#Arcam

[hifilounge]

4 Exciting New Streaming Products From Arcam and McIntosh Now On Demo!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to do a very quick blog to highlight 4 new products that we have very recently put on demo that have streaming at their heart from Arcam and McIntosh.

Arcam

Firstly from Arcam, our Radia demo range in now complete with the addition of the newly released SA35 and the Powerhouse SA45, both are all in one streaming amplifiers but they offer so much more than that with DAC inputs, MM/MC phono stage built it, Dirac Live support, Roon Ready and the SA45 being Glass G so they really have covered all bases here, have to say it again, it is great to have Arcam back at the forefront where they belong at their price point as this complete Radia range really is top drawer, please find a link below to the complete range -

McIntosh Labs

Well in HiFi there probably isn't a more iconic brand than McIntosh and it is great to have 2 new state of the art streaming products from one of the oldest brands in HiFi with their new DS200 Streaming DAC and the all in one streaming amplifier, the MSA5500, both looking and sounding excellent, please find more info below and a few pics.

Needless to say if you'd like to come in to demo any of these products please feel free to get in touch to book a demo.

Cheers,

Paul.

[viragfold]

RACCONTI DI MARE

"Buongiorno, buongiorno, come anticipato vi mando la locandina della mostra RACCONTI DI MARE, che si terrà in settembre a Mirano - Venezia, dal 14 al 23, dove saranno esposte anche tutte le mail-art arrivate. Vi invitiamo a venirci a trovare. Vi aspettiamo! Per i più lontani, potete vedere tutte le mailart arrivate nella galleria virtuale Galleria Virtuale MaiArt RACCONTAMI IL MARE e seguirci nella nostra pagina Facebook. Grazie della partecipazione e, alle prossime!" "Good morning, good morning, as anticipated, I am sending you the poster of the exhibition RACCONTI DI MARE, which will be held in September in Mirano-Venezia, to 14 from 23, where all the mail-art received will also be exhibited. We invite you to come and visit us. We are waiting for you! For those further away, you can see all the mailarts arriving in the virtual gallery Galleria Virtuale MaiArt RACCONTAMI IL MARE and follow us on our Facebook page. Thanks for participating and see you next time"

RELATED POST: LINK

ARCAM (MIRANO-VENEZIA): LINK

[ahb-writes]

Manga Review: 'Spriggan' #2 (Deluxe Edition)

Spriggan by Hiroshi Takashige, Ryouji Minagawa, Deniz Amasya

action

fantasy

mythology

science fiction

superhero adventure

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

The peril never ends. Ominae's increasingly frantic and increasingly complex missions soon foist upon him numerous, devilish deals that require difficult decisions and agonizing trade-offs. SPRIGGAN v2 proves that no secret organization isn't without its faults, leaks, and traitors. This omnibus also shows how the value of such an organization is defined by the resilience of its individual agents. Craftiness and skill are essential, but grit and personal resolve are much firmer markers of success when combatting the criminal underworld.

SPRIGGAN v2 dips its toes into character backstory, retrieves a few excellent secondary characters from prior episodes, and carves out significant space for a worthy rival or two. To begin, the surrounding cast expands significantly in this book. For example, when tracking a few relics in a cursed forest on the Indian subcontinent, as well as during a demon-hunting expedition to the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq, Ominae encounters the leader of an enemy paramilitary unit. The mobile unit leader, Akatsuki Iwao, works for the Trident Corporation, which exists as a darker, more nefarious version of ARCAM.

Other exploits allow readers to cross paths with Akiha (Ominae's adoptive older sister), Oboro (a top-class spriggan and Ominae's martial arts instructor), and a handful of villains tied to a resuscitated U.S. Special Forces project. The creative team weaves these characters and more into the wider narrative with extraordinary cunning. The story never feels overburdened by too many characters or oversaturated with unwieldy character motivations. One highlight of the previous omnibus was how the story focused on the damage intelligent villains can effect when given the time and liberty to act. One highlight of the current omnibus is that when characters fail, or are overshadowed by the exploits of others, they know when to step aside and let someone else guide or take control of the story.

Readers learn about Oboro, for example, at precisely the point when one starts to wonder if Ominae and Jacquemonde (the shapeshifting Frenchman) really are the only decent spriggan around. Oboro, it turns out, is brilliant, patient, and stoic — a few shades more mature than his student. The man's ability to sniff out trouble, whether tactically or among legendary demon summoners, is entertaining. Readers encounter another spriggan, Tea Flatte, a sorceress, while poking through Jacquemonde's past as an impoverished kid in east-central France. Tea's cool demeanor likely betrays a sadness, or pity, of some kind, but the woman absolutely never loses her temper. A notable helping hand for the compulsive Frenchman.

The omnibus moves the story forward with several large steps. One such shift focuses on the expanded activities of the Trident criminal organization. Another concerns the book's incorporation of backstory — for both Jacquemonde and Ominae.

Interestingly, Trident succeeds at undermining a few of ARCAM's efforts to seal away dangerous materials (e.g., intelligent villains). Akatsuki, who hates to lose, forges a rivalry with Ominae when it's clear they're both skilled fighters who work for sketchy organizations. As far as backstory is concerned, good backstory, in this manga, often manifests as means of selectively compelling a character to take action in a crisis. The examples are numerous. But the most prescient concerns the Child Operative Soldier Machine-Organism System, run by the U.S. Special Forces Machiner's Platoon. To be brief, COSMOS is why Ominae is the way he is. And Trident is keen on resurrecting the project at all costs.

In terms of the practical and organic nature of Ominae's missions, SPRIGGAN v2 offers variety, to modest success. Some missions see the young man skulking abandoned dungeons in the middle of the desert, whereas others find him hunting the bowels of ARCAM's own building so as to fight back against a rogue computer intelligence system. Some missions take place in humid jungles, whereas others make their way into the urban sprawl. The difference in locations is clever, and the variation in villains is often written to match. Scope and emphasis are difficult to sync, as with a few chapters over-emphasizing a random, foolhardy nun's role in tracking down an out-of-the-way relic, but most episodes are solid.

The creative team's skilled integration of new villains, new allies, dark histories, and ominous futures makes SPRIGGAN v2 another quality omnibus. Even better, side characters, such as Yamamoto (Ominae's ARCAM handler), Yamabishi (prodigy linguistics professor), and Yoshino (blacklisted treasure hunter) either return for a brief stint or enjoy much greater time on the page, as with Yamamoto.

❯ ❯ Manga Reviews || ahb writes on Good Reads

[schizophrenia]

'24?

'23 gerçekleşme oranı 83,33.

2024 istek listem şöyle:

-rotel ra-1572mkii, rotel ra-1592mkii, rotel rb-1582 mkii, rotel ras-5000, nad c 389 blu os+nad c298, yamaha a-s1200, yamaha r-n1000a, musical fidelity m5si, rega elicit mk5, primare l25, primare a35.2, gold note pa-10, arcam sa45, arcam a25 veya eversolo amp-f2

-eversolo dmp-a6, wiim pro plus, cambridge audio cxn100, cambridge audio mxn10 veya bluesound node x

-sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 dg dn ii art 

+apple watch ultra 2

[marcelogardinetti]

René van Zuuk, Compacidad Rizada

El Centro de Arquitectura de Ámsterdam (ARCAM), diseñado por René van Zuuk, se encuentra ubicado en la parcela que ocupaba un histórico pabellón demolido en Prins Hendrikkade del Oosterdok

Ver en WordPress

[luvst4rc0r3]

oh vi should def catch reader and jinx kissing like its late and reader snuck in id love to see that

I LOVE THIS REQUEST!!!!

----

You weren’t supposed to be here. Like, at all.

Jinx had explicitly said her sister would be home late, plenty of time for the two of you to do whatever you wanted—mainly, making out in her dimly lit bedroom, her fingers tangled in your hair, her breath hot against your lips as she pulled you closer.

Breaking into Jinx’s place wasn’t exactly breaking in—you knew where she kept the spare key (under a very suspiciously placed rubber duck on the windowsill). Besides, you were basically invited… just, y’know, in the most Jinx way possible.

"If you can sneak in without me noticing, you win. If I catch you first, I win. Either way, we make out. Deal?"

A bet was a bet.

So here you were, sneaking into her room like some wannabe cat burglar, heart hammering as you crept past the clutter of gadgets, paint-splattered hoodies, and an absurd number of mismatched socks.

Jinx was sitting at her desk, headphones on, bobbing her head to whatever chaotic playlist she had on shuffle. Perfect.

You tiptoed closer, leaned in, lips brushing her ear—

"Boo."

She yelped, nearly knocking over a cup full of paint brushes before spinning in her chair, wild blue eyes locking onto yours. A second later, her wicked grin appeared.

“You little—”

Whatever she was about to say was cut off when you crashed your lips against hers. She made a muffled sound of surprise before melting into it, fingers curling into your shirt as she yanked you forward.

It started soft—warm, teasing, her lips moving against yours in a way that sent a shiver down your spine. Then she nipped at your bottom lip, just enough to make you gasp, and suddenly it wasn’t soft anymore.

Jinx always kissed like she was trying to steal something—your breath, your self-control, maybe even your damn soul. And honestly?Jinx pulled you into her lap, hands gripping your waist, and you barely had time to adjust before she was kissing you like she had something to prove. Like she was devouring you.

You buried your fingers in her hair, tugging lightly, and she let out a breathy little noise that made your brain short-circuit. Her hands slid under your shirt, fingertips tracing patterns against your skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

“Mm, sneaky little thing,” she murmured between kisses, lips brushing against yours. “Gotta admit, wasn’t expecting you to win the bet, but—” she cut herself off with another kiss, deeper this time, making you sigh into her mouth—“I love a surprise.”

“You talk too much,” you whispered, breathless.

Jinx smirked. “Yeah? Make me shut up then.”

You didn’t need to be told twice.

She let out a soft, pleased hum as you tilted your head, kissing her slow, deep, like you had all the time in the world. Her arms wrapped around you, tugging you closer until there wasn’t a single inch of space left between you. The room, the world, everything faded away until all you could feel was her—her lips, her hands, her warmth—

The door creaked open.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

You froze.

Jinx froze.

Slowly—painfully slowly—you both turned your heads.

"What the hell am I looking at?"

Jinx was still half-straddling you, lips parted, her blue eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. You turned your head slowly, dread pooling in your stomach as you locked eyes with Vi, who stood in the doorway with crossed arms and the expression of an older sibling who had seen too much and was not having it.

Jinx let out a sharp laugh, like she wasn’t the one about to get murdered. "Oh, hey, Vi! Didn’t see ya there!"

Vi’s gaze flicked between the two of you, her eyebrow twitching. "Yeah, clearly. So, which one of you is explaining this?"

You opened your mouth—maybe to apologize, maybe to beg for mercy—but Jinx, being Jinx, only grinned wider.

"Well, y’see, big sis, you rudely interrupted our very important bonding time—"

Vi groaned, rubbing her temples. "I don’t need to hear this, Jinx."

"You asked!"

"I regret asking!"

You, still lying there with Jinx half on top of you, were contemplating whether disappearing into the void was a viable option.

Vi sighed deeply, like she was going to have to burn this entire memory from her brain later. "I’m just gonna pretend I didn’t see anything. But if I come home and hear anything, I’m kicking both your asses out."

With that, she turned on her heel and shut the door behind her.

Silence.

Then Jinx flopped onto you dramatically, still laughing. "So, that went well, huh?"

You groaned. "Jinx."

The door slammed behind her. Silence.

Then Jinx snorted. “Sooo… round two?”

You groaned, hiding your burning face in her shoulder. “I hate you.”

“Liar.”

And she kissed you again.

MY WHOLE FAMILY IS SICK EXCEPT ME!!

I want sleep

[intrnetrbl]

“I hate Sky, she’s such pick-me”

* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • 。* 。° 。* 。 • ˚ * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛

As if yo ass don’t already sound like her diary when you talk about Viktor… Talkin bout some “ABFVAVD HE’S SO GRRRR” as if she wasn’t already thinking that.

Hoooo, and best believe Viktor would treat you the same fucking way he treated Sky — minus the “she had such dreams” or the “I’ll miss our talks, Miss Young” part. Literally. Ask him the same shit she did, he’d literally tell you to fuck off. Dooooon’t even start AHAH

Also, not to mention… I smell some colonizer bullshit coming from some of you guys when it comes to her.

I’m like her biggest defender, dpwm.

(also I’m lwk sad we didn’t at least get like a little kiss on the cheek from her or something ughhh)

[adorabluesposts]

I have an idea for you: what if the reader has to leave town permanently for personal reasons, like an arranged marriage... and with that Jayce, desperate to lose his love, kidnaps and chains the reader, maybe he even says he's with the reader for Viktor (maybe Viktor will feel happy about this). May they both be Yanderes for the reader in the future. Man, I think Viktor would manipulate Yandere Jayce?

gagagagaggaga wow yes.. sorry this took so long!! exam week is HARD

WARNINGS: yandere, mature themes , angst no comfort <3

You never thought it would come to this. The letter, carefully sealed with an elegant wax emblem, had shattered your world the moment you opened it. The arranged marriage to someone you barely knew. It was final, unchangeable.

Your family made this decision without consulting you first, and now you were bound to a marriage for the money.. to a certain Graham Who-Cares-Of-Last-Names.

Tommorow, you would leave this city—your home—for a future not of your choosing. Your love for Piltover, for its progress and potential, could not change your duty.

Nor could it erase your feelings for him.

You hadn’t told Jayce. How could you? His ambition burned brighter than any Hextech crystal, his dreams bound to this city’s destiny.

You could not tether him to your burdens.

A knock on the door startled you. You turned, heart racing. “Come in.”

Jayce stepped inside, the dim light framing him like a hero from a storybook—tall, broad-shouldered, his sharp jawline set with determination. A speak of the devil, and he just arrived.

His dark eyes searched yours, stormy and unreadable. “I heard,” he began, voice low, “that you’re leaving.”

Your breath caught. How did he find out? “It’s… complicated.”

“You didn’t tell me,” he whispered, stepping closer.

The weight of his presence made the room feel smaller. “Why?”

“Because it wouldn’t change anything,” you murmured. “This is my family’s decision. I don’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice,” Jayce said fiercely. He grasped your hands, his grip firm but gentle. “You don’t have to go.”

“You don’t understand,” you said, tears prickling your eyes. You pulled away. “This isn’t about love or dreams. It’s duty. Honor.”

“Forget honor,” Jayce growled, moving away from you. “What about what we want?”His desperation made your chest ache.

“It doesn’t matter.”

His eyes darkened. “It matters to me.”

Before you could react, he pulled you against his chest, his arms circling you like steel. His heartbeat thundered against your cheek.

You remained like that for a few seconds, feeling your heart break. "Jayce.."

He pulled away, going over to the table. His back was turned to you as he pured you both some drinks. You smiled and took your glass, taking a few sips.

The burning sensation made you relax.

“I can’t lose you,” he whispered. “I won’t.”His words carved into your soul.

“Jayce…”

He tilted your chin up, his eyes burning into yours. “If you won’t stay willingly, then I’ll make sure you can’t leave.”

----

You woke with a start. The room was unfamiliar, the air thick with the scent of metal and oil.

Panic surged through your veins as you pulled against the weight on your wrists—chains. Cold, unyielding iron bound you to the sturdy bedframe.

“Jayce!” you cried out, your voice echoing in the dimly lit workshop. You called out again.

And again, and again. And for hours, you cried. Your cries filled the room, until you physically couldn't yell anymore.

He appeared from the shadows, his expression a storm of emotions—guilt, anger, and fierce resolve. “You’re safe.”

“Safe?” You tugged on the chains. “You call this safe? What are you doing?!”

“I’m keeping you here,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I won’t let them take you.”

“This isn’t right,” you hissed. “You can’t force me to stay!”

His jaw clenched. “I’m doing this because I love you.”

“You love me?” Tears streamed down your face. “This is not love.”

His gaze faltered. “I’m saving you.”

“From what? My own choices?” Your voice cracked. “Don’t you see? You’re taking my freedom, just like they are.”

His hands balled into fists. “I can’t let you go.”

Silence stretched between you. Then, softer, “You already have.”

The weight of your words shattered the air between you. Jayce staggered as if struck.

Every feeling you once had for Jayce- all the love, all the thoughts.. they all went away. Obsession was a curse. It wasn't love. How could hurting the one you love mean any good?

Youe sobs filled the room. Your vision was so blurry you never even realised when Jayce left.

He hadn't hurt you physically, of you don't count how the weight of the chains made your hands go numb. But mentally, morally..

And he was nowhere near done.

[aurelleee]

Vi ate them cupcakes~

-pls this is my first time making spicy art :')

[hifilounge]

Nice 4 x REL Acoustics Subwoofer Install!

Hi Everyone,

It is full on with installs at the moment which is great news, just wanted to share this latest one being a huge advocate of running REL Subwoofers for both 2 channel and cinema of course, this one covered both aspects.

We installed 2 Carbons Specials with a pair of Focal Diablo Utopia’s on a Naim 500 system and a pair of S/510’s on an Arcam AVR31 with some older Naim speakers.

Needless to say as ever when adding subs it transformed both systems.

https://hifilounge.co.uk/product-category/brands/rel/

Cheers,

Paul.

[viragfold]

RACCONTAMI IL MARE

[dilfismstan]

god bless the animators of arcane…🫡🫶

and my ladies are all fine as fuck too I NEED THEM ALL IN MY BED RIGHT NOW.

[apthepotat]

this reminded me of:

[marcelogardinetti]

René van Zuuk, Compacidad Rizada

[luvst4rc0r3]

CAN YOU WRITE A JINX X F!READER WHERE READER HAS A KID AND JINX DOESNT KNOW IT YET??

TY IF YOU DO

Yess I love this request

“Unexpected Visit”

It’s a Saturday morning, the sunlight spilling lazily through your kitchen window as you scramble around trying to keep things in order. Your little one is still sleeping, curled up on the couch with a blanket tangled around them like a cocoon. You’ve got a coffee in hand, a mountain of laundry to fold, and the last thing on your mind is anything chaotic—until the doorbell rings.

You freeze.

Jinx.

You glance at the clock. It’s just past noon. No one ever visits unannounced, except… her. You didn’t expect her to pop by today, especially after the week you’ve had. You wipe your hands on your apron and head for the door.

When you open it, she’s standing there, her hair a mess, an eager grin stretched across her face. Her eyes are wide with excitement.

“Surprise!” she says, bouncing on her heels like a kid on Christmas morning. “You ready for some fun?”

You blink, caught off guard. “Jinx, uh… what are you—?”

But then you hear the soft snoring from the living room, and her gaze flickers behind you. Her eyes narrow with curiosity.

“What was that? Was that…?” she trails off, tilting her head.

“Shh,” you hiss, quickly stepping back from the door. “Keep your voice down. My kid is asleep.”

Jinx blinks, the words hanging in the air for a moment. Her expression shifts from playful confusion to something… more cautious. “Kid?”

You wince, realizing you didn’t exactly mean to spill that detail yet. It’s been a while since you thought about your situation as anything more than normal. You didn’t think Jinx would show up today, much less find out about your life outside of work or your occasional hangouts.

“Yeah, a kid,” you say, trying to keep it light. “I’m a single parent, Jinx. Didn’t think I’d need to mention it yet.” You let out a small laugh, but she’s staring at you, completely silent.

She steps into the doorway without waiting for an invitation, glancing around at the cozy, somewhat cluttered home. A few toys are scattered on the floor, and the smell of pancakes still lingers in the air.

“So, uh,” she begins, sounding awkward for the first time in your memory. “Is this like, uh… what, a big secret or something?”

You shake your head, letting out a soft sigh. “It’s not a secret. It’s just… complicated. And, I wasn’t really planning on telling anyone about my kid yet.”

Jinx’s eyes soften, and she rubs the back of her neck, looking around the room in an almost shy way. “Well, you’re, like, a lot cooler than I thought if you can handle that all on your own,” she mutters.

You blink at her. “What do you mean?”

She looks at you with those familiar, mischievous eyes. “You’re doing everything. The mom thing, the work thing… and you still let me come over and drag you into my chaos every now and then. That’s cool.”

Your heart flutters a little, a mix of amusement and warmth spreading through you. Jinx wasn’t always the best at expressing her feelings, but you could tell when she meant something.

“Well, someone has to,” you reply, grinning. “And I guess I’m the lucky one.”

She bites her lip, eyes darting toward the couch where your child is still snoozing, peaceful and unaware of the chaos outside.

“Can I… meet them?”

You pause. You weren’t sure how she would act in this kind of situation, but something about the way she asked makes you want to say yes. You nod, feeling your nerves settle a little.

“Okay, but you have to be quiet,” you whisper as you lead her toward the living room.

When she sees your child, her whole demeanor shifts. Her usual manic energy quiets, her eyes softening as she looks at the little one. Jinx crouches down, her fingers hovering just above their sleeping form, unsure of what to do.

“I don’t… I’ve never really been around kids,” she admits, voice barely above a whisper.

You smile, a little surprised at how gentle her tone is. “It’s okay. You don’t have to do anything.”

Jinx nods, standing back up, her eyes lingering on your kid a little longer. For once, the wildness that usually marks her movements is replaced with something more reserved.

“Your kid’s cute,” she says quietly.

You laugh softly. “Yeah, they are.”

Jinx’s eyes flicker back to you, an almost awkward pause settling in the air. “I didn’t mean to, you know… show up uninvited or anything. I just… wanted to see you. Didn’t realize you had all this going on.”

You smile, your heart swelling just a bit. “I didn’t expect you to be so… calm about it.”

“I’m not that bad, right?” Jinx pouts, then grins. “Just… got a lot of energy. But if you need help with anything… I’m pretty good at keeping busy, y’know?”

The offer hangs in the air, and for a moment, you just stand there, watching her. There’s a sincerity in her words that catches you off guard, and you realize she’s not just offering to be part of your world for the fun of it. She genuinely wants to be involved, even if it’s in her own chaotic way.

“Thanks, Jinx,” you say softly, smiling at her. “That means a lot.”

She grins back, her usual playful spark returning. “No problem. Just, uh… don’t expect me to start doing kid stuff. I’m good with fun stuff.” She winks.

The little one stirs on the couch and yawns, rubbing their eyes. Jinx freezes mid-wink, watching them. You turn your head to see your kid slowly sitting up, eyes blinking in confusion. They take in Jinx’s appearance with curious eyes before looking at you.

“Mommy?” they ask softly, still half-asleep.

You bend down and smile, your heart melting. “Yes, sweetie?”

“This is…?” They gesture to Jinx, clearly confused but eager to know more.

Jinx crouches down to their level, her usual mischievous grin back in full force. “I’m… mommy’s special friend!” she says, her tone dramatically exaggerated as she holds out a hand. “Jinx”

Your kid blinks at her, then looks back at you, as if making sure it’s all okay. You give them an encouraging smile.

“Mommy’s special friend,” you confirm gently. “Jinx is a bit… crazy, but she’s a good person.”

Jinx’s eyes widen at your words, a small blush coloring her cheeks. She looks at your little one again, her expression softening. “I promise, I’m more fun than I look,” she says with a playful wink.

Your kid tilts their head, then gives a shy smile, stretching their arms. “Okay, Jinx! Can you make pancakes like mommy?”

Jinx’s eyes sparkle at the challenge. “Oh, pancakes? I definitely can do that.”

And just like that, she’s included—welcomed into your little family’s world in her own chaotic, Jinx-y way. As the morning slips into afternoon, you can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, having someone like Jinx around isn’t the worst thing that’s ever happened.

This was a cute request

I want food

[mooniism]

gay people can never say “i love you” it’s always “in all lifetimes, in all possibilities, only you can show me this…”