PDA

View Full Version : The Current System Set-Up - A Compromise


quadsugdenman
11-06-2010, 19:56
Hi Gents

My apologies for taking so long to post my pictures but there were two major reasons.
1. We have downsized recently from a house to a bugalow and it is taking time to sort things out after the move.
2. My wife packed my digital camera so it was safe during the move, so safe she could not find it!!:donk:

Anyway, the system is now a compromise of three systems which have become one in a much smaller room.

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/DSCF0184.jpg
The turntable is a Linn LP12 circa 1978 bought from Doug Brady in Liverpool with Nirvanna and Valhalla updates, Ittok VIII arm and a Sumiko BPS which needs replacing and I am open to suggestions. It sits on a Target wall-mount stand.

The rack below:
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/2010_0607bucket2010June03HiFi0001.jpg

Icon Audio LA4 (modified) with NOS Mullard EZ80's and Ken Rad 6SN7 (circa 1948 -1951).
The CD transport is a Resolution Cesium designed originally to work with 2 Quantam DACS! This feeds a Caiman (Off to DR Jims surgery on Monday) The headphones are AKG 601's which are really for late night time listening.
Alongside a borrowed Cambridge 640P while my valve IA is on loan to a friend.
My compromise is a Sony 777ES FM/DAB tuner fed to the Caiman. I await a 5 element loft mounted Antiferance aerial to use with my stock of FM tuners.
Below this is a Croft Series 7 recently purchased to replace sidelined Quad 909 or Antique Sound Lab monoblocks.

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/2010_06022010June02HiFi0010.jpg

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/2010_06022010June02HiFi0009.jpg

All the cables will be sorted and tidied up once I am happy with the set up.
The speakers I currently use are Harbeth HLK6ES in luvverly Nextel (ugggh!) these have replaced my beloved modified EL57's which are currently in store due to the lack of space.
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/DSCF0021.jpg

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/DSC00448.jpg

Sidelined: awaiting upgrade my beloved much modified Croft SMA awaiting a visit to G Croft esq to fit an outboard transformer and power supply. A wonderful modified Yamaha T-1 circa 1977.
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/2010_06022010June02HiFi0013.jpg

A Quad 77 + remote and Hitachi FT5500MkII

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/2010_06022010June02HiFi0008.jpg
Akai 630D, Aiwa 9700 tuner and Marantz CD52SE

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/SugdenA48IICroftARC003.jpg


Speaker cables are winky wanky QED SA's soon to be replaced by Black Mambas. Interconnects are Stratos, Audio Note Silver or QED - Suggestions for upgrades!!
It sounds good but is not as good as some of my previous kit sacrificed due to financial circumstances. Nonetheless this works well for me ;)

Gazza :sheep:
Rare Bird
11-06-2010, 20:09
Where's yer Sugden then Garry? :)
quadsugdenman
11-06-2010, 20:26
Andre

Bijou on loan. These in store

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/2010_06022010June02HiFi0012.jpg

http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/quadsugdenman/DSCF0092.jpg

Just need to sort the lot out at some point!

Garry :lolsign:
Rare Bird
11-06-2010, 20:35
yum yum you need an A51 (Welding Rig) power amp now :)
Spectral Morn
11-06-2010, 20:36
Hi Gary

looking very nice indeed :)

Another reel to reel man excellent :):):)

Tuners look nice ;)


Regards D S D L
quadsugdenman
11-06-2010, 20:47
yum yum you need an A51 (Welding Rig) power amp now :)

I had an original Richard Allen A51 with handles and vents but it was on it's last legs and blew!!!:(. I visited JES but Patrick Miller and the boys just could not salvage it. Transistors were no longer available. - shame :wah:
Rare Bird
11-06-2010, 21:09
I had an original Richard Allen A51 with handles and vents but it was on it's last legs and blew!!!:(. I visited JES but Patrick Miller and the boys just could not salvage it. Transistors were no longer available. - shame :wah:

:eek: Whats up with using 2N3716 output trannies instead?
quadsugdenman
11-06-2010, 21:27
:eek: Whats up with using 2N3716 output trannies instead?

According to Patrick the thing was beyond repair. If JES couldn't fix it I figured it was a gonner. :scratch: Swapped it for spares in the end. The A51 I originally heard was fantastic and it began my love of all things JES. The P51was a little 'watery' in comparison and the earliest ones were unreliable and did not like the huge impedence swings of EL 57's contrary to popular myth.

Garry
Barry
11-06-2010, 22:00
Hi Gary,

Nice system you have there. Regarding the use of the Sugden C51/A51 with Quad 57s, I used used such an arrangement quite happily for a few years.

Love the framed photographs of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Regards
quadsugdenman
11-06-2010, 22:23
Hi Gary,

Nice system you have there. Regarding the use of the Sugden C51/A51 with Quad 57s, I used used such an arrangement quite happily for a few years.

Love the framed photographs of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

Regards

Hi Barry

No it is the P51 which had the problem. The A51 was genuine Class A and could handle most loads, but the P51 were AB and did not handle the 57's impedence swings very well. The early one's especially.

Garry
colinB
11-06-2010, 23:16
Lovely set up . Thanks for the pictures Garry. I think getting rid of the SA speaker cables is a good move though. Owned them once and didnt like them.
quadsugdenman
11-06-2010, 23:32
Hi Colin

They seemed to be much better than the Ortofon cabling I had previously. However there is a brashness comming through the Harbeths I had not noticed with the Quads. :scratch: I am looking at Sterling Black Mambas which I heard in a friends all Croft system and was impressed by detail and depth through his Focal Labs.
Ow you getting on with the IA phono stage?

Garry :sheep:
colinB
12-06-2010, 10:03
The AOS members really like those mambas and they are vey reasonably priced.

I love my little PS1, it was when i put that in my system that the vinyl sound registered, or was it the valve sound, not sure. Any way that was a good buy.
They offer a jensen capacitor mod which im very tempted by.
Wouldnt mind having a go at it my self but when you look inside and see these huge caps buried in a mass of wire its a bit scary!
Pairing it with a IA integrated or power amps would be a good direction to go i think. I saw a IA 40 integrated for £400 for sale the other day but chickend out and blew my hard earned on a Okki Nokki RCM instead. I would rather go to Leicester and demo before i commit. Important to match the speakers properly i think you will agree.
quadsugdenman
12-06-2010, 11:00
I would rather go to Leicester and demo before i commit. Important to match the speakers properly i think you will agree.

You are right Colin, I would speak to David Shaw and visit Leicester (Tricky to find, but ok to park). The capacitor change is expensive (£200) so value for money versus sound quality - jury is out!! I will purchase the Black Mamba next week but won't tell the wife cos I have just paid out for upgrading the Caiman too!!!:D
Rare Bird
18-06-2010, 10:20
Hi Barry

No it is the P51 which had the problem. The A51 was genuine Class A and could handle most loads, but the P51 were AB and did not handle the 57's impedence swings very well. The early one's especially.

Garry

Did you say you had the little Square 'T48' tuner? The 'DT48' was a beauty but mega rare these days..Standard 'T48 Mk.II' was nice tho
quadsugdenman
18-06-2010, 11:52
Hi Andre

Yes I had both at one point but sold them both. One was sold with the A48 on the avatar. The digital DT48 was OK, but as a tuner not as good as the R51 in sound quality but made enough on it to purchase the Aiwa 9700!!;)
I have only the R21 left of the Sugden tuners!!!

Garry
quadsugdenman
18-06-2010, 12:49
Lovely set up . Thanks for the pictures Garry. I think getting rid of the SA speaker cables is a good move though. Owned them once and didnt like them.

Hi Colin

The Sterling Black Mambas arrived two days ago and hey they did not like the terminals on the back of the Croft. It was like bending bricks to fit and I blew the fuses in the amplifier because of the cables touching when using the spades! Gone back to using the phonos supplied for both Croft and Harbeth binding posts. Initial listening has shown a lot more bass welly and depth of image from the Harbeths. Downside is that some of the treble detail has disappeared and that cymbals just crash and dont fizzz!!! However I will give an update after a few more days 'burn in'.

Garry