Firebottles Place

[Wakefield Turntables]

Me and my mate trundled down to Firebottle's place to pick up my gear after the latest round of modifications. Alan further modded my Croft pre-amp and Sondex S100 power amp. In a nut shell the croft now has better power regulation and is specifically modded to run with 5691 valves and variants. The Sondex had a re-biasing, a hum problem sorted and a radical recap and replacement resistors (where needed). The system now sounds fine and is in the process of opening up. I've already started to notice a minutiae of detail that was previously hidden away. Things should improve with another 75-100 hours on the clock. All in all I'm a very happy bunny. Now I have to make an announcement. I really really hate Alan. :eek: BUT!!!!! In a very very nice way. The bugger has an amazing pair of Quad ESL57's hanging from his ceiling with supertweeters and an amazing phonostage (the Vivant). WOW!!! What an amazing spacious sound stage with plenty of space between the instruments, an amazing mid band, fantastic full bodied instruments. A very immersive soundstage with amazing timbral decay. A really really fantastic experience. Now, the reason for hating Alan is that I'm now probably, more than likely going to go down another bloody rabbit hole with Quad ESL 57's, super tweeters, Lyra cartridges and Vivant phonostages. I own a pair of 57's and I'm now seriously thinking of having my listening room's ceiling modified to accommodate my 57's (thanks mate)!!!

Seriously, Alan is a talented guy. Very pleasant to deal with, patient (the Radford amp), and very hospitable with his time and coffee. All in all a credit to AOS. Many thanks, now where's my single malt..... :cheers:

[Bigman80]

Me and my mate trundled down to Firebottle's place to pick up my gear after the latest round of modifications. Alan further modded my Croft pre-amp and Sondex S100 power amp. In a nut shell the croft now has better power regulation and is specifically modded to run with 5691 valves and variants. The Sondex had a re-biasing, a hum problem sorted and a radical recap and replacement resistors (where needed). The system now sounds fine and is in the process of opening up. I've already started to notice a minutiae of detail that was previously hidden away. Things should improve with another 75-100 hours on the clock. All in all I'm a very happy bunny. Now I have to make an announcement. I really really hate Alan. :eek: BUT!!!!! In a very very nice way. The bugger has an amazing pair of Quad ESL57's hanging from his ceiling with supertweeters and an amazing phonostage (the Vivant). WOW!!! What an amazing spacious sound stage with plenty of space between the instruments, an amazing mid band, fantastic full bodied instruments. A very immersive soundstage with amazing timbral decay. A really really fantastic experience. Now, the reason for hating Alan is that I'm now probably, more than likely going to go down another bloody rabbit hole with Quad ESL 57's, super tweeters, Lyra cartridges and Vivant phonostages. I own a pair of 57's and I'm now seriously thinking of having my listening room's ceiling modified to accommodate my 57's (thanks mate)!!!

Seriously, Alan is a talented guy. Very pleasant to deal with, patient (the Radford amp), and very hospitable with his time and coffee. All in all a credit to AOS. Many thanks, now where's my single malt..... :cheers:Yep, he does that to you doesn't he.

The Vivant is now a real cracker, on a level with the BigBottle which Alan also designed. He knows valves.

His 57s never appealed to me Untill we put my Neurochrome 686 on them and suddenly I understood what the fuss was about.

The ceiling arangment is strange untill you get used to it, but it actually works pretty well in all honesty.

That Lyra Clavis cartridge was a bargain too. I'm a big fan of it.

He's a top banana too, always happy to help and when he's in the mood, very inventive.

Enjoy the Croft and the Sondex. They sounded good together.

Did Alan use the proart amp? Takes the mickey that amp lol.

[Firebottle]

Thanks Andy :rolleyes: (I think)
Now in all seriousness I am happy to be of service. It was a combination of everything, not just the Quads and Vivant helping to give that soundstage.

The Croft and Sondex are a fantastic pairing and as you heard drive 'statics extremely well. I imagine they will be as good driving any of your speakers.

[Wakefield Turntables]

:rolleyes:


I don't really hate you!!!! But I hate the fact that I'm now really torn between using my Tannoy's or Quads is a killer. I thought I was finished with my setup but it now looks like I'm about to start down a new path. :help:

[Jimbo]

Must get over there myself sometime soon - its been too long!:)

[hifinutt]

yes i love those quads hanging on the ceiling , my wife was impressed too . alan has helped me out a number of times and we are fortunate to have him and hopefully he will not get injured persuing his other aviation hobby !:lol:

[Pigmy Pony]

yes i love those quads hanging on the ceiling , my wife was impressed too . alan has helped me out a number of times and we are fortunate to have him and hopefully he will not get injured persuing his other aviation hobby !:lol:

I think he's more likely to be injured by one of those Quads falling off the ceiling and hitting him on the head. Sorry Alan, is that tempting fate? :D

One of the good guys :) Just a bit of creepy bum-licking in advance of asking him about a little job I may want doing.

[User211]

He's alright.

But I now have 12,394,234 valves to test since he fixed my valve tester:D;)