View Full Version : Did You Get a Hi-Fi Related Christmas Present Today?
walpurgis
25-12-2015, 10:34
Who received Hi-Fi related Christmas presents today?
I didn't actually get one, but ordered mine last night. So it's from me to me. :)
Spotted a dealer with some speaker cable I've been after for absolutely ages. 11 metres of Transparent Audio Musichord.
Should be great. I've already got a 2.5m pair that sound excellent and was after longer examples.
Now I just have to wait for it to arrive.
brian2957
25-12-2015, 10:38
This looks interesting Geoff , got a link ?
No hifi related presents here as none of my family would have a clue what to get me and so stick to ''mainstream '' gifts . :)
Buy myself the hifi stuff, and Santa brought me a valve amp this year. :)
My Son got me an electronic guitar tuner, so that's kinda related?
walpurgis
25-12-2015, 10:43
This looks interesting Geoff , got a link ?
No hifi related presents here as none of my family would have a clue what to get me and so stick to ''mainstream '' gifts . :)
There is a link. But I bought the only cable on offer (as far as I know).
http://www.vickershifi.com/products/xdtamc/ex-demonstration-transparent-audio-musichord-speaker-cable
I've used many speaker cables, but this simple looking stuff is superb. Worth looking out for, but very rarely available.
Got an emotiva phono stage and a neet wireless receiver thingy. Not sure what to do with it mind lol
My other half has most kindly bought me a hand-wired Aural Thrills Reference Phono Stage with lots of 12AU7 goodness. This one is with the choke option and the separate 274b rectified power supply. It also comes with a switch box and a separate mc SUT. Plenty of scope for tube rolling coming up...
Sadly, she is still in Sydney (on relly patrol) and won't be back for three or four days but I'll post pics then.
In the meantime I treated myself to the Riverside 22 LP box set of Theolonius Monk, which is what I'm listening to now.
Nice!
Happy Christmas all!
Peter
Whats relly patrol?
Sounds like a nice phono..lucky you:)
walpurgis
25-12-2015, 11:29
My other half has most kindly bought me a hand-wired Aural Thrills Reference Phono Stage
Should be interesting Peter. Let us know how you get on with it.
The drivers in the speakers on the website look a little familiar.
http://i67.tinypic.com/2nrhx7k.jpg
I have a pair! :)
brian2957
25-12-2015, 11:31
There is a link. But I bought the only cable on offer (as far as I know).
http://www.vickershifi.com/products/xdtamc/ex-demonstration-transparent-audio-musichord-speaker-cable
I've used many speaker cables, but this simple looking stuff is superb. Worth looking out for, but very rarely available.
Thanks Geoff , I'll keep my eyes peeled :)
Stratmangler
25-12-2015, 11:35
Buy myself the hifi stuff, and Santa brought me a valve amp this year. :)
My Son got me an electronic guitar tuner, so that's kinda related?
My son got a Boss OD-1X (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRKvxQVb6xE), a TC Electronics Spark Mini Booster (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npoNNrwIrSU), and a TC Electronics Polytune Clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msORx8g0Hdg).
The Polytune Clip is fantastic - I might have to buy one for me as well.
It's nice not having to find a lead and plug everything in for tuning up :)
Whats relly patrol?
Sounds like a nice phono..lucky you:)
Thanks. Re your question - "relations". In common with many other Brits, we had some bad hats in the family several generations ago who were shipped off courtesy of the local JP. We feel some residual responsibility for the descendants.. She's on a welfare visit :)
Seriously, her cousins are not getting younger and one is not well at all, so we agreed she should go there while all were still with us. I, unfortunately, had a contractual commitment so could not go, and junior is allegedly revising/preparing for A levels. Hence, we're here and she is stuffing her face overlooking Bronte beach. Not that I'm jealous in the slightest...
P
P
I have a pair! :)
Geoff,
Ooh err, Matron!
Best
P
Well, the hint dropping worked.
I unwrapped a lovely set of Audio Technica ATH-M50x. I'm positively cock-a-hoop with them, my star wars underpants and a book of amusing stories by Rick Wakeman.
We've got to go my sister's now but I'll look forward to coming home half drunk later and blasting some tunes through my new cans.
In addition to her other presents Mrs B has my old AKGs for taking to work now.
My son got a Boss OD-1X (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRKvxQVb6xE), a TC Electronics Spark Mini Booster (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npoNNrwIrSU), and a TC Electronics Polytune Clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msORx8g0Hdg).
The Polytune Clip is fantastic - I might have to buy one for me as well.
It's nice not having to find a lead and plug everything in for tuning up :)
Polytune looks interesting Chris, will look into that.
Got a Snark, nice wee bit of kit but maybe not the most accurate?
awkwardbydesign
25-12-2015, 12:33
Whats relly patrol?
Sounds like a nice phono..lucky you:)
I would take a wild guess at "visiting relatives". Don't you speak Strine?
Clive197
25-12-2015, 13:08
No Christmas presents at all, let alone HiFi related. :wah:
Did buy a present (Cyrus Phono Signature)2 weeks ago for myself but I don't think that counts.
Slightly non hifi but just got a drone with camera for perving:eyebrows:
Not Hifi either but I got this......
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/25/7f7f9a2c3cca07ab699736a859824594.jpg
They must really hate our neighbours lol
Not a single HIFI related pressie - thank god ;)
Nearest thing was a new Dremel to replace my 30 year old one that has been making weird noises in the motor dept :)
Bigman80
25-12-2015, 15:17
I got a leather platter mat, shims for my tonearm to adjust the VTA, tracking force gauge, knosti record cleaner and a mini bubble level. Love Christmas!!
RobbieGong
25-12-2015, 15:26
I got a leather platter mat, shims for my tonearm to adjust the VTA, tracking force gauge, knosti record cleaner and a mini bubble level. Love Christmas!!
Flip me! You done well Oliver:)
brian2957
25-12-2015, 15:31
Buy myself the hifi stuff, and Santa brought me a valve amp this year. :)
My Son got me an electronic guitar tuner, so that's kinda related?
Well Santa must have brought some elves with him to help him lift the valve amp . It weighs a bliddy ton :D
Beobloke
25-12-2015, 15:42
Got a copy of "The Art of Impossible; the Bang & Olufsen design story" which was very gratefully received!
Also a 3cd set of Johnny Cash. It adds to my growing cash collection
Arkless Electronics
25-12-2015, 17:11
I'll be making myself another power amp for xmas :)
Bigman80
25-12-2015, 18:38
Robbiegong - yep, I got a couple of LP's too. Over the moon I have to say. [emoji3]
Stratmangler
25-12-2015, 20:12
Polytune looks interesting Chris, will look into that.
Got a Snark, nice wee bit of kit but maybe not the most accurate?
I've ordered a Polytune Clip this afternoon from Amazon, at £10.00 below the price I paid for my son's.
At £35.00 they're excellent value, but at £25.00 they're a steal.
Not Hifi either but I got this......
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/25/7f7f9a2c3cca07ab699736a859824594.jpg
They must really hate our neighbours lol
Beautiful looking geetar. I want I want!
Not giving/getting any pressies in our family, but we do get a couple of non personal gifts of low value/cost and then play dice over the lot! It's great fun and we give a bit to charity instead of expensive gifts for each other.
But as it happens i acted Santa for meself and got a pair of Tellurium Q Ultra Black speaker cables!
Beautiful looking geetar. I want I want!
It's only a copy, but sounds very good, I promised myself that before I leave this place I'm going to learn to play at least one song and play it in front of my music loving grandkids, I mentioned this to my family a few weeks ago and it must have given them the idea for my Xmas.
Luckily my daughter owns a Marshall amp, so I've stolen that lol.
Smoke on the Water never sounded so bad lol.
But as it happens i acted Santa for meself and got a pair of Tellurium Q Ultra Black speaker cables!
Nice one, cheap as chips those lol.
Nice one, cheap as chips those lol.
:D No, not quite... Got em for a very good price though!
Not Hifi either but I got this......
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/25/7f7f9a2c3cca07ab699736a859824594.jpg
They must really hate our neighbours lol
Nice!
One of my presents was a fitbit (what's a fitbit?)
walpurgis
25-12-2015, 23:31
One of my presents was a fitbit (what's a fitbit?)
Sounds like one of the women I know. ;)
Sounds like one of the women I know. ;)
This goes on your wrist :eyebrows:
Don't know if this counts, because I've actually had it for a month (Nov 25th, my birthday): Metrum Musette DAC (http://metrum-acoustics.com/MusetteEN.html). However, it was also my Christmas present, my Chanukah present, and my anniversary present, so I suppose it counts.
Looks nice Doug.... nice to get it a touch early in many ways.
RobbieGong
25-12-2015, 23:49
One of my presents was a fitbit (what's a fitbit?)
I'm partial to a fitbit but don't tell the Mrs :lol:
The son in Law got one for xmas too. quite smart looking. and his wife gave him it too:eyebrows:
RobbieGong
26-12-2015, 00:01
The son in Law got one for xmas too. quite smart looking. and his wife gave him it too:eyebrows:
Rather accommodating wife :eek: :lol:
Nice!
I had a Epi gold top. Lovely guitar. Played it through a Peavey Classic 10 tweed. Wish I never sold it/them now:(
I had a Epi gold top. Lovely guitar. Played it through a Peavey Classic 10 tweed. Wish I never sold it/them now:(
A lot of times the Epiphones are derided as "just copies", but they've made some seriously nice guitars.
Rather accommodating wife :eek: :lol:
shes not daft....it probably has a tracking device:D poor soul was ill all day and her xmas was spoiled.... she's probably given it to me now :doh:
Looks nice Doug.... nice to get it a touch early in many ways.
Well, at least I know it's "broken in" by now. :)
Well, at least I know it's "broken in" by now. :)
I had the same... son got my phono stage and ive broken it in early...naughty me; never told him lol
I bought myself this a couple weeks ago as a present to ME! As I deserve something nice:)
http://i63.tinypic.com/2mg2sed.jpg
A lot of times the Epiphones are derided as "just copies", but they've made some seriously nice guitars.
Have to say this one sounds very good indeed, it'll do me during my MLC :)
A lot of times the Epiphones are derided as "just copies", but they've made some seriously nice guitars.
Have to say this one sounds very good indeed, it'll do me during my MLC :)
I bought an Eppy Plustop Pro in honeyburst last year and love it.
https://photos-1.dropbox.com/t/2/AABBTx-KuigsDzkoAGGUzOVhA9Is9jvXIw2L3xVZhQUyYA/12/9176898/jpeg/32x32/1/1451138400/0/2/Guitar_2.jpg/EMP46gYYzsQBIAcoBw/A-HoiZflw0H4A-sIFRFJ2t6JAwUA4OhPiLHtf7Qr-rA?size_mode=3&size=1600x1200
Compared it to a Gibson and to be honest its not a million miles off.
Be sure and get your guitar shop to give it a proper set up?
Can make a difference to how well it plays.
The Epiphones a great guitar, good comparison video here:
HfGEA3GCBHY
Never happy to leave things as they are I've done a couple of things to mine though. :)
I found the gloss polyurethane finish on the back of the neck to be a bit "sticky" for playing compared to the Gibson, so I dulled it back with some fine grit wet and dry paper and now its as smooth as glass - much better.
Purely for looks, I swapped out the Grover tuners for some "vintage" Kluson's, giving more of that (to me) vintage Gibson vibe.
Also replaced amber Epiphone control knobs with Gibson gold Top Hats.
Small details but for me and my (bad) playing makes a difference! :)
I have an epi set neck SG. Fitted Klusons and some Wizard pick ups. Then did a comparison with the Epi and a Gibson SG standard and SG RI. To be honest we were all hard pushed to pick a winner. VFM of the Epi was unbeatable in my opinion though
Courtesy of number one offspring, a new PCB, volume pot and a bag of assorted posh caps to rejuvenate my beloved KEL84.
Covenant
26-12-2015, 11:11
Not hifi related but music related-tickets off my daughter to see Steven Wilson on 29th January in Manchester. She likes him as much as I do, its a bit weird (in a good way) when your kids share your taste in music.
Not hifi related but music related-tickets off my daughter to see Steven Wilson on 29th January in Manchester. She likes him as much as I do, its a bit weird (in a good way) when your kids share your taste in music.
Great way to bond. Wish my kids liked my music.
Not hifi related but music related-tickets off my daughter to see Steven Wilson on 29th January in Manchester. She likes him as much as I do, its a bit weird (in a good way) when your kids share your taste in music.
Hi,
I just did what my youngest usually does - buy something you want too, so I bought her tickets to see Neil Young lol.
Mike.
Stratmangler
26-12-2015, 20:57
Not Hifi either but I got this......
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/25/7f7f9a2c3cca07ab699736a859824594.jpg
They must really hate our neighbours lol
As Gaz said, nice!
You are going to remove the plastic from the pickup covers, aren't you?
And as Gaz also said, get it set up properly by someone who knows what they're doing. I have an Epiphone G-400, and it was well fettled at the factory, and only needed some minor adjustment by me. It plays well, and sounds good too.
My Epiphone ES-339 on the other hand has a couple of high frets, which in turn have an effect on the way the guitar is set up. I need to get some luthiery tools to sort out the problems, and then perform some minor remedial surgery.
Stratmangler
26-12-2015, 21:07
I found the gloss polyurethane finish on the back of the neck to be a bit "sticky" for playing compared to the Gibson, so I dulled it back with some fine grit wet and dry paper and now its as smooth as glass - much better.
You want to try living with a nitro lacquered guitar (ie Gibson guitars) - it takes years for the stuff to go off properly, so the neck easily becomes sticky if you don't give it a proper clean after playing (it can go soft because of skin oils and their build up).
And if you leave your guitar under the bed in its case for a decade you'll find the hardware is likely to be corroded because of the nitro gassing off as it goes off.
As Gaz said, nice!
You are going to remove the plastic from the pickup covers, aren't you?.
Er, eh, yeah of course lol.
Didn't even know they were covered, like I say I can't even play but will TRY and learn, I ain't even tried to play one since my teens when I used to play the Smoke on the Water riff outside my mum and dads ( we lived in the country ) and they could hear me through the valley about 2 miles away!
I've never managed to play a full tune ever, so this is gonna be a steep learning curve, age ain't helping either.
He is talking about the Epi stickers on the pickups. the first thing you need to buy is a tuner. Then learn to tune the guitar using it. Do so often. The problem is that if you don't tune the guitar you will have some problems. Mainly, you will sound rubbish, and also when you try to play along with music/tracks, you will never sound the same as the track. Both these things will by a sure fire way of you using heart in trying to learn playing the thing. There are so many people on Youtube these days showing how to play guitar there's no reason not to be able to pick up a tune in a day or two.......but not Smoke on the Water!
thinking about it now, you can even get a tuner on youtube. Standard E is what you need for now. Learn barre chords as well. Well worth the pain of getting the fingering right. You will be able to play many tunes with just two simple barre chords (E and A). Learning barre chords opened up a whole new side of guitar to me...wish I did it earlier.
Happy strummin
Er, eh, yeah of course lol.
Didn't even know they were covered, like I say I can't even play but will TRY and learn, I ain't even tried to play one since my teens when I used to play the Smoke on the Water riff outside my mum and dads ( we lived in the country ) and they could hear me through the valley about 2 miles away!
I've never managed to play a full tune ever, so this is gonna be a steep learning curve, age ain't helping either.
Mike,
Loads of online teaching and this is (by far) the best resource I've found:
http://www.justinguitar.com/
m1PRD0kMgI8 (http://www.justinguitar.com/)
Structured lessons from beginner to more advanced and the guy is a great teacher.
I'm not much further on btw, forgot more than I've remembered and playing catch up! :)
Agree about a good tuner, Stratmangler already mentioned the Polytune Clip, this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TC-Electronic-Polytune-Clip-Guitar/dp/B00ZU4G0ZK
Fit n forget, apparently its the wasps nipples.
Sounds like your gonna have a lot of fun learning, fantastic!
I've bookmarked that Gaz, nice one. Might dig out me old tele copy and amp and have another bash at it.
Hi,
Many thanks for the tips and link, I'd already added Justin to my YouTube subs on Xmas morning, have a tuner too as I'd bought one a few weeks ago to use on my daughters guitar ( she's a music nut like me and always wanted to learn too ), so I'm all kitted out as I will use her little Marshall amp to practice on.
I'm working next few days but will hopefully get some time to have a go.
When working full time in the Fire Service me and my best friend used to be heavily into gambling on the horses and we always joked to the rest of the shift "this time next year we'll be millionaires" I'm getting the same vibes with my new rock career ......... [emoji1]
I've bookmarked that Gaz, nice one. Might dig out me old tele copy and amp and have another bash at it.
:guitar:
HackneyRF
27-12-2015, 12:12
My wife bought me a record, Red House Painters - Rollercoaster. Good lass.
I treated myself to a bespoke plinth and a Denon DL110 for the Thorens. Both yet to be fitted but photos to follow in the gallery as soon as it's done. Cheers all
Loz
My wife bought me a Tina Dico cd (vg) and the 1st Rickie Lee Jones LP - she does listen occasionally :eyebrows: Very pleased.
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