifier.

And by robust, I mean to say faster. Insofar as my experience is concerned, I find that when I select a song within Qobuz in Jplay, it seems to respond nominally faster than it does in Roon, and certainly much faster than Squeeze as supported by Antipodes. It is almost as fast as the response I get from my local drive.

I believe that every manufacturer offers a different level of support and interface with Squeeze. Some better than others for sure. A friend of mine who is a high volume dealer for InnuOS in fact confirmed my suspicion that Squeeze is the underlying code for their wonderful Sense app.

In any case, to your point, I apologize as I digress. Relating to the new app from Lyngdorf, I am a fan, but I also acknowledge that I never had
much of a use for it when I preferred to use the web browser interface. Eventually, I simply found it more inconvenient to grab a heavier and larger iPad then to pick up a much smaller and lighter iPhone.

I do not have my Antipodes - MP-60 via AES programmed yet in C4, so for this reason alone, I do enjoy using the new My Lyngdorf app because I can easily switch from watching video to listening to stereo via my AES connection running into the MP 60. The old app lacked the icons which are of value to me. I also find it easier to change voicing and to switch from “Party” mode (my default setting for Apple TV) to “None.” Certain content I will take advantage of Dolby Atmos or 5.1 surround but other content I prefer in Party mode, And I do enjoy the convenience and safety of visually looking at my volume level before changing sources,, particularly when listening to music. If I am at, for example -32dB and want to listen to music at -30 dB I simply grab my Control4 remote and know precisely how many times I need to engage it lower. In the case of my C4, it would represent four clicks.

Peace

 

[tmallin]

Yes, peace. I'm sorry for misunderstanding your system architecture and any testiness in my comments. Our different experiences, preferences, and needs are largely driven by the relative complexities of our systems. Mine is a very simple single room, two-channel audio-only streaming system, relying entirely on the Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 and an iPad for sources, source selection, preamplification, equalization/room correction, and amplification.

 

[KrellFan1]

Our different experiences, preferences, and needs are largely driven by the relative complexities of our systems.

Yes, true, Tom, and all good! I recall that you specifically called out the desire some time ago to streamline your system and agreed, we do have very different systems indeed ! While we DO share a passion for RoomPerfect and the value it delivers for those who cannot conquer the acoustic challenges presented by an room that is "not perfect," it is also clear we have very different systems with different needs, but all good.

I will attach a few pics of my system so you can better appreciate the "complexity" of my system - with and without the bay doors open.

Cheers,

 

[tmallin]

Yes, that's quite a complex system. Nice looking, too!

Here is about all there is to my current simply two-channel audio streaming system.

 

[KrellFan1]

Yes, that's quite a complex system. Nice looking, too!

Here is about all there is to my current simply two-channel audio streaming system.

Simple but outstanding! I am waiting for Lyngdorf to come out with a stereo version of the MX-8400. Claus from Lyngdorf begged me to connect my front mains to the 8400 as an "experiment" but I lacked enough "hi-level" neutrik cable from one of my two REL subs to reach the back of the 8400. But it (8400) sounds so good I am tempted to give up my coveted, Class A Krell for a 2 channel version of this multichannel amp bc it sounds SO good! And of course bc it is Class D it runs very cool and draws little power. The architecture is a bit different than your integrated 3400 and features a new in house power supply developed by Peter Lyngdorf and Bruno Putzeys whom you likely know now works for Peter.

Cheers,

 

[tmallin]

I would be tempted to use the MX-8400 amp if it had digital inputs and a decent DAC to feed its analog circuitry. As it is the MX-8400 only has balanced analog inputs. The DAC in the TDAI-3400 is not the best. While it has balanced analog XLR outputs and is good enough for outputting to subwoofer amps, I would not want to use it to drive the main amp. That digital output is what caused the bad distortion measurements Audio Science Review measured for the 3400.

I would also jump at the chance to acquire an upgraded 3400 with the new circuitry design of the 8400, as long as this would preserve the "power DAC" nature of the 3400 with its virtually perfect volume control method of varying the voltage to the output circuits.

 

[KrellFan1]

I would be tempted to use the MX-8400 amp if it had digital inputs and a decent DAC

Well, it is a stand-alone-amplifier with unique pro level studio type SpeakOn connectors which for some Lyngdorf users was a "deal breaker" bc the average consumer does not know how to "make" these connections. Even my own AV tech had never made these before, as , after all, SpeakOn connectors are typically deployed more in the pro studio environment. Lyngdorf argued they make the best possible seal available and Peter has always been about "prefect." Is it "perfect?" I dunno but it sounds BETTER than my Class A Krell 5 channel amp it replaced. It is SUBLIME. But it is an amplifier ONLY. If you are ever interested in upgrading I am pretty well connected to a few sources and can score some excellent prices. I will attach a pic of the rear of the MXA-8400 so you can have firsthand look at the cables. Most all interconnects are Cerious and fortunately Bob Grost being a cable maker was bale to "make" these terminations for me. Tedious enough, even for a pro like him, but clearly Lyngdorf felt like the SpeakOn terminations were "worth it." Apparently they've used Speakon in the Steinway-Lyngdorf division with great results for several years so I should expect to see more and more of the SpeakOn terminations going forward.

 

[tmallin]

I am very familiar with the speak-on connections. Twice in the last few years, I’ve owned a pair of Benchmark AHB2 amplifiers which use such connections. I also owned Gradient 1.5 speakers which used those connections. I have wired up my own speak-on connectors without any problems. It is really quite simple as long as you don’t try to use wires of a heavier gauge, than will comfortably fit within the speaker-on clips. That means nothing heavier than 12 gauge. The speak-onwiring for the speakers for the Lyngdorf 8400 is different if you’re not bridging the channels. You just need to pay attention to which slots of the speak-one you attach the cable ends too.

I currently use locking banana plug connections is because Benchmark has researched the issue and found that the next best type of connection behind speak-in’s in terms of reliable power delivery and low contact distortion is such locking banana connections. These can be tightened very tight in the binding post sleeves.

 

[KrellFan1]

Twice in the last few years, I’ve owned a pair of Benchmark AHB2 amplifiers which use such connections.

Interesting! I’m not familiar with the Benchmark brand so of course has no idea. i’ve heard of the brand but have never seen or heard their gear in person, I thought Lyngdorf was unique among most audio companies in that regard, but obviously not.

With respect to you personally not having any issue making these connectors, that speaks to your experience and expertise in an area where the average audiophile would frankly be intimidated and either defer to an AV installer or simply opt for another brand. I deal with a local company that has more than a few text and none of them have ever made these connectors before. Also, a lot of customers have invested a lot of money in cables with expensive terminations and are reluctant to for lack of a better word, “destroy” them. I’m fairly active on a Facebook Lyngdorf group, and there are more than a few people who disparaged the decision by the company and claimed it was a dealbreaker. Of course, as you probably know there are adapters available that one can use but according to Claus at Lyngdorf they absolutely compromise the integrity of the signal and don’t sound as good. Claus knows my system very well and he told me not to go that route. As I mentioned previously, I am fortunate to be good friends with a man who manufactures cables from scratch for a living, so like you, he had no issue, but it did take some time. If you’ve observed his cables, many of them are quite thick. I honestly do not know the gauge of the wire but suffice to say that the power cords in particular are like python snakes.!

And to your point about the banana terminations I agree 100% because that’s consistent with everything. I’ve come to learn over the years. For the most part, these are the kinds of connectors that I have deployed throughout my system where applicable. I use them on all of the Dynaudio speakers I have in my system, and I’ve got five.

Best,

 

[tmallin]

I think your problem in not finding a tech who can install Speak-on connectors is that you are dealing with companies primarily marketing or servicing consumer audio products. Many of the better speakers aimed at the pro-audio market use Speak-on connectors; same with amps.

Benchmark Media is a company with a presence in both the consumer and pro-audio markets. It also markets pre-made speaker cables with Speak-on connectors at one or both ends of the cables and wired the way you want, using either NL-2 or NL-4 Speak-on connectors. See this page. The cable used by Benchmark to make these cables is Canare 4S11, a Star-Quad speaker cable I've used in various configurations made by Benchmark, Blue Jeans Cable, or me for many years now. While this cable is 11 gauge when assembled for two-wire connections, it will just fit in the Speak-on clips if you are careful. And since if Benchmark assembles it for you real assembly experts are doing it, it's no problem at all.

The Canare 4S11 is, in my opinion, sonically quite fine enough at a very reasonable price. Benchmark's visual quality of construction of terminated speaker cables is a bit finer than that of Blue Jeans Cable, but Blue Jeans is about 1/3 the price for the same finished length of Canare 4S11 and only Blue Jeans uses ultrasonic welding to connect wires to connectors without solder; Benchmark uses the usual silver solder. Treat the ultrasonic weld with Caig Deoxit Pro and you have the best possible sounding connection. I also like the slightly smaller locking banana plugs Blue Jeans uses better than what Benchmark uses; they just seem easier to grasp and tighten really tight.

 

[KrellFan1]

I think your problem in not finding a tech who can install Speak-on connectors is that you are dealing with companies primarily marketing or servicing consumer audio products.

Precisely! The good news is that it’s a problem in the past, happily now resolved with everything installed and working perfectly without issue and all sounding great.

We agree that there is a good reason why the pro studios AND folks like those at Benchmark (due to their presence in the studio industry ) as well as Peter Lyngdorf have opted for these connectors.

I’m hopeful that what I have cobbled together will last me until my end days, tbh, and while music is a lifelong passion for me, I’m not nearly as deep into the technical aspects as you clearly are. So at this point Tom I’m gonna kick back and enjoy the music.

But you’ve piqued my interest a bit so next time I speak with my close friend from high school, Don Was, I’ll ask him what his experience has been with SpeakOn and Benchmark gear. As the most famous producer in rock ‘n’ roll music today, the man has been in more studios than Carter has pills, so he’d know. If you’re not familiar with Don, just look him up. At last tally I think he’s won five Emmy’s and has produced everyone from Bonnie Raitt to Elton John to Dylan to the Rolling Stones and is presently president of Blue Note records. He and I speak often enough these days but generally talk about music and art and people as opposed to all the technical stuff addressed in these forums. Having been close friends with other musicians like (sadly deceased) Doug Fieger from The Knack I spent most of my life curiously observing how most every artist I know in rock ‘n’ roll is not nearly as much into the equipment as they are the art itself, which I’ve always found to be odd but when thought through, not surprising.

Cheers,

 

[tmallin]

Back in post #83 I was generally not too keen on the new My Lyngdorf App. Since then I've been using it more and now do find it at least as pleasant to use as the old one. Also, at least a couple of its functionalities are more helpful than those of the original Lyngdorf App. There are also additional functions not available in the original Lyngdorf App.

The new app is more informative about the signal quality of internet radio streams. This applies when playing airable internet radio content.

The new My Lyngdorf App is also MUCH easier in terms of swapping out one of the ten internet radio presets allowed. This description may not seem easy, but it is way easier and quicker than it was with the original Lyngdorf App:

1. Choose to play one of your existing preset radio stations.
2. Click the icon for that station with the moving identifying text.
3. Click the Radio button.
4. From the Radio screen, pick or use the Search button to find the new radio station you want to make one of your 10 presets.
5. Once the new station starts playing, click the circle icon near the bottom left of the screen, the one with the moving vertical lines.
6. Now you see that station's screen with a plus sign in the upper right corner. Click the plus sign.
7. Now you will see the Add Presets screen. Click the garbage can icon of the station you want the new station to replace.
8. Click the plus sign in the preset box for the preset you just sent to the garbage. The new preset will appear in its place and you're done.

One still-missing functionality of the new My Lyngdorf App (at least I have not yet found how to access it) which I use regularly from the old Lyngdorf App or the physical remote control wand is the Trim control which can adjust bass, treble, balance, and the polarity of each channel. I frequently tinker with the channel polarity to check which absolute polarity sounds best for both channels.