Weekend Update

Just arrived. A new (old pair) of Pioneer HPM 100s, JBL L100 killers (deliberately), designed by the brilliant Bart Locanthi, JBL engineer extraordinaire.

Just arrived (from Vladimir), The Sanyo DCA-1001. Vlad had a spare of the rare, proprietary amplifier output module. This is a fantastic 55 watt/channel DC coupled integrated that made me very happy for the 10 minutes I had it before one channel died. Now it's good for another 30 years.

On the way, a Technics SL-QL1 linear tracking direct drive turntable. This cost $470 the year it was introduced, $70 more than an SL-1200. I can't wait to hear it and tell you about it. Have a great weekend.

Scott Type 222C photos.

This a fantastic amplifier. It has all the good stuff that tube gear is supposed to have, and I could listen to music on this 24/7. It sounds 'ballsier' to me than the Dynaco tube gear (ST-70, PAS-3) I had last year. It has better bass extension than the Dynacos, but in my opinion, this is where tubes aren't the ultimate. If you listen to dance, reggae or even lots of Led Zeppelin, I think you'll find the transient response a bit lacking compared to a beefy solid state amp (say a Sansui AU-717). Overall, the sound is so musical and satisfying that you may not care. I'm loving it!

Updated: Thanks for your help. The ad is gone.

It preturbs me when people use photos I take for this blog without permission, to sell their equipment. They are not selling the pieces in the pictures, and the pictures are copyrighted.

If you agree, and wouldn't want your stuff used without your permission, please take a second to flag this ad (ad gone, link removed). I politely asked the person who took them to remove them yesterday.

Dr.Scott!

Tangent SPL1s in crotch figured walnut veneer.

This was very difficult to work with. Crotch figured means from the Y where 2 branches intersect. There are knots, and everything was very brittle and bumpy. If I look at them, bits crack off. I've glued all kinds of little pieces back, and they have stabilized after 3 days. The veneer also varies in density, some sections don't absorb any oil. I am not a fine woodworker, and there is lots to criticise, but every project seems to be better than the last, so I'm happy. These are going to a long time friend of the blog, the final piece in a complex trade.

Sansui AU-505 & TU-505 in new veneer.

I've had the AU-505 amplifier for some time, and have raved about it. I've been looking for the matching TU-505 tuner for a while. A friend of the blog brought a lot of vintage equipment out of storage recently, and was kind enough to let me aquire the tuner. I have veneered both pieces in a beautiful claro walnut (another friend has provided some exotic and beautiful musical instrument grade veneers). The picture doesn't do justice to the depth of colour and grain, but I wanted to give you a sense of what they look like. I'll get dark washers next time I'm at the hardware store.

Tangent SPL 1s

I found these mini monitors a while ago. They are like the pair in this link, but the cabinets were an awful woodgrain vinyl. a good friend of the blog brought some stunning veneers over, and they inspired me! I stripped the speakers, and am almost finished veneering them. When i posted last night I expected them to be finished today, but it wasn't to be. You'll see them soon.

Last night I was listening to them (half veneered) driven by the Sansui AU-717 (which is a bigger amp than they need) on a recording I hadn't heard before, Thelonius Monk Live At Monterey Jazz Festival 1963. I was completely aborbed. The band is fantastic, the recording is very natural, and the speakers disappear and let me hear the band spread across the stage, just like Dick Chapman said in this 1978 review.

Old friends, new aquaintances.

Remember, I can refoam your speakers.

A long time reader of the blog just left with his Advent/1s, which I refoamed for him. It was a pleasure to hear them again. They are excellent speakers, and real bargains.

I also just refoamed a pair of 2 way 8 inch speakers made by JPW in England. This is a brand I've been curious about for a while. The drivers are by Vifa. They're beautifully made, with great wood cabinets. I did an excellent refoam, if I can be immodest for a second. The speakers sound very nice, but rather 'polite' compared to the Snell Type Ks and Mission 700s, 2 systems with the same tweeters and similar woofers, that have lived here recently.

The Sansui AU-717 is home safe.

It sounds amazing. Vladimir rocks!

The Sansui AU-717 is coming home Sunday.

Sansui AU-717 update.

Even without a turntable plugged in, there was scratchy noise coming through the speakers when phono was selected. Vladimir tells me it's some bad transistors. The replacements aren't found easily, but he assures me he'll have it back to me soon. In the mean time, I'm enjoying the Timewindows with the Sansui AU-505.

Have a great weekend.

Sansui AU-717 pictures.

Just Arrived. Sansui AU-717.

Wow.

Update:I'm enjoying the sound, through the DCM Timewindows, as much as any setup I've had here. My audio memory isn't great, so I can't tell you exactly how the AU-717 compares to the AU-9500 or AU-9900. Suffice it to say that they are in the very top (along with Son of Ampzilla) group of amplifiers I've had in house.