My journey through the haze of Hifi

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08-07-2011, 20:05
The Black Adder

My journey through the haze of Hifi

Hello Chaps.

After doing a cleanup of my photobucket account I found lots of pics from my hifi past and some current ones too so I thought I'd share this selection of kit.

This is by no means everything I've owned in the past but I don't have the pics for some other kit.

Anyways, enjoy!

Cheers.

:)

DENON D250

My first bit of Hifi. Cost me over £1500 in the mid 90's. I can still stand by this hifi that it sounded superb.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03072.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q.../DSC02618a.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY X-PRE

My first ever valve pre amplifier... It was great at the time but had fiddly teenytiny knobs that my Hammy hands couldb't get the hang of.

A design flaw if you ask me but these are still very popular.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC01490.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY X-AS100

A superb bridgable amplifier. I had two of these in a Quad amplificaion with some X-AS200 mono's. Sounded great but I found them slow and not very agile.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC00680.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY X-AS2

A great preamplifier but simply didn't have any guts to admire sonically.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC00686.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC00683.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY XLPSv2

I actually forgot all about this... I had this for a week... nuff said.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q.../DSC03130a.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY X-PSU

Crapola. Made no differnence what so ever to the sound.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC02396.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY X-TONE

Superb bit of kit... Again, very popular even now.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC02401.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY X-10D - ROCK GROTTO'D

Rock Grotto'd versions.. I had two of these one for each channel. Stock units need the Rock Grotto mods.. Easy to do too as both took me about 2 hours each to do.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC02381.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...rottoMod01.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...rottoMod02.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...rottoMod03.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...rottoMod04.jpg

MUSICAL FIDELITY X-RAY

A great CD player but I found it bright and brittle sounding.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...2/X-RAY_01.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...2/X-RAY_03.jpg

PIONEER RT-909

My baby... still with me and enjoying it just as much as the day I got it.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04898.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...D/DSC02981.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...D/DSC02984.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...D/DSC02986.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...D/DSC02987.jpg

MONITOR AUDIO BR5

Superb little floorstanders... I was totally amazed with these. Sometimes there are designs that just work.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...o/DSC02330.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC02334.jpg

DENDEN DM-10 V2

This was a lovely integrated but it was HUGE! and didn't fit anywhere. Those big gold knobs were also a little dramatic but the sound was great. Interestingly enough this sounded better single wired and not in a bi-wire configuration even though it had them.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...DSC02639_a.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...DSC02646_a.jpg

NVA A80's

Superb sounding amplfiers.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03676.jpg

NVA A40's

Superb sonics again.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03697.jpg

NVA P50

A superb passive pre.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03599.jpg

AUDIO NOTE OTO PP

Ooooh... this sounds very nice indeed. EL84/ECC83 complimented and with lots of grunt. One thing I would say is that it's very sensitive on the volume pot.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...O/DSC04862.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...O/DSC04849.jpg

PRO-JECT RPM 5

For a first or re-visit to vinyl this TT is superb.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03119.jpg

B&W CM7's

Gash... I liked the styling but thats about it.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...akers/CM7a.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...akers/CM7b.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...DSC02858-1.jpg

Beogram CD 7000

I want another one... This CDP is still one of the best I've heard. Check out the DAC... :)

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03061.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03062.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03048.jpg

ARCAM ALPHA

Again... Top DAC and NOS converted.. Just felt tacky.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC02997.jpg

QUAD QC 24

Superb little preamp this but can be improved a lot more.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC02635.jpg

CHORD CPM 2600 SPM 600

Amazing sound but needed a bigger room to really sound nice..

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03891.jpg

DALI HELICON 800 MKII's

These were my first set of serious speakers, lots of weight and clout but not for valve amps I thought.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...fDSC04190a.jpg

MICHELL GYRODEC SE

A classic... I loved it but my retro switch was flicked so it had to go...lol

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03783.jpg

PS AUDIO PHONO STAGE

Great sounding Phono stage but not very dynamic.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03747.jpg

RAYSONIC CD128

Yeah baby... Very nice CDP here... takes good to rolling too.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03861.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03859.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03856.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC03854.jpg

SONUS FABER LUITO TOWERS

Hmmm... Pringle tubes in comparason to the Dalis or my latest Tannoys.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ne/sonus/2.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ne/sonus/1.jpg

NICK GORHAM PHONO STAGE

Custom built, this is the daddy of phono stages... I'd be quite happy to put this up against the mid range Whest models.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC04165.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC04156.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC04153.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC04151.jpg

RADFORD STA25 RENAISSANCE WITH MATCHING SC25 PREAMPLIFIER

This was a wonderful amplifier and pre. Probably not as good as the original series 3 but still up there with the gods.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...h/DSC04573.jpg
http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...h/DSC04547.jpg

HARBETH SHL5

I sold these very reluctantly. If I was going to buy for a second system again I'd definately go for some more of these...

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...2/DSC04845.jpg

THORENS TD124 MKII

My Baby... again. Fully refurbed by Schopper and runs solidly on the strobe. Love it.

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC04185.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC04180.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...ofDSC04179.jpg

QUAD II (CROFT MODIFIED)

My latest purchase... Very nice indeed. Weight, clout, dynamic...everything the originals were not. If you have some originals get em Crofted. lol :cool:

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04885.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04907.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04905.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04904.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04903.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04902.jpg

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...1/DSC04900.jpg
08-07-2011, 20:12
Beechwoods

:stalks: :stalks:

Wow, your pictures are gorgeous. And the gear too. Do you take pictures for a living?

This one looks like it was shot in an Area 51 warehouse:

http://i457.photobucket.com/albums/q...O/DSC04849.jpg

You've owned some very nice kit I have to say...
08-07-2011, 20:14
aquapiranha

Some great kit there Joe and lovely pics too. My fave might be the R2R, but the TD124 and the B&O look the biz too. Hard to beat a TDA1541 equipped player, especially when modded.
08-07-2011, 20:14
Mark Grant

Fantastic photos.
08-07-2011, 20:15
Effem

Those Dali Helicons, lovely :stalks:

You really don't need to consult a calendar to accurately date the Pioneer RT909's pedigree do you? :)
08-07-2011, 20:22
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beechwoods

:stalks: :stalks:

Wow, your pictures are gorgeous. And the gear too. Do you take pictures for a living?

Cheers Nick. Yes, I do lots of product photography.

Thanks Steve, Mark... Glad you like.

Frank, the RT is actually from 1981.. one of the very last made.

Thanks very much matey. :)
08-07-2011, 20:25
Tim

I don't use this word often Joe, as I don't really like it, but on this occasion it fits...... awesome :) Thanks for posting and I want some Quad II's!
08-07-2011, 20:27
Effem

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Black Adder

Cheers Nick. Yes, I do lots of product photography.

Thanks Nick, Mark... Glad you like.

Frank, the RT is actually from 1981.. one of the very last made.

Thanks very much matey. :)

I guessed 1980 - 1981 Joe, so not far off was I? :) Beautiful high quality engineering from the days when the accountants were kept locked in small offices and not allowed to poke their noses into business decisions :rolleyes:
08-07-2011, 20:28
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatGig

I don't use this word often Joe, as I don't really like it, but on this occasion it fits...... awesome :) Thanks for posting and I want some Quad II's!

Hehehe... thats ok matey. Just don't quote any Top Gun.

Gaaaah!

:eek:
08-07-2011, 20:31
Gizza

Great post and pics, I felt as though I'd been on the journey with you!
08-07-2011, 20:33
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by Effem

I guessed 1980 - 1981 Joe, so not far off was I? :) Beautiful high quality engineering from the days when the accountants were kept locked in small offices and not allowed to poke their noses into business decisions :rolleyes:

Not at all matey.. They started the 909 in the mid to late 70's but went through lots of 'technical' revisions. Your daaaam right. Man, the engineering is utterly sublime. Love stuff like this.
08-07-2011, 20:33
keiths

W :drool: W
08-07-2011, 20:35
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gizza

Great post and pics, I felt as though I'd been on the journey with you!

lol... My Radford STA25 Renaissance and Densen added.

Cheers matey.
09-07-2011, 11:56
icehockeyboy

When you say the SF's are Pringle tubes, do you mean the design, or sound?
09-07-2011, 14:32
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehockeyboy

When you say the SF's are Pringle tubes, do you mean the design, or sound?

In sound and I guess in size compaired to the Dali's & Tannoys, they were monsters. But the bigger the speaker the more purchase your get so horses for courses.

But the Dali's were £7k :)
09-07-2011, 14:56
griffo104

some great pics there and what a journey - is there anything you missed out ? :)

what a great range of kit, reminds me how much fun the old MF tubular kit looked and surely you could count the Gyro as retro now ? It was just so ahead of it's time design wise.

That reel-to-reel looks stonking as well.
09-07-2011, 15:50
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by griffo104

some great pics there and what a journey - is there anything you missed out ? :)

what a great range of kit, reminds me how much fun the old MF tubular kit looked and surely you could count the Gyro as retro now ? It was just so ahead of it's time design wise.

That reel-to-reel looks stonking as well.

I think just the MF X-AS200 monoblock amplifiers are missing from the list, oh and a Naim system after that.

I was a big fan of MF until I tasted other makes. I heard my mates MF system recently and simply couldn't get my head around the sound after listening to valve stuff for the last two years. Cost him an absolute fortune too.
09-07-2011, 21:24
Pete The Cat

Delightful collection - thanks for sharing.

Looks like you change your boxes more often than your carpet (I also find beige goes with anything and hides the dirt too) :lol:

Top drawer pics !

Pete
09-07-2011, 22:15
Alex_UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete The Cat

Delightful collection - thanks for sharing

+1 very nice. :)
10-07-2011, 08:12
selfaddict

I have always loved your pictures and this just shoves that you have had an good eye for the photos all your life :youtheman:.

I had a pair of Dali Helicons in the past as well, and they are in deed HUGE. I really loved the sound, only bettered by my current open baffle speakers. The problem I had with Dali's was that they just needed much bigger room than I had, so they needed to go.
10-07-2011, 13:06
Butuz

Wow awesome thread and awesome photos!

You seem to have liked the majority of kit you have had as almost every description reads "great thingumbob but has this or that flaw"

It looks like you persisted with the MF stuff for quite a while before you finally gave up too :)

Butuz
11-07-2011, 16:57
Elzar

Great thread, really makes me wish I'd kept pictures of my early kit. Miss that Meridian 507 I had now :(
11-07-2011, 19:05
The Black Adder

Cheers Butuz, very nice of you to say.

Yeah, I actually forgot I'd had them to be honest.
11-07-2011, 19:31
Yoga

I didn't want that first post to end, enjoyed that very much :¬)
12-07-2011, 00:34
Cosey Man

some really great gear their Joe, loved those dalis & cdp :eyebrows:
12-07-2011, 11:59
RochaCullen

I have some original QUAD IIs in a box at home. Will I have to get out a new mortgage to get them 'Croft'ed?
12-07-2011, 13:35
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by RochaCullen

I have some original QUAD IIs in a box at home. Will I have to get out a new mortgage to get them 'Croft'ed?

Give him an email, see how much it would be matey... :cool:
13-07-2011, 06:19
jandl100

Yup, lovely pics, Joe. And some great kit. :thumbsup:

You called the thread "My journey through the haze of Hifi " ... I suspect your new speaker cables (to be posted today, I hope) will help clear the haze just that little bit more. :)
13-07-2011, 09:21
The Black Adder

Cheers Jerry... Well, I'll give it a go and see what the differences are.
30-07-2011, 04:48
prcinka

well, beautiful!
What is that cool stand? That last one with the Thorens table?
30-07-2011, 07:46
The Black Adder

Quote:

Originally Posted by prcinka

well, beautiful!
What is that cool stand? That last one with the Thorens table?

Hello. Well ty kind Sir.

The table is a consol table but at that time had the shelves missing as there was a problem with one of the brackets.

It cost a fair bit in 07 and not found one like it since. Very handy too.