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REW
11-02-2014, 18:35
Not sure if this is of interest or in the right place, but tell me what you think.

I think like many of us, I choose components that will (hopefully) improve the sound quality of my system. However, I am sometimes tempted to buy something just for the hell of it - enter my Dual CS626 record deck bought early last year. I have fixed and fettled a couple of Dual decks for friends and decided I wanted one for myself even though I really don't have space for one, nor will it improve any aspect of my current set ups. But fun? Oh yes:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0042_zpsea7ad060.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0042_zpsea7ad060.jpg.html)

Direct drive fully automatic makes life very easy after a few drinks and then there is the endless fascination of watching it do its stuff. I changed the bespoke headshell and cartridge mounting for other Dual parts so I could use a new cartridge (the tremendous value Ortofon OM10, by the way).

I didn't want to swap my Technics 1200 Mk2 in and out of place so I decided to assemble an equally low cost system to listen to the deck with and thus use up even more precious space in my "study". And to the rescue came RichB with the offer in the for sale forum last June of a pair of Celestion DL4 Mk2s - for nothing!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0021_zpsdb8907a0.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0021_zpsdb8907a0.jpg.html)

These are quite mellow in general and not ported so they work well very close to a wall (as you see), though the metal dome tweeter can be a little dominant but with the next component, its quite desirable...

I picked up the speakers from Richard and thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and having a chat, as you do. As a result of chatting he even offered me a Rotel RX150A tuner-amp from the '70s (which he had been given by a friend) in the hope it would work and be the phono stage and amp I needed to complete my peanuts system. What great people you meet in this HiFi world eh? Thanks Richard.

And work it did, almost. It lit up (partially) and made some horribly distorted noises. I opened it up and used switch cleaner liberally to great effect. I re-strung the tuning pointer, lubed the pulley wheels and tracked down replacement festoon bulbs for the display (not easy or cheap). Input selector still works "selectively" sometimes but more switch cleaner next time its open might sort it:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0040_zps3ca827c0.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0040_zps3ca827c0.jpg.html)

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0020_zps576add94.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/DSC_0020_zps576add94.jpg.html)

The Rotel had clearly been in a damp environment for a while at some point as many parts, including RCA sockets were quite corroded, which required a lot of cleaning to make good. The only part I can't make work without much more work is the stereo indicator light on the tip of the tuning pointer. Ah well.

So, here is a system with what they used to call a "nice tone" enlivened by the Ortofon and DL4 tweeter. Biggest re-discovered pleasure is FM radio and I have now bought a late '70s tuner but that's another story and, er, another space headache. Pair of DL4's and a Rotel for a bit of fun anyone?

Benji
11-02-2014, 18:52
Sounds nice, right time, right place sort of system!

I am never in the right place and always pick up the wrong timetable!

Wakefield Turntables
11-02-2014, 19:30
great story, keep us updated.

RichB
12-02-2014, 23:58
Hi Ron,

Great to see some of this gear doing active service again and it was nice to meet you (and your good lady). So pleased you've been able to get a tune out of that old rotel and bringing it back to life sounds like it has been a bit of an adventure. Its amazing what a bit of servisol and a caring touch can do for old gear. I'd love to hear it sometime.

Speaking of which my main system was all in bits when we last met as we were redecorating. Suffice to say its all back together again and I'm more than happy with how it sounds now. You'll have to pop by for a cuppa and a listen.

Thanks again for keeping us updated and posting these bits of my old HiFi history here to live on a while longer.

Rich

REW
11-03-2014, 18:55
I mentioned in my first post that I had re-awakened my interest in FM as a result of using the Rotel and have now bought another tuner - a JVC X1 from 1979, I think:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/JVC%20X1%20Tuner/DSC_0033_zps14d6bc2d.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/JVC%20X1%20Tuner/DSC_0033_zps14d6bc2d.jpg.html)

It is a lot less marked than this picture suggests, which is what you get with camera phones and a quick flash :eek:

However, I like it a lot but as it currently sits in the lounge I don't get the casting vote, so it is coming up to the study to be part of the really cheap system since it was, er, really cheap. I suppose it is easy to see why here:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/JVC%20X1%20Tuner/DSC_0040_zps84224664.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/JVC%20X1%20Tuner/DSC_0040_zps84224664.jpg.html)

It may even use it to replace the Rotel in time as the JVC is rather more detailed which is particularly good on Radio 4 spoken word programs and Radio 3 pieces. So, I shall be looking for a black tuner to replace it in the rack (can't have all that empty space can we?), preferably with a tuning knob and a few pretty lights - I like a bit of retro bling and this is my chance to get it!

REW
27-03-2014, 19:54
Well, the really cheap system has morphed again. The Rotel and Celestions have been retired to bedroom four (son number one will enjoy them when he returns for a few days :) while I have added an old switch box and a recently acquired Edwards Audio Apprentice phono amp. This "silver system" feeds the existing Naim, Technics and AVI NuNeutron set up and also acts as extra LP storage:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/JVC%20X1%20Tuner/3_zps1bdae6f1.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/JVC%20X1%20Tuner/3_zps1bdae6f1.jpg.html)

It has to be said the sound from the tuner is very crisp and clear with an underlying natural voice portrayal, while the Apprentice is similar tonally though not as punchy or as realistic as the Naim Stageline N I use for the Technics.

The Apprentice (second hand) cost more than each of the other bits but not by much, so its still a cheap set up, the price of which makes one much less critical of the performance than when buying those "serious" items with 3 or 4 digits in the price.

What is bizarre is the aerial I use. A simple wire flex dipole carefully hung in the window, facing the transmitter did not pull in weaker local radio very well surprisingly. After lots of faffing I gave up and dropped it behind the rack you see in the pix and lo and behold, perfect reception with all signal strength lights lit. Good fun this analogue stuff.

Naughty Nigel
29-03-2014, 17:00
What is bizarre is the aerial I use. A simple wire flex dipole carefully hung in the window, facing the transmitter did not pull in weaker local radio very well surprisingly. After lots of faffing I gave up and dropped it behind the rack you see in the pix and lo and behold, perfect reception with all signal strength lights lit. Good fun this analogue stuff.

If you live in a good signal area, a simple vertical dipole will work well. Total length should be 1.5 metres. Horizontally orientated aerials may work if your transmitter uses mixed polarisation, but vertical is better.

I have one taped vertically to the back of a bookcase, and I get full signal strength on all stations from Pontop Pike. In fact it works better than the circular (omnidirectional) FM aerial that I have on the chimney! I just need to get up there to change it for a vertical aerial, (which the installer didn't want to install: -presumably because he didn't have one in his van). :(

Nigel.

REW
29-03-2014, 18:08
Aahh, Pontop uses vertical polarisation does it - that explains a lot! Right, thanks for that Nigel, I will have another faff, er, play with the aerial. Since I can see Pontop I don't think I need worry about setting up an outdoor aerial.

Naughty Nigel
29-03-2014, 18:25
Aahh, Pontop uses vertical polarisation does it - that explains a lot! Right, thanks for that Nigel, I will have another faff, er, play with the aerial. Since I can see Pontop I don't think I need worry about setting up an outdoor aerial.

Pontop Pike uses mixed polarisation, which means it will work with aerials which are vertical or inclined up to 45° from the vertical (such as many car aerials). Horizontal orientation will give you the lowest possible signal strength!

Have a look at this websites for some interesting pointers: http://www.aerialsandtv.com/index.html

Nigel.

Naughty Nigel
31-03-2014, 10:49
Aahh, Pontop uses vertical polarisation does it - that explains a lot! Right, thanks for that Nigel, I will have another faff, er, play with the aerial. Since I can see Pontop I don't think I need worry about setting up an outdoor aerial.

Mind you, isn't it romantic that though we are ten miles apart, we both gaze out at the same transmitter mast? :lol:

Nigel.

icehockeyboy
31-03-2014, 11:54
Never mind about the Hifi.......what hockey teams were they in the second pic?
Looks like one of them could be Nottingham Panthers? :)

synsei
31-03-2014, 12:25
Mind you, isn't it romantic that though we are ten miles apart, we both gaze out at the same transmitter mast? :lol:

Nigel.

Here's a fun game if you run a car and suffer from insomnia. Find a high point close to you with an unobstructed view in all directions and search for red anti-collision lights on the horizon. Then, just using your inbuilt sense of direction and no tech aids, try to find the mast in your car. I really am a sad git... :lol:

Naughty Nigel
31-03-2014, 13:20
Here's a fun game if you run a car and suffer from insomnia. Find a high point close to you with an unobstructed view in all directions and search for red anti-collision lights on the horizon. Then, just using your inbuilt sense of direction and no tech aids, try to find the mast in your car. I really am a sad git... :lol:

But I know how to get to Pontop Pike, and Billsdale, and Wrotham as it happens. :)

Nigel

REW
25-10-2014, 18:32
Things are ever changing in my world of the really cheap system, so herewith a short update.

The Rotel/Celestion partnership that started it all are now doing their stuff in a student garret in Leeds with son number four. Gives me an excuse to try some other stuff, first of which is my friend's Dual CS505-2 which I have cleaned, lubed and generally fettled to good, usable effect. I have retrieved my B&W DM4s (I bought them new in 1975) from son number two and I test the lot through my Naim pre/power in the study.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j38/REW27/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/CS505-2andBampWDM41975_zps07babc47.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/user/REW27/media/Dual%20and%20Rotel%20Dec%202013/CS505-2andBampWDM41975_zps07babc47.jpg.html)

Meanwhile however...

...the Naim NAC112 in the study has developed wandering volume syndrome sadly and is I suspect beyond economic repair as the ladder resistor/IC chip combo is no longer made. Having given el cheapo systems to two sons I now need an amp for myself, likely not an el cheapo :rolleyes: