View Full Version : The 'walpurgis' System (first ever proper piccie)
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 14:44
My system (current but ever changing configuration). Just had a big sort out. It sounds even better than it looks! :)
Who can identify the various bits? Bet nobody gets them all quite right.
http://i59.tinypic.com/2cd6au.jpg
Audio Al
08-04-2014, 14:48
Photos are a bit on the dark side , You no have fill in flash ?
Wakefield Turntables
08-04-2014, 15:44
Some meridian and tannoy kit?
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 16:06
Photos are a bit on the dark side , You no have fill in flash ?
OK Al. Here's another one with some LED lighting thrown in and a bit of highlight/shadow editing:
http://i59.tinypic.com/aaf889.jpg
Amazing how speaker grilles that look perfectly clean, appear grubby in photos.
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 16:12
Some meridian and tannoy kit?
Yes, but that's not a very specific answer Andy.
Audio Al
08-04-2014, 16:17
Pioneer 504 CD player
Tannoy Cheviots
Red carpet
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 16:20
Pioneer 504 CD player
Tannoy Cheviots
Red carpet
Very close, but no cigar, quite. PD-S505 Precision & Cheviot II. The carpet is burgundy red, so 100% on that! :)
some nice bits of monachy.
Some of it looks like Monarchy Audio.
Lots of very nice kit, too much to bother listing, I particularly like the speaks. Quite surprised you've only one pair given how much other stuff you've collected.
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 18:27
Lots of very nice kit, too much to bother listing, I particularly like the speaks. Quite surprised you've only one pair given how much other stuff you've collected.
Yes Stu & Martin, Monarchy Audio! M22B and M22C DACs, DIP 24/48 and DIP 24/96, SM-70 and SM-70 Pro Class A power amps, to be exact. They each work very nicely, don't know how Mr C.C.Poon can turn stuff this good out at the price to be honest. The SM-70 Pro sounds beautiful driving the Tannoys.
The Black Adder
08-04-2014, 18:33
Some serious kit there, Geoff... I like it!
What's that on top of the left speaker if one may inquire?
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 18:37
Quite surprised you've only one pair given how much other stuff you've collected.
Yes at the moment, only one pair!
But I've got this little lot above my CD shelf:
http://i58.tinypic.com/28k6byo.jpg
And at least three times as many nice speaker drive units & crossover components elsewhere in boxes. Waiting to be used in cabinets.
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 18:47
Some serious kit there, Geoff... I like it!
What's that on top of the left speaker if one may inquire?
It's one a' dem init!
http://i57.tinypic.com/20935si.jpg
Raphaelite 6V6 integrated amp 4 watts per channel Class A. For driving my horns, that aren't built yet. :)
The most expensive watts I've bought! Worked out approx £125 per watt after import duty.
Does it have a Pre....?..... Pre-Raphaelite......Hahahahahahah:D (Boom Tish)
istari_knight
08-04-2014, 19:38
Decent potted output transformers by the look of it ? Its got a nice industrial look - I like it :thumbsup:
Wakefield Turntables
08-04-2014, 19:39
Yes, but that's not a very specific answer Andy.
Sorry for being a bit shit Geoff but thats as good as I get. I dont have as much experience as some of the other guys on the forum. :(
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 19:43
Does it have a Pre....?..... Pre-Raphaelite......Hahahahahahah:D (Boom Tish)
Your jokes (I take it that's what it was) don't improve Rob! :D
walpurgis
08-04-2014, 19:45
Sorry for being a bit shit Geoff but thats as good as I get. I dont have as much experience as some of the other guys on the forum. :(
That's OK Andy. I wasn't criticising. :)
Don't go! I thought it was funny.
Hahaha - see!
I'll play name the gear too...
Target rack and plastic shelves from Robert Dyers.
I'll play name the gear too...
Target rack and plastic shelves from Robert Dyers.
Sound Reflector by Toshiba
walpurgis
09-04-2014, 08:40
I'll play name the gear too...
Target rack and plastic shelves from Robert Dyers.
Yes. The cheapo shelving actually works well. It's non resonant and quite strong.
walpurgis
09-04-2014, 08:40
Sound Reflector by Toshiba
Yes, but it seems to have no ill effect!
Nice collection of kit, Geoff, and good to see what your system looks like at long last! :eyebrows:
Just one observation... Aren't you able to get the speakers further apart and further away from your kit? It would undoubtedly sound better that way.
Marco.
walpurgis
09-04-2014, 09:04
Aren't you able to get the speakers further apart and further away from your kit? Marco.
Nope. I may be able to space them silghtly wider once I've decluttered a bit more, but the room is only 10' by 11' anyway. Funny thing is, it sounds just fine, great imaging and no boom!
julesd68
09-04-2014, 10:18
Think I can spot a Ming the Merciless Passive Pre and also an Ortofon cartridge box on the shelf??
Yes, but it seems to have no ill effect!
Mine too - a 40 inch Samsung.
walpurgis
09-04-2014, 15:28
Think I can spot a Ming the Merciless Passive Pre and also an Ortofon cartridge box on the shelf??
Yes, MingDa MC-9 and very, very nice too. Right about the Ortofon box, but it's empty.
Mr Kipling
09-04-2014, 17:51
So. We get to see AOS's resident Ninja Warrior's system. For a moment or two I half expected to see a roomful of speakers.
I thought my room was small at 11 x 13.
I still like the look of those Raphaelite amps Geoff.
walpurgis
09-04-2014, 19:09
So. We get to see AOS's resident Ninja Warrior's system. For a moment or two I half expected to see a roomful of speakers.
I thought my room was small at 11 x 13.
I still like the look of those Raphaelite amps Geoff.
In my room, a pair of those Tannoys is "a roomful of speakers".
Nope. I may be able to space them silghtly wider once I've decluttered a bit more, but the room is only 10' by 11' anyway. Funny thing is, it sounds just fine, great imaging and no boom!
No worries - I was thinking more in terms of the stereo image. Decluttering would be good too, sound wise, if you can get all that stuff out from between the speakers, or are your Tannoys positioned forward of that? :)
Marco.
walpurgis
09-04-2014, 20:47
No worries - I was thinking more in terms of the stereo image. Decluttering would be good too, sound wise, if you can get all that stuff out from between the speakers, or are your Tannoys forward of that? :)
Marco.
Funny thing is, I used to have the system more properly laid out in the living room, which is twice the size and more ideally proportioned, but it definitely sounds better in my small 'den'!
Beobloke
23-04-2014, 15:48
Hmm - Toshiba SR-370 turntable, Mission 774 arm and a Zyx cartridge perchance?
walpurgis
23-04-2014, 16:41
Hmm - Toshiba SR-370 turntable, Mission 774 arm and a Zyx cartridge perchance?
That's correct. Nice it sounds too! :)
OK Al. Here's another one with some LED lighting thrown in and a bit of highlight/shadow editing:
http://i59.tinypic.com/aaf889.jpg
Amazing how speaker grilles that look perfectly clean, appear grubby in photos.
Think I can spot a bottle of pro screen cleaning fluid - is that the one that comes with the little cloth?:lol:
walpurgis
07-05-2014, 14:35
Think I can spot a bottle of pro screen cleaning fluid - is that the one that comes with the little cloth?:lol:
It's not for cleaning pros. :)
http://i59.tinypic.com/2kg1sk.jpg
A bubble wrap bass trap! They're good them.
Is it a Helius gimble arm of some type over in the corner on it's side (although the headshell bit looks wrong for Helius) Edit: Helius's little gallery shows it's an Aurum!
And a Musical Fidelity X10-D valve buffer.. facing backwards.
walpurgis
07-05-2014, 18:43
A bubble wrap bass trap! They're good them.
Is it a Helius gimble arm of some type over in the corner on it's side (although the headshell bit looks wrong for Helius)
And a Musical Fidelity X10-D valve buffer.. facing backwards.
Right on both counts equipment wise. The arm is the original Helius arm, it had no model name as far as I'm aware. The bubble wrap is for eBaying gear (and no, I'm not a trader).
Now will anybody ID the little box next to the pre-amp under the telly? It's an extremely rare bit of kit.
I'm going to guess it's a small headamp and silver and textured black make it look 70s (when there were a few of those small box headamps made by cartridge manufacturers) and because you say it's rare... i'm going to guess it's a Supex headamp?
walpurgis
07-05-2014, 20:12
I'm going to guess it's a small headamp and silver and textured black make it look 70s (when there were a few of those small box headamps made by cartridge manufacturers) and because you say it's rare... i'm going to guess it's a Supex headamp?
Well you're on the right track. It's actually an Osawa OS-100T MC SUT and mega rare. I've only ever seen one other, 'cos there were two where I bought mine. It sounds lovely!
Ah.. I wouldn't have guessed! Is it badged Osawa or Nagaoka? I've both Osawa MC OS-70 and MC OS-80 carts but I think they are later, mid 80s things whilst the SUT looks late 70s.
walpurgis
07-05-2014, 21:57
Ah.. I wouldn't have guessed! Is it badged Osawa or Nagaoka? I've both Osawa MC OS-70 and MC OS-80 carts but I think they are later, mid 80s things whilst the SUT looks late 70s.
It's got the Osawa name on it. I also bought an Osawa OS-60L MC cartridge from the seller and the OS series are from the same period. The Osawas are close relatives of the Supex and early Linn MC cartridges, as expect you know. The seller had the last new stock left in the UK, including various Satin MCs. I've also still got a rather nice Osawa TT mat in its original packing which he sold me.
I didn't actually - haven't been able to find out that much about my Osawa cartridges. How long ago was this by the way? My OS-80 was new old stock but I must have bought it about 5 years ago now.
walpurgis
08-05-2014, 08:52
I didn't actually - haven't been able to find out that much about my Osawa cartridges. How long ago was this by the way? My OS-80 was new old stock but I must have bought it about 5 years ago now.
Early to mid eighties I'd guess. I can't recall exactly.
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