GC HiFi

26/05/2026

Internet Upgrade for Streaming SQ Improvements ... Is it worth the hassle?

So you are into streaming, there is a lot of parts to any high end streaming system and your internet connection is part of that system. Here I'm explaining what we have been up to to try and compare what we had with fibre to the Kerb and now Fibre to the office to try improve SQ through a better connection.

Since starting GC HiFi a number of years ago I have mainly focussed on streaming music. Our internet was made up of fibre to the kerb and copper into the house, with what turned out to be Cat5 to the modem. It always amazed me how good the zeros and ones were delivered through the cheapest looking copper patch cable from the wall socket to the NBN box.
I left it this way because I wanted to showcase how even a pretty average internet connection could deliver very good streaming with the right filters, switches etc.

Finally I bit the bullet and decided to get fibre into the house, so I had conduit installed from the side of the house where the Telstra box was through to my office where the NBN Router/Modem was installed. This was done yesterday and after a lot of mucking around we finally got a internet connection back up and running.

This post (Part 1) is a brief report on what the install has been and what has been changed.

Below is what the system is presently.

1. Fibre to the office.
2. New NBN Router/Modem
3. still using the existing Telstra Modem
4. After comparing replaced the power to the NBN Router with 12v DC from a Plixir Statement PSU and Statement cable.
5. After comparing replaced the Ethernet cable from the NBN box to the Telstra Modem and then to a switch I'm using with Vertere HB Plus patch cables.

Please see the picks below. I will explain more about what we heard, the good and the bad, and some other tweaks in part 2 which I will endeavour to put up tomorrow.

cheers,
Terry

06/05/2026

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR HIFI SYSTEMS SQ FOR FREE!

Not every Hifi improvement has to cost money. here is an easy and very cheap way to improve sound quality for most home Hifi system that share the same room with a TV.

Check out the photo, easiest way to provide a level of room treatment is to cover the TV with a Doona cover like we have here. Even though the room already has a level of room treatment including Bass Traps and Absorber/ diffusers on the rear wall, still covering the TV greatly improves the SQ. Yes it is a pain in the butt to cover the TV with a doona cover and I tend to only do it when I'm having a big listening session.

Why not try it and then let us know what, if any, difference you can hear.

cheers Terry

05/05/2026

05/05/2026

Marten Speaker Gold Coast HiFi Clubhouse GTG
Part 2 of the happy snaps from the recent Gold Coast Hifi Clubhouse GTG that we hosted that featured three rooms of Marten speakers as well as the two new flagship Oladra music servers.
Pics of the Oladra's will follow in the next few days along with lots of great pics of the other components that were teamed with the Marten speakers in each room.

cheers,
Terry

02/05/2026

While this video was made to explain what stereo is for people producing music, it also in part explains how stereo works.

01/05/2026

Upgrading a Hifi system doesn't always have to mean new speakers, DAC's, TT's etc. Occassionally there is a product that is way outside the usual square and this is one of those and I'm seriously impressed by it. We now have the QKore at GC HiFi and it makes a serious SQ improvement that needs to be heard to be really appreciated. Call me to arrange a listening session to hear how the Nordost earthing system makes a huge improvement to SQ.

cheers Terry

QKORE: Less noise and more music.

01/05/2026

I know a lot of you have been waiting for some pictures from last Saturdays Marten Gold Cost HiFi Clubhouse GTG, so here is part 1. Seriously it was a great night, getting to listen to three rooms of Marten speakers along with some other very special gear including the two new Oladra flagship music servers was an experience I won't forget in a hurry.

Lots more pics to come.

cheers,
Terry

18/04/2026

THE MARTEN CONVERGENCE! ... 😇
The final countdown has begun, only one week to go to our next Gold Coast HiFi Clubhouse GTG on Saturday 25th April 5pm-8:30PM.

Finally as of last night I have here the three pairs of the Marten speakers that will be featured here for the Marten GTG next Saturday the 25th.

Today I'm about to start setting up all three rooms which will have the Parker Trio's in the front room, the Mingus Septet Statements in the main room and the Parker Duo Diamonds in the stand mount room.

I received back yesterday the stars of the GTG the Mingus Septet Statements from Audio Tailor up in Brisbane, thank you Stuart, who also hosted a Marten speaker night last week, which I believe was very well received and attended.

So later today the main room is about to be totally pulled apart so I can move everything around to also fit for the first time in this system the two box Aries Cerat Ithaka Dac which will be combined with the Linn Klimax 800 mono blocks, the Aries Cerat Impera Ref Pre-amp, Oladra Presence Music server, Waversa Ethernet Filtration and Nordost QKore earthing and power boxes and cables. It is seriously going to be a squeeze to fit it all in that room and also allow for people.

On Tuesday the two brand new Oladra flagship music servers will be arriving from NZ and I will be running them in 24/7 until the event as they literally were finished being assembled on Thursday last week and were picked up Friday to come across the Tasman sea for our GTG.

While I have not yet mentioned them the speaker I am most looking forward to hearing is the Parker Duo Diamonds that I unboxed last night, from all reports these stand mounts are just simply amazing to listen too, so by later today I will have them plugged in and playing in the front room so I can finally hear them before they are moved to the Stand Mount rear Room for next Saturdays GTG.

For those who may be interested I still have two spots left if you would like to come along next Saturday evening GTG, I am also considering having a small GTG on the Sunday around lunch time for those who can't make it on the Saturday and or want a second listen. This will be more than likely the last time us Queenslanders will be able to hear up here the Mingus Septet Statements as they will be boxed up soon after to return to Sydney, so don't miss out on the final opportunity to hear these stunning sounding high end Marten speakers live here in the Sunshine State.

Cheers,

Terry

0418 691 294

17/04/2026

Only a few more days until Antipodes new flagship Oladra Sentia and Presence arrive here for our Saturday 25th April Gold Coast HiFi Clubhouse Marten speaker night. If you want to experience firsthand the amazing sounding $247K Marten Mingus Septet Statements and the $56k Sentia and $93K Presence in action please give me a call to arrange a spot. ... cheers Terry

03/02/2026

A quick heads up before the offical announcement, we will be having a Marten Speaker night at GC HiFi on Sat April 25th and these stunning Marten Mingus Septets that recently arrived at Audio Connection will be the star of the 3 room Marten GTG. If you would would like to reserve one of the very limited spots please call or message me soon, this is one Hifi get together those of you in to high end Hifi in Queensland won't want to miss. ... cheers Terry