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Marco
25-01-2011, 18:56
Check it out:

http://www.jupiteraudio.com/inquiry.html

Aside from the wonderful Garrards, etc, check out these amazing Telefunken speakers with built-in amps:

http://www.jupiteraudio.com/9002/index.html

:stalks: :eek: :wow:

I really must visit Japan sometime!

Marco.

Barry
25-01-2011, 19:28
Check it out:

http://www.jupiteraudio.com/inquiry.html

Aside from the wonderful Garrards, etc, check out these amazing Telefunken speakers with built-in amps:

http://www.jupiteraudio.com/9002/index.html

:stalks: :eek: :wow:

I really must visit Japan sometime!

Marco.

Now Marco,

One of the rules of AoS is: 'no porn, or links to porn'! :eyebrows: That shop contains some of the most penile tumescence-creating goodies imaginable. :eek:

Just look at all those Garrards, Thorens and Quads. And can you see the size of some of those corner Tannoys? - hell, you could almost live inside them.

Regards

Marco
25-01-2011, 19:31
I know, I know, it's not good for a chap's constitution....after 'touring' the shop's contents, I needed a lie down and two glasses of Pomerol to recover!!

Marco.

Ali Tait
25-01-2011, 19:40
You can just imagine the prices...

Marco
25-01-2011, 19:43
Prices in Yen are on most of the items, dude :)

Marco.

Spectral Morn
25-01-2011, 19:48
Wow indeed :)

That's where all our classic S/H audio is going, via ebay etc, there and China.


Regards D S D L

Marco
25-01-2011, 20:11
Indeed... Anyone fancy hiring a van and going to Japan? Should an interesting 'jolly' for the lads! :eyebrows:

Marco.

Jonboy
25-01-2011, 20:19
Indeed... Anyone fancy hiring a van and going to Japan? Should an interesting 'jolly' for the lads! :eyebrows:

Marco.

Judging buy the prices they pay for stuff over here i think you will need very very deep pockets

John
25-01-2011, 20:40
Woww nice stuff

Marco
25-01-2011, 20:47
Judging buy the prices they pay for stuff over here i think you will need very very deep pockets

Perhaps not stuff in that shop, but you'd be surprised at how many bargains there are out there, particularly in MC cartridges - if I went, I'd be filling a few suitcases! ;)

Marco.

BTH K10A
25-01-2011, 20:54
Check it out:

Aside from the wonderful Garrards, etc, check out these amazing Telefunken speakers with built-in amps:

http://www.jupiteraudio.com/9002/index.html

:stalks: :eek: :wow:

I really must visit Japan sometime!

Marco.

I used to have a pair of the amps, Telefunken V69b. Not bad but not as good as the earlier V69a.

When I picked up the V69b's in Germany the owner demonstarted his V69a's against Marantz 9,s. The source was a Studer A730 and speakers were Tannoy GRF's. The Telefunkens were better all round.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/104-0475_IMG-1.jpg

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/104-0476_IMG.jpg

Techno Commander
25-01-2011, 21:34
Although not quite in the same league as marcos shop, this places has a lot of vintage equipment on offer. They also have prices in euros and ship internationally. :)

Hi Fi Do (http://www.hifido.co.jp/KW/G/P0/A10/E/0-10/S0/)

BTH K10A
25-01-2011, 21:57
Although not quite in the same league as marcos shop, this places has a lot of vintage equipment on offer. They also have prices in euros and ship internationally. :)

Hi Fi Do (http://www.hifido.co.jp/KW/G/P0/A10/E/0-10/S0/)

I can thoroughly recommend hifido. I have purchased from them in the past and the experience is always good.

Techno Commander
25-01-2011, 21:58
Thats always good to know.

Clive
25-01-2011, 22:28
I was fortunate enough to visit Tokyo on business a few years ago. I wandered around Akihabara in a daze. Imagine a really good curry (not necessarily hot), it's assaults all your tastebuds from every direction. Akiharbara was like that. Totally stunning, ok lots of hi-tech new stuff, but loads of valves, speakers and decks to blow your mind. Amazing demos in huge rooms full of completely exotic kit.

MartinT
25-01-2011, 22:38
Check it out

I spot a JBL Paragon. Lust!

Is it in the Akihabara district or somewhere else? I can't read the bloody address!

Clive
25-01-2011, 22:41
Doesn't look like it:

Sagamihara Sagamihara, Kanagawa 6-24-3, Chuo-ku
Jupiter Building
  
12 minutes walk from south exit of JR Yokohama Line Sagamihara station

BTH K10A
25-01-2011, 22:56
I spot a JBL Paragon. Lust!



This guy had a Paragon amongst other things in his recent auction.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showpost.php?p=180976&postcount=1378

MartinT
25-01-2011, 23:14
This guy had a Paragon amongst other things in his recent auction.

But . . . he's got *things* on it!

BTH K10A
25-01-2011, 23:20
But . . . he's got *things* on it!

Naturally, to get it into the house he told his wife it was the new sideboard

BTH K10A
25-01-2011, 23:27
Not for sale and it's likely you've seen it before but this is one on the most amazing collections of vintage hifi anywhere. Browse room by room.

Good reference material too.

http://www.gokudo.co.jp/Vanguard/room1/room1.htm

Barry
26-01-2011, 00:37
Not for sale and it's likely you've seen it before but this is one on the most amazing collections of vintage hifi anywhere. Browse room by room.

Good reference material too.

http://www.gokudo.co.jp/Vanguard/room1/room1.htm

What an incredible collection of ancient equipment. Obviously the man is not married! :eek:

No doubt it sounded amazing in 1930, but I'd imagine it sounds hopelessly coloured now. Fancy using a record cutting lathe as a turntable! :doh:

Seriously, the only items that interest me and that I covet are: the Nagra 4.2 reel to reel; the wonderful collection of Ortofon/EMT cartridges and possibly the Mimisis amplifiers.

Sorry

BTH K10A
26-01-2011, 06:48
What an incredible collection of ancient equipment. Obviously the man is not married! :eek:

No doubt it sounded amazing in 1930, but I'd imagine it sounds hopelessly coloured now. Fancy using a record cutting lathe as a turntable! :doh:

Seriously, the only items that interest me and that I covet are: the Nagra 4.2 reel to reel; the wonderful collection of Ortofon/EMT cartridges and possibly the Mimisis amplifiers.

Sorry

Don't fudge an old book by it's cover. Granted some of the old 78 equipment may not be up to todays standards but most of the eqipment would show a clean pair of heels to the majority of hifi produced today.

A large ammount of the collection is kit built for cinema and recording studio use and were built without cost constraints. You would be amazed how uncoloured a large vintage cinema horn system is. The only area where the old kit may not match todays standards is in the HF response. Most of the old stuff never went above 16-17kHz. Then again most of us probably can't hear much above that anyway.

The neumann cutting lathe is a not the cheapest way to play vinyl but considering considering it's direct drive and most of the classic recorings were cut on one its specs must be good. Incidently the motor in these was made by Lyrec and the collection has a Lyrec AG40-2, thats the one that looks similar to an EMT 927F. It uses the same motor as the lathe and is direct drive. In later years some of these lathes were converted to use the Technics SP10 Mk 3 motor.
He also has a few Neumann tonearms and cartridges that were contemporary with the Ortofon cartridges that are novel in their design.

Marco
26-01-2011, 11:10
Bazza, old chap, soz, but you're showing your ignorance (or perhaps, bias?)....

I have to agree here with Andy:


You would be amazed how uncoloured a large vintage cinema horn system is.


Indeed - Altec 'Voice of the Theatre' stuff rules! It sounds freaking amazing :eek:

I just love horns, done well, as they have a realism and dynamic impact completely lacking in 'conventional' speakers. I mean, you've gotta lurve this:


http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7131/audio20177edited1.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/audio20177edited1.jpg/)

I can just imagine how AWESOME that must sound on the end of a top-notch system! :eek:

And of course, everyone's lounge should look something like this:


http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4526/hayashi200872.jpg (http://img411.imageshack.us/i/hayashi200872.jpg/)


:lol: :respect:

Like Andy says, apart from the old 78 stuff, most of the gear that guy has would sonically piss all over much of the equipment made today!

Marco.

P.S Oh, and check out his music collection!! This dude's not just a vintage hi-fi freak..... ;)

BTH K10A
26-01-2011, 20:10
And of course, everyone's lounge should look something like this:

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4526/hayashi200872.jpg (http://img411.imageshack.us/i/hayashi200872.jpg/)



There's so much to see on that site it's like visual overload. I hadn't really noticed those amps in the pic. Obviously new build but looks like single ended WE 212 or STC 4212 driven by a WE 205D. Voltages to fry an elephant on the anode of that 212 and supposedly can put out 90 watts single ended.

Marco, at one time my lounge/music room did look like that.:)
No cutting lathe but plenty of Klangfilm, Telefunken and british valve amps plus cinema horns and drivers (BTH, Vitavox, BAF etc), 3 pairs of big JBL's and quite a few EMT's and Garrards. Fortunately we have another two lounges and a dining room so the wife was ok with it.

Marco
26-01-2011, 20:58
Hi Andy,

I know, that's what you call a valve!! :stalks: :eek:

I'd love to hear those amps, with some Klangflims, Westrex or Altecs on the end!!


Marco, at one time my lounge/music room did look like that.
No cutting lathe but plenty of Klangfilm, Telefunken and british valve amps plus cinema horns and drivers (BTH, Vitavox, BAF etc), 3 pairs of big JBL's and quite a few EMT's and Garrards. Fortunately we have another two lounges and a dining room so the wife was ok with it.


Hehehe... Respect! You really do need a dedicated listening room to be able to build a proper system, unless you live alone.

What you mention is proper hi-fi equipment that most people these days wouldn’t have a clue of its capabilities, produced in an era when there was genuine innovation in audio. The cinema horns, in particular, are just awesome things.

If anyone wants to hear the closest thing to live music in their room, those are the babies to use! :gig:

Marco.

Jonboy
26-01-2011, 21:03
Not for sale and it's likely you've seen it before but this is one on the most amazing collections of vintage hifi anywhere. Browse room by room.

Good reference material too.

http://www.gokudo.co.jp/Vanguard/room1/room1.htm

As you say Some amazing stuff there

Reid Malenfant
26-01-2011, 21:06
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7131/audio20177edited1.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/audio20177edited1.jpg/)
Jeez those Avantgarde Trios are enormous :stalks:

I'd love to hear a pair :eyebrows: 10W of class A should knock your socks off :cool:

BTH K10A
26-01-2011, 22:19
The cinema horns, in particular, are just awesome things.
If anyone wants to hear the closest thing to live music in their room, those are the babies to use! :gig:
Marco.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/BTHHorn3-1.jpg

Only ever had the one of these but with a pair of 18" vintage dual concentrics (effectively permanent magnet WE 4181's with a horn centre) in a makeshift front loaded horn and wired up to use the bass cones only and driven by a Decca PAVI Px4 amp the result was astonishing. Obviously mono only but with great depth, height and body. Too big and bulky to live with though.
:popcorn:

Marco
26-01-2011, 22:27
Lol - Andy, that's just outrageous, but I love it! :eyebrows:

Is that your room? If so, very nice it is, with a superb collection of vinyl :)

Marco.

Spectral Morn
26-01-2011, 22:30
Bazza, old chap, soz, but you're showing your ignorance (or perhaps, bias?)....

I have to agree here with Andy:



Indeed - Altec 'Voice of the Theatre' stuff rules! It sounds freaking amazing :eek:

I just love horns, done well, as they have a realism and dynamic impact completely lacking in 'conventional' speakers. I mean, you've gotta lurve this:


http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7131/audio20177edited1.jpg (http://img135.imageshack.us/i/audio20177edited1.jpg/)

I can just imagine how AWESOME that must sound on the end of a top-notch system! :eek:

And of course, everyone's lounge should look something like this:


http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/4526/hayashi200872.jpg (http://img411.imageshack.us/i/hayashi200872.jpg/)


:lol: :respect:

Like Andy says, apart from the old 78 stuff, most of the gear that guy has would sonically piss all over much of the equipment made today!

Marco.

P.S Oh, and check out his music collection!! This dude's not just a vintage hi-fi freak..... ;)


Very Steam Punk :)


I likes it....

Regards D S D L

Tarzan
26-01-2011, 22:49
Wow! What a mental shop:stalks:

BTH K10A
26-01-2011, 23:04
Lol -
Is that your room? If so, very nice it is, with a superb collection of vinyl :)
Marco.

Yes, It's about 14'6" by 17'6" with 10'6" ceiling height and solely for my hifi.

The pic was taken about 6 years ago, it currently looks like this

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0807.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0809.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0813.jpg

Records are mainly classical early stereo and mono and had the unit built by a local joiner.

Reid Malenfant
26-01-2011, 23:09
Yes, It's about 14'6" by 17'6" with 10'6" ceiling height and solely for my hifi.

The pic was taken about 6 yaers ago, it currently looks like this

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0807.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0809.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_0813.jpg

Records are mainly classical early stereo and mono and had the unit built by a local joiner.
That is a serious amount of music :eek: Only thing i recognise are the MF superchargers, me thinks volume is no problem :eyebrows:

Barry
27-01-2011, 00:32
Don't judge an old book by it's cover. Granted some of the old 78 equipment may not be up to todays standards but most of the eqipment would show a clean pair of heels to the majority of hifi produced today.

A large amount of the collection is kit built for cinema and recording studio use and were built without cost constraints. You would be amazed how uncoloured a large vintage cinema horn system is. The only area where the old kit may not match todays standards is in the HF response. Most of the old stuff never went above 16-17kHz. Then again most of us probably can't hear much above that anyway.

The neumann cutting lathe is a not the cheapest way to play vinyl but considering considering it's direct drive and most of the classic recorings were cut on one its specs must be good. Incidently the motor in these was made by Lyrec and the collection has a Lyrec AG40-2, that's the one that looks similar to an EMT 927F. It uses the same motor as the lathe and is direct drive. In later years some of these lathes were converted to use the Technics SP10 Mk 3 motor.
He also has a few Neumann tonearms and cartridges that were contemporary with the Ortofon cartridges that are novel in their design.

I thought my post might cause a bit of a stir! ;)

Yes Marco, I am biased when it comes to horn loudspeakers -for good reason. Whilst they have efficiency and good transient attack, they are coloured. Most of the vintage horn speakers featured in the collection were designed for cinema use in the '30s. If you go to the cinema on a regular basis and actually listen to the sound reproduction, you will be appalled at the poor quality: speech is coloured and does not sound at all realistic; bass is boomy. However most attendees will not notice, as their attention is directed towards the visuals on the screen.

Large horn systems are still in use today as they are efficient. It lakes a lot of (expensive) power to produce the sometimes high sound level in an auditorium full of a lot of sound absorbing bodies in plus surroundings. Volume and lack of noise are really the only concerns of cinema audio equipment.

Horn speakers make a big sound and are 'impressive', but this has nothing to do with fidelity; they are rarely, if ever, used as quality monitors in studios or in record pressing plants.

My coments on the use of a record cutting lathe as a turntable were due to the fact that lathes do not have especially good rumble figures. The platter on most weight in at 60Kg and this puts an enormous loading on, and wear of the bearing. In general cutting lathes have more rumble than good turntables and much of the rumble present on a vinyl recording is due to cutter itself. The Danish Lyrec motors used by Neumann were not especially good regarding wow and flutter and were later replaced by Panasonic (Technics) SP-02 quartz controlled motors to improve this.

Regards

MartinT
27-01-2011, 07:05
Only thing i recognise are the MF superchargers, me thinks volume is no problem :eyebrows:

Not driving those JBLs, it wouldn't be!

Marco
27-01-2011, 09:50
Hi Barry,


I thought my post might cause a bit of a stir! ;)

Yes Marco, I am biased when it comes to horn loudspeakers -for good reason. Whilst they have efficiency and good transient attack, they are coloured. Most of the vintage horn speakers featured in the collection were designed for cinema use in the '30s. If you go to the cinema on a regular basis and actually listen to the sound reproduction, you will be appalled at the poor quality: speech is coloured and does not sound at all realistic; bass is boomy. However most attendees will not notice, as their attention is directed towards the visuals on the screen.

Large horn systems are still in use today as they are efficient. It lakes a lot of (expensive) power to produce the sometimes high sound level in an auditorium full of a lot of sound absorbing bodies in plus surroundings. Volume and lack of noise are really the only concerns of cinema audio equipment.

Horn speakers make a big sound and are 'impressive', but this has nothing to do with fidelity; they are rarely, if ever, used as quality monitors in studios or in record pressing plants.


Lol!

Whilst all of what you say is valid, you're making the fatal mistake of judging the speakers themselves solely in the environment they were originally used, and perhaps worst of all, not considering how much different they would sound on the end of top-notch source equipment and amplification (it would have to involve the use of valves, as valves and horns, sonically, have a symbiotic relationship), not to mention in domestic setting.

Trust me, I've heard the likes of Altec and Vitavox horns in a domestic environment, on the end of a top-notch valve-based system, and they sound utterly stunning, reproducing music with such spine-tingling realism that it almost takes your breath away! :)

As for coloration, yes of course there is *some* coloration, just as there is with ALL loudspeakers, but to my ears, whatever coloration exists in certain areas of the frequency range, is totally outweighed by how right they sound when reproducing acoustic instruments, in particular, trumpets, saxophone and piano.

Listening to a jazz orchestra, for example, through big horns, is scarily real - the sheer dynamic impact and transient attack they produce when reproducing real instruments makes you wince, which is exactly what would happen if you were sitting in front of the musicians, live! No other speakers I've heard can do this.

Don't forget, too, that my Tannoys have horn-loaded tweeters, which is one of the reasons why they sound so open, 'alive' and musically insightful, and also have such impressive dynamic range.

Returning to the issue of coloration, you're not suggesting that your old Quad 57s aren't equally as coloured, but simply in a different way? ;)

With speakers, at the end of the day, all we're doing is choosing our favoured brand of coloration. That is an undisputable fact.

Therefore, in that respect, I can forgive horns (done well) for their 'sonic signature'/ brand of coloration, when set up properly in the right room, on the end of a top-notch system, to obtain their, quite frankly, astonishing sonic attributes in other areas.

Of course, YMMV, and that of course is the fun of discussions such as this! :cool:

Marco.

Barry
27-01-2011, 19:37
Hi Marco,

Thanks for your reply. The points you raise in reply, had been anticipated, raise important issues and deserve a considered response.


Whilst all of what you say is valid, you're making the fatal mistake of judging the speakers themselves solely in the environment they were originally used, and perhaps worst of all, not considering how much different they would sound on the end of top-notch source equipment and amplification (it would have to involve the use of valves, as valves and horns, sonically, have a symbiotic relationship), not to mention in domestic setting.

First of all we have to separate my comments on horn speakers into two parts: those designed for cinema use but are used in a domestic setting, and those designed solely for use in a domestic environment.

The speakers forming the majority of the Japanese collection are ‘30s designs intended for use in a large auditorium (a cinema). The horn loading of acoustic transducers has been around for ages; witness the use of the simple conical megaphone, the use of a horn on acoustic gramophones, and even the placing of a cupped pair of hands to project the voice. I don’t want to go too much into acoustic theory as to why horn loading produces amplification, save to say that part of it is due to the concentration of acoustic energy into a narrow cone, rather than being spread out over a hemisphere. Part of it is also due to the horn acting as transformer, matching the high acoustic impedance of the transducer itself to the relatively low impedance of the air. To achieve the latter, the shape of the horn is important and if the correct shape is chosen the transformer is perfect, provided the horn is not folded, and is not terminated. Folding the horn introduces distortions, as the wave front cannot turn corners without phase distortion occurring. To minimise this, the horn has to be curved with a radius of curvature that is large compared with the acoustic wavelength (for example at 1KHz the wavelength in air is about a foot); folded horns are thus bulky. Another source of distortion or colouration comes from the horn itself being less than perfectly rigid, and despite their massive construction cinema horns were, owing to the limited choice of materials available, less than rigid.

All this was known in the ‘30s, however such was the low sensitivity of the, then, moving coil drive units that horn loading was the only option. Given the limited power output of amplifiers to drive the speakers, it was Hobson’s choice. Only when speaker magnets had improved so that permanent magnets could be usefully employed, could other forms of loading such as the open baffle and infinite baffle be considered. For all their faults cinema speakers worked because cinema-goers would be concentrating on looking at the screen, and anyway the sound reproduction chain had more than enough faults of its own (poor signal to noise and its own distortions) that need attention before worrying about improving the speakers.

When these vintage speakers are used in a domestic environment, another set of problems arise: namely the comparatively small volume of the listening room compared to the large auditorium of a cinema. All in all, these speakers should be regarded as vintage designs with all the shortcomings that that implies; they cannot compete with modern designs, but they will of course be much, much better than a mini system using speakers no larger than a loaf of bread.

Modern horn speakers are much better than vintage designs, partly through the use of modern materials that have a high stiffness to weight ratio (that is, are rigid) and partly through the better termination at the end of the horn. As I mentioned the horn cannot go on forever, it has to be terminated. The design of the termination is very important if the edges of the horn are not to be sources of secondary radiation causing phase anomalies. And of course the best designs are unfolded. They are designed for domestic use.


Trust me, I've heard the likes of Altec and Vitavox horns in a domestic environment, on the end of a top-notch valve-based system, and they sound utterly stunning, reproducing music with such spine-tingling realism that it almost takes your breath away!

Whilst I haven’t heard these speakers (and would prefer Altec Lansing designs to those of J. B. Lansing; the two companies are no longer related), I have heard and continue to be able to listen to horn loaded speakers. I lived for about a year with a pair of Lowther Acoustas in the early days, and I now have regular exposure to a pair of Impulse H2 horns (driven by a valve amplifier). Yes, they have a life, immediacy, and very good transients and can be played loud, imparting a good sense of dynamics. But they are not the most neutral of designs.


As for coloration, yes of course there is *some* coloration, just as there is with ALL loudspeakers, but to my ears, whatever coloration exists in certain areas of the frequency range, is totally outweighed by how right they sound when reproducing acoustic instruments, in particular, trumpets, saxophone and piano.

Listening to a jazz orchestra, for example, through big horns, is scarily real - the sheer dynamic impact and transient attack they produce when reproducing real instruments makes you wince, which is exactly what would happen if you were sitting in front of the musicians, live! No other speakers I've heard can do this.

Agreed – in part. Owing to their very good transient response, percussive instruments, such as piano and harpsichord, do sound good. I’m not quite so sure about wind and reed instruments, nor that most important of sounds – the human voice. And being efficient do create a good sense of dynamics.


Don't forget, too, that my Tannoys have horn-loaded tweeters, which is one of the reasons why they sound so open, 'alive' and musically insightful, and also have such impressive dynamic range.

The use of horn loading for transducers works better with tweeters than with transducers operating at lower frequencies. The horn can be shorter, made rigid and needn’t be folded. In the case of your Tannoy Dual Concentrics, it’s a case of ‘needs must’. The cone of the main drive unit forms the horn for the tweeter. (Incidentally, Lansing owns the patent for the dual concentric design.) If you look you will see cone is shaped or flared rather like a trumpet bell rather than being a simple cone shape. When the tweeter is to be located within the magnet of the main driver, then horn loading is best way of coupling this to the outside world, whilst maintaining the correct acoustic centre.


Returning to the issue of coloration, you're not suggesting that your old Quad 57s aren't equally as coloured, but simply in a different way?

Yes I am, not that the ‘57s are completely free of colourations; they’re not – there is some colouration in the upper mid/lower treble, sometimes referred to as a ‘plastic’ sounding colouration. However when they were introduced in 1955, they shocked the loudspeaker community, manufacturers especially due to their almost complete lack of colouration. They were immediately recognised and adopted by professional bodies, such as the BBC and Philips records for studio use. Despite their other shortcomings, and there are many, they are still one of the least coloured speakers available, thought the gap is closing all the time (the Quad 2905s in particular). My friend who uses the Impulse H2 horns acknowledges that whilst my Quads do not have the bass extension or weight of his horns, they have greater clarity and better sound staging. You won’t find horn loaded speakers used in studios, or used in quality control suites.


With speakers, at the end of the day, all we're doing is choosing our favoured brand of coloration. That is an undisputable fact.

Agreed, though I would put it down to choosing or maximising those aspects of sound reproduction that are important to you. Clearly there are fans of horn speakers, for all their (or rather my perceived) failings, just as there are fans of SET amplifiers. In fact the decision between choosing a component that ‘sounds better’, despite clearly heard shortcomings, over one that is technically better, but ‘sounds worse’, was brought out in my comparison of the Decca Blue with the Sumiko Blue Point. (Incidentally you said you would respond to some of the points I made in that comparison.)

No, nothing is perfect – we have to make the choices that work for us. I just don’t like horn-loaded speakers; though will admit that a couple of designs heard recently at Whittlebury have caused me to re-assess my prejudices.

Regards

Marco
27-01-2011, 20:10
Barry, old chap, I think we should just agree to disagree, as we're poles apart on this.

I know what I've heard in respect to vintage horn speakers and how realistic they can sound when reproducing recorded music; and I'm sorry, no amount of technical theory to the contrary is going to change my opinion ;)

As for Quad 57s, I like them - the best ones I heard were a stacked pair my friend had, and they were good, but coloured they were in their own way, definitely not it the midrange, where they were quite sublime (and yes blissfully uncoloured), but they badly lacked extension at the frequency extremes, and also couldn't be played terribly loud on occasions when one wishes to convey, as far as possible, the scale and intensity of live music: fatal limitations in my book.

As I adore the shocking, almost piercing dynamics of horns, and how they to my ears reproduce, for example, trumpet and sax so very accurately, I'm afraid that I couldn't cope with the rather veiled top-end of the Quads in comparison. And so, in that respect, I could more likely live with a huge pair of Altec horns (if I had the room), than a pair of Quads, which I guess gets us back again to the choosing of our own favoured brand of coloration, which although you may disagree, is the crux of the matter here :)

Marco.

Barry
27-01-2011, 20:31
Barry, old chap, I think we should just agree to disagree, as we're poles apart on this.

I know what I've heard in respect to vintage horn speakers and how realistic they can sound when reproducing recorded music; and I'm sorry, no amount of technical theory to the contrary is going to change my opinion ;)

As for Quad 57s, I like them - the best ones I heard were a stacked pair my friend had, and they were good, but coloured they were in their own way, definitely not it the midrange, where they were quite sublime (and yes blissfully uncoloured), but they badly lacked extension at the frequency extremes, and also couldn't be played terribly loud, on occasions when one wishes to convey, as far as possible, the scale and intensity of live music: fatal limitations in my book.

As I adore the shocking, almost piercing dynamics of horns, and how they in my opinion reproduce, for example, trumpet and sax so very accurately, I'm afraid that I couldn't cope with the rather veiled top-end of the Quads in comparison. And so, in that respect, I could more likely live with a huge pair of Altec horns (if I had the room), than a pair of Quads, which I guess gets us back again to the choosing of our own favoured brand of coloration, which although you may disagree, is the crux of the matter here :)

Marco.

Fair enough - if we all liked the same thing, what a boring old world it would be.

As I said, I'm prepared to live with the shortcomings of my speakers for what they do well, clearly and understandably you cannot. Though I wouldn't want "the shocking almost piercing dynamics of horns", in fact I dislike any audio system that is forward or 'in your face'. When attending any live concert, I like to sit a reasonable way back from the stage, the only exception being folk concerts.

When it come to choosing our own favoured brand of colouration, I'm in agreement - hence my comment regarding the Decca cartridge. So in that respect we're not really 'poles apart'.

When you acquire Wynn Hall, there'll be plenty of room for some massive Altecs - and you never know you might cause me to completely change my mind! :)

Cheers

Marco
27-01-2011, 23:13
Hi Barry,

Don't get me wrong, I do like Quads - they are certainly superior to 90% of speakers made nowadays.

However, you know me, I like speakers that can 'kick ass', when ass needs to be kicked (I do like to listen loud sometimes to death metal and heavy rock music - and loud is the only way it works), and therefore find Quads a little 'safe' and overtly polite in that respect, which is funnily enough probably why you like them! :)

When I mentioned "the shocking almost piercing dynamics of horns", I wasn't necessarily referring to a sound that was 'in yer face', but rather one which to my ears was realistic.

If you've ever listened to someone playing, say, a trumpet or violin up close, you'll know just how shockingly dynamic, and yes, piercing, that sounds. Therefore, I prefer loudspeakers which round off that effect the least, to ones that remove the rough edges to make the sound more listenable, and in that respect, big horns score very highly.

Achieving the most convincing musical realism possible is the raison d'ętre for me owning a top-notch hi-fi system - it is what I prioritise above all else. Therefore, I don't do 'cuddly', which is one downside I find about the presentation of old Quads.

It's interesting that when attending concerts you like to sit reasonably far from the stage. Well, you won't be surprised that for me it's quite the opposite...! ;)

I like to be close to the stage, where the sound is more 'up front' and 'vital' and where I can immerse myself in the visceral impact of the performance, presuming the type of music being played has those characteristics.

Indeed, rock concerts aside, there's nothing better for me than being as close as possible to the orchestra at a classical concert, when they're in full flow - the sheer scale, intensity and 'physicality' of the sound is quite something - it really gives me Goosebumps!

Getting as close as possible to achieving that sound at home is what I seek from a hi-fi system, and so only huge speakers, like my Lockwoods (or bigger), or massive horns, will do!!

Don't worry, if we acquire Wynn Hall, I'll be trying some Altecs, Vitavox or such like, or I may even just go for a pair of Tannoy Westminsters, and keep the Lockwoods for the kitchen! :eyebrows:

Marco.

The Grand Wazoo
27-01-2011, 23:23
It's interesting that when attending concerts you like to sit reasonably far from the stage. Well, you won't be surprised that it's quite the opposite for me...

I like to be close to the stage, where the sound is more 'up front' and 'vital' and where I can immerse myself in the visceral intensity of the performance, presuming the type of music being played has those characteristics.

Indeed, rock concerts aside, there's nothing better for me than being as close as possible to the orchestra at a classical concert, when they're in full flow - the sheer scale, intensity and 'physicality' of the sound is quite something - it really gives me Goosebumps!

.......and those words right there are the reason that no-one is wrong and there is no 'best' of anything.....are they not?
(and that applies also to the discussion about class A vs. B etc on another thread)

Marco
27-01-2011, 23:31
Indeed, but it's fun discussing our differing views! :)

Marco.

The Grand Wazoo
27-01-2011, 23:39
My approach is that it's better to embrace them all & take each on it's strengths. That's why I spent several years mixing Levinson with Radford!

Marco
27-01-2011, 23:42
Whatever works for you, dude! :cool:

The most important thing is that you listen to music long and often, and enjoy it, and I think that certainly applies to Barry, you and me :)

Marco.

Barry
27-01-2011, 23:50
Interesting - I think you might have nailed it Marco.

I understand you preference for speakers that 'kick ass', given your predeliction (but not exclusively) for dance music and heavy metal/rock. As you know I have an absurbly wide taste in music (not that yours is narrow), including the human voice. I read somewhere that hearing the lyrics is not the most important aspect of your listening. With me it is, and I find that my speakers seem, for me, to do the best regardless of what is being put through them, albeit at the less than seismic levels that you require.

Regarding my preferred listening position; an interesting phenomenon with the Quads is that the presentation of the performance is one which lays some distance behind the speaker plane. That distance depends on the average volume: turn up the volume and it appears as if you have moved closer to the performers, that is you are sitting in the front seats; turn it down and you are sitting in seats further back.

As to the Quads being 'cuddly', what were they being fed with? Or were you referring to the treble roll-off? It starts between 10 - 15KHz; a few more years of all that heavy metal and you won't notice! ;)

Clearly Quads are not for you, but you haven't responded to the dilemma I mentioned at the end of my Decca/Sumiko comparison - why is it that a technically inferior component can sound 'better' than one that is technically superior?

Regards

BTH K10A
27-01-2011, 23:50
I thought my post might cause a bit of a stir! ;)

Yes Marco, I am biased when it comes to horn loudspeakers -for good reason. Whilst they have efficiency and good transient attack, they are coloured. Most of the vintage horn speakers featured in the collection were designed for cinema use in the '30s. If you go to the cinema on a regular basis and actually listen to the sound reproduction, you will be appalled at the poor quality: speech is coloured and does not sound at all realistic; bass is boomy. However most attendees will not notice, as their attention is directed towards the visuals on the screen.

Large horn systems are still in use today as they are efficient. It lakes a lot of (expensive) power to produce the sometimes high sound level in an auditorium full of a lot of sound absorbing bodies in plus surroundings. Volume and lack of noise are really the only concerns of cinema audio equipment.

Horn speakers make a big sound and are 'impressive', but this has nothing to do with fidelity; they are rarely, if ever, used as quality monitors in studios or in record pressing plants.


Having heard some very impressive vintage cinema horn systems in a domestic enviroment I would have to disagree. Mids and highs are natural sounding and bass is articulate, unlike most modern speakers and never boomy. Yes there might be some colouration but at the levels used in the home you would need golden ears to find it in any way obtrusive. With very large horns there can be phasing issues between drivers but there are ways to correct this

Your reasoning seems to be based on modern cinemas using multi channel systems with the emphasis on surround effects. Granted these usually sound appalling which is one reason why I stopped going to the cinema. The other is a hoard of peaple munching their way through dustbin sized buckets of popcorn.:popcorn: And what happened to the lady with the torch and the tray slung over her neck?

The vintage systems in period were hampered by poor quality source material. There was very little wrong with the amps, crossovers and speakers.

Cinema horns due to their physical size are impractical for recording studios but there are numerous examples of studio horn speakers, many of which are still in use in studios today. My limited experience of recording studios is that the engineers like to obtain a certain sound rather than concern themselves with fidelity. If fidelity was the objective they would have to bin most of the studio electronics.:eek:

Anyway each to there own and its more about finding the correct synergy of components and room that suits an individuals perception of fidelity that's important.

Marco
27-01-2011, 23:57
Hear, hear, Andy! :clap:

I agree with everything you've written, but especially with this bit:


The vintage systems in period were hampered by poor quality source material. There was very little wrong with the amps, crossovers and speakers.


This is something I don't feel that Barry's is making sufficient allowances for. You also make some other valid points about studios, which I'll get to later.

Barry, I'll answer your question tomorrow (it's a subject dear to my heart ;)).

Right now, folks, it's beddy-byes... :goodnight:

Marco.

MartinT
28-01-2011, 18:33
Indeed, rock concerts aside, there's nothing better for me than being as close as possible to the orchestra at a classical concert, when they're in full flow - the sheer scale, intensity and 'physicality' of the sound is quite something - it really gives me Goosebumps!

Agreed in spades, Marco, and I try to target four or five rows back at the Festival Hall whenever I go. Indeed I have tickets for the third row on 23rd Feb for Simon Rattle and the BPO performing Mahler's 3rd. That should be absolutely stonking :)

vinylspinner
28-01-2011, 19:10
Gosh, I may be sat close to you that evening, love Mahler!!


Nigel

BTH K10A
29-01-2011, 22:13
Barry & Marco

I've a feeling only one of you will possibly like this rumbly old Lyrec :eek:playing via really old valve stuff:eek::eek: into extremely old cinema horns:eek::eek::eek:
;)

It comes from a series of youtube videos made of the collection I put the link to in an earlier post

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjz4tH8463U

Seriously though no matter what your preferences are these videos add a whole new dimension to that collection

Andy

Marco
29-01-2011, 22:53
Thanks for that, Andy - sounds superb, even through my crappy laptop speakers! :eek:

You can hear the harmonic detail and high-frequency definition the valves and horns are bringing out in the music, which is precisely what I love. Other speakers reproducing that music would sound flatter and much less dynamic, and ultimately less musically convincing.

If you were there in that room, I think it would sound stunning! :)

Marco.

BTH K10A
29-01-2011, 23:15
Thanks for that, Andy - sounds superb, even through my crappy laptop speakers! :eek:

You can hear the harmonic detail and high-frequency definition the valves and horns are bringing out in the music, which is precisely what I love. Other speakers reproducing that music would sound flatter and much less dynamic, and ultimately less musically convincing.

If you were there in that room, I think it would sound stunning! :)

Marco.

You're welcome Marco. Yes, it just sounds right. My views changed a lot regarding Hi Fidelity some years ago when I obtained a Stereophile test disc where there were a number of spoken word tracks recorded using most of the serious mic's used in past and present day recording. The differences in the tone of the same voice were enlightening to say the least. From then on I concentrated in acheiving a synergy between components to acheive a "sound" that I felt most comfortable with. I still change components but that's half the fun of our hobby isn't it.

Andy

PS Was the Q14A info OK?

Barry
30-01-2011, 20:24
Oh dear - I think we will have to agree to disagree!

Listened to via, admittedly cheapo, headphones I found the percussion most unrealistic - hollow and 'cuppy' sounding. The sax was better, but the 'sound' did nothing to make me change my mind.

Sorry

Marco
30-01-2011, 20:34
Ha - it's cos yer corn beef! :lol:

;)

Marco.

Barry
30-01-2011, 21:45
Ha - it's cos yer corn beef! :lol:

;)

Marco.

Ha ha - maybe, but who was it who pointed out the (now cured) rumble on your turntable? :eyebrows:

Pax?

Marco
31-01-2011, 00:37
Oh yes, the "rumble" caused by a piece of wire on a reduntant section of PCB (from the old stock PSU) rubbing underneath against the platter? :eyebrows:

I'd love to listen to these babies:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALTEC-Valencia-846B-USA-Home-version-Voice-of-Theatre_W0QQitemZ320646214896QQcategoryZ14993QQcmd ZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI% 26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid %3D6661627051898654881

Themz be propa speakaz!! ;)

Marco.

Barry
31-01-2011, 00:54
Oh yes, the "rumble" caused by a piece of wire on a reduntant section of PCB (from the old stock PSU) rubbing underneath against the platter? :eyebrows:

I'd love to listen to these babies:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALTEC-Valencia-846B-USA-Home-version-Voice-of-Theatre_W0QQitemZ320646214896QQcategoryZ14993QQcmd ZViewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI% 26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D2%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid %3D6661627051898654881

Themz be propa speakaz!! ;)

Marco.

Whatever, it's cured now.

Apropos the Altecs, bear in mind its the mid that's horn loaded, not the bass (they're port loaded, like your Lockwoods).

Go on, offer him Ł1500! ;)

Marco
31-01-2011, 01:33
Maybe I should just say: "f*ck it", and go for these instead:


http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6742/img083xh.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/i/img083xh.jpg/)


Marco (who's actually deliriously happy with his Lockwoods) :)

P.S Oh Look... A 'little door', just like mine!! :eyebrows:

BTH K10A
31-01-2011, 22:47
How about these then Marco :)

Front and rear loaded Western Electric bass horns but using Japanese clones I believe. Have the same cones as my BTH's

More importantly... I want that Stereo SE DA100 amp in the centre :smoking:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/1295308660.jpg

Techno Commander
31-01-2011, 23:18
I have seen these pictures many times and keep wondering what they sound like.

http://www.siliconhell.com/Images/humour/wow/sound.jpg

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Site_Images/JohanDreyerHorns.JPG

Marco
01-02-2011, 15:38
Hi Andy,


How about these then Marco :)

Front and rear loaded Western Electric bass horns but using Japanese clones I believe. Have the same cones as my BTH's

More importantly... I want that Stereo SE DA100 amp in the centre :smoking:

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/1295308660.jpg

Wonderful - they look freakin' awesome, and just like my kind of speakers!! :wow:

Yup, it's gotta be valve amps when horns are used (and SE ones, at that), so unfortunately the system t'other Andy posted, showing solid-state amps in use, would likely shred your eardrums.....! :eek:

Marco.

Marco
01-02-2011, 16:32
Even something more modestly sized, like these Altecs, would I'm sure hit the spot:

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4231/5401851066757cdcf9c8z.jpg (http://img207.imageshack.us/i/5401851066757cdcf9c8z.jpg/)

Marco.

Techno Commander
01-02-2011, 16:45
I agree that valve amps would undoubtedly be best whan using horns. Those Altecs do look rather "cute". :) Although I would assume they are quite capable of kicking ass.

Jonboy
01-02-2011, 19:29
Maybe I should just say: "f*ck it", and go for these instead:


http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/6742/img083xh.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/i/img083xh.jpg/)


Marco (who's actually deliriously happy with his Lockwoods) :)

P.S Oh Look... A 'little door', just like mine!! :eyebrows:

That aint no little door thats a full size door, thats how big those horns are, i sure i saw an article about those in a French Hifi mag

Reid Malenfant
01-02-2011, 19:43
http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Site_Images/JohanDreyerHorns.JPG
I like this one, i looked at the picture a few times before i spotted the 10 big bass drivers powering those two humungous bass horns :eek: :wow:

:D

Talk about rocking your world :eyebrows:

MartinT
01-02-2011, 19:55
Yes, he has a bloody door for storage in the middle of his bass driver!!

BTH K10A
01-02-2011, 19:59
I like this one, i looked at the picture a few times before i spotted the 10 big bass drivers powering those two humungous bass horns :eek: :wow:

:D

Talk about rocking your world :eyebrows:

That setup uses Tact digital correction to resolve phase and level issues. Must sound quite amazing.

Marco
01-02-2011, 20:10
Yup, you see, those are systems assembled by serious audio enthusiasts, who mainly live abroad, unlike the pretenders who largely populate the hi-fi scene in the UK! ;)

Seriously, though, have you ever wondered why systems such as those featured in the pics above, rarely, if ever, reside in the UK?

There's a clue in the letters 'W' 'A' 'F'........

Marco.

MartinT
01-02-2011, 20:46
Seriously, though, have you ever wondered why systems such as those featured in the pics above, rarely, if ever, reside in the UK?

There's a clue in the letters 'W' 'A' 'F'........

Indeed, I can't really believe I ever had my system at one end of a room with the TV and permanent Eastenders on at the other. Never, ever, again :(

Techno Commander
01-02-2011, 20:49
Seriously, though, have you ever wondered why systems such as those featured in the pics above, rarely, if ever, reside in the UK?

Marco.


Most UK living rooms are no where big enough.:lol:

Marco
01-02-2011, 21:12
Andy, you might be surprised how small some of those rooms featured are! ;)

Sadly, Martin's much closer to the truth.... Too many women here wear the pants!!

Marco.

Barry
01-02-2011, 21:51
OK, to all of you who are currently ‘getting off’ and salivating over big horn loudspeakers, here are some photos of big electrostatic speaker systems that ‘float my boat’:

http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/5/51148/1197043078_c.jpg
Image; Audioasylum.com

http://www.quadesl.org/Quad_R_D/TripleQuads/Dcp_3230.jpg

http://www.quadesl.org/Quad_R_D/TripleQuads/triquads1.jpg
Image: Quad

http://www.onethingaudio.net/FOR/QUA/57/Images/ALG/941-QUA-ESL-57_MIC__-P-A02.jpg
Image: One Thing Audio

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWry-ebJHhSnXpW8jRLodkJIaENnfIDFN_dMC2g99c6QCwDSNN&t=1

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRqUuDGdoCcuhJBooTd72GlCsjJPSsgP 2rmYqi7khl1eY-FQDIoPw&t=1
Image: gstatic.com

Techno Commander
01-02-2011, 21:51
Too many women here wear the pants!!

Marco.

Or blokes are too timid to rip said pants off the women and administer a firm spanking.:lol:

BTH K10A
01-02-2011, 22:29
Indeed, I can't really believe I ever had my system at one end of a room with the TV and permanent Eastenders on at the other. Never, ever, again :(

Thats because the average UK home now seems to be built with only one reception room. From the twenties to the sixties houses had a dining room as well as a lounge but a lot of those have been knocked through now so tback to one room.

Larger houses are certainly more affordable in most other countries and dedicated listening rooms are more common.

BTH K10A
01-02-2011, 22:32
OK, to all of you who are currently ‘getting off’ and salivating over big horn loudspeakers, here are some photos of big electrostatic speaker systems that ‘float my boat’:

http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/5/51148/1197043078_c.jpg
Image; Audioasylum.com

http://www.quadesl.org/Quad_R_D/TripleQuads/Dcp_3230.jpg

http://www.quadesl.org/Quad_R_D/TripleQuads/triquads1.jpg
Image: Quad

http://www.onethingaudio.net/FOR/QUA/57/Images/ALG/941-QUA-ESL-57_MIC__-P-A02.jpg
Image: One Thing Audio

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWry-ebJHhSnXpW8jRLodkJIaENnfIDFN_dMC2g99c6QCwDSNN&t=1

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRqUuDGdoCcuhJBooTd72GlCsjJPSsgP 2rmYqi7khl1eY-FQDIoPw&t=1
Image: gstatic.com

Look like doors to me. :scratch: There was a door in Marco's horn pic too :lol:

MartinT
01-02-2011, 22:56
Thats because the average UK home now seems to be built with only one reception room.

Well, indeed, and I now have the luxury of my sitting room being effectively my listening room. I bought this house almost solely on the merits of the room. The estate agent thought I was amusing, clapping my way around.

The second part of the equation is finding a woman who actually appreciates music and what I have put together. She loves my system and she's a keeper :)

Techno Commander
01-02-2011, 23:06
http://usr.audioasylum.com/images/5/51148/1197043078_c.jpg
Image; Audioasylum.com


Shouldnt there be a monkey sat next to them?

Marco
01-02-2011, 23:19
The second part of the equation is finding a woman who actually appreciates music and what I have put together. She loves my system and she's a keeper

Indeed, snap, and join the club! :)

I couldn't imagine married life, or a partnership, being any other way.

I don't understand why others can't find wifes or partners who share the same interests, and therefore are tolerant of the 'paraphernalia' that goes with having a top-notch hi-fi system and a large collection of music? :scratch:

No way would I put up with the shite some other guys do, about not being 'allowed' to have big speakers, etc, in the lounge. Feck that pish. If I'm earning 50% of the household income, or more, then I'm entitled to a 50% say, or more, as to what goes in the bloody house, and if she didn't like that, she'd know where the freakin' door was!! ;)

Marco.

BTH K10A
01-02-2011, 23:30
Indeed, snap, and join the club! :)

I couldn't imagine married life, or a partnership, being any other way.

I don't understand why others can't find wifes or partners who share the same interests, and therefore are tolerant of the 'paraphernalia' that goes with having a top-notch hi-fi system and a large collection of music? :scratch:

No way would I put up with the shite some other guys do, about not being 'allowed' to have big speakers, etc, in the lounge. Feck that pish. If I'm earning 50% of the household income, or more, then I'm entitled to a 50% say, or more, as to what goes in the bloody house, and if she didn't like that, she'd know where the freakin' door was!! ;)

Marco.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/rodriguezSR.jpg

Marco
02-02-2011, 10:01
Excellent! :lol:

Marco.

Vinyleyes
06-02-2011, 09:45
Indeed, snap, and join the club! :)

I couldn't imagine married life, or a partnership, being any other way.

I don't understand why others can't find wifes or partners who share the same interests, and therefore are tolerant of the 'paraphernalia' that goes with having a top-notch hi-fi system and a large collection of music? :scratch:

No way would I put up with the shite some other guys do, about not being 'allowed' to have big speakers, etc, in the lounge. Feck that pish. If I'm earning 50% of the household income, or more, then I'm entitled to a 50% say, or more, as to what goes in the bloody house, and if she didn't like that, she'd know where the freakin' door was!! ;)

Marco.

I've had this conversation before with mates ... I mean what the dickens is a LOUNGE ROOM for !! ....... It's for LOUNGING ABOUT IN AND ENJOYING YOUR FAVOURITE THINGS :scratch: :scratch: :doh:......... even when I was married my ex could understand that .. and now any new girlfriend is treated to the acid test of something like ...In The Court of the Crimson King ... played at full welly on the hi fi system in THE LOUNGE which just happens to obscure all of the fireplace and the whole one side of the room ,, ............ AND ........ It is growing all the time the longer I spend on this bloomin' forum ........... :eek: :lol::lol:

Couldn't live with a woman who did not share my love of music .. and was too fussy to get her head round the fact that life is for living and not just keeping a tidy house to impress someone else ............ :cool:

However what can happen is that some of us who catch the hifi bug a bit later in life may already have partners who do not share this passion ... Then it can be a constant battle to win floor space for the system essentials ... to all of those folks I offer my sympathies .. :( ... and the number of a good lawyer ........ :lolsign:

The Black Adder
15-05-2011, 11:09
FWWWWWWWWOOOORE! Check out the Braun coffee machine on the last pic... Where's the SodaStream?... come on... they must have a SodaStream.

Beobloke
16-05-2011, 10:25
If I'm earning 50% of the household income, or more, then I'm entitled to a 50% say, or more, as to what goes in the bloody house,

Sadly, on that basis I'm only allowed a 26% say on what comes into the house. :(

Consequently, thirty odd turntables and (currently) five LARGE pairs of loudspeakers suggests I'm doing something else right...... :eyebrows:

Frog
23-05-2011, 15:21
Not for sale and it's likely you've seen it before but this is one on the most amazing collections of vintage hifi anywhere. Browse room by room.

Good reference material too.

http://www.gokudo.co.jp/Vanguard/room1/room1.htm



Good grief !:stalks:

Frog
23-05-2011, 15:29
Well, indeed, and I now have the luxury of my sitting room being effectively my listening room. I bought this house almost solely on the merits of the room. The estate agent thought I was amusing, clapping my way around.



Ah...yes... I've done that twice now. It is possible to get a house with at least the potential for a dedicated music room, but you sometimes have to think a bit laterally about it ! :)

worthingpagan
14-07-2011, 23:31
The links from the first post on this thread, jupiteraudio.com, i've never seen anything like it all in one place, out of this world :stalks: I've got to go to Japan before I go deaf :lol:

pavalon
16-07-2011, 14:29
Hope it wasn't affected by the recent earthquake that has devasted/destroyed many parts of the country.

Glad to hear that 'they' are slowly getting back to normality.