HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Cubettes arrived safely on Tues this week. Couldn't get over the build quality and how solid these speakers are.

Upon swapping my AR Pi Ones over to the cubettes I was a bit disappointed in the sound. It didn't seem as open or spacious.

As I continued to listen I began to notice that the sound is more solid. Instruments and vocals are more clearly visible and the music easier to follow.

This thread has come up at an appropriate time as today i heard speakers apart from Cubes (not counting my second system) for the first time in nearly eighteen months. I auditioned the Chord Mscaler at my local dealer through Spendor two unit floor standers. They sounded awful. A lack of low bass, very narrow sweet spot and for want of a better term unmusical, the room not helping. The partnering equipment was the Rega Elixer amplifier and Leema streamer. Although not up to what i have at home i believe they are capable. The problem was definately the speakers. The DAC was the Chord Qutest which i have. Needless to say I was not able to come to any worthwhile opinion about the Mscaler. I took advantage of the Audio T loan scheme (thanks for the heads up Savvy) and will be able to make a proper assassment in my system. I asked how much the Spendors cost and was told 4K!!! You could have knocked me down with a feather.

I hope you told them how shit their dem was, and what were they actually doing to justify nearly 50% of that money for their own pockets.

Dr Bunsen Honeydew wrote: ↑Thu Feb 07, 2019 7:17 pm I hope you told them how shit their dems was, and what were they actually doing to justify nearly 50% of that money for their own pockets.

I was diplomatic. It has proved to me that everything said here about WAF floor standers is true.

What does the m-scaler do other than upscale stuff? I assume the theory is to make it better? Genuine question by the way....

The whole thing just looks like another rip-off money pit. I will stick to my computer a SPDF converter and my Chinese £5 DAC thank you. Anyway off topic here in this thread.

Before you spend anything like MScaler money, get to hear an idler drive turntable - a well fettled Lenco or Garrard in a heavy plinth. It may change your mind about what is possible...and leave you an awful lot of change to buy new LPs with.

The Mscaler upscales 16Bit 44hz to 705hz and 24Bit to 768hz via dual BNC. Single BNC will only go to 352hz. As far as i know only a small number of Chord DACs have dual BNC inputs. I have found increased sample rates improve SQ and posted about it recently on the last listen thread. I will post about the Mscaler on an appropriate thread after some extended listening. Initial home impressions are favourable.

On the subject of speakers i could not believe how bad those 4K Spendors sounded. Comparison with Cubes is beyond night and day. I think the £500 Dynaudo Emit 1s I owned before Cubes sounded better.

savvypaul wrote: ↑Thu Feb 07, 2019 7:58 pm Before you spend anything like MScaler money, get to hear an idler drive turntable - a well fettled Lenco or Garrard in a heavy plinth. It may change your mind about what is possible...and leave you an awful lot of change to buy new LPs with.

I dont buy LPs, or CDs. All my CDs are ripped and I have very few CDs and LPs which are not on Qobuz. I prefer the sound of digital and it is more convenient. It also wins on cost when you take into account the combined cost of TT, arm, cartridge, phono stage and PS. Had a bit of a shock when i found out on this forum that the cartridge which cost me £50 is now £200.