Your latest cool purchase

[Somafunk]

Is that 'crap' legal to ship; in and around you?
In the olden days, to camouflage such crappy shipments we'd resort to coffee grounds and/or peanut butter and it worked... but ONLY if you were careful enough not to handle the box with the same hands that handled the content.

Nah - not legal. , I’ve had numerous letters over the years from our “customs & excise” stating that a parcel/item with my name and address was seized and if I wanted to lay a claim to it then the details would be passed to the crown prosecution service for them to decide if further action is deemed necessary otherwise the item would be destroyed.

Needless to say I have laid claim to every single parcel/package sent to me but i have never managed to actually receive any, and no action has ever been taken against me.

I did get sentenced to 18months back in late 90’s for growing my own and possession of 1/2kg but won my appeal as I eventually found a good lawyer (been lifelong friend) and medical support in the high court from my neurologist, orthopaedic surgeon and physio team who repaired my shattered spine back in 91 who all stated that they often recommend cannabis to control neurological muscle spasms, to aid relaxation and reduce inflammation.

Was one of the first at that time in Scotland who basically had a “licence to grow, and possess cannabis for personal use” without fear of prosecution by the procurator fiscal

So I sure as damn well made the most of it with my “all in spend every penny I owned” attic build of a negatively pressurised room, Siemens plc controls for everything into my interface including light cycles, humidity, intake/outake temperature, fan cycle speed, co2 injection, hydroponic feeding cycles in my nft/flood/drain design including measuring the delta between ph/cf nutrient feed entry and what was returning to tank, feed tank aeration and auto nutrient mixing using redesigned peristaltic syringe drivers, flood/water alarms and fire alarms.

Quite the setup, loved that hobby but gave it up 12 odd years ago when I had mobility issues with the amount of work involved in gardening in my attic, the mobility issues turned out to be SPMS which they finally discovered 7 years ago after I demanded a 2nd medical opinion from another neurological consultant.

I had been complaining of issues coming/going/staying for 25 years but every time it was blamed on severe spinal injury from 91.

Ho-Hum……I was right all along, on the weed issues and my condition issues. Not that being right makes me smug, I’m disappointed they didn’t listen in the first place, if they did then I wouldn’t be in the position I am now……….seriously fu*ked

But hey, I could smoke a joint and blow it in the face of the police So it’s not all bad

 

[xanalog]

But hey, I could smoke a joint and blow it in the face of the police

errrrrrrrrrrr... would not be a recommended method of exhaling.

OT: Arizona had the harshest jail sentences for possession of even less than 28 grams of pot, until 2010. Under Arizona law, even such small possession was classified as a felony, w/up to 18 months in jail and up to $150k in fines.
Prior to the 2010s, Florida had the 2nd most punitive sentencing laws but for possession of more than 28grams of pot. Up to 5 years and $6k.

 

[Somafunk]

OT: Arizona had the harshest jail sentences for possession of even less than 28 grams of pot, until 2010. Under

In my area of Scotland I had numerous mates throughout the 90’s who were sent to jail for 6months+ due to the police finding a roach in the fireplace or for amounts of hash smaller than 1g

Ignorance breeds utter contempt

 

[Rick63]

A Mission 778X integrated amp. I just got a pair of Fosi V3 mono amps so I didn't need it, but I've been intrigued by it for awhile and found a great price on a new one, so I bought it.

View attachment 505637View attachment 505638View attachment 505639

Well, it looks like I won't be getting this amp after all.

I paid for it Monday night via PayPal. I then got an email from PayPal on Tuesday saying I was going to be refunded for my purchase, with no explanation as to why.

I haven't ordered anything on Ebay in many years, but Audio Advisor had the amp listed there for a much lower price than the normal price of $899. It did say that was the last one in stock, so maybe it was an error on their part.

However, I can go to Audio Advisor's website and see they have silver ones in stock. I then tried to call them and see what happened to my Ebay order, and to see if they'd sell me one for the same price I already thought I was getting one for. I was transferred to their Ebay salesman but he didn't answer. I left a message 3 hours ago and haven't received a call back from yet.

Needless to say I'm disappointed...

 

[xanalog]

That's a major bum:

...I was going to be refunded for my purchase, with no explanation as to why.

I want a refund for my original Like; no questions asked!

 

[Mort]

Audio Advisor had the amp listed there for a much lower price than the normal price of $899.

Yeah they didn't like the price they had sold it for and cancelled. They take a small fee hit but it was obviously worth it. You must have found a good deal

 

[Rick63]

A Mission 778X integrated amp. I just got a pair of Fosi V3 mono amps so I didn't need it, but I've been intrigued by it for awhile and found a great price on a new one, so I bought it.

View attachment 505637View attachment 505638View attachment 505639

After a 2 week saga, I will be getting this amp after all.

I had ordered one on Ebay from Audio Advisor, only to be refunded the next day because they couldn't find it in the warehouse.

This past Saturday evening, two weeks later they showed as being in stock again. I emailed them this morning to be sure and was told that they have had two in stock all along, but their warehouse guy had mixed them up with some Audiolab gear, and that he had found them.

They are selling me one for the same discounted price I originally saw it for. I just paid for it and can't wait to get it later this week.

 

[Mort]

New scuba toy. No, I did not dive to 284 feet. Needs a reset.

 

[Rick63]

The amp is here. What a beautiful and well built amp it is, as I expected given my experiences with sister company Audiolab's products.

The LEDs around the volume knob stay on for about 3 seconds after adjustments and then go out. I was hoping that's how it was so they wouldn't be a distraction late at night watching TV or movies.

I can already tell it's a keeper. It also matches my other gear in width and appearance (well except the black Schiit Lokius). It's 45 wpc easily drives my speakers in my room at the levels I'm able to listen to with an upstairs neighbor, so the Fosi V3 Monoblocks will be relegated to backup duty or future use in another setup.

There will be music here all day.

PS - At some point in the near future I'd like to send it to @amirm for review, so I hope this saga and drama with Ascilab soon comes to a conclusion.

 

[xanalog]

There will be music here all day.
PS - At some point in the near future I'd like to send it to @amirm for review, so I hope this saga and drama with Ascilab soon comes to a conclusion.

I don't know how to give you THREE (3) Likes:
#1 Like: Music 24/7
#2 Like: ASR Review
#3 Like: Your nice hardware complement

Although the wiring may need slight clean-up, to get the feng-shui just right!

 

[Rick63]

I don't know how to give you THREE (3) Likes:
#1 Like: Music 24/7
#2 Like: ASR Review
#3 Like: Your nice hardware complement

Although the wiring may need slight clean-up, to get the feng-shui just right!

Thanks!

And yes, I need to do some cable management. I've had a good bit of gear in here in the last few months, but now that I will be settling in with what I have for a long time it is time to do it.

 

[Rick63]

Thanks!

And yes, I need to do some cable management. I've had a good bit of gear in here in the last few months, but now that I will be settling in with what I have for a long time it is time to do it.

As it turns out, the Mission amp will probably end up being the backup to the Fosi V3s.

I hooked up my sub to the preamp outs of the amp, and when the amp is powered on or off I get a slight thump from the sub. It's not too bad but pretty annoying. I've never experienced that with any of the several amps and preamps I've used since I got the sub.

Also, the volume jumps with each click of remote are more than when using my Topping D70 Pro as a preamp to the Fosi amps. I find myself constantly adjusting the volume a click up or down, especially late at night. The Topping offers much more precise control of the volume level.

And just a heads up: I have arranged to send the amp to @amirm for review in a couple of days.

 

[DonDish]

The ASUS PG32UCDMZ. This is a beast of a monitor, 31.5" of oled. Not very cheap, but just couldnt resist this. Image is stunning with Dolby vision and HDR10 support. 4K and 240hz refresh rate over hdmi, 99% DCI-P3 colour gamut. Everything pops out of total black
It has a ton of connections. 2 HDMI, DP and USB-C. Built in USB 3.2 hub and. USB-C 100w charger.
Im not much for typical gaming PC design, but I think it looks pretty cool with the glowing red ROG eye on the power button, it also has the logo projected downward seen faintly in the picture. Comes with two spare clear lenses so I will do a custom logo of some kind.
The stand is cast metal and weighs a ton.
If you are in for a high end monitor with lots of real estate I can recomend this. A cool purchase
Meny and software for MAC works great. Pixel cleansing routine takes 6mins.

 

[Håkan]

As it turns out, the Mission amp will probably end up being the backup to the Fosi V3s.

I hooked up my sub to the preamp outs of the amp, and when the amp is powered on or off I get a slight thump from the sub. It's not too bad but pretty annoying. I've never experienced that with any of the several amps and preamps I've used since I got the sub.

Also, the volume jumps with each click of remote are more than when using my Topping D70 Pro as a preamp to the Fosi amps. I find myself constantly adjusting the volume a click up or down, especially late at night. The Topping offers much more precise control of the volume level.

And just a heads up: I have arranged to send the amp to @amirm for review in a couple of days.

I have the Mission 778X and I am very happy with it.
Very nice amp together with my Heco Aurora 300.
And I have the same problem with powered subwoofers, two distinct "thumps" when I turn off the amp.
But part from that, it's a very nice sounding little amp

 

[Rick63]

I have the Mission 778X and I am very happy with it.
Very nice amp together with my Heco Aurora 300.
And I have the same problem with powered subwoofers, two distinct "thumps" when I turn off the amp.
But part from that, it's a very nice sounding little amp

Good to hear! I only used mine with my Monitor Audio Silver 50 7Gs for about 16 hours before packing it up to send to @amirm for measuring. It is currently in his custody waiting it's turn on the bench.

Regarding the sub thumping issue, while it is annoying it won't really be an issue for me because I only use my sub maybe 50% of the time, so I'll just turn the sub off and on by it's switch. That's what I did before I got my Topping D70 Pro Sabre, and it's easy to access.

And it has great build quality. It kinda feels like of of these when you pick it up (and similar in size).

 

[Defi]

Picked one of these up today. Well... it's in the mail anyway.

 

[tineared]

Now I just need to figure out where I'm going to mount them...

 

[Rick63]

It took 11 days but it's here.

 

[Håkan]

Good to hear! I only used mine with my Monitor Audio Silver 50 7Gs for about 16 hours before packing it up to send to @amirm for measuring. It is currently in his custody waiting it's turn on the bench.

Regarding the sub thumping issue, while it is annoying it won't really be an issue for me because I only use my sub maybe 50% of the time, so I'll just turn the sub off and on by it's switch. That's what I did before I got my Topping D70 Pro Sabre, and it's easy to access.

And it has great build quality. It kinda feels like of of these when you pick it up (and similar in size).

View attachment 511505

I wish @amirm would hurry up and measure this little amp
I am very curious to see if the measurements are the same as for its sibling, the Quad Vena II ( https://www.hifinews.com/content/quad-vena-ii-integrated-amp )

 

[Rick63]

I wish @amirm would hurry up and measure this little amp
I am very curious to see if the measurements are the same as for its sibling, the Quad Vena II ( https://www.hifinews.com/content/quad-vena-ii-integrated-amp )

I believe it's coming soon. I kind of expect and hope it'll at least earn a "fine" rating by Amir and my fellow forum members once they see the test results. Obviously it's not a powerhouse, but I saw a couple of measurements elsewhere that show the Mission produces a little bit over it's rated 45 (8ohm)/65 watt (4ohm) rating, so Mission appears to have been honest about their power ratings.

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think the Mission looks way better than the Quad.

Also a huge bonus for some, is that it has both optical and coaxial digital outputs - something not often seen these days.

PS - It will most likely be for sale here for a good price when I get it back, because in a few days I'll be swapping out my Monitor Audio Silver 50 7Gs (which may also be for sale) for a new pair of Ascend Sierra LXs. It likely doesn't have the juice to do the LXs justice. But I love it's looks and form factor so it may be hard to let go. We'll see so stay tuned if you are in the USA.