bbwan
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 22
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Post by bbwan on May 9, 2020 6:14:04 GMT
Morning all,
Just stumbled across this forum and thought it look a good one so here I am. I got into all this hifi lark about 20 years ago, reading What Hifi? in the school library when I should've been learning! Went on to work in a number of Sevenoaks stores over the years before eventually deciding to leave the industry all together...at which point my interest in hifi started to boom once more.
My system is vinyl and streaming focused, with the odd bit of CD and until recently I was slightly guilty of being a bit of a box swapper, but having kids means I have less time for that now and tend to just listen more and tweak what I have.
I've owned a lot of kit over the years, not, just that sold in Sevenoaks ;-) but my current system is by far my favourite to date. My main source and longest standing 'box', is my Gyro SE that I've modded/upgraded as much as is sensible, with an OL Conqueror 3c and a Quintet Blue (long story) through a TEAD Groove+SRX. I also have a Meridian 508, which feeds a Meridian 218 and then on to Meridian DSP7200.2
So not a typical setup I guess, but I just love what those speakers do in my room!
Anyway, enough about me...lovely to be here!
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Post by ChrisB on May 9, 2020 9:44:44 GMT
Hi and welcome to The Audio Standard.
That's an interesting and different system you have there. I'm a long term Gyrodec user too - it's just shocked me to realise that my ownership of this one is now getting on for thirty years!
We would love to see some images of your system if you could manage it.
Nice that you found us and welcome once again.
Cheers.
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Post by MikeMusic on May 9, 2020 9:46:26 GMT
Welcome to TAS There are one or two box swappers here as well as those that would like to  |
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Post by MartinT on May 9, 2020 10:40:25 GMT
Hello and welcome to TAS! Interesting to go with streaming and vinyl. Do tell us more and yes to photos, we like photos here.
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Post by John on May 9, 2020 10:46:18 GMT
Welcome to TAS
What kind of music do you enjoy
I bought some of my early gear from Sevenoaks in Swiss Cottage
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bbwan
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 22
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Post by bbwan on May 9, 2020 12:16:16 GMT
I will certainly try to sort some photos but I'm not much of a photographer. Can't show it all in one photo as all the kit is wall mounted at the back of the room next to my vinyl and the speakers are at the front, but I'll do my best.
Vinyl and streaming is because any serious listening is normally vinyl and when I'm pottering about or reading I normally stream. All my CDs are ripped but I rarely listen to them as I can just queue them up on Tidal Masters (lazy I know), but I enjoy flitting from one track/album to the next sometimes and absolutely love the new music I find through Roon Radio.
Speaking of music, this is one area I struggle to explain to people when they ask this question. Literally everything, rock, hip-hop, lots of jazz, some classical, country, pop. I tend to go through phases, so for instance this week I'm listening to a lot of Jon Pardi and Foo Fighters, next week will be something else I'm sure. Right this second I have some CCR on. Really very varied. I think that's one reason I love the Meridians (other than the fact that my kids can't burn themselves on them like the valve amp I had before), but they're brilliant all-rounders!
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bbwan
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 22
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Post by bbwan on May 9, 2020 12:25:30 GMT
I never knew the guys at Swiss Cottage Sevenoaks, but a lot of the stores had a similar kind of employee and a similar client base if truth be told. Working in a store like that does tend to lead you down the road to buying the kit you sell (mainly because it's a known quantity and the deals are good for staff). It's only since I left that I started getting into other kit, like I say tried quite a lot over the years, but ended up back at something I used to sell anyway (the Bristol store in which I mainly worked was a Meridian Premium Partner at the time). I actually learned a lot in my time there from the manufacturers themselves, mostly good stuff and had some times too! 😉
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Post by MartinT on May 9, 2020 12:32:47 GMT
My early influential dealers were Audio-T in West Hampstead, Studio 99 in Camden and The Cornflake Shop in the West End. I do remember the Sevenoaks store in Swiss Cottage, too.
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Post by petea on May 9, 2020 15:41:15 GMT
Welcome to TAS. I still have quite an affection for the older Meridian CD transports, DACs and monoblocks.
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Post by Slinger on May 9, 2020 16:05:10 GMT
Hi, and welcome. I bought my first "proper" amp (a Sansui A-60) from Sevenoaks.., when they only had one store, in Sevenoaks.  |
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Post by julesd68 on May 9, 2020 16:47:53 GMT
Welcome from me too!
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bbwan
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 22
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Post by bbwan on May 9, 2020 22:32:44 GMT
Just added some photos of my kit and room over on the Blogs and System Pics thread. Shame about the lighting, but you get the gist.
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Post by tarzan on May 10, 2020 9:16:49 GMT
Welcome to the forum bbwan- nice system you have there l myself run a heavily tweaked Gyrodec SE- what mods have you done to your Gyro? |
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bbwan
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 22
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Post by bbwan on May 10, 2020 22:45:01 GMT
Only things that have stood the test of time are the HR power supply and the clamp. The True Point Audio Pylons will be staying too I'm sure. It's also got the tonearm decoupling kit.
I've tried various mats and weights etc, but was never sold on most. I have been tempted many times to try the Orbe platter upgrade, but I would miss seeing the weights spinning round!!!
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bbwan
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 22
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Post by bbwan on May 10, 2020 22:45:48 GMT
Oh and the power cable to the HR...yes, I'm afraid so!
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