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View Full Version : Hello from Biot in France



Smen
06-06-2014, 18:53
I came across the Art of Sound forum after a minor (well fairly major for me) disaster when my beloved World Audio KLPP1 valve pre-amp did not survive the move out here to France from the UK ... so after looking for some way of replacing this, I found plenty of rather helpful discussion here regarding alternatives, or maybe a way to salvage what remains...

So my kit as of last week is a much modified Technics SL1210 mk11 deck. It has an adjustable vta and armboard by Pete Riddle, a Roksan Nima arm, Goldring 1042 cartridge, which is now being played through an Icon Audio PS1.2 phono stage (thank you James on a certain auction site should you ever be reading this), which drives fairly long Kimber interconnects to our next door room to an Amptastic Mini-1 driving QAcoustics 2010i's on cones on rather small and old cabinets. The volume control on the Amptastic is disconnected and the sound is surprisingly better with this being driven directly by the Icon Audio PS1.2. This is all pending renovations upstairs.

I also have a lovely KLPP1 box with toroidal transformer, volume attenuator, knobs and phono input/outputs seeking new innards...

Apart from that I stream wirelessly via a Netgear NeoTV 550 from my laptop through a Cambridge Audio DacMagic - both handle 24 96. Vinyl is ripped via a Sony PCM-M10 (my walkman professional replacement). The low noise circuitry on this keeps the dynamics intact, and beets numerous usb devices I have tried hands down from Roland, Edirol, Midiman etc. The Netgear has also been a real surprise. Needs must, but I don't feel let down by this, in my view high value gear. Seriously tempted by an Audiolab M-Dac.
Music wise my collection is fairly eclectic, a bit light on classical, but big on latin, blues etc. and quite large so I am just going to list the last few albums played: Gipsy Kings Luna De Fuego, David Byrne Rei Momo, Air - Moon Safari, Joe Arroyo - Y la Verdad, Baden Powell - A Vontade, ... think the world cup might be influencing with these ... James - Laid (less so), Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love and Tim Finn - Tim Finn.

Tomorrow might be quite different.

Finally my KLPP1 disaster prompted me to rethink an application - for my sins I develop these - and I would very much like participation from DIY'ers out there (here) on Art Of Sound if you are up for it and it is permitted (please let me know) ... it lets you upload / mark up and sequence modifications and projects ... and then plug the project in a bit like YouTube supporting any thread. So here we go:

KLPP1 disaster here: http://www.onekana.com/Project_Detail.asp?ProjectID=20

Icon Audio PS1.2 salvation in progress here: http://www.onekana.com/Project_Detail.asp?ProjectID=23

Would plug in here but would like some feedback if it is available first...

Apart from that the Technics here is just a steal! http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?216-FS-Technics-SL120-TT ;)

Simon in Biot.

Kember
06-06-2014, 19:12
Hi Simon,

Welcome! You'll find plenty of food for thought here. But it's a real bummer when kit dies on you at key points. You had my sympathy until I saw where you were writing from:lol:! Would that be the Biot, just outside Antibes, you lucky fellow?

Best

Peter

walpurgis
06-06-2014, 19:13
Hello Simon. Welcome to AOS.

Plenty of people on here with good skills in most areas of Hi-Fi DIY and of course we have a good few electronics buffs, so I'm sure you'll get help with your KLPP1 etc.

Smen
06-06-2014, 20:26
Hi Peter
My Biot is Alpine ... Le Biot not far from Thonon and Morzine. Many thanks for your welcome!
Crikey - that is some system you have there ...
continuing on ...that is some second system you have there!

Simon

Smen
06-06-2014, 20:29
Thank you Mr Tact!

New innards for my KLPP1 would be most welcome.
Simon

Firebottle
06-06-2014, 20:32
Hi Simon,
Welcome to the forum. I am also in France and a valve amp designer to boot.
If you would like to get the KLPP1 to me I will look at it for you,

Cheers,
Alan

Gordon Steadman
06-06-2014, 20:42
Welcome from the French massive.

There are one or two of us here. Alan and I live about 3 hours apart. The drive from your place would take a bit longer I suspect but would be worth it. Alan has a magic soldering iron so if you can get the amp to him, I'm sure he would fix it in a trice.

I run his OTL amp and phono amp and they are top notch.

Smen
06-06-2014, 21:31
Hi Alan
I found recommendations regarding your designs and your posts on this forum before joining and they were partly instrumental in my signing up. I am signing off now for the evening but I will follow up with you.
Regards
Simon

Smen
06-06-2014, 21:59
Hi Gordon
Thank you for your welcome. Looking at you flickr ... that is a proper cat... ;) If you have projects that might need marking up please let me know.
I have made contact with Alan. He does OTL's as well!!!
S

CageyH
07-06-2014, 07:49
Simon, welcome to AOS from another of the French "massive."
I reckon I am about three hours drive from Gordon, but I know it's about 8 to 10 hours to the Alps from here.

Alan knows his stuff, and his Firebottle phono stage is very good.

Gordon Steadman
08-06-2014, 08:29
Hi Gordon
Thank you for your welcome. Looking at you flickr ... that is a proper cat... ;) If you have projects that might need marking up please let me know.
I have made contact with Alan. He does OTL's as well!!!
S


Yup, Lucy was indeed a proper cat, right little devil. Sadly missed.

Not sure what you mean by 'marking up':scratch: I'm obviously missing out on some essential jargon training!! Old age don't ya know.

Proof of Firebottles on the rack!! OTL and phono included.
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2896/14185671427_d6b98e2882_o.jpg