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DENON HA 500, just a photo gallery
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I suspect this is the one I was to borrow before someone made marco an offer he couldn't refuse .... :)
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Haha... So when are you putting it all back together again? :lol:
It's rather 'substantial' though, isn't it? ;)
Marco.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hamish
I suspect this is the one I was to borrow before someone made marco an offer he couldn't refuse .... :)
Yesh..... Can you see what you're missing? :eyebrows: ;)
Marco.
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All those bits (as much as in a small power amp) just to get an MC up to MM levels, and then into an MM stage....
Why the dismantling? Are you intending to recap it or summat? if you're fettling, PLEASE keep us posted... Ta!
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Quote:
All those bits (as much as in a small power amp) just to get an MC up to MM levels, and then into an MM stage....
Quality 1970s Japanese engineering, Dave...
Look at the size of the tranny, for starters (in a head amp)! Any idea how much one cost originally in 1979? ;)
Marco.
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I'm eyeing up this to see if it's possibly better than the A23:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=350302128559
:)
Marco.
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... and it is very heavy, too. More than 2 kilos (my balance scales only up to that value).
Dave, you damn malicious: since yesterday evening my HA 500 was up and running :ner:
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Inflation was so rapid back then, it's difficult to ascertain the price. I don't have details on the HA500, but the Denon transformers were around a ton, whereas the Lentek head amp was £53 and the AT630 I use was around £45 I think.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
What you mean? maybe, in a few days are you going to sell the A23? you crazy man :mental:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gdg
... and it is very heavy, too. More than 2 kilos (my balance scales only up to that value).
Dave, you damn malicious: since yesterday evening my HA 500 was up and running :ner:
Glad it's doing the business for you :) My AT630 will have to do for now..
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gdg
What you mean? maybe, in a few days are you going to sell the A23? you crazy man :mental:
Nooooooooo.... It'll be as well as, not instead of ;)
Dave,
Try £550 (!!) - I've got an article on it somewhere, where the HA-500 is featured in a shootout with other head amps/SUTs :)
It was built as a 'no compromise' design in the true Japanese high-end tradition.... I wonder how much £550 would equate to today - and what else it would've bought in 1979?
Regarding the Lentek, any idea where I could obtain one? They never seem to turn up on Ebay, and I have rather fond memories of that little device!
Marco.
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There was an HA1000 aswell
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Yup - that was the one with the separate PSU:
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/3448/denonha1000.jpg
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/1...nonha10002.jpg
There's one for sale in Japan now for 3,500 Hong Kong Dollars :eek:
I bet it's an awesome piece of kit, though!
I just LURVE all those types of high-end 'accessories', all produced in the heyday of vinyl. Thing is, even if I'd been old enough to have used them when they first came out, I'd never have known they even existed, as sadly they weren't exported to the UK. We never got any of the unusual or exciting stuff!
We only know about things like that now because of the Internet - and along with bespoke detachable headshells and leads it's what makes the DL-103 sing ....... Denon really went to town in those days producing ancillaries which optimised the performance that cartridge, and the fact is, if they're not used, you won't hear the 103 at anything like its full potential.
The saving grace is we've now got the A23 - thank goodness! :)
Marco.
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I prefer the looks of the 500 tho Marco
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Yes, I agree, but looks mean f*ck all if the HA-1000 sounded better, which I'm sure it would! :)
Marco.
P.S If you could keep a look out for a Lentek head amp for me on Ebay, that would be appreciated ;)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
I guess there can't be a "reasonable" price for exceptional equipment. The number of pieces produced must influence, too. :)
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Absolutely right, Dimitri - the HA-1000 would've only have been produced in small quantities for dedicated enthusiasts.
Thing is, isn't it amazing how much detail (work and expense) Denon went into to optimise the performance of a (then) £80, supposedly 'budget' cartridge? :eek:
Although, people who use them with the right equipment know that it doesn't sound like one...... ;)
I reckon that Giovanni could upgrade a few caps (the originals must be rather 'tired' by now) and resistors, not to mention the power lead, and turn his HA-500 into something really special!
It was something I was going to do, but in the end favoured the slightly different presentation of a (bespoke) SUT. SUTs and active head amps do sound rather different. It's a matter of personal preference.
Marco.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
P.S If you could keep a look out for a Lentek head amp for me on Ebay, that would be appreciated ;)
Will do they cum up a lot, the A&R Cambridge 'HA10' unit is worth a go aswell
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
It was something I was going to do, but in the end favoured the slightly different presentation of a (bespoke) SUT. SUTs and active head amps do sound rather different. It's a matter of personal preference.
Marco.
Don't tempt me, Marco !!! :doh:
Since, I started hifi I promised myself never get into the MC "stuff". Not because of any questioning of quality, no. Simply because I had few ££ to spend on hifi and each £ spent had to be overly-optimized.
But now, it's not the case anymore, so... :scratch:
Anyway, I guess I'll have to listen to a "proper" MC setup to decide. But don't tempt me ! :cool:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Themis
Don't tempt me, Marco !!! :doh:
Since, I started hifi I promised myself never get into the MC "stuff". Not because of any questioning of quality, no. Simply because I had few ££ to spend on hifi and each £ spent had to be overly-optimized.
But now, it's not the case anymore, so... :scratch:
Anyway, I guess I'll have to listen to a "proper" MC setup to decide. But don't tempt me ! :cool:
Dimitri
I personally don't like MC's don't how to describe the sound 'Too Romantic' maybe
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Andre
Will do they cum up a lot, the A&R Cambridge 'HA10' unit is worth a go aswell
Only interested in the Lentek, dude... So when you see one, let me know A.S.A.P, will ya? :)
Marco.
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Hi Dimitri,
Quote:
Don't tempt me, Marco !!! :doh:
Since, I started hifi I promised myself never get into the MC "stuff". Not because of any questioning of quality, no. Simply because I had few ££ to spend on hifi and each £ spent had to be overly-optimized.
But now, it's not the case anymore, so... :scratch:
Anyway, I guess I'll have to listen to a "proper" MC setup to decide. But don't tempt me ! :cool:
If you ever fancy a holiday in North Wales.................... ;)
Marco.
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Your not luring Dimitri into your cave by any chance :lol:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
Only interested in the Lentek, dude... So when you see one, let me know A.S.A.P, will ya? :)
Marco.
Will do you actually missed on just over a week ago £46.00
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
If you ever fancy a holiday in North Wales.................... ;)
It will be a great pleasure, for sure. ;)
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Bollocks.... If I remember rightly, it came in a kind of black powder-coated metal box with a little silver toggle switch on the front, and it was powered by a 9V battery :)
I remember the combo I had in the early 80s of the Ariston RD11s/Linn Basik LVV (with heavy AT magnesium headshell)/DL-103 into the MM phono stage of the Sondex S-230, with the Lentek head amp, was sublime!
Marco.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Themis
It will be a great pleasure, for sure. ;)
Well we must arrange something sometime :cool:
Marco.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
Bollocks.... If I remember rightly, it came in a kind of black powder-coated metal box with a little silver toggle switch on the front, and it was powered by a 9V battery :)
I remember the combo I had in the early 80s of the Ariston RD11s/Linn Basik LVV (with heavy AT magnesium headshell)/DL-103 into the MM phono stage of the Sondex S-230, with the Lentek head amp, was sublime!
Marco.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...G-SIN/ad-1.jpg
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That's the very boy! :cool:
Nice to read the write-up... I couldn't agree more with the comments.
Now, Master of Ebay, all you need to do is find me one!
(There'll be a special wee prize for you when you do) ;)
Marco.
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FFS people!!!!! :(
You guys are wetting yourselves on things that the bandwidth limited Naim 12S preamp (with mc boards inside) driven by a SNAPS absolutely shit over at the time, despite the fancy blingy boxes and slick button-work. KJ sold them all and I had the chance to dabble with many of these things at the time.
The Lentek is a hissy, grainy little beastie which eats batteries (300 hours my a*se!). Fine with the early Entre syrup pudding which it was designed for, but not a patch on a decent SUT in my opinion. Beware of the switch-on THUMP too.
I don't think many of you are aware of just how dramatically better the early Naim stuff was, despite the garage (ok, living room) build in the early days. Many a beautifully over-crafted Japanese concoction was truly audibly slaughtered by a NAC22/NAP120 in bolt-up livery.
I'm too old. I've seen this stuff first time round and to see it go for the prices it does over 30 years later is just lunacy IMO when better can be had for peanuts today..
Here endeth the lesson while I crawl back under my stone....
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:lol:
When I obtain a Lentek, Dave, I'll tell you whether you're right or not, as I shall compare it to the A23....
I'm just curious (based on what I remember from years ago), and if all it costs me is £50 (sweety money ;)), it'll be worth a bit of fun!
Marco.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
DSJR
FFS people!!!!! :(
You guys are wetting yourselves on things that the bandwidth limited Naim 12S preamp (with mc boards inside) driven by a SNAPS absolutely shit over at the time, despite the fancy blingy boxes and slick button-work. KJ sold them all and I had the chance to dabble with many of these things at the time.
The Lentek is a hissy, grainy little beastie which eats batteries (300 hours my a*se!). Fine with the early Entre syrup pudding which it was designed for, but not a patch on a decent SUT in my opinion. Beware of the switch-on THUMP too.
:lolsign:
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£80 more like, judging by a recent sale as I recall..
These things are now collectors items and so much far eastern gear of this period is a mugs eyeful - I love looking at the stuff and twiddling all the knobs :eyebrows: I'm sure the Lentek will be a fine and useful toy (as the X10-D I bought from Clive is proving to be), but today, with elderly caps etc, much of this stuff is very poor, especially when Glenn is making such wonderful gear of HUGE superiority today for not much money, relatively speaking...
You guys must forgive me. The likes of hifi dave and I have been around a VERY long time (especially hifi dave...:D).. It's all old hat to us you see....
If you want a cheapish MC headamp, seriously, try to find a Naim 12s or 22 (or one of the myriad 42's about). get a cheap 24V regulated supply from Maplins and wire a 4 pin DIN plug correctly. get another interconnect made - 5 pin to phono's on pins 1 and 4 and use from the tape output socket (or adapt the line out one if you want to vary the gain). For £100 or less, you'll have a great sounding MC phono stage with shedloads of tweakability/bodgability on tap....
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Lol - Dave, with respect, you can waffle away until the cow's come home - it doesn't matter a jot... As always, the proof of the pudding will be in the listening, and if the Lentek sounds good in my system, then you can take it for granted that it *IS* good!
The benchmark will be the A23, and if it gets near that through the Croft, then all your blustering will be nothing more than the blinkered ramblings of an aspergic old fool! :lol: :eyebrows: :ner:
;)
Marco.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
Lol - Dave, with respect, you can waffle away until the cow's come home - it doesn't matter a jot...
:D
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It will be as described, I promise you.....
Blinkered, Aspergic old fool eh? The cheek of it..... :scratch:
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:lolsign:
I do love having these little 'contretemps' with 'our Dave'... It usually results in me being proved right! :eyebrows:
M3D {Cough}, Stanton {cough, cough!} ;)
Marco.
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I have to agree with the 'aspergic and 'old' but a 'fool' DSJR ain't...:eyebrows:
The Lentek, even in it's day, wasn't up to much. It was bland to the point of boring and was well outclassed by the FR transformers and others of that time. I might even have one tucked away in one of the many boxes I haven't found time to open since my move here.
Problem back then was that certain reviewers who had the clout just weren't into transformers or even MC's. I well remember being given a severe telling off by the Editor of Hi-Fi for Pleasure for my penchant for the FR1 Mk3 and the FR2, using transformers of course. I was also warned that valve amps weren't up to it and it was my taste for 'second harmonic distortion' that was clouding my mind.
I sat in on a couple of 'listening sessions' for the mags at that time and unbiased isn't a word I would use to describe the results....:scratch:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
hifi_dave
I have to agree with the 'aspergic and 'old' but a 'fool' DSJR ain't...:eyebrows:
The Lentek, even in it's day, wasn't up to much. It was bland to the point of boring...
I don't doubt that's what you heard, but that's fundamentally *NOT* how I remember it when I used it for years in the 80s - quite the opposite, in fact...
Like I said, the proof of the pudding will be in the listening. In the time I've been posting here, I've obtained one!
So when it arrives, I'll review it, 'warts and all'.... Watch this space! ;)
If I'm wrong, I'll hold my hands up and admit my view of it was nothing but rose-tinted nostalgic memories, but if it sounds great then I'll be rubbing your noses in it, big time! :ner:
Marco.
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I have to say i loved the Lentek unit aswell..I loved the amps & the speakers i thought they were jolly good products.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
Marco
I don't doubt that's what you heard, but that's fundamentally *NOT* how I remember it when I used it for years in the 80s - quite the opposite, in fact...
Like I said, the proof of the pudding will be in the listening. In the time I've been posting here, I've obtained one!
So when it arrives, I'll review it, 'warts and all'.... Watch this space! ;)
If I'm wrong, I'll hold my hands up and admit my view of it was nothing but rose-tinted nostalgic memories, but if it sounds great then I'll be rubbing your noses in it, big time! :ner:
Marco.
If you listened to the thing in isolation it might have sounded OK but for me I had FR, EAR, Audio Innovations, Audio, Koetsu and other transformers to put it up against. I also had a few very good SS head-amps from small companies like UAD. Oh, another excellent one we sold bucket loads of was a Trio. I can't remember the model number but it was a lot better than the Lentek and was far cheaper.
As for 'nose rubbing' - it's all subjective and if you like the Lentek, then that's good. It's not for me but I hope you enjoy it.
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Absolutely, Dave - it's all just a bit of friendly banter :cool:
The Lentek will be up against a superb benchmark - the A23 - so if it gets anywhere near that sort of performance then it will undoubtedly be a very good bit of kit and a total bargain, justifying my memories of it in the process :)
Who knows, it may just have been one of those 'synergy' things - but all I can say is that when I had the Sondex S-230 (a great little 30W British amp of the time - do you remember it?)/Lentek/DL-103, the combination was magical, so one would imagine that with the Croft's superb valve MM stage, things will be markedly better.....
But you never know with these things. Anyway, watch this space!
Marco.
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I've always had best results with good quality transformers. Back in the late 70's and early 80's we were spoilt with high quality/reasonably priced step-up transformers but now they are rare and expensive unless you strike it lucky on E-Bay.
The Puresound T10 is a good'un at a reasonable price but that's the only affordable one I can think of. Perhaps there is a market out there for someone with the knowledge and a coil winding machine....:scratch:
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Yeah, SOWTER...... around £130 a pair. Just add plugs and sockets and possibly a case..
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I have had a Lentek for about 30 years and, to be honest, it is far inferior to my Denon AU340 transformer, Panasonic or Trio head amp. The little Lentek simply is not in the same league.
It will be interesting if my Denon 340 compares with the A23 in a bake-off.
