Whats you top three Fav Vintage recievers?

[The Grand Wazoo]

I'm listening to this Yamaha today & every day (among other things).
So big it drips over the edges of the Target TT2.

[Marco]

Simply gorgeous, Chris! For me, the top Yamahas from the 70s had a class and sophistication all of their own

I'm having a Ron Smith Galaxy aerial fitted to the roof on Monday to supply the Sony. It sounds bloody brilliant now with just one of those naff ribbon indoor jobbies, so I can't wait to hear how it performs on the end of a proper aerial!

Marco.

P.S I'd lose that cheapo mains block you're using at the side, though... Them be nasty 'tings!

[StanleyB]

P.S I'd lose that cheapo mains block you're using at the side, though... Them be nasty 'tings!

If they are BSI approved, they are not. It costs in excess of £10K to get one of them designed and approved for use in the UK. Some of the home brews I have seen audio stuff attached to wouldn't pass BSI testing and safety assurance.

The reason I mention any of this is because my good friend Russell Shore designed a number of these mains extension blocks, which were subsequently copied left right and center over the last 15 odd years. Russell and me were going to design a couple of AV specific electrical items after his planned early retirement next year. Unfortunately he was diagnosed in August as being terminally ill and unlikely to make it next Easter. An unsung hero, who during the period of 1995 to about 2002 designed a range of mains sockets, switches, and extension blocks that were sold or used in more than 25% of all retail shops or newly installed electrical wiring installations. Don't be fooled by the looks. Quality is 2nd to none.

[Marco]

Maybe I was wrong, Stan, but it just looks like a cheapo Maplins/B&Q job to me, which in my experience kill the sound - the ones with neon lights too are the worst.

It's no big deal really, as Chris was probably only using it for convenience due to a shortage of mains sockets near where his kit is

Everyone knows my views on this subject - the best mains block is no mains block (hard-wire everything and use a dedicated spur), but if a mains block must be used then try and use one that's been specifically designed for hi-fi purposes, which has top quality sockets, internal wiring, mains flex and plug as part of the design.

Marco.

[SteveW]

Simply gorgeous, Chris! For me, the top Yamahas from the 70s had a class and sophistication all of their own

I'm having a Ron Smith Galaxy aerial fitted to the roof on Monday to supply the Sony. It sounds bloody brilliant now with just one of those naff ribbon indoor jobbies, so I can't wait to hear how it performs on the end of a proper aerial!

Marco.

P.S I'd lose that cheapo mains block you're using at the side, though... Them be nasty 'tings!

Hey Marco...well done on getting a Ron Smith. Is it new?
Bloody big though... mine is loft mounted..and is a massive attic, but fills up a big chunk of it. Big difference to the signal strenth though. I'd had two other aerials fitted to the chimney, but the signal strength from the galaxy in the attic is much much better.

[Rare Bird]

I have one of these, i just rewired it in Belden fully sheilded/foiled mains cable with drain wire & Mk silver pin toughplug..

http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/resource...1/olsonmdb.jpg

[The Grand Wazoo]

Actually, this photo was taken just after we'd moved into this house. That was the stop-gap system, thrown together in 5 minutes. I don't expect I could even find that gang of four to check what it was.

The receiver, however, cost less than £80 including postage.
What do a second-hand Nad 3020 & a reasonable budget tuner go for?
I know which I'd prefer.

[Marco]

Hey Marco...well done on getting a Ron Smith. Is it new?
Bloody big though... mine is loft mounted..and is a massive attic, but fills up a big chunk of it. Big difference to the signal strenth though. I'd had two other aerials fitted to the chimney, but the signal strength from the galaxy in the attic is much much better.

Hi Steve,

No it's not new - I had it left over from when I moved down from Glasgow but had never got round to assembling it and having it fitted.

Yes it is bloody huge; in fact I'm not sure if it's going to be too big for the chimney we have, or indeed just liable to look rather too out of place on our period house... We shall see how it goes

If it doesn't work out I'll get something else that's more practical, but as good as possible.

Marco.

[Marco]

I have one of these, i just rewired it in Belden fully sheilded/foiled mains cable with drain wire & Mk silver pin toughplug..

http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/resource...1/olsonmdb.jpg

Nice one, Andre - that's just the ticket

A good mains block needn't cost a fortune; in fact if you know what you're doing you can build your own. The secret, as usual, is to use good quality parts, and to take care with the assembly.

Marco.

[DSJR]

If you live close enough to a transmitter you really dont NEED a Galaxie (Ron's words, as he did all our installations when I worked in London and Harpenden, as well as the bigger Northampton ones).

The Galaxie tends to "point" at the transmitter and if you want to pick up all sorts, you really need a rotator. The Orion 8 and 9 are more than sufficient for most decent tuners. It was only the insensitive and initially not very selective Naim 01 that *needed* an aerial with high degrees of sideband rejection to prevent "birdies" on the sound...

I hope someone takes over Ron's aerial business when he finally does retire (he's got to be in his late seventies now at least). His aerials are amazingly good IMO, but don't think you HAVE to have a Galaxie jobbie in the UK, 'cos you don't "really" unless you're in a dreadful reception area (I have an insensitive Quad FM3 in use at the moment and i dare not tell you the crud on our chimney which still works fine though.......)