Last edited by the_doc735; 29-08-2017 at 17:59.
John Wood 6L6 Valve Amp, with:
6L6GC Russian Original (no logo) Output Tubes 4x, supplied by J.Wood.
ECC81 Mullard NOS Input Tubes 2x
12AU7 (ECC82) Brimar NOS Input Tubes 2x
Wilson Benesch Actor Loudspeakers.
REL Stampede Subwoofer.
Cary Audio 100t Dac.
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF (co-axial) converter.
HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.
The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Silver Un-switched Double Wall Socket +
APC ‘SurgeArrest’ Surge protector - PM1W-UK (Schneider), + AG500P Power Inspired mains – ‘pure sine wave’ re-generator.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.
I really like this thinking and prefer money to be spent on the sound, not the fancy case! Interesting in a review of the sergeant 2A3 amp, the reviewer said: "this amp is worth a lot more than a mere £2000 and if he put the innards in a fancy chrome case with gold knobs he could push it out for £6000"!!
John Wood 6L6 Valve Amp, with:
6L6GC Russian Original (no logo) Output Tubes 4x, supplied by J.Wood.
ECC81 Mullard NOS Input Tubes 2x
12AU7 (ECC82) Brimar NOS Input Tubes 2x
Wilson Benesch Actor Loudspeakers.
REL Stampede Subwoofer.
Cary Audio 100t Dac.
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF (co-axial) converter.
HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.
The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Silver Un-switched Double Wall Socket +
APC ‘SurgeArrest’ Surge protector - PM1W-UK (Schneider), + AG500P Power Inspired mains – ‘pure sine wave’ re-generator.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.
John Wood 6L6 Valve Amp, with:
6L6GC Russian Original (no logo) Output Tubes 4x, supplied by J.Wood.
ECC81 Mullard NOS Input Tubes 2x
12AU7 (ECC82) Brimar NOS Input Tubes 2x
Wilson Benesch Actor Loudspeakers.
REL Stampede Subwoofer.
Cary Audio 100t Dac.
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF (co-axial) converter.
HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.
The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Silver Un-switched Double Wall Socket +
APC ‘SurgeArrest’ Surge protector - PM1W-UK (Schneider), + AG500P Power Inspired mains – ‘pure sine wave’ re-generator.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.
John Wood 6L6 Valve Amp, with:
6L6GC Russian Original (no logo) Output Tubes 4x, supplied by J.Wood.
ECC81 Mullard NOS Input Tubes 2x
12AU7 (ECC82) Brimar NOS Input Tubes 2x
Wilson Benesch Actor Loudspeakers.
REL Stampede Subwoofer.
Cary Audio 100t Dac.
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF (co-axial) converter.
HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.
The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Silver Un-switched Double Wall Socket +
APC ‘SurgeArrest’ Surge protector - PM1W-UK (Schneider), + AG500P Power Inspired mains – ‘pure sine wave’ re-generator.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.
John Wood 6L6 Valve Amp, with:
6L6GC Russian Original (no logo) Output Tubes 4x, supplied by J.Wood.
ECC81 Mullard NOS Input Tubes 2x
12AU7 (ECC82) Brimar NOS Input Tubes 2x
Wilson Benesch Actor Loudspeakers.
REL Stampede Subwoofer.
Cary Audio 100t Dac.
M2Tech Hi-Face 2 RCA USB to S/PDIF (co-axial) converter.
HP Pavilion G6 - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + "The Teddy" 19/3 - 19V 3.5A LPSU.
The Missing Link Ultra-Pure System ~ EPS-100 ~Audiophile Silver Un-switched Double Wall Socket +
APC ‘SurgeArrest’ Surge protector - PM1W-UK (Schneider), + AG500P Power Inspired mains – ‘pure sine wave’ re-generator.
Sennheiser HD 558 headset.
I've mentioned various snippets of this over the years both here and on pfm and was amazed to find that the general response was kind of "and?" Even when it was a case of them literally selling fake equipment! There were amps sold which had different innards to that suggested by the model number on the front panel... very different in fact. They had orders for a popular model but no PCB's, so as they were interchangeable to save on metal work costs, they just took boards from a mosfet amp and fitted them in a case saying it was a class A bipolar transistor amp and turned up the bias till it got hot enough for no one to question it! These were completely different topologies and sounded very different.
Arkless Electronics-Engineered to be better. Tel. 01670 530674 (after 1pm)
Modded Thorens TD150, Audio Technica AT-1005 MkII, Technics EPC-300MC, Arkless Hybrid MC phono stage, Arkless passive pre, Arkless 50WPC Class A SS power amp, (or) Arkless modded Leak Stereo 20, Modded Kef Reference 105/3's
ReVox PR99, Studer B62, Ferrograph Series 7, Tandberg TCD440, Hitachi FT-5500MkI, also FT-5500MkII
Digital: Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (Digital Swiss army knife-CD recorder, player, hard drive, DAC and ADC in one), PC files via 24/96 sound card and SPDIF, modded Philips CD850, modded Philips CD104, modded DPA Little Bit DAC. Sennheiser HD580 cans with Arkless Headphone amp.
Cables- free interconnects that come with CD players, mains leads from B&Q, dead kettles etc, extension leads from Tesco
The problem you have too, is our innate propensity for believing that 'newest = best', thus automatically better than any 'obsolete old 'tat'... It's often hard to shake off that mindset. I mean, significant progress, in *every* aspect of audio design, must've been made since the 1950s - surely??
You see that sort of marketing all the time from hi-fi companies, and that such and such has been "designed using the latest new technology", as if acting as some form of automatic guarantee that you can't get any better, which in my experience is rarely true. More often than not, the opposite applies!
Said "latest [shiny] new technology" often has key aspects of its design, which compromise performance, in the pursuit of low-cost and convenience. THAT is the unfortunate reality.
Witness, for example, the plethora of diddy-sized squawk boxes on the market, posing as loudspeakers, crammed full of "latest technology" drive units and cabinets, none of which successfully override the laws of physics [i.e. ultimately size matters]!
Not to mention the plethora of commercially produced amplifiers, built using "the latest new technology", but with piss-poor SMPS units at the heart of their design, ultimately limiting their sonic potential. That's not to say, however, that you can't get top-quality SMPS units, designed to exploit the full potential of said technology, simply that it rarely features in mass-produced commercial equipment.
That's usually why, after having attended a hi-fi show and been rather disappointed listening to a variety of equipment demonstrating the so-called 'wonders of new technology', I sit down, spin a favourite LP, and revel in the beautiful sounding music emitting from my 'obsolete old tat'...
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!
Arkless Electronics-Engineered to be better. Tel. 01670 530674 (after 1pm)
Modded Thorens TD150, Audio Technica AT-1005 MkII, Technics EPC-300MC, Arkless Hybrid MC phono stage, Arkless passive pre, Arkless 50WPC Class A SS power amp, (or) Arkless modded Leak Stereo 20, Modded Kef Reference 105/3's
ReVox PR99, Studer B62, Ferrograph Series 7, Tandberg TCD440, Hitachi FT-5500MkI, also FT-5500MkII
Digital: Yamaha CDR-HD1500 (Digital Swiss army knife-CD recorder, player, hard drive, DAC and ADC in one), PC files via 24/96 sound card and SPDIF, modded Philips CD850, modded Philips CD104, modded DPA Little Bit DAC. Sennheiser HD580 cans with Arkless Headphone amp.
Cables- free interconnects that come with CD players, mains leads from B&Q, dead kettles etc, extension leads from Tesco
Ha - they do when applied to loudspeakers!
I like to shift some air.......
Marco.
Main System
Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.
Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.
Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.
CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.
Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.
Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.
Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.
Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.
Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.
Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!
Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!