Search:

Hi Mark, PM'd you

Thanks Marco, it's only taken 38 years :)
From a ADC 1600 TT, NAD3020 and Mission 700. First upgrade was QED79 speaker cable!

Hi John, not today. Feel free to ask on the thread if PMs are not getting through. If no-one minds.

Thanks for the kind comments. I have some Syrinx arms to try out in the system and I'd like to roll the tubes in the EAR 88. So still a little bit of tweaking to go ... I guess the other piece of...

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/sugarmiceimages/IMG_9637-500k_zpsltf7nmwt.jpg

So...I'm afraid the Graaf GM50 went to Ebay heaven (in exchange for a Radikal) to be replaced by a McIntosh...

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/sugarmiceimages/guarneris/4G6A9526_zpse89vshfi.jpg

When I said I was nearly there - I think i really meant to say I had a little way to go...

The Graaf...

I had Isobariks for many years. They need a fair bit of grip down the bottom end and they finally sounded 'right' after I upgraded to Naim 135s. Mana stands also helped. Agree that the better your...

Started warming up the new Dutch valves then promptly caught flu for a week. Blocked up ears and elephant stampede on head effect.

First listening post germs was stunning compared to the original...

Hi Paul,

After much looking through forums etc I went for some 1960's 'white labelled' Dutch Amperex ECC88 matched quads (!). I hope they will be okay. Haven't had time to sit down and listen but...

Took the opportunity to take some photos inside the Graaf before I replaced the 6922 valves:

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/sugarmiceimages/IMG_9884_zps1291284a.jpg
...

Thanks for all the comments guys. Looking forward to rolling some tubes. It sure is a weird world in tube land - cryo valves and new old stock from before the war...at amazing prices, some of them. ...

Hello Marco,
Thanks very much for the advice on better tubes. Looked at the mine of information of the web, Watford valves etc and now thoroughly confused! Do the makers you have recommended produce...

I was looking for some better sounding speaker cable to finish off my system having just upgraded to some cute Sonus Faber Elipsa Auditors (some pics on Gallery section). All my old cables sounded...

Thanks for the information Loo. I'll look into the input valves and the driver valves, with the makers Marco recommended. :)
I was looking around maybe for a valve Phono stage but I am guessing the...

You'll have to excuse my ignorance of the valve world. I've no idea about improved valves for the Graaf - aren't the KT88s supposed to be the best?
I replaced my 6550 Svetlanas for some KT88...

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/sugarmiceimages/graaf-IMG_9812_zps68d12586.jpg

The best I could do I'm afraid, the finish is so reflective its difficult to get the great black finish to...

Thanks for the advice Marco:)
I don't want to immeadiately get rid of the CDSII but must admit to love the looks of the Shanlings and was also looking at the new PrimaLuna.

Interested to hear...

No worries :)
The Naim CDS2 may have to go sometime, I have longing for a CD player with tubes in....:)

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/sugarmiceimages/IMG_1847opt_250_zpscd4c5ba1.jpg

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/sugarmiceimages/IMG_1840opt2_250_zpsfcc2beaf.jpg
...

Thanks Guys. :)
In reply to some of the questions - the Sonus Fabers sound quite spacious as they are in an alcove. Bringing them out more seems to make the soundstage vague. Pushing them back gives...

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/sugarmiceimages/Elipsa-Auditor-on-RS303-no2_zpsec347dc3.jpg

Hello! I hope this photo works okay. Here's my system so far (after 33 years), I think I am...

Thanks for the welcome guys. Will try to post some photos.

Just a few words about me and my hifi. I first started my hifi system in 1977 with a Sony TCK45 cassette deck from Laskys and some Sennheiser HD400 headphones. Spent my university grant (didn't eat...