Radford Revival Exclusive on Hifi Pig

[Wakefield Turntables]

I think that this is an excellent piece of news for the hifi industry! My only concern is that it might be considerably cheaper to refurb an old Radford v's buying a new one??

[IHP]

I think that this is an excellent piece of news for the hifi industry! My only concern is that it might be considerably cheaper to refurb an old Radford v's buying a new one??

I've given this thought too but if the new one is going to perform better then there's your answer. Plus availability is an issue, the only (fairly) regular source of these that I know is ebay and there's been some real dogs on there recently (as well as a few clean ones).

Plus the new ones are very shiny !

It's a fair point you make though Andrew. I'd be tempted but haven't got the entry fee !

[Ali Tait]

I'd say there needs to be a review of new versus old. If the new ones are made with modern components I doubt they will sound like the originals.

[stupinder]

Interesting - I wonder how many they will sell. Any idea who is making the transformers for them? And where do they source the valves?

Since it is highly unlikely these new amps will be used with a Radford preamp, I can't see the point in the octal socket on the front panel. I would prefer it if it was replaced by a good quality mains connector that would allow users to choose their own mains lead.

Still it's good to know someone is going to restart manufacture of these amps using the latest high quality components.

I wish them success.

I spoke to Steve at RR this morning and he answered a few questions for me that folk have raised here and elsewhere.
The octal socket on the front panel will not be connected on the retail product but can be connected if that's what buyers want.
i suppose its a bit like the Big-Blower Bentley reproduction they had on Top Gear a couple of weeks ago where the supercharger block on the front wasn't actually a supercharger at all - difference being that the octal can be connected if that's what you want.
To have he amp as a "Revival" of the original but look very different would defeat the object a little to my mind.

[Marco]

You're very welcome, btw, Stu. Good luck with your site and Radford Revival in selling these superb amps. They're just the thing I'd look at buying, if I didn't have my copper amp!

Marco.

[IHP]

I'd say there needs to be a review of new versus old. If the new ones are made with modern components I doubt they will sound like the originals.

Good point but arguably an old one won't sound like an original if it's refurbished in terms of undercarriage components, and to be fair this really does need doing if they're going to be used regularly. Fully agree with the old vs new review, that would be really interesting.

This venture seems to be in the spirit of modern production LS3/5a perhaps ?

[Ali Tait]

Yes, components will be different, but so will the transformers I'd have thought. Same design maybe, but different materials etc.