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Post by dsjr on Dec 9, 2015 9:26:55 GMT
Absolutely, they were a nightmare and I have first hand experience of seeing Robin Marshall when the Audiomaster designer, all but tearing his hair out when every so often, an entire batch of twenty five pairs all failed because of driver matching issues. God bless him, he tweaked every one individually until they were good enough to sell - no wonder he seemed to develop a hatred of crossover networks as time went on. Such a shame he didn't/couldn't take Epos back.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2015 10:10:23 GMT
The best mid 80's 'Linn Kans' are actually Naim IBL's! same balance, but not quacky due to the paper cone. KEF were renowned for never having consistency on their B110 bass-mid drivers and although Linn made the speakers well (most of the time), the differences were due to KEF.. Ive had quite a few pairs of IBLs over the years..... 8?, 9,? They fascinate me and are without doubt the hardest speaker I've come across to make sing. I find them smaller in scale than any Kan and significantly drier. They seem to share that delightful lack of overhang and appear to start as stop like no other. For me, they are too limited to be a long term speaker, but I have enjoyed every "visit" they have made  linn also made made a lot of revisions to the Kan over the years, which changed its sound. Experience tells me you are right in saying that the bass units differ, even when purported to be the same spec. Identical spec Kans with close serial numbers have never sounded identical to me. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2015 10:12:41 GMT
I try to remember that the room makes the biggest difference. Move house and all bets are off. You may as well reset all your expectations and start again. This also matches my experience. It's like listening to a completely different setup every time I've moved. |
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 9, 2015 15:20:35 GMT
I have a couple of pairs of Kans
Think they do a wonderful job for their size.
135s did a good driving them.
Not tried the Chord. Maybe on a visit Martin ?
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Post by MartinT on Dec 9, 2015 17:32:46 GMT
Maybe on a visit Martin ? Must I?  |
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 10, 2015 9:42:13 GMT
It's that or I set the dogs on you |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2015 13:15:34 GMT
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Post by southall1998 on Dec 15, 2015 12:04:10 GMT
Your room neatness continues to impress me!
That world globe looks very nice. Is it vintage made?
S.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 14:33:46 GMT
The gemstone globe is one I picked up on Bid TV about 12 years ago. You can get them much cheaper on Ebay these days, but I still love it. The Sugden amp continues to impress. Far more rhythmic than I'd expcted. I had it playing with a very tasty pair of Kans today and it even worked beautifully with them. I'm usually a lover of muscle amps or the best flat earth jobbies, but the Sugden is a special piece of kit AFAIC. It just has that "Goldilocks" rightness about it. Still loving the Copland CD player too and not missing the CDX at all. I still have to try out a Beresford Caiman that I've had for ages and never used. I bought it along with a Cambridge 640p phono stage that's languishing in a wardrobe. No fear of me ever trying that thing out though: I hate them with a passion |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 15:29:43 GMT
Finally, some pics of the Sugden and Copland in situ. Sorry the light's not great. I got sucked into listening to a divine little pair of Kans I picked up. VERY loveable!  And here they are:   |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 16, 2015 15:51:40 GMT
Kans. Loveable. Nope, I just can't make that mental jump  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 15:56:11 GMT
Haha I just knew that one would be too big a leap for you After several years of being unable to get Kans to work in any room, they apparently love this one. And this pair are little gems In comparison to many that I've owned. I just can't switch the hifi off because they draw me in for more. Loads to do, but there's always tomorrow. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2015 16:38:40 GMT
Spent another day in heaven with these Kans. I'd forgotten what it was like to be reached at such a deep emotional level by them. Yeah I know they are Marmite speakers but I'm in love with them so I don't care Exposure and Kans are food for the soul |
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Post by MartinT on Dec 17, 2015 18:48:38 GMT
Glad they do it for you, Andrew.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 19:16:44 GMT
It's been a while since I updated this thread. I've still had a few items Pass through but I've not listened much and most things have just come and gone: Some without even being hooked up. I just sometimes lose enthusiasm for hifi, irrespective of how good or bad my system is. Winter is especially prone to the "meh" factor. Today an Exposure Super XX arrived. I've not hooked it up yet, but I will soon. I'm sure it will raise the old pulse  Tomorrow an Adcom GFA555 should land and it should be closely followed by a preamp if I win it. Ongoing projects include a pair of Minstrels I'm hoping to refurb but just do t seem to be able to muster enthusiasm for. I've also found myself with a very humble pair of speakers that I really like in combination with the Audion KT120. Believe it or not, they are Monitor Audio R100s. I actually bought them for spares at a cost of £12 but when they arrived, they were in too nice a shape to break up. I've never broken up a speaker yet, so maybe I was kidding myself! All they needed as a replacement dust cap and they look lovely. My very first hifi speakers were Monitor Audio 252s and I loved them dearly. I changed to Heybrook HB1s and detested the things. Chalk on a blackboard springs to mind, especially on some vocals eg Karen Carpenter. Anyway, I digress: The R100s sound very similar to the 252s and we have both really enjoyed the few listenng sessions we've had with them. Still loving the Kans but eagerly anticipating my third pair of NVA cubes (on loan). Hope they work as well in a different room, because they were fab in my last one. |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 3, 2016 19:21:19 GMT
The Adcom has a good rep in the US.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2016 19:26:30 GMT
Yeah, a few people, whose tastes usually fit with mine have kept telling me to try one. The 555 was apparently designed by Nelson Pass. One of my friends swears by his amps, but I've never heard one to the best of my knowledge.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 3, 2016 21:03:56 GMT
The man can do no wrong. His circuits are legendary and my preamp is my third from his stable. |
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Post by dsjr on Feb 3, 2016 21:25:13 GMT
I remember good vibes from the Adcom. I think the whole Linn/Naim stranglehold in the UK tended to accelerate the separation of good pro stuff from the opinionated and fickle UK domestic market. I think the US followed shortly after as wild and wacky stuff came and went before ARC and Krell 'stabilised' things 'over there.'
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2016 20:06:55 GMT
Had a bit of a play with the Exposure Super XX. It may just need a good warm up, but it wasn't exactly my thing today. It's a bit hard and shouty on first listening. I'm wondering if it's because this is a later model. I'd have expected the same circuit and transformer. Looks like the toroid isn't a Holden and Fisher though.
I loaned my Exposure 3 and 4 to a mate but he's bringing it back on Saturday. I will be making a comparison. I would've loved the newer integrated to be right up my street but I think I'm perhaps more "old school"
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