Greetings from Oz-UK HIFI fan

[RockRolley]

Hi all,
Here I am in Sunny Australia. I somehow developed a love of vintage UK HIFI-I used to spend a lot of time on the road as a musician so never really put a decent HIFI system together, but in our lockdowns of 2020-21-which were extensive, I decided to hone in on my home HIFI experience. Very long story short, I fell in love with the KEF B139 driver which lead me to early Radford Studio speakers (probably only one of a few pairs in Australia), and Radford amps. This also broadened to IMF speakers (and some original KEF speakers). Most of this is rare in Australia, particularly the larger speakers, so I have had to wait (impatiently) to build my dream system. Getting pretty close.

[Barry]

Welcome to AoS Simon.

It's interesting to read of your interest in Radford gear and of transmission line speakers in general. Which Radford amplifier model do you use and what are your tastes in music?

Welcome again
Barry

[Macca]

Welcome! I would also like to see and read more about your Radford equipment.

[RockRolley]

Thanks for responding: Well, while I was waiting for the amp I really was focussed on to appear in the classifieds, STA25MK2, a solid state Radford setup became available (barely touched since purchased in the 70's), ZD22 preamp and ZD100 Poweramp as well as a matching pair of speakers-can't recall model off top of head-Monitor 180 or similar and I drove interstate-which means a day's travel each way in Aus, to pick them up. next up some Radford Renaissance MA50 mono blocks came up, which I got. In the meantime, I got the Radford Studio speakers-similar to the IMF TLS80-but made first! 4 way transmission line. Lets pause here to say I've certainly overdone it... Then an STA15 with matching SC22P preamp found my attention and I got that pair-this is all over a few years-and eventually got an STA25MK2. After waiting for years for 4 way IMFs to become available, I managed to secure a pair of IMF RSPM MK4. I am desperately in love with these. I also some time later got TLS80MK2, but these need some driver or crossover work and haven't heard them yet. Also some smaller IMFs-SC and SCMK2-both these need some work too. Let me pause here to say in terms of original KEF, the Cresta-original ones are absolutely brilliant.

[RockRolley]

OH, and music wise. I'm a guitarist, so tends to be mainly guitar based, predominantly 60's through 80's. Beatles, Beach Boys, Hendrix, Floyd, Robin Trower, Taste, Small Faces. I grew up in the 80's, and where as I don't listen too as much metal now, love Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne, Kiss... Also throw in some jazz-Miles, Sammy Davis Jr-depending who he is collaborating with, Belafonte', this list goes on-Oh, Dire Straits, The Boss....

[Macca]

Okay, so a lot of Radford equipment then :)

[RockRolley]

Yep…

[Barry]

Of the two valve amplifiers: STA15 (Mk. ?) and STA25 Mk.III, which do you prefer? And what output valves do you have in each?

[RockRolley]

I think both are MK3... not at home right now so can't check that or the tubes. Well, a lot of people had said they prefer the STA15 as it is tube rectified, and I'm normally a complete tube nerd and err towards that, however, the STA25, they just got the rectification right-I ADORE the STA25's liquid bass. Sublime. I do love the STA15, and I've never A/B'd the two amps and I also have never rolled the tubes so I won't say which yet. I love both, hence haven't been able to sell one... If I had a free afternoon, I'd love to A/B them, but with a toddler its unlikely right now. I'll advise on tubes later. Do you have a Radford?

[Barry]

I think both are MK3... not at home right now so can't check that or the tubes. Well, a lot of people had said they prefer the STA15 as it is tube rectified, and I'm normally a complete tube nerd and err towards that, however, the STA25, they just got the rectification right-I ADORE the STA25's liquid bass. Sublime. I do love the STA15, and I've never A/B'd the two amps and I also have never rolled the tubes so I won't say which yet. I love both, hence haven't been able to sell one... If I had a free afternoon, I'd love to A/B them, but with a toddler its unlikely right now. I'll advise on tubes later. Do you have a Radford?
Yes, I have an STA15 MK.III used with the original Quad electrostatics which only need 15W for full output.

The output valves are Mullard EL34s, but I have heard that KT77s are an interesting alternative.