DENON HA 500, just a photo gallery

[Spectral Morn]

Well I was listening to the Lentek for a few hours last night, with all sorts of music, and I didn't feel particularly short-changed in terms of 'hi-fi aspects' of the sound or musical enjoyment - in fact, it really digs deep into recordings and unravels subtle nuances in the music, which really puts a smile on your face!

I'm sure that when I swap back to the A23 I'll hear what was 'missing', but the Lentek, regardless of its ultimate hi-fi shortcomings, sure makes music fun to listen to

As an aside, I've often noticed people going on about T de P's 'The Head' SUT, and how wonderful it was, well I had one and found it a pretty unremarkable device - not bad by any means, just a little 'bland', somewhat fluffy sounding, and ultimately rather musically un-involving.

I find the Lentek much more preferable, as it sounds the polar opposite of 'The Head', as it has drive, dynamics, and positively bristles with joie de vivre!

Maybe it's because it matches the DL-103 so well? Perhaps the results with other cartridges are less inspiring and that's why some people didn't get on with it.....? Synergy is all-important, after all.

Whatever - for me it was £60 well spent, as it gives me a viable alternative to the A23 when I fancy a different type of presentation of my favourite choons

Marco.

Not my experience of The Head at all.


Regards D S D L

[Marco]

No doubt, Neil - it obviously suited your system. Like I said, it's not a bad device by any means; it just didn't suit my system at the time (and as such sounded as I've outlined) - such is the way with hi-fi

The Lentek, in my system, didn't sound as the two Daves described either!

Marco.

[alfie2902]

After a couple of weeks with the A23 doing it's magic with my DL-103 it's going to be one very special SUT to even match this combo!

It would be nice to have a listen to that 'Denon AU-103 MC Step Up Transformer' that's for sale on ebay just to see how it does stand up to the A23! Go on buy it Marco!

[DSJR]

Neil, wasn't there a bigger "Head" in what became the cylindrical MF X-Series case? I think you alluded to one in your post above..

[DSJR]

Marco, I can't find your question mate, but it *may* interest you to know that in addition to the Entre, I used a DL103D/Mission 774 with mine at home and we did sell a good few 103C's too just before Linn took us/me over

We sold dozens of Lentek head amps and their amps and speakers too, which were a bit too tight-a*sed for my tastes. At least the fastidious nature of Phil Swift has found its way into (soon to be) classic Audilabs and current Spendors..

[Marco]

You've kind of answered it, Dave... It was in post #70

I don't doubt what you heard when you used the Lentek all those years ago, but it'll have been system-dependant just like everything else!

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

Neil, wasn't there a bigger "Head" in what became the cylindrical MF X-Series case? I think you alluded to one in your post above..

Which post ? Not that I know of

This particular Head is a very early one marked High End Audio Devices on the front also TX4. On the back it says that they where based in ST Ives. I suspect HEAD is the company name reduced down to letters.

Weighs a ton, I always wondered what a crushed car would be like.


Regards D S D L

[DSJR]

I must be confused again, but I though the HEAD was a Tim de P concoction. I'm sure i saw one with a brushed brass style front but in the X series "cylinder." I'll have to check again with HiFi dave, in who's shop in Radlett I saw it decades ago.

[hifi_dave]

The Head was a Tim DeP/EAR device which looked and felt like a brick. On the rear were 3 or 4 choices for input impedance. Each one was hand wound by Tim and he made great play of that.

The 'Black Head' used much smaller, proprietry transformers in cans and was available from Hi-Fi News and Moth marketing. It was a good device but nowhere to the standard of The Head.

[DSJR]

I was mistaken then

For the final time Marco (I promise), the Lentek has a fixed input impedance which, as you say, will certainly be cartridge dependent, no issues there But as you've found, there are better things available to handle the tiny outputs of most MC cartridges.

I think I may try some Sowter transformers next. They're available in various gains and impedances and also a deluxe OCC wire option for not much more. HiFi dave has offered to reprise his casework skills and get them fitted and socketed into a little ally case like he did before..