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........I have installed the R1 outlet in my main system which replaced a SWO-XXX outlet, both of which are/were mounted in the
WPC-Z wallplate/base.Duster was spot on when he said his system now sounds more of a piece and that all his connections sounded as if they had been improved. It certainly is the case in my system.
Indeed, my system does sound vividely more coherent and of a piece BUT I have lost some midbass warmth that portrays that human touch and allows instrumental timbres to be reproduced with colors/tonality intact. It is as if the contrast has been reduced in the midbass region which also leads to a thinning out of the upper octaves.
However, the soundstage is certainly more coherent and the placement of instruments are localized more precisely in space but this might be due to the "thinning out" of the musical spectrum and therefore giving the outlet time to burnin just might bring this back in full contrast.
The R1 is raw and did not receive any cryo treatment or burnin. It was just installed and allowed to supply juice to my balanced transformer. I must mention that the 4 small screws that attach the outlet to the baseplate are not to the Oyaide quality I have come to expect. The Phillips heads have not withstood the repeated servicability and have started to loose definition. In other words, I hope I can remove the R1 from the baseplate if need be without a stripped screwhead holding me back!!
As it stands right now, I prefer the SWO-XXX over the R1 as I am pretty sure the cryo treatment on the SWO-XXX is providing benefits that have heretofore gone unappreciated but have now been revealed in stark contrast.
I must mention Chris at VH Audio for his outstanding service as it seemed that no sooner did I order the R1 online did it show up on my doorstep!! Excellent service sir :-)
Here's hoping some burnin time on the R1 will allow it to blossom into a truly great outlet, as others have expressed here, but I for one hate the wait!!!
Cheers,
Follow Ups:
...........I have just witnessed the most amazing breakin that I have ever thought possible!!I now know what Mikey Fremer was talking about when he reviewed the Boulder phono preamp and he said that every note was played as if it was the most important note in time.
...vs the SWO-XXX F/A-18 Strike Fighter :-)The R1 seems to present a complete lack of glare in the top end, with the treble sounding so pure that the R1 almost sounds "too dry" after becoming "acclimatized" to the SWO-XXX's sonic signature.
The only issue I'm still watching is the bottom end. The R1 offers quite a bit more bass energy than the SWO-XXX, bass that seems to move substantially more air in my room and down into the floor, but doing so in just a tad too relaxed a manner. So, the only real issue I hope will improve with more burn-in time is a more tangibly felt visceral slam to the chest, just a bit more than I feel at this time. Otherwise, it is most likely that the bottom end will at least develop a more authoritative sounding grip, so to speak. Just a wee bit tighter, please...
On the other hand, it just might be that the set of gold Oyaide 079 AC connectors in use are not the ideal mate for the R1, and that the new Oyaide P-004/C-004 Beryllium AC connectors (less pricey than the no holds barred Oyaide M1/F1 AC connectors) are the missing link to the new "killer app" combo. Maybe all would fly higher when an all-beryllium copper AC outlet/AC connector combo is in play... (?)
"The R1 seems to present a complete lack of glare in the top end, with the treble sounding so pure that the R1 almost sounds "too dry" after becoming "acclimatized" to the SWO-XXX's sonic signature. "Agree. The SWO-XXX presents a very clear and articulate top end but the R1 sounds more natural. Cymbals ring with greater realism and weight so to speak.
"The R1 offers quite a bit more bass energy than the SWO-XXX, bass that seems to move substantially more air in my room and down into the floor, but doing so in just a tad too relaxed a manner."
I too noticed this as well as the bass did seem to extend another half octave but in my case it was a bit looser as well. I have been noticing it tightening up though :-)
Now U got my curiosity up about the P-004 being mated with the R1!!
Just when U think it can't get any better, along comes something new that raises the bar again.As it stands right now, I am perfectly content with the R1 and maybe the cryo'd R1 that I ordered just might wring the last bit of musical synergy from the P-079/R1 combo. Now if I can only get that chewed up mounting screw out without a struggle I'll be happy :-)
Cheers,
After 400+ hours burn-in, the R1 has developed further transparency and the bottom end has tightened considerably. I was bit concerned about the nominally warm sounding 079's when mated with the somewhat warm sounding R1, but I'm now content with the pairing. I will still seriously consider the new 004 Beryllium AC connectors, though...
IME, it's important to allow cables and connectors at least several days of burn-in before proper judgment can be made, and an especially substantial amount of time is required for a plated conductor/contact to blossom. It's tempting to jump the gun and establish impressions of a device before it's sonic signature is given a chance to develop via the burn-in process.Patience is very important when it comes to evaluating new out-of-the-box cables and connectors -- it’s a pity to think how many times a new cable or connector is summarily rejected by a listener based on hearing a lack of refinement due to a great need of ample burn-in time. A congested soundstage with poor spatial cues, unfocused imaging, grainy top end, and an unauthoritative bottom end is often heard when a “green” cable/connector has not yet ripened to at least a moderate level of it’s full potential via burn-in.
The R1 is no different, as I waited for at least the 150 hour mark to pass before gathering my notes to post my report. It may be found that a 400 hour mark or such will bring even greater improvement (only time will tell). It's a rather fascinating observation to hear a device "pop into place" after many hours of burn-in, and I of course hope that the R1 sounds even better as time goes by.
I presume that the R1 would show great benefit if connected to a cable cooker and fried like mad before installation. Cryo treatment may or may not be of such great benefit... a comparison of a cryo’d vs. non-cryo’d R1 needs to be evaluated (and will be done by folks very soon, I’m sure).
"IME, it's important to allow cables and connectors at least several days of burn-in before proper judgment can be made, and an especially substantial amount of time is required for a plated conductor/contact to blossom. It's tempting to jump the gun and establish impressions of a device before it's sonic signature is given a chance to develop via the burn-in process. "I think it is valuable info for folks that are contemplating a purchase to know this. Please don't infer that I am passing judgement on the R1 and am assuming it is not worthy. I'll report back in a few days of the changes.
"Cryo treatment may or may not be of such great benefit... a comparison of a cryo’d vs. non-cryo’d R1 needs to be evaluated (and will be done by folks very soon, I’m sure)."
I have an R1 on order from Chris that will be cryo'd and I can do just that and will report back. It will be a few weeks though as he doesn't have any cryo'd R1's ready to go.
Cheers,
Hi kenster,My post was a general opine; not intended to point at you. I'm sorry if it came off as being critical :-)
No worries bro :-)I sat down for another listen today and it has improved somewhat with the bass being alot tighter/cleaner. I also noticed that it added some height to the soundstage as well...spooky :-)
I also noticed that the rhythmic drive has improved by a small margin and there is more air in the soundstage.
Can't wait for it to come into it's own as it is showing some great characteristics.
Cheers,
Duster,
First, thanks for your excellent write-up on the Oyaide R1!I absolutely have to agree with you on break in time. FYI, I recently installed a FIM 880GP and experienced the similar pre-break in issues to those you mentioned - congested mids and less extended top end.
The link below is a follow up to my original post. I had answered my own question, but now you've confirmed it :)
Cheers,
___________C N Machani
I agree. The screws supplied with the WPC-Z for attaching the outlet are total CRAP. Given the attention to design and quality of everything Oyaide does I can't believe they supplied such crappy mounting screws. I have a pair of needle-nose channel locks that I expect to have to call into service when time comes to install my R1 when it gets here. Oyaide, if you are listening, fix those cheesy f'ing mounting screws you're sending out with the WPC-Z. The ones you're sending are giving your product a black eye.
the screws supplied with their plugs and outlets are killer.
One of my WPC-Z's tiny AC outlet mounting screws (and perhaps the threaded hole) is almost stripped but still grips. If and when I swap out the AC outlet again, the screw hole may need to be enlarged just a tad with a small threading tool and use a new one-step larger hardened stainless steel screw in its place. I would likely have all four holes done at a time for good measure. If need be I'll take it to a good metal fabricator I'm familiar with for his expertise (should be a quick and inexpensive job).
I'm notorious for being impatient and not getting the right screwdriver for the job and winging it. I had no problem with my screws that came with thew WPC-Z. I' ll be sure to treat them with kid gloves based on yours and others comments. I think I'm gonna stay w/my SWO-XXX vs an R1. I'm happy with things as they are. For now....... you all know how that works!
"For now....... you all know how that works!"
Assuming Uncle Sam refunds me some $, i might go with the wall plate system.Funny thing is for months i've had my Oyaide system plugged into a cryo'd SWO-XXX that has NO wall plate...just the spongy foam insulator! $1000 worth of AC tweaks plugged into no outlet cover...
i have wood & metal outlet covers, but they don't fit properly on the SWO-XXX.
I'm not scared to buy the $200 system though, just glad to know i need to pay attention when mounting it. Stripping an expensive cover would really turn me against Oyaide BUT its been nuthin but luv so far.
The problem screws are the four tiny ones that attach the outlet to the aluminium frame. The problem is that the screw heads are VERY soft and the philips slots are VERY small. The other screws are fine. It is way too easy to strip-out the heads. They really need to make those screws beefier. In my case I used 10ga wire, and trying to push the outlet and the leads back into the box, line up the holes with the frame and turn those f'ing little screws was the most difficult part of the entire re-wire job. Bigger slots and harder metal would be better.
Its a nice piece. I'm interested to see if you hear a difference in the LF especially.
Mine are cryo'd, which should help, but your comments give me pause. Perhaps the burn-in will help. I'll post my thoughts after it gets some time on it.
Kenster,
I would imagine that like any quality outlet, the R1 will need a good 80+ hours of break-in before it starts to show its qualities. I'm anxious to hear an update from you in a few days.
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