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View Full Version : In avoidance of the naughty step!



wobbleu
04-10-2009, 11:35
Hi

Here's some rushed pictures to comply with the Grand Wazoo's suggestions - the naughty step sounded cold and my mum always said I'd get 'bottom problems' if I sat on cold steps.:lol:

Full system - bit blurry, can and will do better later on
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/wobbleu/fullsystem_450x600-1.jpg

Speakers in the mist - well lens flare actually
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/wobbleu/speakersinthemist_800x600.jpg
electronics

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/wobbleu/gear_800x600.jpg
systemdek

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/wobbleu/systemdek_800x600.jpg

A60 - was black ash until I got it - needs one more application of beeswax - sounds great, is a late model

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/wobbleu/A60no1_800x600.jpg

A60 no 2 - early model, not touched yet needs new smoothing caps (burst)

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/wobbleu/A60no2_800x600.jpg
downstairs

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z248/wobbleu/Down_800x600.jpg

No doubt you'll have noticed tidyness is not my strongpoint!. Because we have pets, and I like to look after my stuff, the main system is built into a wardrobe which is fastened to the wall, so no footfall problems. The Focals are covered when not in use, and the front room is closed if we're not in it.
In the new year I'm re-configuring the upstairs to make a better listening environment - I'm planning to keep a log of this, and will try out some room treatments as part of the process
regards C

Marco
04-10-2009, 11:54
Hi Chris,

Nice pics. Could you embed them so that they appear automatically rather than having to go through a link?

{Edit: s'ok, I've done it for you} :)

Marco.

wobbleu
04-10-2009, 12:03
Marco

Thanks - I should've read the excellent guide to embedding photo's in the stickies...

I've always thought posting pictures to forums was a bit hit and miss - I can now see where I was going wrong

Chris

DSJR
04-10-2009, 13:48
great systems there, although the flexible cartridge mounting on the Systemdek goes against my Linn conditioning - coupling the cartridge TIGHT to the tonearm to maximise energy conversion into electrical signals.

Having said the above, I've found that by adding a lead "cartridge" weight to the "microphonic" MM carts I have seems to minimise the handling "noises" on some cartridges I own.. As long as the counterweight can balance this weight out I don't have warp-wobble issues - the loaded M3D/N21 is amazing in this respect, even with added mass.

The Vinyl Adventure
04-10-2009, 14:00
Its more tidy than my house!

Marco
04-10-2009, 14:51
Marco

Thanks - I should've read the excellent guide to embedding photo's in the stickies...

I've always thought posting pictures to forums was a bit hit and miss - I can now see where I was going wrong


No worries, Chris. It's all part of the service! Incidentally, you no longer have to type "Chris" at the end of your posts as it's been added to your signature :)

Love the A60, btw!!

Marco.

Alex_UK
04-10-2009, 14:56
Very nice kit, Chris. Is that one of those robotic cleaners in the downstairs pic? I've always thought they are cool, well, for a hoover! I need a replacement amp for my study system, I keep thinking A60 - they're still so cheap, and I want something compact - you obviously like them!

Marco
04-10-2009, 15:00
They're damn good, Alex. A few minor updates to caps and resistors inside would probably see it outperform most modern designs up to about £500, possibly more.

It's a veritable classic :)

Marco.

Beechwoods
04-10-2009, 15:50
Interesting looking system Chris. And is that a copy of the Nick Drake 'Fruit Tree' box in the first pic? You lucky chappy.

DSJR
04-10-2009, 15:54
The A60 always was a good amp, retail price and quaint styling eventually killing it off in favour of the Creeks, Nads and Cyrus models that came after, not forgetting the slightly dearer Onyx and Ion amps so beloved of the first wave of flat-earthers.

As Marco says, it responds well to cap updates etc and Rob Holt has given chapter and verse on PFM how to do it.

£600 is what the A60 would cost now, but I don't know how much better the equivalent Rotels, Creeks and Cambridges are. the latter amps are hugely good at what they do though.

If you all love the A60 as I do, check out any Myryad MI120's that come along. Same designer, similar warmth of tone, tons more power and an add-on phono stage of good quality option. We loved the styling too and the amp was as safe as houses with short circuits etc, unlike the A60, the output tranny's of which protecting their fuses by blowing first.........

Good make Myryad - came along a few years too late to become the classic it should have done. I believe they're still trading but don't know much more than a recent glowing review in HFW on their all-in-one system..

The Vinyl Adventure
04-10-2009, 16:34
I was Reading about myryad hifi in the armour catalog (bored at the shop) that mxd4000 digital ss preamplifier looks like a intersting bit of kit.

wobbleu
04-10-2009, 17:45
Thanks for your comments so far folks - a couple of responses..
Yup it is a robot cleaner - it's ok but not so smart with obstructions, given the number of pets we have it has it's work cut out.
I think the photo of the systemdek may be a bit misleading - the cartridge is flat to the headshell and tight - but the 120e's body does then protrude from the mounting bracket so it looks like it's not close coupled to the headshell - I recently went from LVV to LVX+ and it made some considerable improvements to the deck - think the Rega's are a bit better sounding though.
Well done for spotting the copy of Fruit Tree - it was an essential purchase for me as I'd rather stupidly sold off my old Hannibal copy during the 'wilderness years' - bleedin' CD's.
I have to say the quality of my pressing is not top notch but it's better to have that than no copy at all - that box is my 'audiophool' collection - all 180gm stuff, got the 50th Anniversary of Kind of Blue too - another essential for me plus some other Blue Note classics.
I paid £20 for each of the A60's and they both work although I'm not using the second one till I've done the re-cap, I was one of the first people in Sheffield to buy a Creek 4040 (with my redundancy from steel works) it was very nice and is still running at a mates - I think the A60 does have the edge on it - not tried it against the Mira yet but I will do one weekend
once again thanks & regards