Martin's

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...193.JPG?psid=1
Above: This is the current setup. The SL1210 is for sale and with a potential buyer. I forgot the Leak Stereo 20 in the middle - nice little amp.

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...198.JPG?psid=1

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...901.JPG?psid=1

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...572.JPG?psid=1

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...576.JPG?psid=1

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...026.JPG?psid=1

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...905.JPG?psid=1

http://5f72lg.bay.livefilestore.com/...925.JPG?psid=1

See them all here

Lovely lovely system there! I am sure Marco will be along shortly to drool over your Lockwoods:lol:

Lovelly set up

Cor! :stalks: :stalks:

Nice...very, very nice :)



Regards D S D L

Ooh......very nice. :)

Show off! ;)

I can only imagine what it must sound like, very, very impressive looking setup, there has to be some "banner material" there Nick, if you've not done already?

Now going to sit in a corner and "humph" :(

A very nice set up indeed that makes me week at the knees :smoking:

Just noticed there's a huge difference in layout between 1 & 2 and then 3 - (is that an extra bookshelf speaker appeared in 3 next to the moved EAR?) Which is the current current one?

Respect, Martin - there's something strangely unnerving about looking at another pair of Lockwoods staring back which don't belong to me! :eek:

However, those are by far the only interesting bit of your system. I love almost everything you use, particularly your 912 preamp.... I've always rated those, but have never heard one.

The Denon DP59L also looks interesting. I'm not aware of that particular model. How would you compare it sonically with your TD-124? :)

Marco.

Yes, that really is a good looking and sounding system you have there Martin.

Would love to hear that EAR preamp.

May I ask why you have replaced the knife edge bearing on your SME arm, and why don't you play your Ortofon SPU in it? (Ortofon themselves used a Thorens/SME/SPU combination.)

Regards

Very impressive. Outstanding, in fact. The sort of set up that reminds me that to have the system I deserve:) I really need to earn a lot more money than I actually do.

Wow, very nice indeed Attachment 2285 If i ever went over to using valves, that is the type of equipment & speakers i'd be looking for Attachment 2286

It's been years since i heard a pair of 15" dual concentrics, from what i can remember they were very good indeed.

Ooooh I'm green :lol:

Those pictures just show how HUGE the Lockwood Majors really are, even though the TD124 is quite a neat little deck in that plinth system. Marco's own pics don't really give the scale of them IMO.

That EAR preamp probably costs many many thousands of pounds now, as Tim's hiked all his prices from expensive to stratospheric, but that one MUST be better than an ARC Reference, which I've always thought of as all fur coat-n-no knickers (take out all those Clarity caps and I bet it would be very ordinary)...

HiFi dave, can't you borrow one to try??????

Hi Dave,

Quote:

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Those pictures just show how HUGE the Lockwood Majors really are, even though the TD124 is quite a neat little deck in that plinth system. Marco's own pics don't really give the scale of them IMO.

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Indeed, probably because they're in a bigger room....

Don't you think they look just as huge in the room at Scalford Hall (which was huge in itself)?


http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/2...rdhall2010.jpg


Anyway, they certainly sound just as huge as they look. The sheer scale they can muster with the right material would make you soak yer Matalan panties!! :eek: :lol:

Marco.

Hi guys...thanks ever so much for your kind input. Much appreciated.

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

Just noticed there's a huge difference in layout between 1 & 2 and then 3 - (is that an extra bookshelf speaker appeared in 3 next to the moved EAR?) Which is the current current one?

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Hi Alex...The first picture is the only current picture. It's a previous experiment. I also have the Denon AVR-4310 and a PS3 for surround and I was experimenting with my Dynaudio 52SE placed in the bookshelf. Not good. Id rather just swap cables and use the Lockwood's for surround. As you can see I have left room on top for the center speaker - Dynaudio C122.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barry

May I ask why you have replaced the knife edge bearing on your SME arm, and why don't you play your Ortofon SPU in it? (Ortofon themselves used a Thorens/SME/SPU combination.)Regards

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Hi Barry...Because i read this review...is it true? I dont think so. But it looks good :scratch:

Actually Ortofon sold these TD-124 (at least in Scandinavia) using their own arms - the SMG212. I have this arm and you can just see in the sixth picture. Its a very simple arm and it tracks remarkably well. The contra weight looks like an old Kodak 35mm film case (grey lid on black) - this is full of soft lead. Due to it weight and very limited movement on the arm its impossible to use/outbalance various PU's other than the heavy Ortofon SPU G/T with the inbuilt SUT.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Marco

The Denon DP59L also looks interesting. I'm not aware of that particular model. How would you compare it sonically with your TD-124? :) Marco.

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Hi Marco...they are so different in may ways. The Denon is a typical direct drive Japanese turntable with really fine features, specs and measurements. It never faults, it just delivers - easy to live with.

The TD-124 is a real demanding child compared to the Denon, constantly something needs to be oiled, adjusted, tweaked or changed...certainly never boring. But the key difference is the amount of torque and thus sonic attack in the music...the TD-124 is an absolute league of its own here. I think the Denon is more correct in terms of wow and flutter.....marginal.

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Originally Posted by Marco

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/2...rdhall2010.jpg

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I wish my LookIgotWood..Major one...:eyebrows::lol: was as good looking as yours. Id much rather have your dark wood Formica finish. Yours also seem to be in better nick than mine. As you can see mine are covered in gaffatape around the base to cover the shattered formica. I am working on a plan for restoring the cabinetts...so little time.

Gee...when you read this all together it really comes out quite stupid:mental::cool:

Hi Martin,

You're right, regarding the condition. However, when I first got mine I didn't think they were in particularly good condition, as there are some scrapes and scuffs on the sides which the pictures don't show (bear in mind that until then I only bought brand new speakers), but now I've seen pictures of some other Lockwoods, I now realise that mine are virtually mint! :eek:

There were some nice teak coloured ones for sale a while back, which went for a ridiculously cheap price of around £700, but they didn't have Monitor Golds in. Instead they were some other obscure drivers. I forget which model...


http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8...oodsonebay.jpg


And one of my babies in situ at home:

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2...dmajors024.jpg

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I am working on a plan for restoring the cabinetts...so little time.

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Please keep me in the loop with that, as I'd like to do something with mine, perhaps in terms of re-veneering in a (lighter) real wood :)

Marco.

I'm still hankering after some Cheviots with re-built drivers.

We've discussed this before, but a pair of Major cabs for £7-800 with some Monitor Gold drivers (how much for a restored pair, £2K these days?) is still well under £3K all in. It may even be possible to get some current 15" DC's and crossovers... That's still a third of the price that any alternatives would cost I reckon.

I rather liked my Cheviots, but I did think them a "little lacking" at the top end. I dont know how much an "improved" crossover would help here.

Marco: Is that a full size door next to your Lockwoods?

Hahahaha..... Lots of people think that! No, it's just a cupboard for keeping blankets in and such like, or as some like to imagine, my S&M dungeon where all sorts of weird and wonderful things happen! :eyebrows:

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I rather liked my Cheviots, but I did think them a "little lacking" at the top end. I dont know how much an "improved" crossover would help here.

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A lot! I had the same problem with my Monitor Golds, in that they sounded a bit cuddly and shut-in, before I upgraded the crossovers with top-notch caps, etc. The result of doing so literally transformed them, lifting a veil over the sound which was restricting the performance from arguably one of the best drive units ever made.

Now they sound truly astonishing and have not only breathtaking drive and scale in the bass, but one of the most open sounding and communicative midrange presentations I've heard from any speaker so far, together with a lovely sparkle and extension at the top end, which makes them sound bang up to date and modern.

Now they're not just so Goddamn musically addictive, in the Tannoy DC tradition, but also much more accurate, and thus tick all the 'hi-fi boxes', too....

Trust me you haven't heard your Cheviots yet until you upgrade their ancient crossovers!

Marco.

I am glad about the door. Otherwise those Tannoys would be unfeasibly large. :eyebrows:

As I thought about the Cheviots. Unfortunately, I sold them some years ago.
Probably far too cheaply.:mental:

Just an observation here Marco - those handles on the side of the Lockwood cabs, do you do anything to deaden them ?
I can imagine they sing in sympathy if the volume level of the music you're playing is high enough.

Interesting observation, Chris, and something I've not thought about.

The handles, however, are not 'floppy', and instead very rigid, so opening them out to use takes a little effort. Therefore, they don't 'rattle' in any way, so I'd imagine have little effect on the sound the speakers reproduce :)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Techno Commander

I rather liked my Cheviots, but I did think them a "little lacking" at the top end. I dont know how much an "improved" crossover would help here.

Marco: Is that a full size door next to your Lockwoods?

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As originally tested (and auditioned when my ears were 35 years younger), the Cheviot had a nasal and rather "pinched" treble delivery a lot of the time, needing the controls to be set to -1 I remember. The intervening decades would have caused severe oxidisation of the nasty switches, the caps were only electrolytic IIRC and fatigue of the foam surrounds would have all added up to a speaker nowhere near it's best.

Interestingly, Cheviots always sounded better in clients' homes, where the whistly peaky treble was far better managed by well damped room acoustics.

I liked the Devons too :)

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Originally Posted by Marco

Interesting observation, Chris, and something I've not thought about.

The handles, however, are not 'floppy', and instead very rigid, so opening them out to use takes a little effort. Therefore, they don't 'rattle' in any way, so I'd imagine have little effect on the sound the speakers reproduce :)

Marco.

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Fair do - it was just an observation.:)

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Originally Posted by Marco

Hi Martin,

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8...oodsonebay.jpg

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/2...dmajors024.jpg

Please keep me in the loop with that, as I'd like to do something with mine, perhaps in terms of re-veneering in a (lighter) real wood :)

Marco.

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The point of no return...I have begun stripping the formica off around the base where its chafed and cracked. Using my Festool circular saw with a set depth of 1 mm I managed to get a clear cut in the Formica around the base - the first 10 centimeters. What a mess. Its not hard to get off but i don't like what i find underneath - my wood needs a lot of epoxy-filler to fix the base again. It will take serious work.:(

Se the pics here...

http://66u7xa.bay.livefilestore.com/...245.JPG?psid=1
Ohh well. I changed my mind and went all the way. The first speaker cabinet has been stripped and cleaned. The Formica is completely off and the contact-cement residue has been cleaned off as well. A bit of filler and we are ready to re-veneer in Mahogany. Can wait.

http://66u7xa.bay.livefilestore.com/...243.JPG?psid=1

http://66u7xa.bay.livefilestore.com/...215.JPG?psid=1

http://66u7xa.bay.livefilestore.com/...220.JPG?psid=1
I went for oak-veneer; looks fantastic when its new and light. I will treat it with white-colored furniture oil. The first back-side has been reveneered.

Can't wait to see the finnished article ! must be great to have so much space to hand and such a good sized room to put them in .

Are you doing the crossovers while they're out?

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Originally Posted by DSJR

Are you doing the crossovers while they're out?

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I am, but I not changing anything in the originals x-overs. I am building a completely new one with Clarity-caps and Mundorf coils etc. allowing me to do an A and B comparison.

Hi Martin,

Good luck with this... Please keep us updated with photos. What circuit are you using for the crossovers?

This is the one I used:

http://www.guitars-of-love.com/tanno...ssovermods.htm :)

Marco.

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Originally Posted by chris@panteg

Can't wait to see the finnished article ! must be great to have so much space to hand and such a good sized room to put them in .

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Yes its very nice with lots of space. Come to Denmark:-) You are so right...I remember my small townhouse in Fulham...nice but very very small.

Work must go on...
http://public.bay.livefilestore.com/...222.JPG?psid=1

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Originally Posted by DSJR

Are you doing the crossovers while they're out?

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Yes...using these lovely components from Jantzen Audio....mmmmm

http://66u7xa.bay.livefilestore.com/...ver.jpg?psid=1

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Originally Posted by Marco

Hi Martin,

Good luck with this... Please keep us updated with photos. What circuit are you using for the crossovers?

This is the one I used:

http://www.guitars-of-love.com/tanno...ssovermods.htm :)

Marco.

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I'll be using the same with minor changes. I will post the updated schematics when done.

Nice one, Martin - the Jantzen parts are excellent. I'd be very interested to hear of how it all comes together (with pics, of course), so keep us informed :)

Marco.

Check out Duelund Graphite Silver Resistors

Thanks for the link to the page - I remember reading this ages ago and have now saved to "favourites."

Some very wise and utterly sensible words from the big-loudspeakers page.....

"Since doing all this I have become an electronics technician after some study, and continue to be fascinated by the precarious art of speaker building and Hi Fi generally. My interest these days is much more focussed on music, musical electronics and guitars rather than Hi Fi and I continue to play music e.g. the link from this page. I still enjoy listening to a good sound system but the Hi Fi world is so profligate with bullshit it sometimes leaves me gasping. Examples of strange devices which claim to enhance a sound system are always around - inevitably built by portly middle aged men "Looking For The Answer......." Often the protagonists of this sort of thing are largely technically illiterate, with an attitude that borders on the psychotic. (go here for an amusing tale from the late '80s) Formally trained electronics engineers are often just as bad of course because if the maths says it's right - then it's right no matter how crappy it sounds - like saying "Oh any modern amplifier is pretty good thesedays....." Wrong!! Most commercial amps such as Surround Sound units are aurally horrible compared to a traditional budget NAD or Marantz. I guess most folks don't care anymore; content to listen to steely sounding i-Pods through those hideous white earphones. Over it...........live music is much more fun."

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Originally Posted by Marco

Nice one, Martin - the Jantzen parts are excellent. I'd be very interested to hear of how it all comes together (with pics, of course), so keep us informed :)

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Sure Marco. I am getting tremendous help from Troels Gravesen here in Denmark; besides his experience he has shown great passion and talent for for speaker building and designing crossovers. Troels has done a lot of measurement on the 15" Tannoy Monitor Golds prior to this and my little crossover upgrade will eventually be covered/documented on his website. Thanks Troels!!!

http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/MG15XO_..._layout_v1.GIF
Troel's way of showing the diagram makes it so much easier to understand.
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/MG15XO_...finished_2.jpg

http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/MG15XO_files/MG15-B_12.jpg

Looking good Martin - can't wait to find out what you think of the final result :cool:

Marco.

What a beautifully laid out board, but so many components for a two way... I suspect you can only get away with it so well because the speakers are so very efficient and the components are way over-specified...

Looks like the 3Khz "bump" may well be attended to as well. Glad this chap has measured what he's doing. It's the only way when so much is changed (for the better).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DSJR

What a beautifully laid out board, but so many components for a two way... I suspect you can only get away with it so well because the speakers are so very efficient and the components are way over-specified...

Looks like the 3Khz "bump" may well be attended to as well. Glad this chap has measured what he's doing. It's the only way when so much is changed (for the better).

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Yes Troels does a beautiful job, very thorough. Actually we have not added any components compared to original one.
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/MG15XO_...5-XO_large.jpg
Just adapting the above template schematic doesn't work well for us and we are not getting the results that we want. There is no quick fix upgrade!!

The drivers can be perfected much more, but getting there will require individual tweaking for each driver (apparently no two TMG15" measure the same and requires individual x-overs to perform their best). So my final x-overs may end up looking different. Will keep you posted.

Marco and others with TMG15...please read this and report back.

http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/MG15XO-up-grade.htm
http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/MG15-problem.htm

The X-overs are in place. The speaker-cabinets have been fully re-veneered in oak and later varnished. They now have a nice milky transparent finish, semi gloss, where the oak-wood grain clearly shows; all grain lines are vertical now.

The speaker-grill cloth have been replaced with black cloth especially chosen for its transparent audio properties. The previous PA-grade was not very transparent - huge difference here. Underneath the cloth (except for the drivers hole in baffle) I have glued 2 mm black felt all over the baffle. This gives a nice fit and makes the cloth look even darker.

I had to make a new back door in order to cover the opening to the obsulete internal amp. The new 12mm birch "backdoor" now has 24 screws; all screws are now 4mm torx machine screws and they are fixed in steel screw-in inserts for easy future inspection. The screw-in inserts were screwed into to epoxy glue for a strong fix.

Around the back door-opening in the cabinet (underneath the edges of the back door) I have glued a foam sealing tape to insure an airtight seal.

On the back, in addition to the 24 cool looking machine screws you will find an alloy faceplate with gold WBT-terminals.

I have kept the original furniture wheels...still evaluating my options but something has to be done here. I need a better fit/connection to my wooden floor.

How do they sound now? Well...more of the good stuff that made me want these beauties in the first place and less of the drawbacks. The sound stage is huge as previous but the upper end is sounds better integrated. Its clearly more detailed now. I really love these Lockwood Majors....they are so much better than my Dali Euphonia MS4.

Hi Martin,

Sounds wonderful... Pictures please! :)

Marco.

No piccies of the finished articles, Martin.....? :(

Marco.

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Originally Posted by Marco

No piccies of the finished articles, Martin.....? :(

Marco.

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Sorry mate! Waiting for a daylight opportunity..this weekend looks promising.

You'll just have to :cool: