joethelion
26-02-2012, 15:36
Hi All :-)
Skip this unless you've time to spare and/or good suitable stuff to trade and/or wish to kindly engage constructively. I hope it's not overly-tedious. Sorry if so. I do need some help, though; if not treatment :-)
I've recently re-instated my 35+ year old lounge stereo; re-visiting and much enjoying such as Beatles, Motown, Bowie, Weller, Mozz ... 60's thru 90's ... all on vinyl ... which I've always preferred, but just let go.
Over time I've evolved a modest studio (garage) for messin'/playing/writing/recording ... purely for interest and pleasure. Outside the garage, leisure listening has mostly been on MP3/Phones in my Gym, or via Aiwa micro/CD.
HiFi, per se, was abandoned soon after marrying and shelved for 20+ years. I've not researched HiFi thinking, opinion and gear for 30+ years, beyond casual delving latterly, into speaker design. That re-kindled the flame and my modest lounge (18' x 12') has been re-arranged to allow serious listening, once again. I've now time with fresh appetite ... and it is indeed a real joy :-)
My ears peaked long-since, however; and the caps in everything but the server are almost as old as my well-worn anvils and weary stirrups ... :-)
The Cast:
Trio KD-1033/F15E in ADC/Glass/Clamp
Technics SU-7300 40+40 > 8
Monitor Audio MA4/II
Extras:
Technics ST-7300 FM
Custom Stable Platter Legato-Link
Custom Pro-Audio Dual Xeon/xxx
Associates:
20+ years half-decent muso/pro-audio/stuff :-)
(Skip next 3 paras if already familiar.)
The Trio is quiet, stable and well isolated. The arm was once reknowned excellent, punching way beyond its budget-weight mantle. Bearings, balance, downforce, are still spot on ... untouched since boxed/unboxed (even the belt's OK !). The Ortofon was once well-respected, housed in the classic ADC headshell upgrade. The stylus seems fine. The ground glass platter and clamp facilitate an impressive enhancement of detail and clarity, thus endorsing both the tonearm and F15E's reputation.
The elegant, gutsy Technics SU-7300 Integrated is part of a custom 7 series stack and cabinet ... which is now deemed sacrosanct (She really likes it !). It's well pre-digital. Fortunately, it still seems quite nicely suited to classic British pop/rock stereo production/recording of the analogue hey-day. The phono stage is to a good MM spec and this vintage SU seems quite well-matched to period British speakers. It's thought perhaps less refined than neo-vintage stalwarts like NAD 3020 and Pioneer A400, though I've not A-B'd.
I've long been a Monitor Audio fan ... good carpenters and designers. I have MA4's (2 way ported SP1039 + Isophon KK hard dome) MA5's, MA5/II's, and MA8's (all 2 way IB). The 5's and 8's are garage/studio monitors (via SU-7100). The 5/II's (SP1014 + Isophon hard dome) are the better 5's, though perhaps too critical at times, according to source and setup. The 5's (SP1014 + Audax/ KEF ? soft dome) seem marginally better suited to harsher digital sources. Both are similarly deep and pretty tight, with fairly good range, open soundstage and stereo imaging.
The MA4's are quite marvellous; deep, crisp, open, airy, with very good presence and image, but can be somewhat tricky/picky re source/material. They can readily expose/punish ... and seem to enjoy doing so :-)
I've no use for the 4's but in the lounge, and they've been little used over decades, so they have to be paired with the sacrosanct SU-7300, unless I can find a better-suited Technics in the same series and finish.
I don't know if the SU always delivers as it should across the spectrum. It should do, spec-wise. Sometimes I sense a 'black hole', though ... and I don't know whether I'm at odds with the Producer, or what ?
Overall I feel significant content is not presented adequately, if at all, at times. This cannot be readily explained consequent to ageing lugs ... but could be due to ageing gear ... caps, pots et al.
Perhaps I've just evolved to be spoiled by studio stuff and that psyche ?
Perhaps years of listening only to NFM's and on cans perverts both ears and mind ?
Perhaps digital over-exposure corrupts analogue perceptions ?
'Presence', above absolute fidelity per se, is my thing. Perhaps that's a hobby issue too ... ?
I hate stuff getting lost in the mix; though sometimes look for stuff that never was there ... :-)
I do want to hear it as it was played, though ... as it actually sounded, at that moment in time ... for I do know what much really sounds like ... and perversely, some I enjoy was both badly played and literally, poorly produced with crap gear (not just my own stuff) ... at least by today's standards and budgets :-)
Perhaps that's the pivotal issue ... ?
Is my HiFi so Fi it can disappoint just because some material I like is so old and inferior ?
Go tell Sir George Martin ... and duck :-)
It's been suggested it will take a big step up to content me; and I should DIY a system based on valve amps with digital crossovers (programmable driver controllers) independently feeding individual woofers and tweeters ... Fostex, et al, ... like a PA in the lounge.
I may yet build my own TL, or OB, however, I feel I must inevitably choose stand-mounts for my modest lounge and I just can't see me bettering MA ?
Others following that route suggest digital PA type X/O's aren't 'musical' enough for HiFi ... ?
Unless I can be persuaded to go valve by some truly pivotal factor, I'm doubtful the effort and expense could be worthwhile. Worse; I could only accomodate the amps at the speaker bases ... and they'd soon get trashed, at least by, the cat ... :-)
My most recent (accidental) upgrade arose on changing stands. Swapping old Appollos for elegant vintage chrome tripods was a real enhancement (perhaps merely because they're higher). I only got them for the look ... scary :-)
Sadly my superb original MA speaker cables were stolen, though I'm content with their original QED 79 replacement. I'm not keen on exotic cabling as an upgrade strategy. I do not believe different is necessarily better at my level and there are no long runs of anything in a modern bungalow :-)
So what to do when the obvious is already fairly well accomplished ?
When you've tweaked the tweaks ... and Lady Luck's already smiled ?
HELP PLEASE ... :-)
jtl
PS:
My "Our Kid" note outlines his thinking ... on pretty much everything :-) It's mostly commentary; perhaps of limited interest and appeal. It's quite fascinating, though, if you've time to reflect. It hammers some big nails ... hard :-) He recommended TT upgrade to Rega/RB300.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"joethelion" ... "Heroes", db.
The handle tips the hat to the incomparable genius, talent and vision of the Bowie/Eno/Fripp axis ... and to the brilliantly skilled Visconti.
More to come .... :-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skip this unless you've time to spare and/or good suitable stuff to trade and/or wish to kindly engage constructively. I hope it's not overly-tedious. Sorry if so. I do need some help, though; if not treatment :-)
I've recently re-instated my 35+ year old lounge stereo; re-visiting and much enjoying such as Beatles, Motown, Bowie, Weller, Mozz ... 60's thru 90's ... all on vinyl ... which I've always preferred, but just let go.
Over time I've evolved a modest studio (garage) for messin'/playing/writing/recording ... purely for interest and pleasure. Outside the garage, leisure listening has mostly been on MP3/Phones in my Gym, or via Aiwa micro/CD.
HiFi, per se, was abandoned soon after marrying and shelved for 20+ years. I've not researched HiFi thinking, opinion and gear for 30+ years, beyond casual delving latterly, into speaker design. That re-kindled the flame and my modest lounge (18' x 12') has been re-arranged to allow serious listening, once again. I've now time with fresh appetite ... and it is indeed a real joy :-)
My ears peaked long-since, however; and the caps in everything but the server are almost as old as my well-worn anvils and weary stirrups ... :-)
The Cast:
Trio KD-1033/F15E in ADC/Glass/Clamp
Technics SU-7300 40+40 > 8
Monitor Audio MA4/II
Extras:
Technics ST-7300 FM
Custom Stable Platter Legato-Link
Custom Pro-Audio Dual Xeon/xxx
Associates:
20+ years half-decent muso/pro-audio/stuff :-)
(Skip next 3 paras if already familiar.)
The Trio is quiet, stable and well isolated. The arm was once reknowned excellent, punching way beyond its budget-weight mantle. Bearings, balance, downforce, are still spot on ... untouched since boxed/unboxed (even the belt's OK !). The Ortofon was once well-respected, housed in the classic ADC headshell upgrade. The stylus seems fine. The ground glass platter and clamp facilitate an impressive enhancement of detail and clarity, thus endorsing both the tonearm and F15E's reputation.
The elegant, gutsy Technics SU-7300 Integrated is part of a custom 7 series stack and cabinet ... which is now deemed sacrosanct (She really likes it !). It's well pre-digital. Fortunately, it still seems quite nicely suited to classic British pop/rock stereo production/recording of the analogue hey-day. The phono stage is to a good MM spec and this vintage SU seems quite well-matched to period British speakers. It's thought perhaps less refined than neo-vintage stalwarts like NAD 3020 and Pioneer A400, though I've not A-B'd.
I've long been a Monitor Audio fan ... good carpenters and designers. I have MA4's (2 way ported SP1039 + Isophon KK hard dome) MA5's, MA5/II's, and MA8's (all 2 way IB). The 5's and 8's are garage/studio monitors (via SU-7100). The 5/II's (SP1014 + Isophon hard dome) are the better 5's, though perhaps too critical at times, according to source and setup. The 5's (SP1014 + Audax/ KEF ? soft dome) seem marginally better suited to harsher digital sources. Both are similarly deep and pretty tight, with fairly good range, open soundstage and stereo imaging.
The MA4's are quite marvellous; deep, crisp, open, airy, with very good presence and image, but can be somewhat tricky/picky re source/material. They can readily expose/punish ... and seem to enjoy doing so :-)
I've no use for the 4's but in the lounge, and they've been little used over decades, so they have to be paired with the sacrosanct SU-7300, unless I can find a better-suited Technics in the same series and finish.
I don't know if the SU always delivers as it should across the spectrum. It should do, spec-wise. Sometimes I sense a 'black hole', though ... and I don't know whether I'm at odds with the Producer, or what ?
Overall I feel significant content is not presented adequately, if at all, at times. This cannot be readily explained consequent to ageing lugs ... but could be due to ageing gear ... caps, pots et al.
Perhaps I've just evolved to be spoiled by studio stuff and that psyche ?
Perhaps years of listening only to NFM's and on cans perverts both ears and mind ?
Perhaps digital over-exposure corrupts analogue perceptions ?
'Presence', above absolute fidelity per se, is my thing. Perhaps that's a hobby issue too ... ?
I hate stuff getting lost in the mix; though sometimes look for stuff that never was there ... :-)
I do want to hear it as it was played, though ... as it actually sounded, at that moment in time ... for I do know what much really sounds like ... and perversely, some I enjoy was both badly played and literally, poorly produced with crap gear (not just my own stuff) ... at least by today's standards and budgets :-)
Perhaps that's the pivotal issue ... ?
Is my HiFi so Fi it can disappoint just because some material I like is so old and inferior ?
Go tell Sir George Martin ... and duck :-)
It's been suggested it will take a big step up to content me; and I should DIY a system based on valve amps with digital crossovers (programmable driver controllers) independently feeding individual woofers and tweeters ... Fostex, et al, ... like a PA in the lounge.
I may yet build my own TL, or OB, however, I feel I must inevitably choose stand-mounts for my modest lounge and I just can't see me bettering MA ?
Others following that route suggest digital PA type X/O's aren't 'musical' enough for HiFi ... ?
Unless I can be persuaded to go valve by some truly pivotal factor, I'm doubtful the effort and expense could be worthwhile. Worse; I could only accomodate the amps at the speaker bases ... and they'd soon get trashed, at least by, the cat ... :-)
My most recent (accidental) upgrade arose on changing stands. Swapping old Appollos for elegant vintage chrome tripods was a real enhancement (perhaps merely because they're higher). I only got them for the look ... scary :-)
Sadly my superb original MA speaker cables were stolen, though I'm content with their original QED 79 replacement. I'm not keen on exotic cabling as an upgrade strategy. I do not believe different is necessarily better at my level and there are no long runs of anything in a modern bungalow :-)
So what to do when the obvious is already fairly well accomplished ?
When you've tweaked the tweaks ... and Lady Luck's already smiled ?
HELP PLEASE ... :-)
jtl
PS:
My "Our Kid" note outlines his thinking ... on pretty much everything :-) It's mostly commentary; perhaps of limited interest and appeal. It's quite fascinating, though, if you've time to reflect. It hammers some big nails ... hard :-) He recommended TT upgrade to Rega/RB300.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"joethelion" ... "Heroes", db.
The handle tips the hat to the incomparable genius, talent and vision of the Bowie/Eno/Fripp axis ... and to the brilliantly skilled Visconti.
More to come .... :-)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------