Get Better Sound! Quarter Notes, Issue 15. Thanks Jim!
As many of you know, I've always been a big fan of Jim Smith and his efforts to help music lovers and hi-fi nuts like myself get the maximum performance out of the hi-fi systems they already own! That's Jim in the photo below with his beautiful Tannoy Canterbury SE loudspeakers. It's easy to get... Read More »
Duelund CAST Silver Autotransformers for Tannoy Prestige Loudspeakers
In my last post I described the new Duelund CAST Copper & Silver Autotransformers designed by Frederik Carøe to replace the stock Tannoy autotransformer. The same model of Tannoy autotransformer is used in all Tannoy loudspeaker crossovers where an autotransformer is used, and like all of the parts choices in the stock Tannoy crossovers, they were chosen... Read More »
More About the Duelund CAST Autotransformers for Tannoys
The new Duelund CAST Autotransformers that Frederik Carøe developed are truly a watershed product for Tannoy aficionados around the world. As you have no doubt read here in these pages, we aforementioned Tannoy aficionados have been eagerly awaiting the appearance of a high-quality autotransformer solution to replace the stock Tannoy autotransformer with, particularly those of us who have... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Duelund CAST Copper & Silver Autotransformers - Updated
Today's Fresh Catch are the Duelund CAST Copper & Silver Autotransformers for the Duelund-WRSE Project that all of you have been waiting for more information about. I am very happy to report that today a pair each of Duelund CAST copper and silver autotransformers have arrived from Frederik Carøe in Denmark - thank you Frederik! I... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Sophia Electric Magik Box!
After I finished up my review of the super-sweet Sophia Electric 91-03 integrated 300B amplifier for Positive Feedback Online for Issue 72, Sue asked me if I'd like to give their new Magik Box a listen (below). I told Sue that I couldn't review the Magik Box at this time due to a combination of... Read More »
Review: The Sophia Electric 91-03 300B Stereo Integrated Amplifier
I thought I would start mirroring the reviews I write for Positive Feedback Online here at Jeff's Place. The tradeoff is that my reviews will appear in print earlier at PFO, so if you want the latest reviews you'll want to tune in there. On the other hand, here at Jeff's Place I can include... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Lou Pallo - Thank You Les; Neil Young - Live At The Cellar Door; Two Great LPs!
As I mentioned in my last post, I ordered up a selection of promising looking records from Acoustic Sounds, and so I've been spending an enjoyable afternoon listening to those black magic licorice disks! The first record I put on my VPI Classic & EMT TSD 15 combo out of my new batch of records was... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Joy of Vinyl
In this age of convenience as CDs arose to prominence, and then when MP3s emerged from the primordial digital soup for portable listening, a lot of people lost touch with their vinyl record collection ... and they forgot ... they forgot how good listening to vinyl really was. For many people music became a soundtrack... Read More »
David King Checking In From England: Get Better Sound from Westminster Royals
I got a nice email from David King, telling me about some of his experiments in setting up his Westminster Royal loudspeakers (below), which I thought would be valuable reading to all of you here at Jeff's Place: "Since I was last in touch I have been doing a whole series of experiments based... Read More »
The Duelund CAST Silver Autotransformer!
Those of you who have been reading about the Duelund-WRSE external crossover project know that pretty much everyone has wanted to use silver wound autotransformers in their Tannoy crossovers to provide the treble energy control (see below), including Paul Mills at Tannoy, Jignesh, Pambos, Frank, and of course, me. The autotransformer in the Tannoy crossover allows the... Read More »
Checking In: Sophia Electric 91-03 Review Online, Sunday Afternoon at Jeff's Place
Hello everybody! I've been missing in action for a while now, with it being a month to the day since my last post. Thanks to those of you who dropped me a note to check up on me to make sure I was ok - appreciated! It has been a rough go for a while... Read More »
Siedy Checking in from the Netherlands ... and Germany! Siedy Struck Gold!
I always enjoy hearing from Siedy in the Netherlands, he's definitely a kindred spirit and always makes me smile! 🙂 Like me, Siedy is a big fan of the Tannoy Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers and the amazing ASR Audiosysteme Emitter II Exclusive amplifiers handcrafted in Germany by Friedrich Schaefer. In fact, it was Siedy who... Read More »
Restored Vintage Turntables at Vinyl Nirvana
I've heard good things about the restored vintage AR and Thorens turntables from Vinyl Nirvana, so I thought I'd let you know about them so you could check them out if you are looking for a nicely done vintage turntable at a fair price. Pictured in the photo above is a "Thorens TD-160 Super Reproduction,... Read More »
Tim Lount of Tannoy Talks About the New Golden Reference Versions of Prestige Loudspeakers
There's a nice video on YouTube by rAVe Publications featuring Tim Lount of Tannoy talking about the new Golden Reference versions of the Prestige loudspeaker range (click here to go to the video on YouTube).
Godspeed Ed Sheftel
I am sorry to report that I was just informed by Bob Reite that trumpeter extraordinaire, Ed Sheftel, passed away on Tuesday. Many of you will recognize Ed's name from the 6Moons articles I wrote back when Ed introduced the work of Tom Evans to US music enthusiasts. Ed had just recently told me how... Read More »
More thoughts on the RCA 6LCGC Black Plate and GE 6L6GC Grey Plate Vacuum Tubes
In my last post I talked about my growing awe for the Duelund Silver CAST 6.8uF capacitors, and my first reaction after a quick listen to the NOS RCA 6LCGC Black Plates (below right) that my buddy Leo brought over and the GE 6L6GC Grey Plates (below left) that came in my McIntosh MC30 mono amplifiers that I bought... Read More »
Breaking News: Duelund Silver CAST Transformers for Tannoys Are Almost Ready!
I have a breaking news report to share with you: I just got an email from Frederik Carøe in Denmark and he has some very special and exciting news for Tannoy enthusiasts! Frederik is building the first set of Duelund CAST Silver Transformers for Tannoy crossovers right now and they are almost ready! (That's the Duelund Silver CAST 6.8uF capacitors above... Read More »
Duelund Silver CAST Caps, NOS RCA Black Plate 6L6GCs, New Vinyl, Vintage Vinyl, and Other Stuff
Last Sunday George, Leo, Ron, and myself had a blast listening to music, drinking some fine wines, and munching down on pizza. I mentioned how impressed we were with Ron's pristine vintage H.H. Scott stereomaster integrated vacuum tube amplifier on the big Tannoy Westminster Royal SEs ... ... but something I hadn't mentioned, and wanted to... Read More »
Another Vintage Sunday at Jeff's Place: The H.H. Scott stereomaster
It was another fine vintage Sunday at Jeff's Place with Ron bringing over his beautiful example of the H.H. Scott stereomaster vacuum tube integrated amplifier from his vintage collection. Ron, Leo, George and I had a ball listening to music as usual! Food, good wine, good music, and friends makes for a great Sunday of... Read More »
Panicos Checking In: News from New Valve Order
Most of you remember me writing about Panikos Kontemeniotis, the music lover & hi-fi aficionado - a man of superb taste in many things - who happens to be the exporter of the New Valve Order designs of talented fine audio constructeur, Andreas Hadjiminas, working out of Nicosia, Cyprus. Panicos sent me a note telling me... Read More »
Frank Rodgers Checking In: Track Audio Isolation Feet for the Duelund-WRSE
Frank Rodgers, fellow Tannoy Westminster Royal SE enthusiast like yours truly, and with Duelund external crossovers too (!) just sent me a message to tell me about his latest discovery: Track Audio Isolation Feet. I haven't tried them myself yet, but given that Frank has particularly good taste in audio, I thought it was important... Read More »
Jim Smith Checking In: The Duelund-Canterbury Crossover Project
Jim Smith just checked in and told me he's now finished with building and installing the Duelund external crossovers for his Tannoy Canterbury loudspeakers. Jim told me his "Canterburys are singing like never before." Below is a photo of Jim's audio system just before installing the Duelund external crossovers. Man, this is so awesome, Jim!... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Soundcoat Company
A while back I made a post about The Soundcoat Company who has been providing specialized noise control solutions for aerospace, medical, and industrial applications since 1963. Steven Klein at Sounds of Silence had told me about how effective their GPDS damping sheets were when he applied the .070 GPDS vibration damping material to strategic locations within the chassis and external... Read More »
Dr. Paul Mills on 'The History of Tannoy and the New 'Prestige Gold Reference''
Here's a real treat: a video of Dr. Paul Mills talking about 'The History of Tannoy and the new 'Prestige Gold Reference''. Watch the video HERE. Enjoy!
Winter, Duelund, and Vintage Crown Jewels!
It's officially Winter in North America, with snow and cold temperatures the norm, particularly in the Northeast! Fellow Duelund-WRSE Project adventurer, Frank, just sent me a couple of chilly looking photos. The first is the view from Frank's listening room (below) ... ... and the second is looking out from his loft over the fishing... Read More »
2013 in Review, Secret Insights, and a Look Behind the Veil of 2014! (part 2)
Yesterday evening I wrote myself into a state of burnout, so for therapy I spent the rest of the evening listening to music for pleasure, drank a cup of good Ethiopian coffee with its 'citrus & dark cocoa' flavor tones to help keep my ears open, and then finally had a glass of a nice... Read More »
2013 in Review, Secret Insights, and a Look Behind the Veil of 2014!
The end of 2013 is arriving rapidly and 2014 will be on us in no time! I thought it would be fun to take a look back at 2013's notable moments and to take a look behind the veil of 2014 to see what might be waiting. First up are those treasures that I wrote... Read More »
The Duelund-Westminster External Crossover Project: Part 5 – Listening and Conclusions!
It's Christmas morning here in the Americas. I've got a fire burning in the fireplace, a hot cup of good coffee in my hand, and I've got Northwest Public Radio playing a lot of really great Christmas themed material today through my vintage McIntosh MX110Z's vacuum tube tuner. Heaven. At the moment NPR is playing... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch - I'm not really sure what to think of this - 78 RPM Record Coasters.
I was browsing through a recent Orvis catalog and I ran across these 78 RPM record coasters. The Orvis website says "During the 1950s, 78 rpm records dominated the sonic landscape. Re-live the golden age of the 78s with these repurposed vinyl record coasters. Cut from vintage 78s, laminated, and backed with felt, these are... Read More »
The 10th Annual Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2013 - The Best of the Best!
For the complete 10th Annual Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Awards for 2013 click here. As an excerpt, here's my Awards for 2013: It is time once again for the Annual Positive Feedback Online's Writers' Choice Awards, which means that it is time once again for yours truly to sift through my past year of reviews... Read More »
First Listening Impressions of the Silver Duelund CAST Capacitors - Wow!
The Duelund-Westminster Special Edition (SE) external crossover project was a rousing success, and you can read about its step-by-step progression by following the links in the Review Archives here ... ... or you can cut to the chase and read the final feature article I wrote about it for Positive Feedback Online here. For those of... Read More »
Duelund Silver CAST Capacitors are in the Duelund-WRSE Crossovers!
As I mentioned in the Today's Fresh Catch post about the Duelund CAST Silver Capacitors (here), Frederik made up a pair of 6.8 uF Duelund CAST Silver capacitors (below) for me to give a listen to in the C1 position of the Duelund-Westminster Royal SE high-frequency crossover. As you can see in the photo of the... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Duelund CAST Silver Capacitors!
As I mentioned in my Sneak Peek a little while back, Frederik Carøe, the founder of Duelund Coherent Audio, was building up a set of his exotic Duelund Coherent Audio CAST Silver Capacitors for me to try in the Duelund-Westminster Royal SE High-Frequency Crossover! Well, today they arrived - talk about an exciting development! I was... Read More »
Sneak Peek: The Making of Duelund CAST Silver Capacitors!
A little while back Frederik Carøe - the founder of Duelund Coherent Audio - asked me if I would like to try a set of his exotic Duelund Coherent Audio CAST Silver Capacitors in the Duelund-Westminster Royal SE High-Frequency Crossover, and of course I said yes! Frederik asked me which of the capacitor positions in the... Read More »
The Duelund-Westminster External Crossover Project: Part 4 – Rewiring the WRSE Loudspeaker
As I've promised in earlier posts, I’m archiving the Duelund-Westminster External Crossover article here at Jeff’s Place so you can find everything in one place for reference purposes (Part 1 - Intro, Part 2 - Breadboarding, Part 3 - Final Design). The full version of the article was just published in Issue 70 of Positive... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Channel D 'Pure Music' High Resolution Music Server Software
I'm currently working hard on writing the review of the Mhdt Labs Stockholm V2 vacuum tube USB DAC (below). For a digital front end I am using my iMac with the new Mavericks OS and iTunes, which I've loaded around 900 to 1000 CDs at full resolution onto. I really wanted to make sure I... Read More »
