Technics Bearing Mod

[Marco]

That comment wasn't aimed at you, mate

Regarding the Continuum, I'd need to hear it myself. I have my doubts it's *that* good in comparison to a fully tricked out SP10, but I'll take your word for it

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

That's OK then.

Remember I was the only one to notice the amplifier/speaker issue the other weekend? (actually two others did too, can you guess who they were?) I'm known for being technical, but my ears are bloody good too old chap!

If you came to the Munich High End Show with me, you could hear the Continuum and others correctly set up. You could also hear 1/4 million (currency doesn't matter) loudspeakers, and you would like them.

You, like me, would probably come away saying to yourself "what I have is really good, and to achieve the next step is going to cost me 1/2 million, so I'll stay as I am and be happy!" ? I certainly did and will be happy with my SP-10 for ever, might add a Koetsu Rosewood Signature if I get the next military contract though and a pair of GamuT S7 loudspeakers (the slightly smaller brother of the £64K ones at the show).

That would be it though, nothing else. It's like driving a Maybach, great car, but totally and completely out of my league and I would never get through Above Town in Dartmouth. So a top of the range C Class it is, and a second hand one too..................

Regards

Dave

[MartinT]

a pair of GamuT S7 loudspeakers

Interesting. As an Usher dealer, do you not get a good price on the Be10/20? How do you rate them? I'm curious as I run a pair of Be-20 and I don't think there are many pairs in the country.

[Dave Cawley]

Hi Martin

The Ushers are really great, and even better value, but the support from the UK Distributor caused me and others problems, so we no long deal with them.

The GumuT S7 is more tightly integrated with more bass slam that I really want for 80's electropop ! http://www.avreview.co.uk/news/artic...N/2616/v/3/sp/ and also http://www.dagogo.com/View-Article.asp?hArticle=88

BTW, will respond to your earlier question later.

Regards

Dave

[Marco]

Hi Dave,

I see where you're coming from and to an extent I agree.

Regarding the SP10 vs. Continuum thing, I'm in no position to argue the point as I haven't heard a Continuum, nor been to the Munich show.

However, what I would say is if I walked away gob-smacked at what I'd heard from (ANY) equipment or speakers at a hi-fi show, no matter the cost, it would be the first time in a lifetime! I mean that seriously.

Rooms, set-up, and all sorts of anomalies, usually combine to significantly undermine the potential of equipment demonstrated, such that I am more often than not left cold.

That's not to say though that the equipment demonstrated isn't intrinsically very good (and would sound better when set-up in a more optimal environment), but show conditions usually spoil things, hence why I am rarely, if ever, 'blown away' by anything I hear at a hi-fi show

The only time I've got close to that was at Whittlebury Hall when I visited Guy Sergeant's room and heard his kit on the end of the (superb) Aspara HL1s... Those huge horn-driven speakers were quite outstanding, far more so, IMO, than the Gamuts you're raving about, which incidentally I thought were 'ok' but nothing special.

The most impressive speakers for me at Whittlebury Hall were the Asparas and the huge Cabasse La Sphère. Those were the only two designs I heard which I'd even remotely consider replacing my Tannoys with (the latter if I had the room!) I guess that I'm just not particularly into 'tall, slim' floostanding loudspeakers. Unless there's a 12" driver (or bigger!) in a suitably wide-baffled cabinet, driven by a top-notch valve amp, I'm not interested

These days, for me, three main things must be in the equation in order to obtain the best sound: vinyl, valves, and huge (preferably horn-driven) high-efficiency speakers!

I do like the Ushers, though, and I have to be honest here and say that in my opinion they're far better (sonically and in terms of SPPV) to the Focals you stock now. Furthermore, IMO, their top models (such as Martin uses) are superior to either the Gamuts or the Focals, save perhaps the Grande Utopias!

Hey ho, I guess it would be a boring world if we all agreed on everything

Marco.

P.S As an aside (and I've said this before), you should definitely promote Puresound products as much as you do those of A.N.T Audio, as by not doing so your potential customers are missing out on another superb product option. But I suspect that you have a slight bias against valve-based gear...

[Dave Cawley]

Hi Marco

It is a pity your experience of shows is so limited (so far) Why not come to Munich or CES? Then you would be in a position of knowledge, and knowledge is power man!! Also the food is very good...............

I know of no Ushers that have been reviewed that are better than the expensive GumuT's, can you point me to a source? I believe you misunderstood the GumuT's, slim? no way! see the size of the drivers?? Wow!! You and some friends could live in one.

Your suspicions are thankfully incorrect! One of the best amps I have tried here was a pair of 300B monoblocks, the total cost was > £30K and they really rocked! I rarely if ever push any sort of power amplifier. But I do push Phono Stages, and the top runners in my very wide experience are Plinius, Whest Audio PS.30R and A.N.T. I have a lot of equipment passing through here on loan from manufactures, my experience is very wide and I can speak with authority on my visits to Munich and CES. You really, really must come next time and compare notes with me in real time. I can show you the light at the end of the tunnel, and take you there.

Regards

Dave (can you see my tongue firmly implanted in my cheek?)

[chris@panteg]

If had won that 45m pot last week i would 1st in the Que for a continuum but for speaker's i would be checking out these

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatur.../olympian.html

A mere snip at 190k but hey ' out of 45m

I have not heard them but i have heard the Tone scouts and air partner system , truly staggering .

[Marco]

can you see my tongue firmly implanted in my cheek?

LOL - of course I can!

I'd love to come to Munich, so give me a shout when you're organising to go next year

As for the Gamuts, they're 'slim' compared to my Lockwoods! What size of main drivers do they use?

Regarding the Gamuts vs. the Ushers, I'm not talking about reviews; I'm talking about what I've personally heard. I've heard both big Ushers (can't remember which models) at shows, and the Gamuts at Whittlebury Hall, and can say quite categorically that I preferred the Ushers.

However, I never form definitive opinions on anything I hear at a show, so would reserve final judgement until I heard either in my own system, not that this is ever likely.

I can show you the light at the end of the tunnel, and take you there.

Thanks, but I'm not sure I need that particular direction

But I do push Phono Stages, and the top runners in my very wide experience are Plinius, Whest Audio PS.30R and A.N.T.

Yes you do, and in my opinion you push the A.N.T much more than the P10 or Guy's new designs. Have you heard some of his new stuff? It's stunningly good! Out of interest, how much Puresound product do you sell on average per month?

Now you might think that the A.N.T is better (and I agree it *is* really good), but the fact is your ears/hearing is different to those of your potential customers (or certainly not necessarily the same), so by 'pushing' the A.N.T so heavily, and (judging by the evidence of what you write here) virtually ignoring the Puresound products, you're inadvertently restricting their choice, and in a way making it for them, rather than letting their own ears be the judge.

Do you see my point?

In my opinion, you should promote all of your products equally, and with the same passion, otherwise why stock the others in the first place?

Btw, I'm not having a go at you; just being honest and giving some friendly advice, like you are with me

Marco.

[chris@panteg]

This one is interesting ' any thoughts Dave' Marco '

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Technics-SP-20...item2303fa2355

[DSJR]

Ooooh, that looks good

What a shame that the LP12 had such a stranglehold back then in the UK! After the Pinks and Voids etc, there was no room for the SP10 and its siblings