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Post by ChrisB on Jun 25, 2014 22:36:04 GMT
Hi, it's Chris here up in the Top Left Corner! Some notes about my system. I don't often change much nowadays but the system has kind of been growing sideways rather than upwards! I've been adding sources and a kind of annex system which shares some elements of the main set up but uses a different power amp and speakers. Here's the list: Sources:
Michell Gyrodec / Gyro HR psu / Zeta / Koetsu Black / Bent Audio Mu step up transformers Goldring G99 (currently in dry dock)Accuphase DP67 CD player Accuphase T-101 tuner Leak Troughline Mk.II tuner Akai GX620 reel to reel deck Uher Report 4400 reel to reel deck Beresford TC-7520 DAC (for occasionally connecting a laptop to the system via usb) Pre-amplification:
Audio Research SP8 pre-amplifier Power Amplification:
Mark Levinson ML 9 power amplifier (bass) Mark Levinson ML11 power amplifier (mid/treble) (this is used with the above sources and pre-amplifier and with either of the loudspeaker choices below) Alternative Power Amplifier:
Radford STA15 (this is used with the above sources and pre-amplifier and with either of the loudspeaker choices below) Loudspeakers:
Mirage M3si Alternative Loudspeakers:
Acoustic Research 2ax Other items of interest scattered in various permutations around the house:PC > Beresford TC-7520 Yamaha CR-1020 receiver Acoustic Research AR-44BX Genexxa Pro LX5 (modified with external bi-amp crossovers, braced and damped cabinets)
SD Acoustics OBS ....and more!
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Post by John on Jun 26, 2014 19:00:55 GMT
Out the 2 TT which do you prefer and why Chris The Radford a great amp The Accuphase gear is lovely but hardly seen here
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Post by MartinT on Jun 26, 2014 19:39:12 GMT
I'd love to hear your power amp / speaker combo. I've heard only few ML items and never heard a Mirage speaker.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 26, 2014 20:22:29 GMT
Apart from the Akai and the Beresford I just about know the names of most of them. Shame we're that far apart
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Post by ChrisB on Jun 26, 2014 20:55:08 GMT
The Mirages are fabulous - their doubled up and in-phase driver configuration means that they play to the big strength of the Gyrodec - that soundstage! Google for Mirage M1si or M3si and the overriding comment you will read over and over again is that they do soundstages like no other speaker. Put the two together and you have a recipe for greatness. The M1 was voted The Absolute Sounds speaker of the decade for the '80s and the M3 only lacks that last bit of bass that it's big brother provides. The si versions are even better! The Levinsons are rather low rent as MLs go but I love 'em to bits and they do a wonderful job with the Mirages in bi-amp mode.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 27, 2014 6:08:35 GMT
I note from their website that they're not made any more. When were they made?
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Post by MartinT on Jun 27, 2014 6:09:50 GMT
I should have called my blog "Notes from Basingrad" as people like to call my place of abode
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 27, 2014 7:57:06 GMT
I could do one "From The Treacle Mines"
Anyone know the story ?
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Post by ChrisB on Jun 27, 2014 8:11:14 GMT
I note from their website that they're not made any more. When were they made? The si series were first available in 1992. Mine were originally owned by an expat in the Far East - he had them specially imported from Canada. When he came home to the UK, he sold them to me. Stereophile review here. Mirage are owned by Klipsch now
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Post by ChrisB on Jun 27, 2014 8:13:36 GMT
I could do one "From The Treacle Mines" Anyone know the story ? Do tell. I nearly called it Notes from Rhubarb City as that's what they call the village I live in.
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Post by MikeMusic on Jun 27, 2014 12:10:21 GMT
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 3, 2014 19:57:52 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Jul 3, 2014 21:19:56 GMT
Your Radford STA-25 looks in nice nick.
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 3, 2014 21:32:23 GMT
Thanks Martin. It's actually an STA-15. When I got it a long, long time ago, it was in really poor shape and, despite this, I used it for several years, including in a tri-amped combo with Levinsons (which was fab, by the way!). When the Radford Revival company started re-manufacturing the STA-15, they were happy to sell parts, so I bought the bits I needed and Anthony Matthews did the honours for me.
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Post by MartinT on Jul 3, 2014 22:07:55 GMT
Ah, a 15. They are visually similar. I borrowed a 25 many, many years ago and liked it. Nice work, no wonder yours looks in good condition.
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 3, 2014 22:17:26 GMT
It's an easy mistake to make - the, obvious-if-you-know-them, visual clues are that the 25 has solid state rectifying so there's no GZ34 and it has facilities on the control panel for adjusting bias, whereas the 15 is auto-biasing.
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Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
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Post by Barry on Jul 4, 2014 0:41:34 GMT
Nice 'arty' shot of the G99/Decca combo Chris. Taken with your Fuji camera?
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Post by ChrisB on Jul 4, 2014 7:00:23 GMT
Thanks Barry. Yes I think it was taken with a Fuji, but not the one you're thinking of!
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Post by ChrisB on Aug 24, 2014 17:46:17 GMT
I've been busy today. After an extended period living exclusively with the Radford/Acoustic Research combination, I've switched back to the big stuff - Levinsons and Mirages. The Gyrodec is sporting a different arm and cartridge at the moment - a different Zeta and the cartridge is my old, original Koetsu Black with a van den Hul retip. Gosh, it's all sounding rather sounding good! I've also been catching up on cleaning a big pile of records that were bought over a period of several months. Twenty nine albums to be precise - that's a long session with an RCM.
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 6, 2014 6:59:40 GMT
For the last week or so I have been setting my mind seriously on the subject of getting the Goldring G99 back into play. It needs a new plinth so that I can mount the new Zeta arm on it, so I have been thinking about how best to do this. I built the last one but unfortunatly my powers of imagination far outstrip my skill with a router and ability to finish slate, so this time, I am going to get someone else to do it for me. Yesterday we took a trip to Manchester to meet the chap who will be doing the work. He has made dozens of plinths before, especially for the Lenco GL75, but never a G99. However, as luck would have it, he is in the middle of putting together one for a G88, which is very similar. So, I took my 99 down for him to take a look at the underside to see if it would fit a plinth made from the templates he has already.
The requirement of an idler turntable plinth like this is to have it as closely fitting to the mechanism as possible to provide a solid lump to sink as much vibration as possible into, so it is vital to get the fit right. It transpired that the 99 is a little different to the 88, as the on/off switch is deeper and there is a little more room required around the speed control mechanism. We also spent some time discussing the best place to site the armboard, as I want to be able to mount different arms of varying geometry on the deck. Then came a long discussion about finishes. I am a bit fussy here because I don't think I have ever seen a G99 fitted in a plinth that really suits its style, so I really need this one to be right! I have a similar thing about the Technics SP10, having never seen one that really seems to gel aesthetically. The pressure is on! Deposit paid and various bits and bobs left behind for sizing up, we left Manchester with a plan in mind and a wait of two or three weeks.
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