topoxforddoc
07-09-2010, 07:51
My apologies for not saying hello earlier.
Here's my potted history, which I posted on the 'where did it all start from..' thread on Blank canvas.
'My forays into hi-fi started in the 1978, when I started to listen in earnest to music regularly on my parents' Dynatron Radiogram. My Grandparents bought my parents a new system in 1979 (Technics SL-BD20 TT, SU7300 amp and Celestion 15XRs).
At that time, I started looking around at hi-fi more and ended up in a saturday job in my local hi-fi shop in Canterbury. There I was educated by my boss in the subtle vocabulary from Jewish communities in Boston and the East Coast - his name was Ken Kessler.
I took my wages in kit rather than cash and so I started the upgrade path - first up was a Thorens TD160B, with an old Hadcock 228 that had been sitting in the window unsold for years. Next was a Decca cartridge to replace the VMS20E and later the Decca was sent to the Garrott Brothers for one of their legendary rebuilds (I still have it and use it now).
From there, I was smitten by valves/tubes, turntables, Nakamichi and the such like (real surprise that when you work with KK). All Linn/Naim users were labelled as schmucks and that's how I still see it today. I ended up buying KK's Quad IIs (still in use after a rebuild by GT Audio in the 1990s) and then other stuff that customers brought in for PX, such as an original Logic DM101 (on which went an Audio Technica AT1100 and Micro Seiki LC80W - critics faves in the early 80s).
The TD160 was then sold and I migrated to my first TD124 in a SME plinth (with the Hadccock and Decca). This went and was replaced by another TD124 in a custom plinth, still with the Hadcock and Decca.
My valves went into hiding temporarily as I travelled around the country as a junior doctor every 6-12 months and so I diverged into a Meridian 101 and M3s (much easier to carry in the boot of my Fiat Uno). These were my regular fare until I became a consultant in the late 90s, when my Quads came out to play. My venerable TD124 was sold only 6 years ago when I got a great deal on a Platine Verdier, equipped with a Schroeder Model 2/Allaerts MC1B and yes, you've guessed my original Hadcock and Decca is now on it too. My Quads are still playing today, although the 22 has long gone and been replaced by a TRON pre-amp. The M3s went and in came a large pair of Avantgarde Duos. My vinyl collection has settled in a permanent home and my wet Moth RCM now allows me to re-acquaint myself with LPs from the golden age of vinyl.
Occasionally I take out my receipt from the Garrott Brothers with their comments on my Decca rebuild back in 1981 - it brings back many happy memories and also much sadness at their tragic passing.'
So what am I left with
Platine Verdier, GT Audio Battery PSU, Schroeder Model 2 with Allaerts MC1B & Hadcock 228 with Garrott Bros Decca Gold
TRON Meteor pre-amp
Quad IIs (GT Audio rebuilt)
Avantgarde Duos
Nakamichi Dragon
Revox G36 (two - 1 standard & 1 factory high speed)
Revox A77
Leak Troughline Stereo III (GT Audio rebuild)
Meridian 206B
Stirling Ls3/5a with Rogers AB1
2000+ LPs and most importantly my Moth RCM
Charlie
www.charlie-chan.co.uk
Here's my potted history, which I posted on the 'where did it all start from..' thread on Blank canvas.
'My forays into hi-fi started in the 1978, when I started to listen in earnest to music regularly on my parents' Dynatron Radiogram. My Grandparents bought my parents a new system in 1979 (Technics SL-BD20 TT, SU7300 amp and Celestion 15XRs).
At that time, I started looking around at hi-fi more and ended up in a saturday job in my local hi-fi shop in Canterbury. There I was educated by my boss in the subtle vocabulary from Jewish communities in Boston and the East Coast - his name was Ken Kessler.
I took my wages in kit rather than cash and so I started the upgrade path - first up was a Thorens TD160B, with an old Hadcock 228 that had been sitting in the window unsold for years. Next was a Decca cartridge to replace the VMS20E and later the Decca was sent to the Garrott Brothers for one of their legendary rebuilds (I still have it and use it now).
From there, I was smitten by valves/tubes, turntables, Nakamichi and the such like (real surprise that when you work with KK). All Linn/Naim users were labelled as schmucks and that's how I still see it today. I ended up buying KK's Quad IIs (still in use after a rebuild by GT Audio in the 1990s) and then other stuff that customers brought in for PX, such as an original Logic DM101 (on which went an Audio Technica AT1100 and Micro Seiki LC80W - critics faves in the early 80s).
The TD160 was then sold and I migrated to my first TD124 in a SME plinth (with the Hadccock and Decca). This went and was replaced by another TD124 in a custom plinth, still with the Hadcock and Decca.
My valves went into hiding temporarily as I travelled around the country as a junior doctor every 6-12 months and so I diverged into a Meridian 101 and M3s (much easier to carry in the boot of my Fiat Uno). These were my regular fare until I became a consultant in the late 90s, when my Quads came out to play. My venerable TD124 was sold only 6 years ago when I got a great deal on a Platine Verdier, equipped with a Schroeder Model 2/Allaerts MC1B and yes, you've guessed my original Hadcock and Decca is now on it too. My Quads are still playing today, although the 22 has long gone and been replaced by a TRON pre-amp. The M3s went and in came a large pair of Avantgarde Duos. My vinyl collection has settled in a permanent home and my wet Moth RCM now allows me to re-acquaint myself with LPs from the golden age of vinyl.
Occasionally I take out my receipt from the Garrott Brothers with their comments on my Decca rebuild back in 1981 - it brings back many happy memories and also much sadness at their tragic passing.'
So what am I left with
Platine Verdier, GT Audio Battery PSU, Schroeder Model 2 with Allaerts MC1B & Hadcock 228 with Garrott Bros Decca Gold
TRON Meteor pre-amp
Quad IIs (GT Audio rebuilt)
Avantgarde Duos
Nakamichi Dragon
Revox G36 (two - 1 standard & 1 factory high speed)
Revox A77
Leak Troughline Stereo III (GT Audio rebuild)
Meridian 206B
Stirling Ls3/5a with Rogers AB1
2000+ LPs and most importantly my Moth RCM
Charlie
www.charlie-chan.co.uk