Beechwoods' Den - November 2010

[Rare Bird]

Nick, I've just noticed your DBX gear. Do you have any DBX records or tapes, or do you use it to encode your own recordings?

I had a friend with a DBX expander in the the late 70s, he used to like using it with standard LPs to expand the dynamic range a little. This was with IMF Professional Monitors!

I used to have a DBX '2BX' Dynamic Range Enhancer & matching '122' NR, great build quality & solid Teak side cheeks..These latter 70's range looked great

[Beechwoods]

Nick, I've just noticed your DBX gear. Do you have any DBX records or tapes, or do you use it to encode your own recordings?

I got it really just to check it out and see how it sounded. To be honest I think that reel to reel at 7½ ips doesn't need noise reduction, but the DBX224 does do an incredible job of making noise disappear, with only a very slight impact on presence.

My unit also has an input designed to take a turntable playing a DBX encoded disc. I'd like to hear how one of those sounds. I have read that a DBX encoded record sounds incredible in terms of noise-floor. But the discs are expensive and thus far I've not found one I'd like to listen to!

[darucla]

Ah, JR149s. Reminds of my old "4 cylinder" system back in the day. Jr 149s, plus Lecson AP1x power amp and a Jeremiah Braithwaite cylindrical MC preamp (designed by Stan Curtis). I used to have the JRs wall-mounted on their own little hoop-like brackets. Used to mess constantly with the cabinet (Bostik sound deadening panels were the rage then). That was a nice little system.

dbx was one of those systems that I never quite fully embraced, despite working for the then importers. Reg Williamson gave me a very early test disc, which I must dig out. I never could avoid the feeling that I was hearing the noise floor pumping up and down behind the music. I must admit though that I was using 122/124 domestic units.

[edit] Found the dbx disc. It's Mahler Symphony No. 3, Horenstein and the LSO on a Unicorn test pressing, although in a normal gatefold (it's 2 discs) cover.

[Rare Bird]

Are we gonna get an update Nick

[Beechwoods]

Not long now I've been away for a week but the room is ready for pics following my recent arrival