I Love 1960's Kit

[Lionheart]

Here is my current set up, I tend to have a change around every few month but this is it as it stands (well till next week that is)

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture16227.jpg

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture16237.jpg

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture16234.jpg

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture16222-1.jpg

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture16224.jpg

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture15524.jpg

[Rare Bird]

Nice but what happened to the Lenco?

[dantheman91]

:stalks::stalks::stalks:

[Marco]

Hi John,

Lovely system! I particularly love that minty Decca pick-up arm and cartridge :stalks:

However, a complete list of the kit shown would be good. Is the T/T on the right a Lenco, and what's the arm? Also, what cartridge is on the Garrard?

Marco.

[Lionheart]

The Lenco is only there until I re-plinth the 401, I use it for playing 45rpm's or less than ex vinyl. The Lenco was in terrible condition so I modded it as it really wasn't worth keeping, it's been spun around filled, sprayed, it's had the heavy platter/bearing treatment and a new thrust pad (the arm is a Micro Seiki with an AT120E cart).

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture16244.jpg

The cart on the Garrard is an original Shure M75ed HE (It sounds better than my V15 IV)

[RochaCullen]

Are they Quad 303 or 50d power amplifiers?

[Lionheart]

Sorry I forgot to list the components.

The Garrard side,Two Quad 303's/33/FM3, HiQ phono pre-amp,Rega rb300 with tungstan counterweight, Shure M75 ED2/HE Stylus (The Rogers amp at the bottom works but isn't wired into the system)/Celestion Ditton 25 speakers/Supra cable

The Lenco side, GM72 Deck/Micro Seiki Arm/AT 120E cart, Temple Audio Bantam Gold Amp/Cambridge Phono Pre-Amp/13.8 DC Power supply (Loricraft RCM1)

[Lionheart]

Are they Quad 303 or 50d power amplifiers?

Hi.......They are a pair of just serviced 303's (I can't bi-amp due to the Celestions speaker terminals).

[prestonchipfryer]

Very nice John. Quad 33/303 was my first 'serious' amp.

John :)

[Lionheart]

Very nice John. Quad 33/303 was my first 'serious' amp.

John :)

Funny enough it was my first amp as well (circa '74), I thought as I had a couple lying around doing nothing I would have them serviced and revisit my not so glorious past before I moved them on. I can't bi-amp at the moment but I was quiet taken aback at how good the amp sounded (even with the 33), it certainly is up there with some of the other vintage amps that I have around the house which leaves me in a bit of a dilema as to wether or not to keep them.

[Rare Bird]

Good stuff john, a change from the junk people usually show on here :eyebrows:

[Barry]

Get that 401 set up with the Decca arm and Mk III (?) cartridge ASAP John.

Properly set up, that front end will show many others a 'clean pair of heels'! :)

Regards

[The Black Adder]

COOOORRRRREE! Gov!

Nice... very nice. Love 60's kit too!

[Macca]

Lovely selection of vintage kit. Outstanding.

[jason]

Thats a great set up John, that Garrard looks stunning..

Jason

[Lionheart]

Get that 401 set up with the Decca arm and Mk III (?) cartridge ASAP John.

Properly set up, that front end will show many others a 'clean pair of heels'! :)

Regards

To be trueful I was going to move the Decca on along and put the money towards a SME 3012, I'd love to hear it but the problem I have is as soon as I mount it I can't sell it as mint (NOS) which I should imagine would knock a large chunk off the value. I've had it for a few months now and can't make my mind up what to do......Any ideas ?

[Lionheart]

COOOORRRRREE! Gov!

Nice... very nice. Love 60's kit too!

Why thank you...From the look of your system I think we are on the same audio path my friend, when did you see the light on the idler front.

[Alex_UK]

Nice John. Is the 301 plinth a Russ Collinson/Layers of Beauty piece?

[Barry]

To be trueful I was going to move the Decca on along and put the money towards a SME 3012, I'd love to hear it but the problem I have is as soon as I mount it I can't sell it as mint (NOS) which I should imagine would knock a large chunk off the value. I've had it for a few months now and can't make my mind up what to do......Any ideas ?

Well, you could sell the cartridge to me. Unfortunately I'm not interested in the arm, as I already have one.

PM me if you want to sell the cartridge.

Regards

[Lionheart]

Nice John. Is the 301 plinth a Russ Collinson/Layers of Beauty piece?

I'm afraid not, I wish I had 1% of Russ Collinson skill. It's a 'homebrew' effort (one of many), it started off as a large heavy solid wood desk top from a swanky office that was being thrown out, I wasn't expecting it to make a lot of difference to the normal stacked hardwood ply effort that I had tried before but was amazed at the difference it made (for the better).

[Alex_UK]

I'm afraid not, I wish I had 1% of Russ Collinson skill. It's a 'homebrew' effort (one of many), it started off as a large heavy solid wood desk top from a swanky office that was being thrown out, I wasn't expecting it to make a lot of difference to the normal stacked hardwood ply effort that I had tried before but was amazed at the difference it made (for the better).

You're doing yourself an injustice - it certainly looks good in the photo. :)

[Lionheart]

You're doing yourself an injustice - it certainly looks good in the photo. :)

It's all a trick of the light.........Here is the same deck in a Loricraft style plinth, it looks smarter but it wasn't the sound I was after.
http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture12443.jpg

[The Grand Wazoo]

Hi John,
Lovely stuff, that's for letting us see it.
Now then, is that a HiQ balanced phono stage I see nestling there in a couple of your photos?

[Rare Bird]

Loverly Rock there. Can i just say that those particular Celestion 25's are the 70's..

[Lionheart]

Hi John,
Lovely stuff, that's for letting us see it.
Now then, is that a HiQ balanced phono stage I see nestling there in a couple of your photos?

No problem whatsoever, Yes it is a HiQ PS, You wouldn't by any chance know the configeration of the dip switches ?. I brought the PS a few years ago blind and can't find anything to better it at a sensible price it's certainly better than my Cambridge but I'd love to know more about it.

[Lionheart]

No problem whatsoever, Yes it is a HiQ PS, You wouldn't by any chance know the configeration of the dip switches ?. I brought the PS a few years ago blind and can't find anything to better it at a sensible price it's certainly better than my Cambridge but I'd love to know more about it.

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj.jpg

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.jpg

[Lionheart]

Loverly Rock there. Can i just say that those particular Celestion 25's are the 70's...

I've only had the Celestions for about 6 months (they replaced a pair of Klipsch) but they have grown on me now and I'm having a spot of bother deciding wether to keep them, replace them with a 1960's pair or buy a pair that I can bi-amp with the quads.

[The Grand Wazoo]

I'm afraid I can't help you there. A few years ago, I listened to several systems that used it and was very impressed. I've had in the back of my mind since then, that balanced phono amplification was an inherently correct way to do things. A cartridge and arm wiring is essentially balanced, so why lose the potential of that by sticking it into an unbalanced phono stage?
The engineers from the company that built it did some work for me on various bits of kit and we were tentatively discussing the possibility of them building me an active valve crossover when my disposable income suddenly became indisposable!!!

I lost touch with those folks as I moved away from the area. It's nice to see one of those phono stages in use after all this time.
Just a long shot - I have a very vague half memory of one of the members here - I'm almost sure it was either Hi-Fi Dave or Dave DSJR - saying that they were matey with Nigel who used to run Chantry Audio in Nottinghamshire. Now, Nigel pretty thick with the HiQ guys but he retired to France, I think. But just maybe (if the Dave in question is in touch with him), he knows how to contact the HiQ folks.
A long shot, but you never know.

Dave/Dave are you reading this?


Edit: Just seen the photos - it doesn't look like the exact model I was thinking of, but I'm sure it's great.

[Rare Bird]

.

I've only had the Celestions for about 6 months (they replaced a pair of Klipsch) but they have grown on me now and I'm having a spot of bother deciding wether to keep them, replace them with a 1960's pair or buy a pair that I can bi-amp with the quads.


Dont get me wrong John.. the Ditton 25's are a 60's design but not the ones you have there.

[Lionheart]

I'm afraid I can't help you there. A few years ago, I listened to several systems that used it and was very impressed. I've had in the back of my mind since then, that balanced phono amplification was an inherently correct way to do things. A cartridge and arm wiring is essentially balanced, so why lose the potential of that by sticking it into an unbalanced phono stage?
The engineers from the company that built it did some work for me on various bits of kit and we were tentatively discussing the possibility of them building me an active valve crossover when my disposable income suddenly became indisposable!!!

I lost touch with those folks as I moved away from the area. It's nice to see one of those phono stages in use after all this time.
Just a long shot - I have a very vague half memory of one of the members here - I'm almost sure it was either Hi-Fi Dave or Dave DSJR - saying that they were matey with Nigel who used to run Chantry Audio in Nottinghamshire. Now, Nigel pretty thick with the HiQ guys but he retired to France, I think. But just maybe (if the Dave in question is in touch with him), he can tell Dave how to contact the HiQ folks.
A long shot, but you never know.

Dave/Dave are you reading this?


Edit: Just seen the photos - it doesn't look like the exact model I was thinking of, but I'm sure it's great.

THanks for the info, it's appreciated. I have yet to find any info on it or anyone who own' one, at first I thought I might have brought a pup but it really is an impressive little beast and for the money I laid out I'm more than pleased

[Lionheart]

Dont get me wrong John.. the Ditton 25's are a 60's design but not the ones you have there.

No worries, I do like the sound they produce but I'm on the look out now for a pair of speakers that give me the same 60's sound as the Celestions but have 2 pair of terminals for bi-amping, I thought at first it would be fairly easy but I'm struggling to come up with any ideas.

[Rare Bird]

I don't do Bi-Amping or Bi-Wiring no sir eee. My fav Dittons are the '33's.

[Lionheart]

I don't do Bi-Amping or Bi-Wiring no sir eee. My fav Dittons are the '33's.

Agreed........Bi-wiring is a complete waste of time and cable........but in my opinion bi-amping does makes quiet a difference.

[The Grand Wazoo]

HiQ were based in Lincoln.

[Lionheart]

HiQ were based in Lincoln.

i'm not sure but I think they still operate, I'm sure I read they done the PA for Chelsea FC.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Could be, they were much more involved in the professional side of things than the domestic market.

[prestonchipfryer]

Funny enough it was my first amp as well (circa '74), I thought as I had a couple lying around doing nothing I would have them serviced and revisit my not so glorious past before I moved them on. I can't bi-amp at the moment but I was quiet taken aback at how good the amp sounded (even with the 33), it certainly is up there with some of the other vintage amps that I have around the house which leaves me in a bit of a dilema as to wether or not to keep them.

I still have the 33 and and FM3. I have a wooden sleeve for them as well. Got to say they need a good going over, especially the FM3 as it no longer works very well, just mono.

John

[Jonboy]

Lovely kit John, i have a 33-303 and a Cadet 2, can't seem to part with them

[hifi_dave]

:exactly:Then don't, you will regret it..

[Lionheart]

Lovely kit John, i have a 33-303 and a Cadet 2, can't seem to part with them

I know exactly what you mean, I seem to traffic more and more Hi-Fi each year but there are certain units I can't find a better for without spending 'La La' money so I end up moving them on, the Cadet II pre/power is one of them, the Garrard 301 is another and (don't laugh) the Shure 75 ED2 cartridge.

[Jonboy]

[QUOTE=Lionheart;304583] the Cadet II pre/power is one of them, QUOTE]

The matching pre amp really is a nice thing and together they make a rally nice sound, very underated IMHO,

SSHH don't tell everyone though ;)

[Lionheart]

[QUOTE=Lionheart;304583] the Cadet II pre/power is one of them, QUOTE]

The matching pre amp really is a nice thing and together they make a rally nice sound, very underated IMHO,

SSHH don't tell everyone though ;)

Agreed........'one to keep under the radar' for sure. I keep looking at the pre with a mind to making up a different facia plate, don't get me wrong I like the gold finish but it's a little too tarnished for my liking, I should imagine it would be pretty easy job.

[The Black Adder]

Why thank you...From the look of your system I think we are on the same audio path my friend, when did you see the light on the idler front.

lol.. In our village the year is 1965 so new kit doesn't work. Mobile phone signals are also blocked and that is true...

[Lionheart]

lol.. In our village the year is 1965 so new kit doesn't work. Mobile phone signals are also blocked and that is true...

Sounds like heaven........I thought I was the last person in the UK not to own (or ever have) a mobile phone.

[Rare Bird]

The Lenco is only there until I re-plinth the 401, I use it for playing 45rpm's or less than ex vinyl. The Lenco was in terrible condition so I modded it as it really wasn't worth keeping, it's been spun around filled, sprayed, it's had the heavy platter/bearing treatment and a new thrust pad (the arm is a Micro Seiki with an AT120E cart).

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/lionheart-uk/Picture16244.jpg



Missed this..Micro 'MA77.II'.. Nice early 70's arm.