Proprius in my system
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: And the rest
Forum Name: Amplification
Forum Description: Share your interests or views on amplifiers, preamps, etc
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1591
Printed Date: 20 Apr 2024 at 3:24am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Proprius in my system
Posted By: morris_minor
Subject: Proprius in my system
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2012 at 12:11pm
|
[Rather than clog up the main Proprius thread with my pics and ramblings I thought I'd start a new one . .] My pair of Proprii amps arrived this week, along with a CuSat50 RCA > XLR cable, and I took a few pictures. What's in the box:  In the centre of the picture above you see the mounting plates. These come with washers, and I see a spare fuse is included, which is a nice touch. There's also a comprehensive information leaflet. Other pictures below are self explanatory . .          The Proprii form the second stage of turning my living room AV system (with a bit of stereo on the side) back into a stereo system (with a bit of AV on the side!). The first stage was to replace my small front speakers (AVI Neutron 5s) with some full range floorstanders, and I bought some PMC GB1i transmission lines - for use without the sub of course!. The bit of stereo on the side consisted of a Sudgen Headmaster pre-amp/headphone amp into which were plugged a Squeezebox Transporter and an Era Gold V phono amp (fed by Technics SL7 turntable). The tape out from this had gone to the AV amp for listening over speakers. Having the Sudgen means that for headphone listening (I use Denon D7000s here) the signal paths are really minimal. The Sugden pre outs now go to the Proprii, and I've taken a tape out from my Onkyo AV amp into the third input on the Sugden so we can still hear DVDs, and FoxSat PVR recordings. The Onkyo now only provides the rear speakers plus the sub, and in the fullness of time will be replaced by an AV pre-amp and probably a little T-amp for the rears. (You can probably tell that movie sound is not a terribly high priority for me - providing the sub kicks in as needed for explosions etc my kids are happy!) The AV cabinet did have a Mac Mini in it, but since getting an Xbox, with all its apps, this hadn't been used in a long while, so I took this out which gave some shelf space for the Proprii. Which means the rack now looks like this:   If you've read this far, thank you! But I bet you want to know what the Proprii sound like? I've only had them playing for about 30 minutes and was smiling all the time. I'll post more when they've had a bit of run in. I'll also check on how warm they get in the cabinet- though I'm used to using the kit with the door open as the Onkyo amp could heat a draughty church hall all by itself.------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Replies:
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2012 at 10:09pm
|
Nice photos Bob and I'm glad you mentioned the sound at the end! Happy listening mate. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2012 at 10:59pm
------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Fatmangolf wrote:Posted By: suede
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 1:39am
|
Nice phots! I'm eager to hear more of what you think when you've had them for a bit longer too |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 11:06am
|
Following Bob's thread and my home loan, I have now placed my order for a pair of Proprius amps! Jon ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 11:24am
So resistance (if there was any) was useless, then, Jon?  I posted my pics with some text on a couple of other forums (one being StereoNet.au) and they seem to be generating bit of interest there. Mind you we don't want the GSP boys rushed off their feet too much as they've got other products to get out . .  ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 12:28pm
|
Very nice pictures, enjoy the listening experience. ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 3:15pm
Yes indeed Bob! Its
audio eminence made my order imminent ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
and Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 3:26pm
Nice one. ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 2:11pm
|
It's now 2 weeks since the Proprii were powered up - with a CuSat50 going to the pre-amp, and they've been in use virtually every day. The sound has really settled in now, and my PMC GB1i speakers are singing like they never have before. There's much more grip on low bass - it seems more defined and tuneful (I hesitate to use the much abused term PRaT!). Midrange has opened out and treble - which always a bit "sharp" - is now nicely euphonic. Imaging has also improved considerably over my previous amp, and - a nice touch - low level listening is more satisfying and full-sounding; you don't need to wind the volume up to flesh out the sound. Talking of volume, I'm considering turning the amp's volume controls down a touch to give a more sensitivity on the pre-amp volume control. If you consider no volume to be twenty-five-to the hour, with the amp's volume parked at max, a quarter-to on the pre-amp gives loud! I hate to think how loud twenty-five-past would be! I'm struggling to think why anyone would need more than 25 of Proprius watts in a normal sized room  . These really are marvellous little boxes - and Graham and the team should be very proud of them . .  ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 5:48pm
|
This is what great hi-fi is all about, isn't it? Enjoying great music whilst finding tweaks to make it even better. My switching preamp also has an Alps stereo pot because it saves fine tuning the two amplifier knobs. Plus the alloy box I used looked a little silly with one control knob, two looks better. Jon ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 6:05pm
|
Just to say we have never used anything but Alps potentiometers for our product's volume controls, ever. But we will be using an alternative pot where people want the remote motorised pot on the preamp. It will be Alps for manual control. Why not an Alps motor pot? Ask Alps Europe! They refuse to supply us, and after all the many £K we've spent with them over many years - and paid every last penny Just so you know that there's more to hi-fi than meets the eye - and this witness says the politics of British Hi-Fi is evil! ------------- That none should be able to buy or sell without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: BackinBlack
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 7:30pm
| That seems a curious decision from Alps. They supply motorised Blue Alps pots certain DIY collective parts suppliers, even Maplin have their 16mm series pots, so why not motorised pots for GSP? Of course Alps are not the only manufacturers of good audio pots!! |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 7:32pm
Your use of Alps pots in the Novo and other GSP products I have enjoyed is why I opted for the Alps Blue for my lash-up passive preamp. Bring on the Aria, please. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: BackinBlack
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 7:48pm
| Yes, bring on the Aria, but can I have a USB-DAC first? |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 8:13pm
|
I could also be tempted by this. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 9:01pm
And don't forget the Big DAC!  ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
Posted By: Graham Slee
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 9:10pm
|
How important do you feel the optical output would be taken in the USB-DAC?
------------- That none should be able to buy or sell without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps |
Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 9:15pm
|
Optical out is a useful extra but not essential for me. ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: BackinBlack
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2012 at 9:52pm
| Nice to have, though not essential. Lack of optical would not be factor for me in deciding to make a purchase. |
Posted By: mrarroyo
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2012 at 6:44am
|
Some may use the optical out to feed other products, so not essential but useful. ------------- Miguel |
Posted By: morris_minor
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2012 at 8:11am
Back on topic ( ), I've now added Spatia speaker cables to the system which has improved things still further. I've posted my impressions on the Spatia http://audio-forum.gspaudio.co.uk/spatia-impressions_topic1614.html - here . . . ------------- Bob Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |