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?
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?