PDA

View Full Version : My wife's classic system



baron
05-04-2008, 12:10
This is my wife's classic system,

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/6ba365e3.jpg

Quad II/22, FM2, Quad 33/303 FM3, AM3 Garrod 301, SME 3009, Goldring 1042 , DIY Phono stage, Quad 57's, Rega Planet. Heals HI-Fi cabinet.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/baa74a09.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/0e8c2532.jpg

You can switch between the two Amps.

The room is not ideal for the system but it still sounds sweet.:)

Philip

captain
05-04-2008, 14:06
Nice wife :respect:

baron
06-04-2008, 11:53
Nice wife :respect:

Thanks, yes she is, she has the same passion for music as I do. I'm very lucky.;)

Gromit
06-04-2008, 12:13
Total retro cool! I love it! :)

Mike Reed
06-04-2008, 13:27
That truly is wonderful, (as must your wife be, of course!), but why three tuners? One looks like the AM Quad, but the others? FM/AM by the looks of them.

baron
06-04-2008, 14:00
but why three tuners? One looks like the AM Quad, but the others? FM/AM by the looks of them.
It came with all the tuners, the valve Quad FM tuner with stereo decoder, the Quad FM3, and the Quad AM3. We only use the FM3.

baron
12-08-2009, 20:55
I thought I would post some pictures of how the room looks now. Its not quite finished yet, needs a better chair for a start but it’s getting there. We still have the valve Quads but they need a bit of TLC which they will get when I get the time:(
The system sounds better this way round, and the LPs are sorted and easy to find. I catalogued them and the CDs using Music Collector.:gig:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0139.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0140.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0141.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0142.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0143.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0144.jpg

Beechwoods
12-08-2009, 21:04
Wow :stalks: :stalks: lovely room Philip. You've made quite a difference. Everything really stands out now. I love the cabinet, and you've a really nice looking record collection... Good to see you back. I know you've been lurking ;) It looks like some of your Quad kit has disappeared. Have you got a third system somewhere?!

baron
12-08-2009, 21:14
Hi Nick,
Been very busy, the Quad kit is in my loft room waiting for me to give it a bit of a service / rebuild. It’s crackling a bit when it gets hot.
Yes there is a third system in the loft as well.

Beechwoods
12-08-2009, 21:18
:doh: I should have re-read your earlier post about the valve quads. In one ear and out the other at the moment! And I've not really forgotten your loft system. Lucky man. Have you still got your reel to reel out and connected?

Barry
12-08-2009, 21:24
Speaking as a Quad owner and enthusiast, that's a very nice system you wife has Philip.

One thing however, the speakers seem rather close to the record/book shelves. Do they sound OK where they are? I would suggest you try to move them a little further into the room, or would that bring them too close to the listening position?

Anyway a very nice system - Congratulations.

baron
12-08-2009, 21:29
Have you still got your reel to reel out and connected?
Yes its still connected but not used much.

baron
12-08-2009, 21:34
Speaking as a Quad owner and enthusiast, that's a very nice system you wife has Philip.

One thing however, the speakers seem rather close to the record/book shelves. Do they sound OK where they are? I would suggest you try to move them a little further into the room, or would that bring them too close to the listening position?

Anyway a very nice system - Congratulations.

Thanks Barry, yes the speakers are normaly a little bit further into the room. I have found with Quad electrostatics that the like having a broken / uneven surface behind them, so uneven book cases work well.

baron
12-08-2009, 21:54
I love the cabinet, and you've a really nice looking record collection

Here's the catalogue for the cabinet, its dated 1959, then it cost £32.10s

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0146.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0147.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0148.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0149.jpg

The record collection is growing quite well since we started playing records again, about 7 years ago. Its a mix of old, new, and second hand. The lower shelve is mostly classical with a bit of jazz. The rest is rock and pop.

Beechwoods
12-08-2009, 21:59
Interesting - earlier than I'd have guessed. You know your AM3 is getting quite rare these days. I'm not sure it was ever terribly common, but it worth more than an FM3, if you can find one around. They don't turn up that often. I passed on one that Dave (Greenhome) was selling and only realised later that it was a bit of a prize, if you're into old Quad stuff.

baron
12-08-2009, 22:13
Thanks for the info. The AM3 is not connected at the moment in fact I'm not sure I've tried it yet

baron
13-08-2009, 21:46
Interesting - earlier than I'd have guessed.

Here's another picture, note the pipe :smoking:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/Quad57pipeMusica113-05-200016-04-56.jpg

Beechwoods
14-08-2009, 05:32
Trés moderne, Philip! I think it looks better in your room than theirs! With that combination of carpet and wallpaper I'd probably end up going do-lally! Perhaps the pipe was necessary to calm them down. The early 1960's equivalent of rave décor :)

Barry
14-08-2009, 10:50
Trés moderne, Philip! I think it looks better in your room than theirs! With that combination of carpet and wallpaper I'd probably end up going do-lally! Perhaps the pipe was necessary to calm them down. The early 1960's equivalent of rave décor :)

It's worse than that, the listeners are living in a mirror universe!

Beechwoods
14-08-2009, 11:16
I love it! Yes... and he appears to be listening to Classic FM, rather than Radio 3, a physical impossibility in that day and age ;)

Barry
14-08-2009, 13:38
I love it! Yes... and he appears to be listening to Classic FM, rather than Radio 3, a physical impossibility in that day and age ;)

That should of course be MF Cissalc! ;)

Mike Reed
15-08-2009, 16:58
I love it! Yes... and he appears to be listening to Classic FM, rather than Radio 3, a physical impossibility in that day and age ;)

Unlikely to be listening to radio 3, either ! Surely the Third Programme. Believe the other two were the Light Programme and the Home Service.

Not only am I being pedantic but my memory may well be letting me down. Have got an old wooden table wireless (EKCO) with magic eye tuning in my loft; must check on my next foray.

Beechwoods
15-08-2009, 17:51
:doh: schoolboy error, Mike. I should've remembered that 'cos R1 used to share the same frequency, back when it was launched...

baron
26-08-2009, 19:09
A trip to IKEA for the chairs completes the room.

Its sounding great much better this way around. :mex::crowd:

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0210.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0211.jpg

Rare Bird
03-10-2009, 15:37
A trip to IKEA for the chairs completes the room.

Its sounding great much better this way around. :mex::crowd:


http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0211.jpg

Nice

The Vinyl Adventure
03-10-2009, 16:03
its partly this thread that provided me with the inspiration to get a vintage hifi (ref quad teak box thread)
it does look like a nice place to be that room!

Marco
03-10-2009, 17:10
Nice one, Philip - that's looking excellent! :respect:

Marco.

baron
03-10-2009, 22:04
Thanks Hamish & Marc. I've added a Lori-craft PRC4 de Luxe I got at the show last week.:dance: It was Good to see you again Marco.:cool:

Marco
03-10-2009, 22:09
Same with your good lady and you, Philip.

What did you think of the Quad system in that room were in at the show? I could hear the potential, but I found it all a bit 'cosy & safe' for my tastes :)

Perhaps it was the music being played?

Marco.

baron
03-10-2009, 22:22
I thought it was unfair to put a 25W per channel with the 2905's, plus they need a very big room to work correctly. The would have been better off using the 12L2 Speakers in that size room.

Marco
03-10-2009, 22:26
Fair comment :)

I'm a big fan of 2905s, but I think they needed a much bigger 'kick up the ass' amp-wise, as it were, to wake 'em up properly!

Marco.

baron
03-10-2009, 22:31
Agreed

baron
03-10-2009, 22:34
I would like to hear the Quad II-eighty's with the 2905's in a large room. They would be no good to me I just about get away with the 63's and 57's.

jandl100
04-10-2009, 08:40
Lovely system, there, Philip. :) I must admit that I usually (always?) prefer to have speakers firing across the width of the room. I think speakers often benefit more from space at the sides than from space at the back. Few folks seem to try this, though.

baron
04-10-2009, 10:47
Thanks Jerry, I have tried both ways in a small room with the 57's it works better accross the room and allows 2 people to listern. In the larger room with the 63's I did try them in the middle of the thru lounge which gave a better imaging and more base but it ment they had to be on much louder, bearing in mind I live in a small victorian terraced house it would not be fair to the neighbours. Firing them accross the room and putting the 63's on stands means I can listern without disturbing anyone. With electrostatics on stands there is very little bass vibration traveling through the floorboards to my next door neighbours.

Rare Bird
04-10-2009, 10:54
Same with your good lady and you, Philip.

What did you think of the Quad system in that room were in at the show? I could hear the potential, but I found it all a bit 'cosy & safe' for my tastes :)

Perhaps it was the music being played?

Marco.

If You can find any old Quad brochures from asy the 50's you'll see that is how they used to set Quad gear up, close sit in low chairs..

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NVQujPOPx2c/SlaMN7vsx5I/AAAAAAAAIkc/Koa_EaiKruE/s400/Lycklig+QUAD.jpg

Hi-Fi life was so much easier in those days.

Marco
04-10-2009, 11:03
How very true, Andre! :)

Often these days we can overcomplicate things and lose some of the 'magic' in the process...

Marco.

baron
04-10-2009, 15:45
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk320/baron103/DSC_0002-2.jpg:)

The Vinyl Adventure
04-10-2009, 16:13
... I want a rega plannet too, but hannah has said that she is happy with the DVD player for cd playback and as I don't listen to cd's she has told me I'm not allowed one :(

baron
04-10-2009, 16:21
The planet is a nice player I've had it a long time, there are quite a lot of mods that can be don on them as well. Mine is still standard, for now.

The Vinyl Adventure
04-10-2009, 16:25
Il get a plannet one day, I might have to bin hannah, but some times you just have to make sacrifices....

Barry
04-10-2009, 18:34
If You can find any old Quad brochures from say the 50's you'll see that is how they used to set Quad gear up, close sit in low chairs..

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NVQujPOPx2c/SlaMN7vsx5I/AAAAAAAAIkc/Koa_EaiKruE/s400/Lycklig+QUAD.jpg

Hi-Fi life was so much easier in those days.

Advertisments can be misleading (this particular one is reversed)! I seem to remember some time ago reading an interview where Peter Walker said that the original ESLs were designed so that the treble beam was at the correct height for listeners sitting in chairs, which then, were higher than they are today. My listening chair is of a height that my ears are at 3'. The chair is 15' from the speakers. Without a 1" block of wood under the rear foot, the treble would fire over the top of my head.

Regards

Darren
23-06-2012, 14:09
Il get a plannet one day, I might have to bin hannah, but some times you just have to make sacrifices....

The correct attitude son. Someone's got to wear the trousers and it might as well be you....:lol:

Werner Berghofer
23-06-2012, 14:41
Andre,


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NVQujPOPx2c/SlaMN7vsx5I/AAAAAAAAIkc/Koa_EaiKruE/s400/Lycklig+QUAD.jpg

anybody got an idea why this dude has *two* pipes in his mouth?

Werner.

Macca
23-06-2012, 14:46
He's lit two from the same match and is about to pass one to his wife. This was commonplace before the cigarette was invented.

Marco
23-06-2012, 14:58
No doubt you're right, Martin, but what a disgusting thought... :spew:

And she looks rather lady-like, too!! He'd should've put something else in her mouth instead to keep her quiet ;)

Marco.

Roy S
23-06-2012, 16:02
anybody got an idea why this dude has *two* pipes in his mouth?

Werner.

Stereo?

Wakefield Turntables
23-06-2012, 16:22
Phillip,

Just to say that I love your Quad setup. I too have a full quad set up and have some OTA ESL57's. I dont use them as much as i should :doh:. I run my ESL's via my Radford gear. Keep up the good work. ;)

andy

northwest
23-06-2012, 19:04
If You can find any old Quad brochures from asy the 50's you'll see that is how they used to set Quad gear up, close sit in low chairs..

Hi-Fi life was so much easier in those days.

Very 'nearfield' but my Quds are just awesome! I am trying to live in the past. It isn't easy:eyebrows:

steve_1979
23-06-2012, 20:10
That looks really cool in a retro kinda way. :)

DSJR
24-06-2012, 11:10
The thing with the Planet, was that it was superbly sorted for a then low cost and UK built player. The Acoustica site has some pointers, but short of removing the output filter and possibly supply tweaks, I wouldn't say there's a huge amount needed. Oh, and I still think they can be serviced too should they fail. Most important thing is a support for them and since you have deco Audio on your doorstep, I think you're well sorted there :)

julesd68
24-06-2012, 16:43
That is one of the nicest looking systems I have ever seen - your mrs must be way cool too :eyebrows:

I have always loved the vintage Quad look but the cabinet takes it to a whole new level of luvverliness ...

Rare Bird
29-06-2012, 22:19
The Heals furniture is great, i'm presently working on a late 60's Largs style unit :eyebrows: I'm just deciding on which of my amp's to house in the unit together with Connoisseur deck :hmm:

Marco
30-06-2012, 08:08
Welcome back, dude! :)

Marco.

hifinutt
30-06-2012, 08:26
Thanks, yes she is, she has the same passion for music as I do. I'm very lucky.;)

flip me thats rare and you are lucky

baron
30-06-2012, 21:45
Thanks for all the kind comments guys.