Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[jandl100]

Some new amps to try with my MBLs ....



Bi-amped Behringer A500 amps in the distance. I really, really like these. Fab on their own, but bi-amping them (but not bridging them!) is very worthwhile.
I've had some before with my old Infinity RS2.5 ribbon hybrids and they worked very nicely indeed. So I was curious to try them with my MBLs. Bloody good. Solid, powerful, detailed, focussed, fast & rhythmic - what's not to like?

And a new arrival today in the nearside of the photo - a Tube Technology Fusion HB 70i integrated amp - valve pre-amp stage and mosfet ss power stage. 70wpc - more than enough for the MBLs.

Whoa! - very different to the Mini-T/Behringer sound. Huge soundstage, buxom bass, very 3D, lovely fully-fleshed tonality. Definitely a touch of valve magic.
The bass in particular is interesting - very full, but deep and thrummy - perhaps a tad loose. Very distinctive and very enjoyable.

I've often said that different can be as much fun as better, and this is an excellent example of the truth of that. Much more listening to do, but I think I am going to enjoy the TT Fusion's stay at Jerry Mansions.

[jandl100]

It's Turntable Frenzy here at Jerry Towers ....



A Pioneer PL600X and a Technics SL-7 have arrived.

Both are Japanese quartz-locked direct drives, of course. The old belt-drive wow-wow-wow fandango will not be tolerated here!

My Techie SL1800 is 'resting' for a while.

Both are fully automatic, sorry you purists out there!

A minor issue-ette with the Pioneer is that it has a squeaky belt on the lift/lower function :dunno: but a replacement belt is on order. It works fine, but just squeaks a bit when the arm is raised.

I've had the Pioneer for a few days and am very impressed with the sound. A lot like the Techie SL1800, but a little more relaxed and musically fluid. The first thing I did was swap the grotty rubber mat for a Herbie, as pictured.

The SL7 arrived today. Mega-cute and a technological mini-marvel. It sounds to me like the cartridge (a Technics EPC-202ED, moving magnet) is a bit tired - I would guess its the original from way back when. I've ordered a new T4P cart for the deck - a nice little Stanton mm.
Played a couple of sides with the SL7 this evening - it's a bit mid-rangey at the moment, but every now & then it kind of catches me out with a beautifully smooth and rounded tone - an "ooo, that's nice" moment.

A few new carts are on their way to me to play with ... the Stanton already mentioned for the SL7 and also a Dynavector DV10X5 hi-output mc, and an Empire 999E/X and Pickering XV15 mm.

I shall report back in a few days once the new carts have arrived and I've spun a few more LPs.

[jandl100]

... and I seem to have neglected to mention the 'amp of the moment'.



A Unison Research Unico Secondo integrated.

This was plumbed in a fortnight or so ago ... and has just settled in to perfection.
Although the very first thing I did was to take out the grotty stock EH ecc83 valves and put a pair of lovely Amperex 7025 in!

I've had Unico separates here at Jerry Mansions. A Unico Pre and a pair of DM monoblocks. And I liked them a LOT - they were impressive hifi machines. But in comparison to the Unico Secondo they were just that - impressive hifi. It's corny, I know, but the Secondo is an impressive music machine. No, it doesn't have the chiselled from granite soundstage imaging of the DMs, or their clout and dynamic swagger. But for me it has a far more enticing and absorbing and naturally flowing musical presentation.

There's something that just sounds right about this amp in my system. No, it doesn't have the dynamic clout of some other amps (but it ain't half bad at 120wpc), or the finely focussed transparent imaging of the TA2020 chip amps. System synergy maybe - but I think that overall it is the finest sounding amp I have had.

And it has a rather fine phonostage as well - although, irritatingly, to change between mm and mc and adjust the gain +10dB, you have to pop the lid of the amp and fiddle with tiny little jumper tags in the recesses of the corner of the amp. This seems a tad unnecessary to me - the Unico Pre had little extenal dip switches. A cost cutting measure for the 'budget' component in the range I guess. Even though it beats the others in terms of musical presentation, imho!

[jandl100]

It's been a while, so perhaps it's time for a system update?

Here's the whole shebang as of this morning ....



Of late, I seem to have been going picture/duck/lizard crazy - kind of a busy backdrop to the hifi, but I like it.

Speakers are the old trusty MBL 116F - I'll not be changing these for many a year.
Amp(s) at the moment are a CR Developments Romulus integrated valve amp for the mids and treble and a Musical Fidelity XA200R integrated amp for the bass drivers. I'm also using the remote controlled pre-amp section of the MF as the Romulus is sans remote. The MF pre section is quite high rez and seems to impart a slight "golden glow" to the sound which is very attractive. The Romulus bass isn't at all bad, but at only 35-40wpc it gets a little soggy into the 83dB/W MBLs when the volume ramps up. The MF bass is great - deep, powerful and juicy - and doesn't seem to run out of steam.

Digital front end is now a Pioneer PD-S707 (the last of the stable platter CDPs, I believe) into the current forum fave, the Young DAC. My Young DAC has a Li Ion battery pack PSU.

Analog front end is a Pioneer PL600X tt, a DV10X5 cartridge and a "949person" 'audiophile' phonostage with battery PSU.

Also an Arcam DV29 DVD player, a Denon DRS-810 3 head cassette deck ... and a LG VHS tape video player.
The screen (for DVDs .. the room is a TV-free zone) is a 42 inch Daewoo plasma jobbie.
All the power goes thru a Pure AV PF40 mains cleaner doo-dad.

It all sounds rather nice, actually.

[MartinT]

Very nice, Jerry. Those MBLs look superb.

I've never heard of the 949person phono stage, what is it? Have your box-swapping days calmed down now?

[jandl100]

Hi Martin

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned these cheap 'stages before. Available thru eBay - he does a range from £60 or so going up toward £150 - and is happy to make them with gain set for your cartridge.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Quality-Phono-...item1e63e5c036
Ah, I see he calls himself Angle Audio now. Nice kit, though!

I started out with the bottom of the range (for my old Denon 103) and have now bought his top model ... rather a neat little unit with a battery PSU and a switch for charge/play ...


I compared mine recently to a Graham Slee Amp2 - and the Amp2 got slaughtered!

[icehockeyboy]

Nice sexy, if somewhat effeminate pink light on there Jerry!

Now you'll tell me it's just a trick of the camera/light I bet!

[jandl100]

Have your box-swapping days calmed down now?

Ah - well, hmmm ... yes, a bit.

Having bought the MBL speakers brand spankin' new, I guess I'm kind of committed to them for a while. ... not that it's exactly a hardship!

The Young DAC was a new purchase, too.

I must be losing my touch.
Maybe it's a trend?

Although I've been having a bit of fun with trying different amps to drive the MBL bass cones recently. And I clicked the eBay BIN button on yet another amp yesterday.

So, no, I seem to have few plans for entering the land of the (relatively) sane.

[jandl100]

Nice sexy, if somewhat effeminate pink light on there Jerry!

Now you'll tell me it's just a trick of the camera/light I bet!

Um - yes, it is actually!

[DSJR]

Jerry, did you sell the basic phono stage you bought, or do you still have it?