A few changes to Barry's radiogram

[Barry]

It’s been a while since I posted pictures of my system. I think the last set were when I was using Series 3 Quad electronics, as my 44 preamp had to be repaired.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/Uher4400beingputthroughitspaces004.jpg

Since then I returned to the Series 4 Quad electronics:

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/002-6.jpg

and then replaced the Quad 44 with a Mark Levinson ML 28 preamp, retaining the Quad 44 as a (somewhat versatile) phonostage.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/008-3.jpg

More recently, a Levinson ML-26 with an ML-25 phonostage has replaced the Levinson 28 preamp.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/BzrbEJgBmkKGrHqUOKj8EW9VlNPsBMFkl7Hsw_121.jpg

and I have experimented using a Linn LINNK phonostage in place of the ML-25 for use with the Ortofon SPU cartridge, though I have now returned to the ML-25.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/005-8_zpscc4e38a6.jpg


The most recent change has been to replace the (heavily modified) Quad 405 with a pair of Mark Levinson ML-2 monoblocks. These are fitted with both a balanced line XLR input as well as an un-balanced line CAMAC input. Being monoblocks I have located each directly behind the Quad 57 speakers they feed and are connected by very short speaker leads. Balanced line cable; some 12m long, connect the ML-2s back to the preamp. Despite being only 25W they are pure Class A, so not only have a high standing dissipation, they are big and heavy as well. They also run quite warm.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/010-6_zps11710bf0.jpg http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/011-3_zps32edce7c.jpg


Finally I am re-visiting my ADC 10E Mk. IV and ADC 25 fixed coil cartridges, mounted in the Breuer Dynamic 5A arm.

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/007-4_zpsf4f636ed.jpg
http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/013-4_zpsdfcefe68.jpg


I don’t expect I shall be making many more changes in the future, though I do like to dabble with tonearms and cartridges, and am still interested in trying out an off-board DAC (or a better CD player).

[Ali Tait]

Very nice Barry, I'd like to hear those amps.

[macvisual]

ML mono's, hmmm very nice! How do your ESL 57's sound driven by them..?

Any photo's of your 57's by the way? Have you them raised 14" (inches) off the ground for better results..?

[Marco]

Excellent stuff, Barry. Good to see some pics of your system again. Before I go any further, though, two of your images aren't working (for me, anyway). The one's I'm referring to are below:


http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/005-8_zpscc4e38a6.jpg


http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/007-4_zpsf4f636ed.jpg

No worky....

Marco.

[Marco]

Ah, they're working now! Dunno why they weren't before? :scratch:

Marco.

[synsei]

Excellent stuff, Barry. Good to see some pics of your system again. Before I go any further, though, two of your images aren't working (for me, anyway).

No worky....

Marco.

Oi, I thought I was the official broken linky whingebag??? :D

[Marco]

No, you're the imaginary "Ad attack" whingebag!! :lol: ;)

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

Nice Barry but id still opt for the Q33/303 over any the others.

[synsei]

No, you're the imaginary "Ad attack" whingebag!! :lol: ;)

Marco.

I'm still getting that crap on my desktop computer even though I have thoroughly cleaned it with software that has always served me well in the past. Thankfully the lappy seems to have escaped the carnage.... Whinge, whinge, whinge, moan, whittle, gripe!!!! :D

[Audio Al]

Some serious kit you have Barry :stalks::stalks:

Respect :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Wonderful Barry!
It's nice to see you finally using the ML-2s in anger.

[Barry]

Nice Barry but id still opt for the Q33/303 over any the others.

Don't worry André,

I still have a couple of 303s: this one with XLR connectors

http://i780.photobucket.com/albums/yy88/barrydhunt/012-1.jpg

and a second with conventional connectors.

Actually I have all the Series 3 Quad electronics (33/303/FM3/AM3) and would never sell them.

[jason]

Some great looking kit there Barry :)

[Lucerne]

Good to see the TD-Breuer combination Barry. That's one I hope to try out soon.

[Alex_UK]

Great stuff Barry. :)

[DSJR]

That tonearm was a lovely thing and worked with all-sorts I remember.

I must get "my" Quads back from their current "lodgings," since I really love the 33/303, flaws and all :)

[Rare Bird]

I must get "my" Quads back from their current "lodgings," since I really love the 33/303, flaws and all :)

I time when amps had character ;)

[DSJR]

I think the 303 I had was an excellent sonic bridge between valve and solid state with a lovely velvety quality to it - no solid state thin tone at all. The 33 on stock form is a bit compromised though, but can either be updated or totally transformed into a different product depending on finances and taste IMO.

[Barry]

That tonearm was a lovely thing and worked with all-sorts I remember.

I must get "my" Quads back from their current "lodgings," since I really love the 33/303, flaws and all :)

Yes, the Breuer is quite versatile - if a bit of a pain to install and set up.

It has a low effective mass of 4g, so is suitable for use with the ADC 10E Mk. IV (compliance 35cu), though from memory that cartridge worked well in the SME 3009. Using the ADC 25 (compliance 50cu (!)) in the Breuer will be a bit more testing.

I originally bought the Breuer as I was interested in the EMT cartridges. Herr Breuer designed his arm to go with his own (modified) version of the EMT 15 cartridge which, like the Van den Hul MC-1 of the time, was a ‘nuded’ version. I don’t know what other changes Breuer made to the EMT, but I have a sample of the EMT generator removed from the EMT headshell I would like to try with the arm. Unfortunately the cartridge has become damaged (suspect a collapsed suspension) and one of the, very fine, coil lead-out wires has broken. Would need to have it repaired before I could try it out in the arm.

The Breuer was one of the few arms recommended for use with the, then, newly introduced Koetsu cartridge that was causing a (very) big fuss at the time.

[wiicrackpot]

Barry,

Love your system, it's encompasses everything i aspire to, especially those ML's and my secret wish, the Breuer arm. :)

[Lucerne]

Yes, the Breuer is quite versatile - if a bit of a pain to install and set up.

It has a low effective mass of 4g, so is suitable for use with the ADC 10E Mk. IV (compliance 35cu), though from memory that cartridge worked well in the SME 3009. Using the ADC 25 (compliance 50cu (!)) in the Breuer will be a bit more testing.

I originally bought the Breuer as I was interested in the EMT cartridges. Herr Breuer designed his arm to go with his own (modified) version of the EMT 15 cartridge which, like the Van den Hul MC-1 of the time, was a ‘nuded’ version. I don’t know what other changes Breuer made to the EMT, but I have a sample of the EMT generator removed from the EMT headshell I would like to try with the arm. Unfortunately the cartridge has become damaged (suspect a collapsed suspension) and one of the, very fine, coil lead-out wires has broken. Would need to have it repaired before I could try it out in the arm.

The Breuer was one of the few arms recommended for use with the, then, newly introduced Koetsu cartridge that was causing a (very) big fuss at the time.

The Breuer 5 certainly works very well with his EMT cartridge. I believe he made a number of revisions and adaptations, including different cantilevers, internal dampening/suspension and stylus mods, (Van den Hul?). I've also seen a couple of examples which add a pod like case - there's one on Audio Markt:
http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu344/nmtjb/Cartridge2.jpg (http://s662.photobucket.com/user/nmtjb/media/Cartridge2.jpg.html)

http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu344/nmtjb/Cartridge1.jpg (http://s662.photobucket.com/user/nmtjb/media/Cartridge1.jpg.html)

The later versions have a built in spacer bar to allow easy mounting onto his arms. They are also encased, not nude.

All in all, The Breuer's were very advanced for their time, incorporating an easy VTA adjustment mechanism and neat touches like high quality internal silver wiring, crimp fit cartridge tags and RCA's with no soldered joints...and they were also very well made and sounded pretty good.

They still give most modern arms a good run for the money IMO, and I suppose thats why there are still high-end copies in the marketplace.

[Barry]

Hello Neil,

Thanks for the information. That's the first time I have seen what a Breuer/EMT cartridge looks like - oh, I want one! :)

The housing looks better and less resonant than EMT's own EMT-G headshell.

Of all the moving coil designs that have passed through my system: various Ortofons (SL15E Mk. I and Mk. II, and most recently an SPU); the Denon 103 and a Sumiko BPS, the EMTs (TSD15 with either a spherical tip or a FSL, and XSD15) remain the highest in my estimation and affection.

Apropos the Breuer arm, I have to say the RCA plugs that came with the arm lead were the poorest I have ever seen. They were immediately replaced with Neutrik ProFi types, fitted using silver-loaded solder. Apart from that, the fit and finish and overall quality of the Breuer arms are exactly what one would expect to come from the hand of a retired Swiss watch maker. It is good to see Brinkmann continuing with the design.

Thanks again