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My interest in hifi dates back to the late 70's. My best mate at School, Stephen owned a really cool pair of American Jensen dual cone full range speakers. These things had real bass and worked well with "NEW WAVE". I was bitten by the bug soon after and I have never recovered. It is a brilliant hobby with so many avenues to follow. Initially I was just listening, then reading/buying, then designing and building your own equipment (highly recommend if you have appropriate skills), system matching, tuning the room, the history, retro gear, buying, selling. When you read these pages you may learn a little of my passion.

My first system featured a BSR BDS95 turntable with ADC VLM, a ROTEL RA214 amp and a pair of Wharfedale Denton XP2s. Black vinyl was my only source for a very long time (1978-1988)

This was followed by a huge range of gear. The best of the early items included the Rotel RA1000, A+R A60 amp, Mordaunt Short Festivals, Mission 763, Croft Super Micro, EPOS ES14 and the Quad FM4

ra10000 amp

SOME HISTORY

I USED A AR LEGEND DAILY between OCTOBER 1983 and June 2005 (22 years of faithful service)

I first heard CD running on Hitachi's first CD player. The HA-1000 (not sure about the designation) It was extremely impressive back in 1982. The Bose 901s generating a gale of very clear sounds.

I was completely shocked when I heard the first Marantz CD player (top loader CD63) playing through some Quad ELS 63s. At the time I couldn't believe it could possibly get any better.

My first CD player was a third generation Yamaha CDX-810 HiBit (18bit with 8 times over sampling)

I always aim for the best sound for the lowest cost.

It is best to build it yourself.

My current systems are a strange mix of old and new but all three work very well indeed and all have different strengths and weaknesses. From June 2005 I have decided to move to all digital source components. I honestly believe that a turntable is the best sonic solution. However, they just require too much work and getting good quality music out of other sources has become relatively easy.

Lowther PM7C silver, Kef C-95 modified + Crysler Ce-4a

My trio of single full range drivers (well the Kef has low end assistance!)

The Fidelio....here with a Fostex Fe 206E, DIY Bete Noire sits on top.

Twin Earle Weston 300B mono amps, sit on top of my trusty old Sony TA 4650 V-FET integrated

CD system 1.......driven by 300B SET

CD Cambridge Audio Azur (dual single bit)

Magnetic Passive Pre (transformers wound by Earle Weston)

Interdyn Interconnect

Amplification is provided by twin 12W Weston Acoustics Single Ended 300B valve power amps.Mono version of "time machines"

JJ Tesla GZ34, New Tungsol 6SN7 GTB, Electro Harmonix 300B

Lowther PM7c Hi Ferric(silver) Fidelio cabinets

Ortofon 6N flat ribbon speaker cable

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR HIGHER RES IMAGE 0.5Mb

My unique 300B here sporting the superb 6188 twin triode.

CLICK ON PICTURE FOR BIGGER VERSION 400kb

the picture above is high resolution

CD system 2..........driven by VFET

Pioneer PDS 940 CD turntable and Luxman D322 CD player

Luminous Audio Axiom preamp with Caddock output resistors,

Sony TA-N7 VFET power amplifier

JBL 4311B control monitors 1973

Atacama lead filled stands Ortofon 6N flat ribbon cable

TA-N7

JBL 4311B below

CD System 3 ........driven by Hitachi MOSFET usually

Luxman D 105u hydrid CD player or Marantz CD65

audio Synthesis Passion

Syren Dragon MOSFET power amp

iving Audio Ce 4a Full Range 1973 or AR 4xa

1973 Living Audio 5in FR alnico driver

A simply stunning small speaker

PICTURES TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

Wonderful TA-N7 gleaming inside and out!

CD players and passives all in Com Rack two

The Luxman D105u below

The CD player valves are on. Notice the metal grid behind. I hadnt really noticed this before. This is a very nice sounding CD player and seen quite often on eBay

A luxman D-322 from 1995 (web image)

Magnetic + Dale/Vishay passives below

my guidelines

1. Use good quality interconnects and speaker cable. At least O.F.C. or better. Clean all plugs and sockets with contact cleaner. If you have time try to buy lengths of silver wire (say 0.5mm) from the people who supply the jewellers and make your own.

2. I often use passive preamps simply because they add nothing to the sound. In my experience the best passive controllers are built by Audio Synthesis in the UK. Rothwell electronics also make a similar device. You could also consider building one. A cheap blue 50K ohm ALPS pot in a box will give good results

There are some great new designs around. Check out MF audio based in the UK. Their passive uses transformers with multiple taps

In my view the ideal system, is still based upon

a turntable, moving coil cartridge, passive pre/solid state power amp (class A) , or a neutral solid state preamp and Valve power amp

( I prefer the Mullard 5-10 variants EL84)A high efficiency single full range drive unit. or hybrid electrostatic (FR electrostatics have to be large)

Experiment with old Alnico drive units. These may look uncool and lack fancy heavy magnets and heavy lifeless cones. But they sound much much better. The Alnico magnets are far far superior. I have just built a tiny 9L ported enclosure which house two 70's alnico SEAS drivers. It is so good its hard to describe. It has great pace, bass tempo and rhythm. IE MUSIC. Most speakers I hear miss the target

3.Amplifiers. Use a valve power amp or a class A solid state.. Buy or build in the biggest power supply you can. Buy or build an amplifier which has the minimum of discrete components. With each component come an extra character and yet another solder joint. Bad news for the audio signal!!!!!

4. I have been listening to speakers for a long time. If you have a big unconditionally stable amplifier and lots of money it really is difficult to beat electrostatic loudspeakers. Quad, Vass audio etc. If you have to use a normal dynamic loudspeaker, find one with a single, well made, full range drive unit. ,Kef UniQ, Bandor, Crysler or if you get lucky a Coral beta 8 or 10.

The reason being they are usually easy to drive and they will give you an image. Also look out for 50, 60s drivers featuring Alnico drivers

OTHER POINTS

Use a simple vocal recording to check for the centre image. You will easily spot phase problems with speakers.

Tweeters should be at ear height in your seated position.

Lift speakers off the floor and keep them away from room corners if possible. (both help tune the bass)

Coral beta Ten in BL-25D horn