Desk top audio.

FZ 200                                                     Amptastic mini-1

My current desktop audio setup consists of a Chord Chordette Peach dac which feeds into an Amptastic mini-1 amplifier and then out to a pair of Quad L-ite mk1 speakers.

I suppose the Chord dac is a bit over the top but as I already had it I decided I might as well use it and it does sound terrific. Previously I was using a Project usb box in this system, a much better price match, and also providing very good sound. However the Chord enables me to connect not only my laptops using usb but also my Chromebook or Samsung S3, using aptX, via bluetooth. Consequently I can change my source without having to switch any cables around, which is good. I have to confess that I normally go for the bluetooth option though, it's so convenient.

I bought and enjoyed one of the first generation of Amptastic amplifiers, the mini-t, which I used in a few different setups, so when they finally announced its replacement I placed an advanced order for one. I am very pleased with it. It out performs the earlier model, itself a very reasonable little amp', in every respect and gives a very mellifluous performance indeed. I don't know how they can produce it for the price and make sufficient profit to develop the future models they say are on the way. They haven't said what those other models will be, although I suspect there may well be a headphone amplifier in the offing. Whatever, I expect I'll be in the queue to buy.

The Quad L-ites are actually meant to be satellite speakers, but they were suggested to me for use in a desktop system by the manager of Seven Oaks Audio in Southampton. They were very reasonably priced, are beautifully made and, best of all, sound excellent. Quad now produce a mark two version of these speakers. I haven't heard these updated ones but they appear very similar to me.

All in all I think I have a nicely balanced system which is a pleasure to listen to whilst being sufficiently different to retain interest.

Meeting my computing needs.

Pentax K7.

I have been using a couple of different sized HP laptops running Linux Mint for quite some time and I continue to be very satisfied with them. However back in January I added an Acer C720 Chromebook to the family, to satisfy my curiosity about Chrome OS more than anything.

Much to my surprise the little chromebook has since then become the first computer I pick up, and I find I'm rarely using the others except for those few tasks which I can't manage on it. I really enjoy it's small size and weight, it's amazing battery life and the way that you open the lid and it's on - zero boot up time, brilliant! It resides by the side of my chair where it's ready and willing all the time.

As always, there are lots of people out there who will tell you that chrome isn't a proper operating system and that you are severely limited in what you can do with it. What is it with these people? Trust me, most of what they say is rubbish. I've even used it to upgrade the firmware on my Pentax K7, I just pretended it was a mac! Just about the only things that I can't do with the chromebook are rip cds, print directly from it and edit video. Of these printing would be possible with a change of printer, but I print so little these days I'll put up with what I've got thank you, I save to google drive then download and print from one of the HP's. Editing video is also just about possible using an online app', but the parlous speed of my internet connection, courtesy of BT, means it's a non starter really, much easier to edit using 'avidemux' on one of the HP's. Which leaves cd ripping, again something which I seem to do less and less these days, that simply isn't possible using chrome. Alternatives abound though. Google play downloads sound pretty good to me and websites such as that by Linn, which I've used frequently, offer much higher resolutions if you need them.

Would I buy another one, definitely. Would I like to see some improvements, certainly. Especially a higher res' screen. My advice to anyone considering giving a chromebook a try is go for it, I think you'll be very pleasantly surprised.

Music, like photography, should be fun.

Ever had the feeling that you can't be a proper photographer if you're not using a large sensor camera? Well in the world of music things are even tougher. It's bad enough that you want to listen to digital music at all, what you should really be listening to is vinyl. If you must listen to the digital stuff then it should at least be in a high definition file format.

Lumix LX5

Well here's an alternative suggestion for a fun way to listen. Spotify's high quality downloads from a Samsung S3 (or whatever) via a usb otg cable to Epiphany acoustic's e-dac & O2 headphone amp. Plug in your favourite headphones and enjoy. Smashing. A comprehensive library of your choice of music (mine's jazz and folk) has never been so available or affordable, and don't let them tell you the sound is rubbish. As a teenager I had an Alba record player so, believe me, I know how rubbish sounds.

I'll show you my desktop setup another day.

Small sensor cameras.

FZ200

If, when you walk around, you need to carry a tank of liquid oxygen to help you breath, you will realise that anything else you want to take along needs to be as small and light as possible. It's lucky then that I happen to like cameras with small sensors. These days I'm using either my Panasonic TZ40 or Panasonic FZ200 for more and more of my photography. I find the results more than acceptable.

Returning to the fold.

TZ40

It seems impossible that it is nearly 3 years since I posted anything on this blog of mine. How time flies! Anyway, time to resurrect it I think. Why? Well for one thing I'm less and less pleased with flickr. I'm sorry to say that I don't feel that the recent changes have been for the good, at least they don't work for me. I also gave ipernity a try, but that wasn't right for me either. Consequently I have moved to using google+ for storing photos on the web. However I kind of feel I don't want every Tom, Dick and Harry having access to that archive, but that I do want a public photographic presence on the web, the blog format would seem to offer that opportunity with the added benefit that I can witter on about things which interest me and hopefully you.