Bit unconventional but sounds good to these ears ................... :)

[Pigmy Pony]

I've never heard DM2a speakers, no doubt they sound fantastic, and definitely no shortage of quality bass :) The only reason really to get a sub would be to enable using smaller speakers, esp. if space is at a premium. But I think you'd be spending a fortune to better what you already have.

To digress slightly, I'm tempted by these Wiim amps myself (probably the 'pro' version which isn't a lot dearer), but I was wondering if it would be ok to be left on 24/7 (I need it to be ok with that), and I know opinions are divided on this. What do you think?

[Idlewithnodrive]

I've never heard DM2a speakers, no doubt they sound fantastic, and definitely no shortage of quality bass :) The only reason really to get a sub would be to enable using smaller speakers, esp. if space is at a premium. But I think you'd be spending a fortune to better what you already have.

To digress slightly, I'm tempted by these Wiim amps myself (probably the 'pro' version which isn't a lot dearer), but I was wondering if it would be ok to be left on 24/7 (I need it to be ok with that), and I know opinions are divided on this. What do you think?

Mine is the Amp Pro; I've had it about a week and it's been left on 24/7 with no issues so far.

[Pigmy Pony]

Mine is the Amp Pro; I've had it about a week and it's been left on 24/7 with no issues so far.

Good to know :) I can see yours is the 'Pro' version, I can make it out on the panel's graphics. Better DAC, bluetooth and WiFi I believe. Be nice if it came with another line in, though it's not a deal breaker as most CD players come with digital outs.

What speakers are you using it with?

[Idlewithnodrive]

Good to know :) I can see yours is the 'Pro' version, I can make it out on the panel's graphics. Better DAC, bluetooth and WiFi I believe. Be nice if it came with another line in, though it's not a deal breaker as most CD players come with digital outs.

What speakers are you using it with?

The speakers should outclass it but, if anything, they allow the amp to show what it is capable of. They are Triangle Antal ESW's.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/4/8/488d12e34f1770dc2ca1207b13d373d93288007e.jpeg

[Barry]

Very nice. Which model is it?

[Idlewithnodrive]

501 MkII

[Idlewithnodrive]

Not sure if I've posted my Sony here, but here it is -

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995%2F9027483%2Fmceclip0.jpg

[Alex_UK]

Lovely!

[Gazjam]

Not sure if I've posted my Sony here, but here it is -

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995%2F9027483%2Fmceclip0.jpg

RED!

Love it.

[Pigmy Pony]

Not sure if I've posted my Sony here, but here it is -

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995%2F9027483%2Fmceclip0.jpg

Looks lovely (as do all your decks), and the red suits it perfectly. Wouldn't mind one meself, but unfortunately I can only stretch to one of these:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/uCIAAeSwBnVpKH8C/s-l1600.webp

On the plus side it does play 78s :)

[Idlewithnodrive]

A couple of naked shots of my CDP.

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9699426/20260302_200725.jpg

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9699428/20260302_200756.jpg

It uses a 6-tube output stage in SRPP configuration. It specifically employs four 12AX7 and two 12AT7 tubes to operate as a single-ended class A triode. No semiconductors from DAC output onwards.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9883230/20260805_184705.jpg

A bucket list CDP, simply because of it’s funky looks and operation.

[Macca]

Quality bit of kit that is.

[Barry]

If it wasn't a top loader, I would have one. :)

[Idlewithnodrive]

The mech operation is mesmerising.

[Barry]

Do you mean 'memorising' or 'mesmerising', or perhaps both?

[Idlewithnodrive]

Valid point. Corrected :)

[Idlewithnodrive]

No system is complete without appropriate lighting, so -

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9903846/20260822_222931.jpg

allow me to introduce The Great A'Tuin.

[Pigmy Pony]

I had to Google that. So where are the elephants?

[Idlewithnodrive]

I had to Google that. So where are the elephants?

Down at the local water hole, boogying with the giraffes and hippo's.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/e/c/ec716bd62961314d380e3af7c5a50eb524b257e5.jpeg

I've spent the day dismantling wardrobes and a chest of draws, moving them iinto another room and building hi-fi'ish furniture to make a bit bigger, more music friendly listening room.

Getting there now; just need to populate with a few records.

[Barry]

Did you build the record storage units yourself, or were they already assembled? I'm looking for some - but not sure if those from IKEA come in a natural wood finish.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Did you build the record storage units yourself, or were they already assembled? I'm looking for some - but not sure if those from IKEA come in a natural wood finish.

I built them myself Barry. They are by Charles Jacobs, very good quality, easy to assemble and very reasonably priced. I prefer them to Kallax (that's hacked off the hi-fi Gods) myself and would recommend them, happily.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/4/7/479452b685af0a4bebdeb209b13e69850d0679c2.jpeg

The listening room as we stand today. Exactly the vibe I was looking for. I'm pleased with it.

[Macca]

Looks pretty chilled.

[Barry]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/4/7/479452b685af0a4bebdeb209b13e69850d0679c2.jpeg



Looks great Mike - well done! But does the serene atmosphere you have created tally with your tastes in heavy metal, grunge etc.?

[Idlewithnodrive]

Looks great Mike - well done! But does the serene atmosphere you have created tally with your tastes in heavy metal, grunge etc.?

It does, as I can change the lighting to suit the mood. The overall vibe is hippy / psychedelic, which entirely suits, but I can turn it up and down, colour and intensity wise.

[Pigmy Pony]

I like that a lot Mike - so what does the lighting look like for Prodigy?

[Idlewithnodrive]

I like that a lot Mike - so what does the lighting look like for Prodigy?

I call it gnarly primordial ��

[Pigmy Pony]

I call it gnarly primordial ��

Yeah I think Keith would have liked that :)

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9931058/20260912_195104.jpg

My view this evening.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Incoming -

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/f/8/f899a7d037ffb1ff153be850d61b99a960dc1b82.webp

[Barry]

Looks a very decent bit of kit. Well done.
I have a Sony player which uses a CD puck, and I am always afraid I will loose it. Haven't so far, but the fear is always with me.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/7/b/7b5b643a0cf50da8bae1b4507853d46848f99ed4.jpeg

Haven't listened to one of these, in must be ~10 years.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9953270/20260930_161320.jpg

Thought I would, because I'm not up here very often and I thought they (there's a matching one on the other side :lol:) looked nice in the light.

[Pigmy Pony]

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9953270/20260930_161320.jpg

Thought I would, because I'm not up here very often and I thought they (there's a matching one on the other side :lol:) looked nice in the light.

Up where? At the top of the beanstalk? And what speakers are they, I can't make it out :scratch: Crap laptop.

[Barry]

Up where? At the top of the beanstalk? And what speakers are they, I can't make it out :scratch: Crap laptop.

Something badged as "Transmissionaudio".

Viewed via my smartphone. :D

[Pigmy Pony]

Ah, I can make it out now that I know what it is :) I've just done a search, and info is a bit sparse, but they seem to be well regarded, and quite rare.

Five ribbon tweeters! :eek: Interesting.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Yes indeedy, they are Transmission Audio M1i"s. https://share.google/NCw7Xdzg30mJbtM0E As you say, very rare and highly regarded. They are the bit of kit that I have owned longest.

Up where, is up in a part loft conversion. About a 1/4 of it has been converted.

[Pigmy Pony]

Yes indeedy, they are Transmission Audio M1i"s. https://share.google/NCw7Xdzg30mJbtM0E As you say, very rare and highly regarded. They are the bit of kit that I have owned longest.

Up where, is up in a part loft conversion. About a 1/4 of it has been converted.

I trust that 1/4 includes the actual roof :eek:

[Idlewithnodrive]

I trust that 1/4 includes the actual roof :eek:

Luckily, and rather unlike me, I had the forethought and clarity of mind to spec a roof, on the right 1/4, too :lol:

[Barry]

Yes indeedy, they are Transmission Audio M1i"s. https://share.google/NCw7Xdzg30mJbtM0E As you say, very rare and highly regarded. They are the bit of kit that I have owned longest.

Up where, is up in a part loft conversion. About a 1/4 of it has been converted.

Respect! If it has a pitched roof that would be beneficial when it comes to room modes and their suppression.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Respect! If it has a pitched roof that would be beneficial when it comes to room modes and their suppression.

Thanks. Even better Barry, it's actually a Cathedral ceiling with the apex being down the long length of the room.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/4/e/4e155f3deeaed5f61829995920b830469a51f1d3.jpeg

[Macca]

Tidy!

[Idlewithnodrive]

Pretty much mint, Martin.

I was looking for a decent sounding, unusual, nice looking Japanese DD TT to replace my SP-10 and TTS-8000 TT’s. I think I may have found it.

[Pigmy Pony]

That looks really good, but what do you mean, replace the Technics and the Sony? You slimming down your collection?

[Idlewithnodrive]

That looks really good, but what do you mean, replace the Technics and the Sony? You slimming down your collection?

I am, Steve.

[Marco]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/4/e/4e155f3deeaed5f61829995920b830469a51f1d3.jpeg

A thing of beauty... Must be pretty rare?

Marco.

[Pigmy Pony]

Hard to believe it's about 50 years old, it's clearly enjoyed a sheltered life or you've been busy with the Pledge :) It got me curious, so had a poke round tinternet - info a bit thin on the ground, but a couple of things I noted: removable universal headshell (handy), rock solid build (as you would expect), and a tendency for 45rpm to go a bit wayward ( a clean and capacitor change sorts it). 33rpm is unaffected.

I want one, even though I've nowhere to put it :)

It does seem to be quite rare. I'll bet most are in the US or Japan, as with most premium Japanese vintage hifi it was a time when us Brits were obsessing over our shed-built units.

[Macca]

I'd have to get rid of that peeling 'Made In Japan' sticker or somehow stick it back on. That would do my nut.

[Idlewithnodrive]

I'd have to get rid of that peeling 'Made In Japan' sticker or somehow stick it back on. That would do my nut.

It's already stuck back on :thumbsup:

[Idlewithnodrive]

A thing of beauty... Must be pretty rare?

Marco.

Thanks. There certainly aren't many around it seems.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/5/5/5562fae9b8e7eb82946a6cf133f4632794f05d95.jpeg

I’ve just fitted a better headshell and my IQ3 to the deck and it does sound rather decent, tbh. I think this'll do me :thumbsup: Anybody looking for an SP-10 or a TTS-8000 ?

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9964007/20261008_155147.jpg

No funky, flattering lighting this time.in the RAW, as it were :)

[Barry]

Thanks. There certainly aren't many around it seems.

Not bad for £195. One thing though, how easy is it to see the stroboscope display situated on front, when most turntables are placed so you look down on them when changing records and cuing the arm?

[Idlewithnodrive]

Not bad for £195. One thing though, how easy is it to see the stroboscope display situated on front, when most turntables are placed so you look down on them when changing records and cuing the arm?

It's very easy to read Barry, the display is angled up internally.

[Idlewithnodrive]

https://audioabattoir.s3.dualstack.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/original/3X/8/0/80e744ef9d109c3b5590dd008f72e76ae2eec024.jpeg

[Idlewithnodrive]

and both the above in situ -

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/281995/9983589/20261024_233255.jpg

[Macca]

Got to love that deck. You need more period correct kit to go with it.

[Pigmy Pony]

I'd never grow tired of looking at that t/t. I can't help thinking it could do with a similar-vintage Japanese amp to complete the look, but it's the whole reliability thing...

And also I bet that Audiolab would outperform all but the most astronomically-priced old Jap kit.

[Macca]

This is Aiwa from about the same time (1980-ish):

https://i.ibb.co/LhH6F0SX/24970f32928d50bdb403ccfb321accd0.jpg (https://ibb.co/R4dPFg2k)

The P80 power amp on the top is pretty good although I think only 50wpc.

[Idlewithnodrive]

I'd never grow tired of looking at that t/t. I can't help thinking it could do with a similar-vintage Japanese amp to complete the look, but it's the whole reliability thing...

And also I bet that Audiolab would outperform all but the most astronomically-priced old Jap kit.

Replying to yourself and @macca.

Thank you both.

Yes, the TT is mighty purty, one of the best looking I have seen, and I won't tire from looking at it. The looks are a lot to do with why it usurped my TTS-8000 and, very soon, my SP-10. It is close enough in performance to those two to make no difference to me.

I would love a period correct amp, ideally an Aiwa, for the TT, but reliability is a biggie for me. High end vintage stuff has cost me so much over the last few years that I really don't want to go there again.

I had never owned Audiolab kit before, but I bought a 6000A, a couple of months ago, because old valve amps had let me down, yet again. I was impressed enough with that, that I moved up the food chain. The 7000A is a fair bit better and the 6000A will make a decent, reliable spare, if needed.

That said, if a decent, period correct integrated came up at a decent price, I would probably still jump on it.

[Macca]

Aiwa amps were fine but unlike their tape decks they were never rated and there's no collectors market for them; so if you can find a clean one you won't be looking at much, certainly under a hundred.

At that price you can take a chance. They don't come up that often from that early 80s period though.

[Macca]

Oh and you will need 8 ohm speakers, no tough loads.

[Idlewithnodrive]

Oh and you will need 8 ohm speakers, no tough loads.

The TT is late 70's and the speakers are 92dB, nominal 8 ohms, dropping to 4, so should be OK.