There's always a lot going on here at my place, and I'm hoping you're enjoying these little updates to share it all with you.
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Still Audio ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
I'm working on writing up the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier review for Positive Feedback this weekend, and with a little luck I'll be able to get it wrapped up and off to Editors Dave and David for their review prior to publication.
Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier - front.
Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier by Mark Still.
I'll tell you what, the Still Audio EL84 integrated amplifier is one fine little integrated amplifier, and it gets the music right! With the excellent level of craftsmanship, the superb parts complement, and its artful voicing, at $2895 USD it's a steal!
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Duelund Coherent Audio ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
Nothing generates excitement for me quite like the exotic Duelund Coherent Audio components do, and I'm doubly excited to report that next week Frederik is shipping the Duelund tinned-copper components for the upcoming Duelund-Altec A7 Voice of the Theatre crossover project, so I'll have lots of Duelund to "show and tell" about soon.
Duelund "Jeffistor" resistors for the upcoming Duelund-Altec A7 crossover project.
If you look at the prototype Duelund resistors in the photo above you'll notice a couple of interesting things, first their size - they really are huge! They look to be about cigar size.
Secondly, look at the DCA12GA lead coming out of one of the prototypes ... yes, you read that right, those are DCA12GA tinned-copper leads! DCA12GA is a fitting sized lead for cigar sized resistors!
These resistors arose out of a discussion with Frederik where I shared some impressions about resistor performance in various listening trials I have been doing, and Frederik refers to them humorously as "Jeffistors" in our email exchanges.
In typical Frederik fashion he significantly exceeded the basic ideas I put forth and created some truly amazing and totally unique Duelund prototype resistors.
Frederik is always able to amaze me with the great ideas he comes up with, like the Duelund DCA tinned-copper wire, or the Duelund tinned-copper capacitors, and now these new Duelund tinned-copper resistors!
Leopold Stokowski's Altec A7's were a nice addition to my vintage Altec loudspeaker "stable".
The Duelund Coherent Audio crossovers that we're making for the beautiful vintage Altec A7 Voice of the Theatre loudspeakers - that were once owned by Conductor Leopold Stokowski for home listening - will be a world's first in that they will be constructed entirely of Duelund Coherent Audio tinned-copper components: capacitors, inductors, resistors, and even DCA wire!
I've got a vision for the Duelund crossover chassis that I think will be really neat too, which were inspired by our friend Yazaki-san's SET amplifiers (above).
Think of classy vintage-Altec green metalwork housed in wood, but instead of vacuum tubes you'll see Duelund tinned-copper components.
Speaking of Yazaki-san, below you can see my Yazaki-san inspired vintage Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers and SPEC RSA-M3 Real Sound Amplifier that I'm using as the foundation of my bedroom system - what a great system!
I'm just getting started with this system, so there will be lots more to come in time about it!
Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers with SPEC RSA-M3 Real Sound Amplifier
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Fender '65 Princeton Reverb Guitar Amp ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
The Russian Groove Tube 12AX7 preamp tube in my Fender '65 Princeton Reverb guitar amp blew 30 days after I got it, so I subbed in an EH 12AX7 to keep the music alive until I got a replacement.
I notified Sweetwater that the Fender blew a preamp tube that was still under warranty, and I asked if they might get a replacement to me for it. Let's just say that Sweetwater has responded to my request at a very relaxed pace and has done nothing yet to get me a replacement for the tube that blew.
Fender '64 Princeton Reverb guitar amp.
Well that's not the end of the world, and I suspected something like that might happen, so in the meantime I ordered some vintage NOS RCA 5751 tubes from the cool guys at Radio Electric Supply to try in the Fender.
Radio Electric Supply had the NOS RCA 5751 vacuum tubes in my hands before Sweetwater even responded to my inquiry - now that's awesome service!
NOS RCA 5751 triple mica, black plate
The 5751 is often used in place of a 12AX7 to quiet down noisy guitar amps, as 5751's have about 70% of the gain of a 12AX7. I was rather impressed how much the NOS RCA 5751 dropped the noise level in my Fender '65 Princeton Reverb - it was dramatic! Equally dramatic was the improvement to the overall tone.
The ones I got are the RCA 5751 triple mica, black plate versions, stock # 5751.020, $45 USD each (a good buy), in case you're interested in some of your own. I stocked up as you never know when these little gems will become difficult to come by.
¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Music on Vinyl ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪
I just got the new vinyl release of Gillian Welch's Soul Journey and it's fantastic!
Gillian Welch's Soul Journey has been released on vinyl!
I'm a big Gillian Welch fan, and Gillian and David Rawlings are impressive on Soul Journey, and I am so glad this album has finally been released on vinyl.
Analogue Productions' "The Wonderful Sounds of Female Vocals".
The new compilation release of the Wonderful Sound of Female Vocals by Chad Kassem at Analogue Productions is such a great idea.
Typical Analogue Productions quality (great musicality and sound), along with some well-chosen female vocal tracks from Joan Armatrading, Joan Baez, Patricia Barber, Nancy Bryan, Holly Cole, Judy Collins, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Ian, Patsy Kline, Julie London, Rickie Lee Jones, Diana Krall, Shelby Lynn, Nina Simone, Phoebe Snow, Dusty Springfield, and Jennifer Warnes - lot's of heavy hitting talent here!
I love "best of" compilation albums, and I hope Chad does a bunch more of them covering various topical areas.
Both of these are must haves! I got both from Amazon who had them in stock last I looked, and you can't beat Prime 2nd day delivery for free (well, sort of for free!).
Ok, that's it for now, and as always, thanks for stopping by and may the tone be with you!
