The Marco-boy main system, as of August 2020

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Originally Posted by hornucopia

It's interesting how having a Flatsreen adjacent to speakers affects the sound. My Kuro is nearest to the Left speaker and affects the volume somewhat, so I have to sit off-centre to adjust for imagery.

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Hi Chris,

It probably does (likely not in a good way either), and so does having a glass display cabinet so close to the R/H speaker, and a huge Welsh dresser behind the L/H one, both of which prevent the speakers from being more optimally positioned further back towards the wall, etc, etc... You get the picture!:D

An 'optimised room for sound' it isn't (although I've done my best in that respect, especially with attention paid to the stands, mains and cabling) - it's simply a comfortable/cosy and welcoming space in which to enjoy music [and the system does sound really good], but where the priority is in enjoying our antiques and collectables, plus lovely inglenook fireplace and wood burner, which is the focal point for us, not the TV...

Aesthetically, in a traditional room like ours (and in an old house), having a large(ish) plastic flatscreen TV is a necessary evil [for us more of an eyesore], and so not in any way considered as a 'statement piece'. It wouldn't even be that if we could fit something in that was much bigger, but of course it's required in order to enjoy our favourite TV shows and movies to a high standard. The 'home-cinema' experience, in that respect, is arguably more impressive than the audio-only one.

I wouldn't want to turn the room into a 'hi-fi demo' space, and neither would Del - we've got the dedicated music room upstairs for that, where the main system resides, and *everything* has been addressed to optimise the sound!;)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Such as, Geoff?:)

In terms of the review, it's a bit jumbled up, due to whoever it was having copied the pages in the wrong sequence, but it's all there if you look and can manage to decipher the content in the right order!;)

Marco.

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The pads bonded front and back of the ABR are made of bituminised sheet, but I suspect their main function is to add tuning mass to the diaphragm rather than to damp. It is also implied that the HF1300 is a ring radiator and reference is made to a Voigt tweeter having a central spider. There is no central fixing on the tweeter diaphragm, it is really a type of dome tweeter with a wide suspension incorporated into the diaphragm surround.

The HF1300 is a wonderful device. It is not peaky at all, but can sound a bit hard on axis, which I think is a colouration effect, but it portrays ambience and depth incredibly well and despite having a large moving mass for a tweeter, it displays superb perceived transient response. I have a few sets of various versions of these.

For a bit of fun, keep an eye out for the Ditton 120. It's like a miniature Ditton 15 and has a BIG sound that totally belies its small dimensions. They are rare!

https://i.imgur.com/EqcD5Ey.jpg

None of our rooms are perfect, hi-fi wise, I'm sure. The amount of pics I see with speakers firing into chairs/Sofas, etc....
I had to get rid of my Klipschorns when we moved into this split-level lounged house. No useable corners to fit the horns into .(Though, now, having thought further, I might try making 'artificial' corners)
The current Opera horns really need 3 feet behind them,minimum, but in a 10 X 14 space? And with both the 50" screen, plus full height windows reflecting, not perfect.

Hi Chris,

Yup, everything's a compromise, especially our living spaces (unless you live on your own) we put our systems into and have to share with others. I'm sure your horns still sound really good:)

Do saxes and trumpets sound really convincing through them? IME, nothing can touch good horns for getting those types of instruments right, in terms of reproducing the necessary dynamics!

Marco.

Just a wee system update... Have ordered two of these NOS Melz 1960s vintage valves for my valve headphone amp: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6N16B-V-6...72.m2749.l2649

Should be good:cool:

Marco.

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Originally Posted by walpurgis

The pads bonded front and back of the ABR are made of bituminised sheet, but I suspect their main function is to add tuning mass to the diaphragm rather than to damp. It is also implied that the HF1300 is a ring radiator and reference is made to a Voigt tweeter having a central spider. There is no central fixing on the tweeter diaphragm, it is really a type of dome tweeter with a wide suspension incorporated into the diaphragm surround.

The HF1300 is a wonderful device. It is not peaky at all, but can sound a bit hard on axis, which I think is a colouration effect, but it portrays ambience and depth incredibly well and despite having a large moving mass for a tweeter, it displays superb perceived transient response. I have a few sets of various versions of these.

For a bit of fun, keep an eye out for the Ditton 120. It's like a miniature Ditton 15 and has a BIG sound that totally belies its small dimensions. They are rare!

https://i.imgur.com/EqcD5Ey.jpg

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Interesting, Geoff. I'll keep an eye out for those - didn't even know they existed!:)

I can't dispute your other points, in terms of Hayden's statements, as I wouldn't know, but totally agree with your views on the HF1300, although there is no brightness with them in my system. Quite frankly, they piss all over the modern soft-dome units in the XRs - a different league.

Marco.

Been polishing the Copper amp today, in readiness for firing her up in the first time in a long time - spent nearly 2 hours cleaning it and my hands are now numb, lol...

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/4jrwHS.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/LkLSZj.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/YGDd1y.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/jbfO7n.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/V1m3dt.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/d9Kpkm.jpg

Looking pretty good I think...:cool:

This is my pride and joy - hand-built from scratch by Anthony Matthews, point-to-point wired throughout internally, featuring hand-wound output transformers and Sowter mains transformer. 40W Class A, when fitted with Cryo-treated Tung Sol KT-150 output valves, NOS 1950s Russian Melz 6H8C (6SN7 equivalents) driver valves, plus NOS RCA 5U4GB rectifiers.

At the rear, Furutech FP-901 rhodium over pure-copper phono sockets have been fitted, along with Cardas solid-copper speaker terminals and a Furutech FI-03 rhodium over pure-copper IEC socket, all to ensure maximum conductivity and signal transfer. Plus also mono variable-feedback controls. Amp weighs 40kg.

It forms a formidable combination with my modded Croft preamp, and drives my 95db 15" Tannoy MGs in Lockwood cabinets, erm, rather nicely!:D

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Hi Darren,

Glad you're enjoying the SPU and SUT - any chance of some pics?:)

Yeah, the loading plugs are great, although I've settled on a slightly different value from you, which is fine as our systems are different. However, if you're using the 'Y' adaptors, fitted with short cables, try these splitters instead, with the loading plugs you've got:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gold-Plat...72.m2749.l2649

I found that they notably improved matters sonically, especially as they remove the capacitance of the attached cables/wires [stated by the manufacturer as 70pF] and so allow you to utilise the actual electrical value of the resistors that the plugs are fitted with, without 'hearing' the effect of the partnering cables.

Trust me, I think you'll like it and probably arrive at using a different value;)

Marco.

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I'll try and upload some pics of the SPU and SUT this weekend. I am now using the brown loading plugs instead of the red as i think this is giving the best balance for me. I've yet to order the splitters you linked to but will do at some point. I've ordered a Houdini as well, which i'm really looking forward to trying.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marco

Been polishing the Copper amp today, in readiness for firing her up in the first time in a long time - spent nearly 2 hours cleaning it and my hands are now numb, lol...

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/4jrwHS.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/LkLSZj.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/YGDd1y.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...922/jbfO7n.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...923/V1m3dt.jpg

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1...924/d9Kpkm.jpg

Looking pretty good I think...:cool:

This is my pride and joy - hand-built from scratch by Anthony Matthews, point-to-point wired throughout internally, featuring hand-wound output transformers and Sowter mains transformer. 40W Class A, fitted with Cryo-treated Tung Sol KT-150 output valves, NOS 1950s Russian Melz 6H8C (6SN7 equivalents) driver valves, plus NOS RCA 5U4GB rectifiers.

At the rear, Furutech FP-901 rhodium over pure-copper phono sockets have been fitted, along with Cardas solid-copper speaker terminals and a Furutech FI-03 rhodium over pure-copper IEC socket, all to ensure maximum conductivity and signal transfer. Plus also mono variable-feedback controls. Amp weighs 40kg.

It forms a formidable combination with my modded Croft preamp, and drives my 95db 15" Tannoy MGs in Lockwood cabinets, erm, rather nicely!:D

Marco.

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Fair do's Marco, that's one bad ass looking power amp!:fingers:

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Originally Posted by Floyddroid

Always liked that avatar.

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I call her "The Rigonda Girl". It's a Rigonda something or other (Andre would know) she's leaning on.

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Originally Posted by Macca

They look pretty tidy. Andre's favourite Celestion IIRC

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As Marco says Andre favoured the 33's , if memory serves 15's were Gordon Steadman's favourite?

Glad you're happy with them Marco. I remember reading lots of recommendations for them, but was always (unduly it seems) a bit afraid of trouble with the tweeter. Have you established whats in the x-over yet? If it's the same cap as the XR's we could just swap them (crazy expensive Jantzens?). I think I've got some suitable Mundorf E-Caps in my spares draw or I'm sure I saw Andy had some Clarity caps going for a song to keep your XR's running.

Holy moly your Copper Amp looks good :wow: