Hello

[Soulman]

After quite a few years in the hifi desert (kids, small house) I've finally managed to reach a personal oasis.

I've returned to my vinyl roots with a combination of borrowed, donated and budget secondhand kit. My system cureently comprises of a systemdek llx with Linn basik arm, Naim Nait 1 amp, yamaha cdp550ex cd and a set of quad esl63 speakers.

I listen to a wide range of music from ragtime, blues, 60's soul and rock, 70's rock on vinyl and then more modern pop/rock on cd.

I'm currently looking to change the vinyl front end on a limited budget (the basik arm has a lot of play which a dealer can't adjust out) and the current favourite is a technics sl-12xx with a rega rb300 (loved the PRaT of one i heard recently).

Cheers

Des

[The Grand Wazoo]

Hi Des,
Welcome to AoS.
That's an interesting combination of gear you have in your system.
Nice to see you on the forum.
Cheers

[Soulman]

Thanks for the welcome, by interesting do you mean odd? ;)

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Des.

Interesting system - I'm surprised to learn the Quad 63s can be driven well by the Nait 1 amp. If it were me, I would keep the Systemdeck and replace the arm with something like a Rega or a Jelco. What is the cartridge you use?

Nice taste in music!

Enjoy the forum

[MartinT]

Hello Des and welcome to AoS. How does the Nait drive the ESLs?

Not many members here running an RB300 on a Technics, but you'll find lots of help and advice in the Techiepedia.

[Soulman]

Easily goes too loud for my 22' x 13' room, plenty if drive and grip for them in my opinion...

[The Grand Wazoo]

Not odd, just unusual.
Unusual is nearly always good in my experience!

[walpurgis]

Hi Des!

Barry is right, the Systemdek IIx is a good unit.

Never heard (heard of?) a Nait 1 driving Quads, but if it works, it works!

[pjdowns]

Hi Des, welcome o the forum, I'm sure you enjoy your time here :)

[Soulman]

I was only gently pulling your leg about the interesting comment. It is an unusual setup that came about by chance, but having tried quad 44/405 combo as well i think i prefe the nait, did a bit of searching around and found out it was a popular combo in the mid eighties.

[Soulman]

I have limited experience with hifi, had a reasonable system for a long time but did no modding or box swapping for twenty years. Only when we had kids did I make changes and as space became an issue I downsized so much that I lost interest.

It's only recently that space, time and a little money have allowed me to revisit my love of music in a more relaxed manner. I kind of chanced upon the naim/quad combo and it was only when friends popped around for a mini bakeoff did we realise just how good it was. I think at really high volumes playing complicated classical it will struggle a little ( the quad 44/405 sounded better then) but for my taste and volume it has a certain sense of timing, bounce and punch that I really enjoy.

Sorry if this sound like nonsense, I'm struggling to find the right words to explain what I'm hearing...

[Audioman]

Hi Des.

As said before keep the Systemdeck and get a better arm. Unless you spend serious money the Technics will sound disappointing. The IIX is the basis of the current Audio Note Decks. Also I would sell the Nait (never could understand the fuss about it) as they fetch silly money. Buy something more suited to the Quads (even Quad).

Paul.