Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Sept 18, 2014 23:20:48 GMT
Pleased to say that I worked on some of the microwave components that are aboard the Rosetta satelite.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Aug 20, 2014 19:11:46 GMT
Excess equipment (though some is often and routinely pressed into service):
Thorens TD124/II turntable (x2)
SME 3009/II (improved) DH arm SME 3012/II S2 arm Decca ffss Super arm Infinity Black Widow II arm Audio & Design M9BA mercury contact unipivot arm (aka Keith Monks M9BA)
EMT TSD 15 cartridge (x2) EMT TSD 15 sfl cartridge (x2)
Ortofon SL15E cartridge in an SME S2 headshell Ortofon SL15E Mk. II cartridge in an SME S2 headshell Ortofon SPU G cartridge
Denon 103 cartridge mounted in an EMT TSG headshell Denon 103 cartridge mounted in a Fidelity Research S5 headshell
Decca Mk. V (aka Blue) cartridge (x2), one mounted in an EMT TSG headshell Decca Mk VI (aka Gold) cartridge
ADC 25 (with three styli) ACD 10E Mk .IV cartridge (x2), both in SME S2 headshells AKG P8ES cartridge in an SME S2 headshell Shure M55E cartridge in an SME/Shure headshell
Ortofon 2-15K SUT Nakamichi MC100 SUT
Quad FM2 tuner Quad FM3 tuner Quad AM1 tuner Quad AM3 tuner Cambridge T55 tuner B&O 1700 tuner
Nagra IV-S portable reel-to-reel tape machine Ferrograph 632T reel-to-reel machine
Nakamichi BX2 cassette machine Nakamichi BX125 cassette machine
Sony CDP 720ES CD player
Quad 33 preamp Quad 44 preamp with additional MC pickup cards Quad 303 power amp (x2) Quad 405-1 power amp (heavily modified) Quad 405-2 power amp (modified with dual mono power supplies) Quad 50E monoblock power amps (x2) Quad 520f dual channel power amp
Mark Levinson ML-10A preamp Mark Levinson ML-25 phonostage Mark Levinson ML-26 preamp
Cambridge P50 integrated amplifier
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Aug 11, 2014 18:26:09 GMT
Apologies, I made a mistake: it was Christian Hülsmeyer, who in June 1904 demonstrated his “anti-ship-colliding system”, a radar-like apparatus, in the harbour of Rotterdam. His apparatus was crude and did not use any form of tuned circuitry. He had great difficulty in obtaining European patents for his system, which would have been inadequate for aircraft detection. But it could be argued that Hülsmeyer ought to be given credit for having specified the first basic elements of radar, as well as showing that its elementary principle could work.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Aug 10, 2014 23:35:26 GMT
There is a rumour that the Germans had Radar before WWII and we just perfected it not invented it? The net isn't too good on research in this area and is often conflicting. Whatever, the bulk manufacturing of electronics in WWII helped shape the world thereafter. No one country can lay claim to the invention of radar. Several countries had already experimented with the idea of using the reflection of radio waves by metallic objects as a means of detection. The earliest work was done by Hulsemann, who though it could be used as a means of detection of shipping in busy waterways and harbours in foggy conditions. No goverment was interested in his ideas at the time. The Germans were using radio waves to guide their bombers at the beginning of WW II. There were rumours that these radio beams were some sort of 'death ray'. The Royal Signals Establishment were asked to look into this. They did the calculations and showed the amount of power required would be far too high to be practical. As a footnote to the report, it was mentioned that such disturbance of a radio beam might be useful as a means to detect enemy aircraft. If Britain claims anything, it was the development of a practical radar system and the use of central coordination between several radar stations.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Aug 4, 2014 17:16:32 GMT
I've seen that a few times. Just looking at the pics make my stomach turn. There is no way on earth I would make such a trip. Anyway, I don't like tea, filthy stuff. Oh dear, filthy stuff ?
I'm caffeine free, so Rooibos (red bush tea) is my favourite tipple. That's what I drink most of the time, though depending on mood, I may drink: Darjeeling; Lapsang Souchong; Assam; Orange Pekoe; China green tea; Black Russian tea, or Burma tea. Occasionally Earl Grey. I'm as fussy about tea as I am with wine.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 30, 2014 23:20:26 GMT
I suppose some galvanised steel cable and eye bolts could be included in this thread. The wife's inspired suggestion to suspend the 'statics from the roof timbers worked out exceptionally well. No more compromise with furniture positioning, the speakers being well out of the corners as required really opened up the sound stage. The 'stats are even further out and lower now than when the picture was taken, to better effect, the sweet spot has widened considerably: :cool:Alan Do you like the sound of the musicians being at least 10' tall, or elevated to a similar height?
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 26, 2014 11:31:41 GMT
I agree about the look of the 401 Tim. I think it's awful! The 301, though is a lovely thing. I think you have a 'thing' about black and silver livery Chris. You expressed the same sentiments over the black and silver livery of the Leak electronics c.f. their earlier brown and cream livery. Apropos decks using "hammer finish" paintwork, well I do like the look of the Garrard 301 decks (especially those modified for use by the BBC, with the neat 'wrist rest' for easy arm cuing), but give the choice I would still go for the EMT930. Sadly, I think that Russco, and its variants looks awful! But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Here is a pic of the hammer finish EMT 930:
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 26, 2014 11:16:01 GMT
I once had an extended loan of a friend's LP12; fitted with Grace 707 arm and AKG cartridge. To my ears there was nothing about the performance of the Linn that would cause me to replace my Thorens TD124/II turntable.
As others have said, Linn's martketing hype and their almost diabolic highjacking of the British audio press (and of the reviewers)allowed the LP12 to achieve disproportionate influence at the time. Un-deserved, because the Linn was a modified Ariston, which in turn was based on the original belt drive design - the Acoustic Research turntable, designed by the late, great Edgar Villchur.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 26, 2014 11:00:31 GMT
My first system was put together some 45 years ago; consisting of a Garrard SP25 Mk. II, Shure M3D cartridge, home-built Mullard 5-10 amplifier and a home-built Wharfedale speaker design using their 8" RS8/DD 'Super' drive unit in a ~1.2 cu ft (I think?) distributed-port enclosure. At first it was a mono-only system but with the building of a second 5-10 and another, identical, Wharfedale speaker it became stereo!
My dream system? Well it was the 'state of the art' choice back in 1969/70: Thorens TD124/II deck with SME 3009/II and Shure V15 II cartridge, Quad 33/303/FM3 electronics and Quad electrostatic speakers. Four years later I achieved that dream; though the Shure V15 II (Improved) and the later V15 III cartridges, were soon abandoned in favour of Ortofon MCs and ADC MMs.
These days I still use the Thorens TT, SME arm and the Quad '57s. The Quad 33/303/FM3 are kept in reserve as a back up.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 26, 2014 10:39:55 GMT
I think you may be confusing yours classes. Very few amps are pure class A (no need to overstate things) Most are really AB. I suspect you need more sleep. I too can write strange stuff and I only got up at 6.30 (French time) Signed: A nonny mouse The power amps I use are true Class A: the power output doubles when the load is halved. 25 W into 16 Ohm 50 W into 8 Ohm 100 W into 4 Ohm and 200W into 2 Ohm. Am I an audiophile? Well based on the amount of gear I have, then I'm probably a hopeless and incurable case: 4 turntables 16 cartridges 7 pickup arms 8 power amplifiers 6 preamplifiers 2 phonostages 6 tuners 2 reel-reel tape recorders 2 cassette machines 2 CD players but only 2 pairs of speakers.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Signs
Jul 25, 2014 17:36:43 GMT
Post by Barry on Jul 25, 2014 17:36:43 GMT
Photographed in Turkey a few years ago: At least they're being honest!
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Signs
Jul 24, 2014 16:42:05 GMT
Post by Barry on Jul 24, 2014 16:42:05 GMT
So is the "Schmuck -Klinik" somewhere you go to be treated for an STD? Apropos S.M.E.G.M.A. - don't these people think their acronyms through? I, for one could never use a SMEG refrigerator: since 'Red Dwarf', I would never be able to trust the top of the milk bottle kept in such a fridge! Presumably it means something else in Swedish? Why Swedish? FYI SMEG is an Italian company. The name is an acronym for Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla www.smeg.com/Another amusing website address is penisland.netNo reason, except I thought they were a Swedish company.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 18, 2014 0:29:22 GMT
Ok it's the speaker cable linked to above. I need to go 4 into 2 with one black,one red,one blue and one orange. 4 to the speakers then what? OK – a possible wiring scheme would be as follows: On one speaker (say the left hand one) (1) connect the red wire to the top red (+ve) speaker terminal (2) connect the black wire to the top black (-ve) speaker terminal (3) connect the orange wire to the bottom red (+ve) speaker terminal (4) connect the blue wire to the bottom black (-ve) speaker terminal then at the amplifier end: (5) connect the red and orange wires together at the amplifier’s left-hand channel red output terminal (6) connect the black and blue wires together at the amplifier’s left-hand channel black output terminal. Repeat the above for the right-hand speaker and the right-hand amplifier output. (Again, don’t forget to remove the connecting links on both speakers.)
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 16, 2014 22:48:28 GMT
But the Rega is a 10"arm! According to vinylengine.com, the effective length of both the RB250 and RB300 arms is 237mm, or 9.33".
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 15, 2014 15:46:20 GMT
Has anyone ever compared an SME 3009 fixed headshell tonearm against an (otherwise identical) detachable headshell version of the same arm, using the same cartridge and turntable, in the same system? I used to have both versions of the SME 3009 arm. Unfortunately I never compared their performance using the same cartridge in each. Despite the theoretical disadvantage of arms using a detachable headshell fitting, I continue to use them (I have three) as they are convenient for someone like me who likes to 'dabble' with cartridges. And in the case of the Denon 103 cartridge, allows me to use alternative headshells (the Fidelity Research 5 headshell in this instance).
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 13, 2014 15:40:34 GMT
Very good post Martin but still some misunderstanding. A fuse is necessary with Class I appliance regs but with Class II it actually breaks the regs. Also Class II constructions takes away any potential risks (no matter how extreme) with the BMU (balanced mains unit) itself. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appliance_classesEverything NVA is built to Class II regs. I don't think the issue is the fusing in the transformer. Your NVA transformer may be different, but currently available devices have several 3 pin sockets. Into this a user would plug their conventional mains lead. Lets assume its one of the common class 1 devices. It will be protected by a suitable fuse to prevent a fire in the cable. Say a 3 amp fuse, which if there is a fault blows and stops any current flowing down the wire on the right hand pin. If the lead is plugged into the mains, there is 240vAC on the right pin and 0v (ignoring DC offset) on the left pin. If the fuse on the right pin blows there is no longer any current flowing through the wire. If the same plug is plugged into a balanced transformer there is 120v on both the right pin and the left pin. When the fuse blows on the right pin, there remains 120v on the wire to the left pin. The device fuse, not the transformer fuse, has failed to provide protection. If you use a centre-tapped balanced transformer, both the secondary terminals are regarded as "phase" terminals (since they are both at 120V with respect to earth). It follows therefore that both terminals should be fused. This is the recommendation of the IEE in the UK. I'm not sure what regulations apply in France or elsewhere.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 12, 2014 18:40:16 GMT
Yes - I'm an Islay whisky man myself. Laphroaigh for me, though I do like and drink Talisker, Oban, Aberlour and Lagavulin as well.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 12, 2014 2:03:42 GMT
There is a sign at the bottom which says - click to remove banner ads . However the forum , is free . It seems to me therefore it is somewhat churlish to remove the adds , if that is the decision the admin team have made and I say this as the forums leading [ only] Marxist . The "only Marxist in the village" you may be, but the possessive apostrope is missing.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 11, 2014 19:21:43 GMT
I really don't want to start a big argument here as I know it's a touchy subject but it's (hopefully) an easy question.... 4 strands in a biwire cable - red and black as usual but does it matter about which posts the other two go to? My thinking is that it doesn't as long as they stay the same - is this right? First of all remove the links on both the speakers. Then if you are using two pairs of speaker cable for each speaker, wire up each speaker as follows: (1) one red wire to the upper red (or +ve) terminal on the back of the speaker, with the black wire to the upper black (or -ve) terminal, (2) the second red wire to the lower red terminal on the rear of the speaker, with the second black wire to the lower black speaker terminal, (3) at the amplifier end, connect both the red wires together and to the appropriate red terminal of the amplifier (ie. the left hand channel for the left hand speaker) Do the same for the black wires. (4) repeat step (3) for the other channel.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195
|
Post by Barry on Jul 11, 2014 18:33:44 GMT
Looks fine to me - though I don't have any experience of the Maplin solder station (I use a Weller), I would buy it with confidence.
|
|