Gromit's music centre...

[thrunobulaxx]

Marco, nothing would please me better, but its too late for me, i`m not able to spend enough time on my feet, and if i did go into production i`m shure someone would come along and mass produce them on CNC lathes just like they did my record clamps (copied my designs and undercut me)
Each C/W is more or less unique and "hand finished" so those of you with one can rest assured you have a hand made bespoke C/W, not bits of brass with holes in formed by a robot.
I will be passing on my lathe to my son and maybe he will carry on when i`m hovis.

[Gromit]

Spot the difference?



Just borrowed a KaT34 off a mate who's borrowed my CA 840C. Sounds pretty damn good, and works beautifully with the NVA passive pre.

Drives the Royds happily aswell showing no sign of bottling (sorry) it at higher levels.

[Marco]

Nice amp, Richard. I've heard one myself and rate it

So is the Spacedeck well and truly 'retired' now the PL-71 is on the scene, and if so, have you thus concluded now that D/D when done properly is superior to belt-drive?

No sitting on the fence now!

I would like to know how you feel about this.

Marco.

[thrunobulaxx]

Spot the difference?



Just borrowed a KaT34 off a mate who's borrowed my CA 840C. Sounds pretty damn good, and works beautifully with the NVA passive pre.

Drives the Royds happily aswell showing no sign of bottling (sorry) it at higher levels.

I keep seeing valve amps everywhere, its getting on my nerves, i want one

If i had a clue how to build one i would but a simple DC motor control had me close to the edge.

I could build a lovely case and knobs but thats about it, how easy are those world designs DIY instructions to follow for someone that can do a bit of soldering but with no understanding of a circuit.?

[shane]

how easy are those world designs DIY instructions to follow for someone that can do a bit of soldering but with no understanding of a circuit.?

OK I haven't built one myself so I can't speak from personal experience, but your level of capability is exactly their target market. What I've seen on the WD forum ( http://www.wduk.worldomain.net/forum/index.php ) indicates that the kits are very will documented and that the instructions are clear and comprehensive. What I do know is that Peter Comeau and Andy Grove will happily take you by the hand and talk you through any problems you may come across, and will bend over backwards to make sure you end up with a brilliant amplifier. It really isn't very difficult.

Go for it!

[Ali Tait]

The kits are pretty easy to build,as long as you take the appropriate safety precautions when powering it up.Bear in mind there are potentially lethal voltages in these amps! You will find WD very helpful with any problems,and I'm sure any here with experience would be happy to help if you run into any problems,or you would find plenty of willing helpers over on the WD forum.Alternatively,look out for a secondhand already built one.They come up now and again,either on the forum or ebay.

[Marco]

Or you could simply buy one fully-assembled (there are both kit prices and assembled prices available for WD gear) and let someone else worry about such things, although granted it wouldn't be as much fun!

Even the fully-assembled prices of WD kits still represent excellent value for money compared to commercial items, which in many cases will not offer anything like the same sound-per-pound value or overall performance.

Either way, like Shane says, go for it!

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Jerry has my WAD 300b PP at the moment.Not a current kit,but if he would care to post his impressions it may give you an idea of what to expect from WD,given it's the first kit he's heard.

[scoobs]

I cant take my eyes off that PL71, it really is eye candy.
Denon 103, vintage DD and valves...you gotta love it!

[Gromit]

Well it's been a most pleasant afternoon/evening spinning some lp's on my old wooden record player with its old nail-sized-stylus 103. How far have we come in the last 30 years? Not very far on this evidence.

The KaT doesn't have the oomph or grip of the A80's (no surprise) but it's arguably slightly better on vocals - hard to split to be honest. I'd say that the NVA powers are better overall - they're actually slightly sweeter (that was a surprise) and the KaT is leaner, perhaps slightly cooler in its presentation, despite how much it warms the room. I've a couple of spare sets of EL34's to play with and have settled on the Golden Dragons which whilst not as tight as the JJ's they're definitely more articulate and less shrill.

One thing which has made me smile is how damn good the passive pre is with the WAD - I've a P90sa arriving soon so will look forward to how that works with the valve amp.

As to the WAD/WD amps overall - I did have a little KEL84 about a year ago and still maintain it's one of the most wonderfully musical devices I've owned. Not over-burdened with power (15w/ch doesn't go that far!) but within its comfort zone a fabulous little amp. This one had been filled with a few Black Gates and had some rare Philips NOS EL84's and Telefunken ECF80's and was quite a special piece of kit. Wished I'd kept it tbh.

All in all though it just proved that there really are some truly great value products out there from some very small companies.