HiFi . . . a world I inhabited for many years as a younger man . . . a world that collapsed around me in 95, and stayed derelict until early this year. Picking up the pieces was initially a hard task, however, its become easier in recent months. Lots of frustration along the way for me and the readers of my threads?
Unfortunately, on occasions one has been misunderstood . . . but many of the comments have helped, pulled me up, made me re-look, helped to put my mind and thoughts in order, so than you for your patience.
I feel as though I am at the end of this particular road of re discovering hifi, my pleasure in music and its reproduction. I have gone back over the recent threads with interest, a few turning points and frustration. But the goal has been achieved, not by mimicking my 1980's sound . . . more by applying my values of that era.
What was said not to be possible, has more than been achieved. When I should have stopped, I pressed on through the barrier . . . an achievement in my topsy-turvy but improving world.
It has been interesting that the source TT was simple, un-presuming, as is the rest of the system. I think I've said before, over design, in my mind, is often a problem.
The final phase was the Sumiko cartridge, putting the icing on the cake so to speak . . . the cherry had to be added . . . ????? I new there was a cherry, but finding it? Going back would have upset what I saw as a 'balanced system for me'. The weak link was the Ortofon T5 phono plug transformer step ups, in truth, always a stop gap. As good as the T5's are . . . I had to push that last bit, were they a weak link?
. . . I have found some friendly, helpful dealers, they need digging out, from back streets and back rooms. Two such dealers loaned 'step ups' for me to try. A pair of Stevens & Billington step-up transformers, a vintage Carver MCt step up transformer and a Dynovector step up amp with Russ Andrews PSU.
A pot full of Cherries . . . they all have their points, but we are talking minimal sideways moves around the same centre of excellence. I have plumped for the vintage Carver, its from my era, with open sound stage, extra layers revealed, reality of instruments and voice along with musicality and smoothness. Its edge . . . a drive and crispness to dynamics that just demands attention . . . without being harsh, again a quality I remember from the transformer I used in the 80's. I have an old recording of Sandy Nelson that came over as though the performance was in the room. I have never heard, drums and symbols so real, skin strike! before the note and harmonics develop was simply jaw dropping. Then there is the old style Stratocaster, old style played . . . wow, I was standing next to it! All the normal test tracks stood out, finally Miserere, I usually leave till the evening of any test session, not this time . . . image . . . air . . . the extra layers that had been revealed by the Sumiko/T5 combination, was simply more articulate.
I genuinely dont think I can go any further with out upsetting the balance of the whole. I truly do not want to go further. One is restricted by room size and cash flow . . . says Hazel :read: Bless here . . .
I've got all these records to listen to . . . CJSF
Unfortunately, on occasions one has been misunderstood . . . but many of the comments have helped, pulled me up, made me re-look, helped to put my mind and thoughts in order, so than you for your patience.
I feel as though I am at the end of this particular road of re discovering hifi, my pleasure in music and its reproduction. I have gone back over the recent threads with interest, a few turning points and frustration. But the goal has been achieved, not by mimicking my 1980's sound . . . more by applying my values of that era.
What was said not to be possible, has more than been achieved. When I should have stopped, I pressed on through the barrier . . . an achievement in my topsy-turvy but improving world.
It has been interesting that the source TT was simple, un-presuming, as is the rest of the system. I think I've said before, over design, in my mind, is often a problem.
The final phase was the Sumiko cartridge, putting the icing on the cake so to speak . . . the cherry had to be added . . . ????? I new there was a cherry, but finding it? Going back would have upset what I saw as a 'balanced system for me'. The weak link was the Ortofon T5 phono plug transformer step ups, in truth, always a stop gap. As good as the T5's are . . . I had to push that last bit, were they a weak link?
. . . I have found some friendly, helpful dealers, they need digging out, from back streets and back rooms. Two such dealers loaned 'step ups' for me to try. A pair of Stevens & Billington step-up transformers, a vintage Carver MCt step up transformer and a Dynovector step up amp with Russ Andrews PSU.
A pot full of Cherries . . . they all have their points, but we are talking minimal sideways moves around the same centre of excellence. I have plumped for the vintage Carver, its from my era, with open sound stage, extra layers revealed, reality of instruments and voice along with musicality and smoothness. Its edge . . . a drive and crispness to dynamics that just demands attention . . . without being harsh, again a quality I remember from the transformer I used in the 80's. I have an old recording of Sandy Nelson that came over as though the performance was in the room. I have never heard, drums and symbols so real, skin strike! before the note and harmonics develop was simply jaw dropping. Then there is the old style Stratocaster, old style played . . . wow, I was standing next to it! All the normal test tracks stood out, finally Miserere, I usually leave till the evening of any test session, not this time . . . image . . . air . . . the extra layers that had been revealed by the Sumiko/T5 combination, was simply more articulate.
I genuinely dont think I can go any further with out upsetting the balance of the whole. I truly do not want to go further. One is restricted by room size and cash flow . . . says Hazel :read: Bless here . . .
I've got all these records to listen to . . . CJSF
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram