Post by DarrenHW on Jan 24, 2015 9:29:13 GMT
Hello,
I've been lurking for a while and now I have a bit of free time thought it was about time I registered. I recognise quite a few names from AoS and those who recognise me will know me as the guy who knows sod all, asks stupid questions and has a knack for getting involved in controversial treads
.
I'm still very much a newbie to this hobby, I bought my first TT a couple of years ago, a Yamaha P-300 with a Trio amp and a box of vinyl (for the princely sum of £5), primarily for my brother who (being a Beatles fan) had hung onto my Mum's collection of Beatles records. After a lot of frustration and a quick google resulting in the discovery that the TT had to go through a phono stage before being connected to my AV receiver
, Glass Onion was blasting out of all 5.1 speakers and I was hooked. Over the next year or so I went through a string of low end belt drives (mostly Technics and Garrards from car boots) until I picked up a B&O TX2 and realised what this whole IGD thing I'd read about meant and just how low end the TT's I'd had were (however enjoyable they were). Concerned about the long term serviceability of the B&O and feeling there would be better options, the following Saturday I walked into my local friendly HiFi shop to buy a Project Debut Carbon, having been in regularly for new belts, cartridges, styli etc, they suggested as I was happy wielding a screw driver and soldering iron I should look into either a LP12 or an SL-1200 before buying the Project. A few web pages later I bought an SL-1200 and joined AoS in October 2013.
Since then HiFi's taken over any free time I have and I've gone though more mods and swapped more boxes than I'd have thought possible back in 2013. I performed some basic mods to the SL-1200, PSU, Feet, Tone Arm rewire and Head Shell before buying an SL-1210 with the Funk Firm FX1200 (remember that controversy I mentioned earlier) and Mike New Bearing, I transferred the PSU and Feet and was very, very happy. Then whilst browsing the latest catalogue from the same auction house I purchased the P-300 from, I saw "Garrard 401 and Arm" listed. After spending a morning convincing myself I didn't need a vintage Omega or Heuer and discovering that old Sindy dolls are worth a small fortune (if you've got any of these in the loft get them on eBay!) I was the optimistic owner of a 1966 Garrard 401 and Rega RB300. After some initial disappointment, a good running in and some help setting it up the Techy had some serious competition, however after rewiring the RB300 to me the winner was decided and both Techy’s were sold. I’ve just started work on a skeletal plinth for the Garrard to incorporate the RB300, a Hadcock GH228 (I bought a while back to partner with a Shure M95HE but have yet to use it) with provision for a 12” arm or the Trans-Fi Terminator.
I’ve had a few integrated stereo amps after discovering how much more musical they were than my AV receiver but after servicing a Quad 405 I picked up relatively cheap I’ve not found anything I prefer. I’ve just auditioned a new Audio Lab and whilst it did sounded cleaner and clearer I just prefer the air and involvement of the Quad. This years plan is to acquire 3, 405-2’s to setup as mono-blocks for stereo and centre speakers and use my existing 405 for the rears. Home cinema’s still important to me and I have an Oppo 105D which I use as a Pre for digital and have my CD collection ripped to a USB HDD which just plugs into the Oppo and does away with the need for a PC in the lounge and can be controlled either with the remote and TV or by an iPhone App.
I’m a big fan of vintage Celestions and have Ditton44’s front and centre and UL8’s at the rear. I love the presentation of the 44’s and they work well in my lounge. I’m also in the process of modding these, I’ve reapped them with Poly Props for Mid and Tweeter and Electrolytics for Bass. Next step will be to try the Seas 19TFF and Poly Props for Bass, once I have decided which combination I prefer I’ll build new birch ply cabinets.
Phonostage and Pre Amp is also something I’m hoping to finalise this year. I currently have a CA651P and a DIY 6N6P Pre Amp (bought second hand, I didn’t build it), I’ve just auditioned the FireBottle which was very enjoyable and I will (once the Garrard’s re-plinthed) try a Croft 25. I’ll probably try a higher end SS phono as well but would really like the romance of valves somewhere in the Vinyl system. I would like to investigate a vintage Phono / Pre as with the exception of the Oppo everything I like is older than I am, but there doesn’t seem to be much out there.
As for musical taste, many would say I have none
! I like quite a bit of late 70’s british rock and even that which I wouldn’t chose to listen to I think still sounds amazing. I have many 80’s 12” singles and love just about anything 80’s, credible or cheesy. The 90’s were my teenage years, so I naturally have a lot of Brit Pop / Indie. I’m quite a fan of American rock from the 80’s to mid 00’s and got into a bit of Hip Hop in the early 00’s. As for new music, I find myself buying mostly folk / country inspired albums now and having grown up listening to Kate Bush cassettes in my Dad’s car I love female vocal, including the “girl and guitar” and “throat warblers” that seem to get a hard time on audio forums.
Well, I think that’s quite enough and covers just about all of my HiFi journey over the last couple of years, sorry for waffling on! I look forward to being here and hope to continue learning.
Darren.
I've been lurking for a while and now I have a bit of free time thought it was about time I registered. I recognise quite a few names from AoS and those who recognise me will know me as the guy who knows sod all, asks stupid questions and has a knack for getting involved in controversial treads
.I'm still very much a newbie to this hobby, I bought my first TT a couple of years ago, a Yamaha P-300 with a Trio amp and a box of vinyl (for the princely sum of £5), primarily for my brother who (being a Beatles fan) had hung onto my Mum's collection of Beatles records. After a lot of frustration and a quick google resulting in the discovery that the TT had to go through a phono stage before being connected to my AV receiver
, Glass Onion was blasting out of all 5.1 speakers and I was hooked. Over the next year or so I went through a string of low end belt drives (mostly Technics and Garrards from car boots) until I picked up a B&O TX2 and realised what this whole IGD thing I'd read about meant and just how low end the TT's I'd had were (however enjoyable they were). Concerned about the long term serviceability of the B&O and feeling there would be better options, the following Saturday I walked into my local friendly HiFi shop to buy a Project Debut Carbon, having been in regularly for new belts, cartridges, styli etc, they suggested as I was happy wielding a screw driver and soldering iron I should look into either a LP12 or an SL-1200 before buying the Project. A few web pages later I bought an SL-1200 and joined AoS in October 2013.Since then HiFi's taken over any free time I have and I've gone though more mods and swapped more boxes than I'd have thought possible back in 2013. I performed some basic mods to the SL-1200, PSU, Feet, Tone Arm rewire and Head Shell before buying an SL-1210 with the Funk Firm FX1200 (remember that controversy I mentioned earlier) and Mike New Bearing, I transferred the PSU and Feet and was very, very happy. Then whilst browsing the latest catalogue from the same auction house I purchased the P-300 from, I saw "Garrard 401 and Arm" listed. After spending a morning convincing myself I didn't need a vintage Omega or Heuer and discovering that old Sindy dolls are worth a small fortune (if you've got any of these in the loft get them on eBay!) I was the optimistic owner of a 1966 Garrard 401 and Rega RB300. After some initial disappointment, a good running in and some help setting it up the Techy had some serious competition, however after rewiring the RB300 to me the winner was decided and both Techy’s were sold. I’ve just started work on a skeletal plinth for the Garrard to incorporate the RB300, a Hadcock GH228 (I bought a while back to partner with a Shure M95HE but have yet to use it) with provision for a 12” arm or the Trans-Fi Terminator.
I’ve had a few integrated stereo amps after discovering how much more musical they were than my AV receiver but after servicing a Quad 405 I picked up relatively cheap I’ve not found anything I prefer. I’ve just auditioned a new Audio Lab and whilst it did sounded cleaner and clearer I just prefer the air and involvement of the Quad. This years plan is to acquire 3, 405-2’s to setup as mono-blocks for stereo and centre speakers and use my existing 405 for the rears. Home cinema’s still important to me and I have an Oppo 105D which I use as a Pre for digital and have my CD collection ripped to a USB HDD which just plugs into the Oppo and does away with the need for a PC in the lounge and can be controlled either with the remote and TV or by an iPhone App.
I’m a big fan of vintage Celestions and have Ditton44’s front and centre and UL8’s at the rear. I love the presentation of the 44’s and they work well in my lounge. I’m also in the process of modding these, I’ve reapped them with Poly Props for Mid and Tweeter and Electrolytics for Bass. Next step will be to try the Seas 19TFF and Poly Props for Bass, once I have decided which combination I prefer I’ll build new birch ply cabinets.
Phonostage and Pre Amp is also something I’m hoping to finalise this year. I currently have a CA651P and a DIY 6N6P Pre Amp (bought second hand, I didn’t build it), I’ve just auditioned the FireBottle which was very enjoyable and I will (once the Garrard’s re-plinthed) try a Croft 25. I’ll probably try a higher end SS phono as well but would really like the romance of valves somewhere in the Vinyl system. I would like to investigate a vintage Phono / Pre as with the exception of the Oppo everything I like is older than I am, but there doesn’t seem to be much out there.
As for musical taste, many would say I have none
! I like quite a bit of late 70’s british rock and even that which I wouldn’t chose to listen to I think still sounds amazing. I have many 80’s 12” singles and love just about anything 80’s, credible or cheesy. The 90’s were my teenage years, so I naturally have a lot of Brit Pop / Indie. I’m quite a fan of American rock from the 80’s to mid 00’s and got into a bit of Hip Hop in the early 00’s. As for new music, I find myself buying mostly folk / country inspired albums now and having grown up listening to Kate Bush cassettes in my Dad’s car I love female vocal, including the “girl and guitar” and “throat warblers” that seem to get a hard time on audio forums.Well, I think that’s quite enough and covers just about all of my HiFi journey over the last couple of years, sorry for waffling on! I look forward to being here and hope to continue learning.
Darren.
