Ignore the shite music, and simply admire the audiophile porn:
:wowzer: :wowzer:
Marco.
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Ignore the shite music, and simply admire the audiophile porn:
:wowzer: :wowzer:
Marco.
Hi Rob - yes, the tiny little Kolts (they're no bigger than the Control Ones!) were hooked up late yesterday evening sound really fine. They certainly need a fair bit more juice than my other speakers, but on most material sound excellent - acoustic piano especially. Smooth, with surprisingly accomplished bass for such a tiny enclosure, and what is also surprising (given that litte box) is that they like a bit of room around them. Putting them near to the back wall makes them a tad muddy in my room. Thanks again for the lend of them. :)
Hi Marco - all fair points. :)
Actually my Sony was a 6750 - the 8750 is the one I'd really like to own which is by all accounts (and those in the know) the one to have. It's a stunning bit of kit. That platter is actually quite deceiving on the 6750 - although it's large, it doesn't weigh much (the Technics platter is probably slightly heavier believe it or not!) but I think where the Sony scores is its motor which I'm sure would start a car, so much torque does it have. Good thing about the Sony (having chatted to Richard at Vantage about them a while back) is that they're totally serviceable - good to know, and whilst a repair may not be 'cheap' in real terms, if it means keeping a deck like this working correctly it's money well spent.
By all accounts the PS-4750 is a goodie too - same motor/control system/plinth material as the 6750 but with a simpler tonearm.
At Scalford both my decks had the same cartridge (2M Black) and used on the same shelf.
As to a big Pioneer - I'm very slightly cold on this at the moment. The deck I'd be after is a PL50LII (pretty much a scaled-down P3a) but I have it on good authority that these do contain a lot of completely unobtainable parts which makes them a risky purchase.
Must dash...work to do!
Richard, glad they will be getting some use :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gromit
They seem to respond to decent heavy stands as well, although never tried them with lightweight/open frame stands.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoopsontoast
You have sold the kolts then :(
Rob's just very kindly lending them to me - I did try to get him to sell them though. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by dantheman91
Hey
Oh fair enough i have a pair of keesonic Kubs. Their very good.
I did'nt get on with the control 1's for some reason :scratch:
Ah, thanks for the clarification - still a 'proper' audiophile T/T then, by all accounts :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gromit
It's not the weight of the platter that's necessary important, but rather how resonant it is, and crucially, how sonically synergistic its partnership is with the T/T's drive system and motor. EMT have for years been making some of the best direct-drive turntables in the world, using rather 'flimsy' platters, in conjunction with brutal motors (torque wise), and it's a combination that works rather well!Quote:
That platter is actually quite deceiving on the 6750 - although it's large, it doesn't weigh much (the Technics platter is probably slightly heavier believe it or not!)
A similar thing could be happening with the Sony (either of those under discussion), in that the effectiveness of the platter/motor relationship is superior to that of the Technics, in its stock form; indeed I suspect that this is the case.
It's also worth noting that 'silly' amounts of torque is not necessarily, sonically, a good thing. Much depends on how it is used (and indeed addressed) in the overall design of the T/T, and on that issue there are various schools of thought. For example, the Brinkmann Oasis (details here: http://www.brinkmann-audio.de/main.p...=oasis&lang=en), a rather nice looking D/D turntable, which I heard and compared directly with my Techy, in the same system (and where the Brinkmann lost :eek:), eschews the principle of having a high-torque motor and a light(ish) platter, and goes the opposite way with a very heavy platter and a low-torque motor.
Furthermore, the SP10 has rather more torque than my SL-1210, but when the latter has been judiciously modified, to the level I've taken it to, the extra torque of the former did not result in it outperforming my own turntable. Therefore, it's risky to think that more torque automatically equates to a better sound. What matters most is how well the respective design principles of the T/Ts in question have been implemented by their manufacturers. Ultimately, it's all about synergy!
That's fine, and again thanks for the clarification.Quote:
At Scalford both my decks had the same cartridge (2M Black) and used on the same shelf.
Think very carefully about it then, as the last thing you'd want to be left with is an expensive ornament... That's primarily the reason why I've never done a similar thing myself. I'd die for one of these (a Denon DN-308 broadcast T/T, as used by the NHK in Japan):Quote:
As to a big Pioneer - I'm very slightly cold on this at the moment. The deck I'd be after is a PL50LII (pretty much a scaled-down P3a) but I have it on good authority that these do contain a lot of completely unobtainable parts which makes them a risky purchase.
http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/2417/p1060900.jpg
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/4158/p1060927.jpg
VU meters on a turntable, whoop, whoop!! :eek:
However, even if I could find one at a price I'd be willing to pay, the risk would be too great, should anything irreplaceable go pop.
*That* is precisely why I've gone down the route I have with the Techy. Not only does it sound stunning, but every bit on it was bought from new and can be repaired or replaced by qualified personnel.
What price can you put on having not only continuous peace of mind, in terms of reliability, but in owning a unique and superb sounding turntable, which delivers total musical satisfaction, daily? It's ultimately what makes modifying the Techy a safe (and musically rewarding choice) for many vinyl music lovers :cool
Marco.
There was a PS-8750 under a table at one of the Tonbridge Audiojumbles last year for £130. I know because I didn't buy it.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Gromit
:doh:
:doh: indeed. :(Quote:
Originally Posted by Beobloke
Yeah, certainly wont be selling the Kolts (again :doh:) but have offered them to Richard on long term loan as they were sitting un-used in my spare room :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gromit
I'd have to have one of these...
http://omiyadenka.co.jp/blog/hardoff...2/DSC00027.jpg
By all accounts Sony lost money on every one built.
lol... just like the PS3... I love it when the designers get their own way over the suits.
Indeed - the complete function-over-form of the X9 appeals hugely to my life-long fascination with engineering (not that I'm an engineer - my job is the polar opposite). The beauty is in in the engineering itself. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
Indeed, 'cos aesthetically, it ain't that pretty! ;)
Marco.
I don't think it's all that bad, personally. Certainly I'd happily take one off the hands of some poor soul who finds it too ugly for them...
Lol, I think it comes under the banner of 'functional elegance' :)
Actually, it looks somewhat EMT-like, but lacks the former's old-school 'industrial chic'...
Marco.
Rob's little Kolts in situ, sounding rather sweet too. :)
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1/DSC01294.jpg
They remind me very much of my old ProAc Super Tablettes in many ways - not a huge amount of heft but quite lovely on stuff like acoustic piano and vocals. Doing a bit of trawling the www it now appears they share the same SEAS driver as the ProAcs. No surprise then really. :)
Yup, same Seas 11F-GX mid bass as the Mk1 Tablette :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gromit
Very cosy looking room there Richard, perfect for losing a few hours!:)
Thanks Andy. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Tarzan
It's worked out quite well really, as we have a large family room adjoining the kitchen/dining room which is where we spend 90% of our time. The living room above is more of a music room where the the 'big' tv also lives. Downside with the room though is that it's 22' by 11' so acoustically poor - could do with being 2' or so wider. We've just had a dedicated music room built though (it's behind where I'm standing taking the photo) which is where the piano will go eventually. :)
Only problem at the moment is that the screed/plaster is taking an age to dry due to the cold & damp weather. :(
Love the piano, Richard.. What make is it? Some pics would be cool!
Love the club chair. I've been wanting one of those for years!
Joe - it's a Reid Sohn RS126. Up until recently we had a 1985 Yamaha U3 which whilst a great piano, I never really gelled with it. Undeniably well built, but I've never been 100% convinced by the Yamaha sound - that goes for the uprights and grands. I wasn't really prepared to go to the faff of getting it re-voiced so our dealer swapped the U3 for a brand new RS.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
The RS is based on a German Seiler strung back/frame and has a German action and hammers but is assembled in the Far East (S Korea or Indonesia - they have 2 factories). A bit of a 'Skoda' in many ways - folk have been poo-poo'ing them for a while but have been shocked at how good they are once tried. Up until very recently they were just a fairly average/mediocre Far Eastern piano but since the Seiler/RS tie-in (RS also have a large share in Bechstein now) they have gone through the roof in terms of quality.
I absolutely love it - although it's a slightly smaller frame (126cm vs 131cm for the U3) it has a much bigger, warmer (ie German!) sound than the Yamaha. It's beautifully made too - as it happens the Royal Academy of Music have just bought a large number of Reid Sohns for the college so word is certainly getting round.
Couple of piccies...
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...DSC00637_2.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...DSC00633_2.jpg
Fookin' nora, that is unbelievably gorgeous! :eek: :stalks:
Who needs a hi-fi when you've got the real thing, eh dude? ;)
Marco.
'tis indeed a definite pride & joy in this house. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I'm not the world's greatest pianist (far from it!) but there's a lot of truth in what you say about having the 'real thing' at home. No matter what the system, it's never going to fully re-create the sort of dynamic energy, the sheer presence of a live acoustic piano. Even though this is only a large upright (still almost one of the largest you can buy new these days) its sound is fabulous - so full of resonance and complicated harmonic structure. Playing a piano - especially on stuff like Rachmaninov Preludes for example - is a truly physical experience. The main reason why we're having the music room built, it'll mean I can play late into the evening without disturbing the children. Also will mean I can teach later too - the piano mostly gets used for accompanying my Clarinet pupils at the moment.
Just wish I could play it better though; I started aged 9 which is really too late to be honest.
If you work for the Royal Academy you must know a friend of mine, Ade Steel? He tunes all their Pianos.
I don't work for them James, although I did have lessons as a young'un at the Junior Academy before doing my first performance diploma. I'm presently in the throes of going onto the board of examiners for Trinity College of Music.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sovereign
I'll ask around at work as there's bound to be one or two who know Ade Steel.
Thanks for the pictures, Richard. That is one lovely Joanna!
Yeah, been thinking of getting the wife a new piano. We have a Piano workshop near us who have some fantastic stuff.
It's a beauty... a real beauty!
Every home should have one. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
Latest addition, for the sake of completeness...although it is obviously incomplete at the moment:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1/DSC01313.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1/DSC01324.jpg
What wand are you puttin' on her, then Richard? :)
Marco.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gromit
Welcome home Richard:) Blog required for upgrades etc.
Sadly, the OEM arm on the deck had pooped bearings (Lee, who I bought the deck from, very kindly chipped in to get things fixed) so it's off to J7 this week to be restored to good-as-new. Then it'll be loaded up with Jamie's modded/heat-shrinked Technics arm for now. I'll be keeping the original, unmodded arm to re-fit in case I decide to move the deck on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Just had a constructive afternoon stripping the deck down, removing the arm and cleaning/re-lubing the main bearing, giving the whole deck a good spring clean whilst doing so. Gave the platter rim a good going over with AutoGlym Resin Polish; works a treat on bringing up the dots/shiny bits without being abrasive. Nice thing is that the lid is in very clean condition - very few marks on it - so the turntable's looking very smart.
Will do Andy. :)
Just some very simple (cheap!) bits for the moment - certainly the VA feet and I've got an Achromat to go on it (one which was made SL1210-friendly by an RAF aircraft engineer mate of mine) but that'll be enough for the time being. Doing those 2 things I've found lift the Technics to an perfectly listenable level.
Any mods which the deck receives beyond that will be secondhand - power supply included, if the desire to do that materialises. Big choice these days too, although I've no plans to spend megabucks. Although I didn't exactly break even on my last 1210, I didn't lose an awful lot and learnt a hell of a lot in the process, especially with regards to the mechanical parts of the turntable.
The 1210 brings out the tinkerer in me - always has. :D
Yes it certainly looks clean Richard! Looking forward to your thoughts( and pictures) as we have enjoyed them in the past:)
Lorks! Can't believe I actually bought something brand new for a change. Brought these little puppies home yesterday...
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1/DSC01354.jpg
Nice - clean, crisp design.
"Highly reviewed" as they say, so how do you rate them?
Still running them in at the moment Jules, although they've had a good few hours' beasting this afternoon with a varied assortment of music from the likes of Depeche Mode to Vaughan Williams.Quote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
Somewhat musically dim-witted and with a very sluggish bottom end at the moment. Not especially crisp nor articulate rhythmically Very impressive sense of scale though for such a tiny speaker. Their build quality is superb - notably the finish on them which is flawless.
Dim-witted speakers! I like it ... :lol:
Had you demo'd them?
No. :scratch:Quote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
Actually my dad may end up having them - bit of a long story this:
I sold him my old ProAc Super Tablettes several years ago (for a daft knock-down price, seeing as he's my old man) but regretted doing so ever since. He hardly uses his rig now and bless him his hearing's not so good these days, so he's offered to give me the ProAcs back. I really can't accept them off him for nothing (they're in beautiful condition and have the proper Target heavy stands to match) as they're worth quite a lot of money now.
I said I'd get him a pair of good, small speakers in exchange and he's more than happy with that. He's popping up here this Weds with them so will have a good listen and decide whether they work well in our room. I'm hoping they do - they kept me happy for something like 12 years.
hmm ... yes I think I know which I'd prefer!
Good luck with it - hope you both end up happy campers ...
Thank you - and here's hoping the ickle ProAcs work well in our place. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by julesd68
The 2020i's are amazing vfm. Had a pair in the office for the last 12 months. A little too clinical for me for home listening but very neutral and open.
Just had a couple of hours' listening to some music through these little speakers (they really are little - hardly taller/wider than the Control Ones) and a fair bit of the bass bloat has started to disappear. They certainly do like a few watts up them, and really come alive when driven quite hard, where their somewhat lazy attitude to rhythm vanishes. Don't think they'd work too well with a valve amp, or certainly not one which doen't keep a good grip on proceedings.
I'm still not really convinced by their rear-ported bass. There's a bloom (fundamental, not from ambience/reflection) to bass which isn't natural and it does bother me. Saying that, I've yet to hear a rear-ported speaker which doesn't do this to some degree or other. Still, it's a form of speaker colouration and the human ear doesn't do a bad job at adpating to such things over time.
Still, on the upside they really do offer an impressive sense of scale, sounding way larger than one would expect from such a tiny box and in the same way my Royd Merlins did, disappear quite magically when positioned very carefully. They don't put much of a lid on orchestral cresendos either, showing little strain.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1/IMG_7383.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...1/IMG_7379.jpg
The stands aren't ideal (they're Something Solid SL24's which work brilliantly in themselves - Royds sing on these!) and as the bases of the Q's aren't flat - they house a wide channel for incoming cables - they're a wee bit perched, and held on with some Blu-Tak. Q do some rather nice dedicated stands and they're not badly priced either. If the ProAcs don't work out I'll invest in a pair.
Great pictures, they are very cute!
Thanks Rob. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by freefallrob
They are indeed cute little things, and I'm starting to warm to them too. Been ages since I bought a brand new pair of speakers, JBL's excepted, and it's quite fun, and interesting, hearing the character of these change over time.
They're not frightened to go loud too and judging by the amount of air being shifted through the rear port, that little driver really works for its living. If the ProAcs don't work out (no reason why they shouldn't, mind) then I'll be happy to hang on to the Q's. Our nearest neighbours are 40yds away so it's no problem playing music at realistic levels here, and I really don't want to give the ProAcs a hard life. They're too precious.
Hi Richard,
What made you go for the Q Acoustics? They just seem to have appeared on the scene without any 'previous', if you get me? :)
Marco.
Hi Marco - yup, good question. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
They came about several months, probably about a year in fact, ago when wandering around Lincoln. I'd popped into Superfi (a place I usually avoid to be honest but I needed some banana plugs) and saw these tiny little speakers sat there and wondered what the hell they were. I'd never even heard of Q Acoustics but did some reading up on them when I got home, and it appears they'd been causing a bit of a stir in the cheapo speaker market.
Peter Empson (of Deco Audio) really rates them and having previously trusted his judgement on a few items, and mulling over the idea of trying a pair, I tought well 'why not'. Tying this in with having the little ProAcs off my dad I thought if the SuperTabs don't work out, it's still the perfect excuse to try something new and who knows, they may end up as keepers. :)
Peter put me onto the 2020i's. Do you reckon he moonlights for Q Acoustics in his spare time ? ;)
I've never spoken to Peter about the Q's to be honest, just found them on Deco's website once I'd done some reading around - they come up on a Google search. I bought my pair from Superfi in Lincoln.Quote:
Originally Posted by Idlewithnodrive
Interesting, Richard... They certainly look nice, especially on their stands, which compliment them very well. My experience of Peter is that he has very good ears, so if you and he like them, they must be pretty decent. Could be an interesting new find for folks! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gromit
Marco.