Gromit's music centre...

[Gromit]

It looks to be in good nick Richard.
Wassunderdaflap?
............and there'll be none of that, thank you Marco & all you other Three Words Daily schoolboys!

It's pretty much mint Chris - just the tiniest scratch about 1" long on the front which I could only see once Mark (the guy selling) pointed it out to me.

The tuner looks like new - really ought to sort myself a decent FM aerial for that as have nothing at the moment.

Under the flap are tone controls (yes they work well too!) although I just use source direct, and switching for MM/MC etc, also a mono button which is all too rare these days.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Fab!
Any chance of a wee squint at a piccie or two of the tuner?

[Gromit]

Fab!
Any chance of a wee squint at a piccie or two of the tuner?

Ok doke - will get le camera out this avo.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Excellent, thanks.

[istari_knight]

Nice to see the old ES amps getting some exposure, fantastic engineering & attention to detail. You would be forgiven for thinking they were German if you removed the Sony badge.

How are you getting along with it after a few days settling it ?

PS. I did reply in the ES thread over on pfm but I guess you haven't been on there. I have a PDF service manual for the 670ES if you want it just pm me your email - Hopefully you shouldn't ever need it but its nice to have!

[Gromit]

Hi James - sorry missed your post on PFM, will pop over and have a lookt at it.

Don't worry re the pdf - it's one of the first thing I did when scouring the www for info on the amp. As to how I'm getting on with it? I've been very pleasantly surprised at how good it is - it just doesn't add anything, it's just so transparent. I did seem to have a channel balance problem - slight bias to the left so did all the usual checks.

Ended up running the whole system L to R ie every connection from the inputs to speaker outlets is running opposite way round - it ends up correct at the speakers which is the main thing. Result is the sound has centred. Lord knows why - doesn't make sense at all - but the amp's left and right sides are doing the job of their opposite channel. May be psychological...may be an acoustic/phase anomoly in my room.

The amp really is a cracker though - a fair bit faster than the Claymore and in one swoop my bass issues have gone. I knew it was the amp...I should trust my ears a bit more often. The Claymore does seem to like a less lively room, and taking it to a mate's house it worked beautifully. Will still miss it, but more out of a sense of nostalgia from my Flat-Earth 80's days.

The Sony has a cooler, more simple presentation than the Claymore too but once let off the leash it really hits hard and latches onto rhythms as though its very existence depended on it - it's very funky! Seems to like being driven too - doesn't sound as inspiring at lower volumes, a bit flat even. I'm certainly very happy with it, and for what it cost I have no complaints - it may even surprise one or 2 people at Scalford on Sunday. Will hopefully have my PS-6750 turntable up and running as well.

[istari_knight]

That pretty much sums up my experience with it aswell... Although I've never compared it to or even owned a Claymore it has seen off a few respected amps which often command triple the price of the Sony.

Not sure what to say about those channel issues, very odd!

Just upgraded my CDP-970 to a CDP-X33ES & they make a superb pair. Problem is I need a new rack as my flimsy Ikea "corras" isnt made for 15kg amps & 10kg cd players!

[spacey]

Rich - you change your system almost as quickly as i do!!

I've just changed everything again right down to every cable, stand and plug!

[Gromit]

A sad day today at Gromit Towers - the flag is flying at half mast and I'm wearing my black arm band. My Royds are moving on to pastures new - I've had nearly 7 very happy years with these little beauties but I need the cash. This is because I'm giving up my playing job (well the full time bit - I'll still be doing some freelance stuff hopefully) at the end of the year and going into teaching Clarinet and Piano and we need a new piano to do so. They don't come cheap so some stuff has had to go.

Still, a real piano will always sound better than one played through any speaker.

[julesd68]

Wow - a sad day indeed - I thought you would rather chop off your hands than lose the Merlins!

Hope you find something nice to replace them with. I have only found one small speaker that I preferred to the Merlins - my old Chario Syntars. The Merlins had a more realistic quality with vocals, but the Syntars had the edge on them with a bigger soundstage and bass.