Hello to all, I am a hifi addict.

[wzevon1951]

Hi there, I will give myself a brief introduction:

I have been collecting Hifi since the early seventies, I still have the first Dual 1219 I bought in 1972! Only really could afford reasonably ordinary hifis until the '90's but then got the collecting bug big time. Particularly vintage English and Japanese stuff. Chartwell loudspeakers- not LS35/a's- and early mechanical Dual decks are a particular interest. I bought my first pair of Chartwell PM400's in the seventies, and have been collecting Chartwell's ever since.
I listen to CD's but high end vintage decks are a preoccupation. I've used my woodworking skills to create new oak plinths for Thorens decks, and have modified a pair of Quad electrostatic loudspeakers (serviced in Huntingdon) so that they can be used in my very cosy workshop.
I also modified a pair of JR149's so that they were held in a plywood press...it had always struck me that their weakness was the wooden circular end caps held together with a tensioned metal brace down the middle.
During lockdown, I embarked on a slightly obsessive production line of SME 3009's (not improved!), including one 3012, that are now partnered with (mainly) the Thorens's in the new plinths, a very satisfying marriage. Oh and I created my first homemade Sondek from Linn parts....the second Sondek will appear over the coming year, God willing. That build started as a casual enquiry to myself about the mystique of the Sondek, vis a vis other suspended chassis turntables..Thorens obviously and my lone Ariston.
I am now in my mid seventies, and am burdened with failing hearing. But the love of the gadgets stays with me. And as someone wrote about McIntosh gear, it always sounds better with a big V/U meter flickering away. I might add a nicely made teak cabinet makes the machinery sound superb.
I have spent the last few years equipping friends and family with retro hi fi outfits, and have responded to domestic pressure (!) to thin out some of the bigger loudspeakers by giving some away. By doing that I think I give away the gift of listening to great music on decent sounding gear.
Sorry this has gone on a bit, perhaps I should try to get out more..

[Macca]

Great introduction, Terry, welcome to the forum.

[Jimbo]

Nice introduction and great to hear a quick tour of your equipment since 1972!

You had some great stuff and some of it is still highly regarded today.

Welcome

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Terry.

Sounds like you are about the same age as me. Agree with you about the Quad 57s (I have used a pair for the last 50 years) and Thorens decks. However I dislike VU meters on amplifiers (they are distracting and serve no purpose at all), and having lived with a Linn Sondek LP12 for a year, could never see what the fuss was about. We also have a shared interest in SME arms.

You have told us about the equipment you use , but what are your tastes in music?

Welcome again
Barry

[Wakefield Turntables]

Welcome Terry, I hope you find this place welcoming and you make many friends!

[wzevon1951]

Thank you all for the warm welcome.

Faded hippy here, Im afraid. Born in '51 i could be a hippy and then a punk. Mainly I listen to classical music, first love. But serious rock music too, Joni, Neil, the usual guys. Richard Thompson, Nick Cave, Ryan Adams, Shostakovitch. I'm very happy to have finally enrolled with the Art of Sound. I think being a hifi person makes you a bit introspective, as I say I should get out more. But I look forward to productive and good natured exchanges under this banner.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Hi Terry,

Fellow classical music fan here altough not really sure I know that much about it! I mainly just buy 2nd hand LP's as they are cheap, plentiful and can always be re-donated at the charity shops. I'm always on the look out for DECCA's especially cheapy SXL's!

[Barry]

Delighted to have another lover of Classical music here, sadly we're a bit thin on the ground at the moment, so we would love to hear what you are listening to and what you might recommend.

Regarding the other artists you mention, no complaints there; pleased to see someone else who likes Ryan Adams. :)

[Puffin]

Welcome Terry. So which iof the big speakers do you still have and are using with your kit?

[Alex_UK]

Welcome from me too, Terry, hope you enjoy the forum.

[wzevon1951]

Thanks for the warm welcomes to the forum.
I have 2 hifi set ups in my workshop, big and little.
The big one currently has 3 speakers connected, NS1000m's for reference, Radford B/N 180/50's, and a pair IMF Transmission lines.The Radfords are a big rediscovery for me, quite dry sound, but very accurate. Lovely mid range....it should be, with all those mid and top range units! A pair of Chartwell PM400's are always near to hand, lovely sound.
Currently using my first foray into Americana, a McIntosh 2205/C32. Lovely rare Revox CD player, the C221, and am also using a very impressive multi CD changer, the Nakamichi MB3A. I'm sure it will break down soon, but so far so good. Ive got a Yamaha CT7000, plugged in at the moment, that is moving out for a Sansui TU9090 soon. Deck is a 401 refurbed and repainted by the Classic Turntable company, SME 3012, and just received a Nagaoka 200 from Japan....very excited about that. 401 is in a suberb solid plinth made by Carl Ellis in Manchester, an unsung hero of Hifi IMO.

The small one, is on my work bench, so is kind of a reference system used endlessly for testing and auditioning new pieces. Small too, so it is kind of suspended over my work area. Quad 306/44 and a delightfully reliable battered pair of B&W DM5's. Musical, accurate, and full sounding, undoubtedly (IMHO) an unheralded classic. Blows the occasional fuse when setting up a new howling TT, but a pleasure to use. And an early Marantz CD player from the '80's the 273 (Special edition!!!!) first Cd player I ever bought; it has daily use and has never let me down!!
I don't buy modern stuff, I probably couldn't afford it anyway, and the above list is almost totally from the 80's or earlier. I'm happy with this historically orientated collection.
I hate arrogance, and will never indulge myself in some of the arrogance that I see in some Hifi circles. It is a collection, and it is there purely for the better appreciation of great music. But i do love gadgets!!

[Barry]

Some more "droolable" items you have there, Terry.

I am pleased to see someone else using a Revox C221 CD player as well as a 401/SME 3012 combination.

But what has happened to the Quad 57s you said you were using in your workshop? They are far too good for a workshop; unless that is, your partner objects to their looks and need for careful positioning.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Well I use a 301/3012 combo and a 401/SME V-12 combo. The 301/3012 gets more airtime. ;)

[wzevon1951]

I bought the Quad electrostatics the day before lockdown. innocently thought I'd service them, then realised ...especially with all the high voltage involved, that Quad would have to have the trade. When I eventually got them back 6 months later, I realized their uncanny resemblance to doors...I faced the option of flogging them, or storing them in the loft. The house was never an option!! So inspired by some pictures of them stacked one above the other, I realized that with some canny design originality, I could build a new frame, and keep them in my workshop. They are detachable, so they can become 2 identically mounted frames, on castors, but stacked in storage, they come to about 6 foot high with a small footprint. I have chains on them and "belay" them onto the ceiling for safety ! Sounds wacky but it means I can keep them and roll them out when I fancy a blast. A friend comes round every few months and we sit and stare at them in disbelief! Shame about the stereo imagery, I usually don a Phil Spector "back to mono badge"and swallow my pride. If we have a summer, I might roll them outside and have a party.
I have always yearned for a 301, but its out of the question now. The 401 style has grown on me, the paint job makes it more attractive. But...a confession .. Its never been my favourite deck. Never loved it. It sounds ok, it has lost its rumble after the refurb, but it represents asizeable investment now so I'm kind of committed to getting value out of it. I admire it, but can't love it.

[Gazjam]

Hi Terry,
great intro post, like the cut of your Jib.

Enjoy every Sandwich here man, it’s a good place to hang out.

[mayebaza]

Hi Terry, I like your style Sir, welcome ����