Sneak Peek: The Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier Feature Review for Positive Feedback! Part 1.
I'm getting very close to having my Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE integrated amplifier feature review for Positive Feedback completed and ready for publication. As is my tradition, I like to offer a "sneak peek" of my feature reviews to readers here at Jeff's Place. I do that for two reasons, the first being I think... Read More »
The Tube Rolling Begins: NOS Vacuum Tubes in the Leben RS-30EQ Phono Preamplifier!
In my last Today's Fresh Catch post (HERE) I mentioned the variety of NOS 12AT7 signal tubes and NOS rectifiers that I had purchased from Radio Electric Supply to try in my Leben RS-30EQ: 6X5GT, 4 pieces (NU, GE, RCA, JAN Raytheon), at $10 each for a total of $40. 6X5GT 2 pieces, Sylvania, at $10 each for... Read More »
The Seven Books In Seven Days Challenge - an "Other Stuff" post!
The tag line on Jeff's Place is "Music, Hi-Fi, and Other Stuff". This is an "Other Stuff" post. My friend Andy Moore invited me to join the "Seven Books in Seven Days Challenge" on Facebook. As a prolific reader, I thought Andy's invite was an opportunity to reflect back on some of my favorite books... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Vacuum Tubes for the Leben RS-30EQ Phono Preamplifier
As long-time readers know well, I really love my Leben CS600 integrated amplifier and the matching Leben RS-30EQ phono preamplifier (as well as the new Leben CS600X that I think is even more gorgeous sounding than my original CS600). There's only one caveat to consider with some of the Leben components, like the Leben CS600... Read More »
The Great Anatoly Markovich Likhnitsky - From Russia With Love!
What I wrote in this post I had intended to tell you about after the publication of my upcoming feature article for Positive Feedback titled "The Audio Note (UK) Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier – An Affordable Masterpiece!", which includes snippets of my adventures with Peter Qvortrup while visiting him at Audio Note (UK) headquarters,... Read More »
Leben CS600 & CS600X: Tube Rolling with Sophia Electric vs. Electro-Harmonix EL34!
Besides their superb musical & sonic qualities, one of the great sources of joy for owners of vacuum tube amplifiers like the Leben CS600 / CS600X integrated amplifiers are adventures in trying different vacuum tubes to voice their amplifiers to best match their overall system characteristics, room, and their personal preferences. I've been a huge... Read More »
First Listen: The Pass Labs XP-12 Preamplifier with the First Watt SIT-3 Stereo Amplifier!
I think most of you know that my usual way of getting an adequate amount of run-in time on a component is to put it in either my vintage Altec 832A loudspeakers based bedroom system or in my vintage Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre based audio-visual system and let it accumulate hours until I... Read More »
New Duelund Production Efficiencies Allow Bypass Capacitor Price Reductions! Updated x 2!
Way back in 2017 when I wrote about the 0.01uF 600V Duelund tinned-copper foil wax/oil bypass caps (HERE) they were selling for an MSRP of $96 USD each, and the 0.01uF 600V Duelund pure silver foil wax/oil bypass caps were selling for an MSRP of $132 USD each. You could pick up the 0.01uF Duelund... Read More »
Jeff checking in ... Fender Telecaster, Ed Bickert, Pass Labs XP-12, First Watt SIT-3, Audio Note UK, music, booze, and good friends!
I've been on a semi-pilgrimage to build a "near replica" of the 1964 Telecaster of the late Canadian jazz guitarist, Ed Bickert, who is definitely one of my favorite jazz guitarists. Many thanks to Roman Pokorny for sharing his photos with me of his visit with Ed and of Ed's Telecaster. You might notice I... Read More »
Yazaki-san: "Stereo Sound" Altec issue and Ultimate Ruby Mica Capacitors!
It's always exciting to hear from our friend Yazaki-san, and this time Yazaki-san really outdid himself! You all know how much I love my humble vintage Altec loudspeaker collection of the A5 Voice of the Theatre, Corona 832A, and the "Stokowski" Altec's. Well, our friend Yazaki-san sent me a special issue of Stereo Sound from 2006 that... Read More »
First Listen: The Sophia Electric Blue Glass KT88-ST in the Leben CS600X Integrated Amplifier! Updated.
Last night I installed the fresh out of the box Sophia Electric blue-glass KT88-ST long-life vacuum tubes into the new Leben CS600X, that's currently powering my vintage Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre loudspeakers in my audio-visual system. I'm running the Sophia Electric KT88-STs with cathode resistor and plate voltage settings used for 6L6GCs, which... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Sophia Electric Blue Glass KT88-ST Long Life Vacuum Tubes!
In my "Sexy Blue Tubes: The Sophia Electric EL34-ST and Aqua 274B Vacuum Tubes!" feature review article for Positive Feedback (HERE), I provided a brief history of the EL34 and 274B vacuum tube designs, and then described the various technical performance enhancements that Richard and Sue of Sophia Electric implemented in their flagship Sophia Electric EL34-ST... Read More »
First Listen: The Pass Labs XP-12 Preamplifier with the Pass Labs XA25 Class A Stereo Amplifier!
In my most recent Today's Fresh Catch post (HERE) I told you about the arrival of the much anticipated Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier. This Saturday morning I installed the Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier ($5800 USD) into my vintage Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers based bedroom system to get some run-in time on it, along with the Pass Labs... Read More »
2019 in retrospect, my 2020 New Year's Resolutions, the year ahead, and other stuff! Part 4.
It was great looking back on 2019 in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this post, and I had no idea that this post would turn into a four part series. So much happened in 2019, and there was so much to talk about that it really took me by pleasant surprise. Now... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Pass Labs XP-12 Preamplifier!
Today's Fresh Catch is the Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier ($5800 USD). I am rather excited about the arrival of the Pass Labs XP-12 preamplifier, not only because of the positive buzz it has created in the review community since its introduction in 2018, but also because now I get try it with the Pass Labs... Read More »
Updating my vintage Altec 832A Corona based system with the new Duelund 600V DCA16GA tinned-copper wire!
There's been some big changes in my vintage Altec 832A Corona based bedroom system recently. It started with me loaning my treasured Almarro A205A Mk1 EL84 single-ended-pentode integrated amplifier to my buddy Chad to use for a couple of months in his cabin system up on Lake Chelan as his cabin amp was on the... Read More »
2019 in retrospect, my 2020 New Year's Resolutions, the year ahead, and other stuff! Part 3.
As I mentioned in Part 1 of this series of posts, 2019 has been a rather unprecedented year in writing about audio and music, with the year-end number of blog posts published at Jeff's Place coming in at 210, and 5 feature reviews for Positive Feedback. I feel really fortunate to have had so much... Read More »
2019 in retrospect, my 2020 New Year's Resolutions, the year ahead, and other stuff! Part 2.
It is good to reflect back on a year and consider all that has happened in one's life, both to appreciate the good things that have happened, as well as to gain insights from one's dumbo moves. I feel extremely fortunate, for my 2019 was truly an amazing year in music, audio, and life generally.... Read More »
2019 in retrospect, my 2020 New Year's Resolutions, the year ahead, and other stuff! Part 1.
2019 has been an outstanding audio and music year for me, and I thought a retrospective of its high points would be fun to reflect back upon and share with you, as 2020 is already knocking on the door and demanding attention. In 2019 there were all those little adventures and discoveries I wrote about... Read More »
Tube rolling in the new Leben CS-600X integrated amplifier - Sophia Electric vacuum tubes & NOS 12BH7A's! Update!
One of the favorite pastimes of many original Leben CS-600 integrated amplifier owners has been trying different combinations of vacuum tubes in their CS-600 to tailor its sound to what best matches their personal taste. The Leben CS-600 tube complement is four twin-triode 6CS7 vacuum tubes used in the first-stage of amplification, a single slow... Read More »
Listening Update: The Audio Note UK Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier!
It's been about three weeks since my last update on the Audio Note UK Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier (HERE), and it has undergone some rather serious transformation in musicality & sonics over those three weeks of additional run-in time, as I have alluded to briefly in some other posts. So tonight I thought I'd... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Sophia Electric 12AU7 and EL34-ST!
Today's Fresh Catch is the Sophia Electric 12AU7 and EL34-ST vacuum tubes! I had mentioned to Sue at Sophia Electric about my long term update of the Sophia Electric EL34-ST vacuum tubes in my Leben CS600 integrated amplifier (HERE), and that I would be reviewing the new Leben CS600X. Sue suggested I give the Leben... Read More »
New "Dual" Duelund DCA16GA Tinned-Copper Wire Available at Dealers!
I got a heads up from Frederik at Duelund Coherent Audio today that the new 'Dual' Duelund DCA16GA tinned-copper wire will be available at Hi-fi Collective (UK) and Parts Connexion (North America) starting tomorrow. The new 'Dual' DCA16GA tinned-copper wire has two of the regular baked oil-soaked cotton dielectric DCA16GA wires wrapped in an additional... Read More »
A look inside the new Leben CS600X integrated amplifier!
The new Leben CS600X vacuum tube integrated amplifier that is in for review has been getting run-in time in my vintage Altec A5 Voice of the Theatre loudspeakers based audio-visual system in the place normally occupied by my gracefully aging original Leben CS600. I was impressed with what I was hearing from the new Leben... Read More »
Quick Comparison: NOS SED "Winged C" EL34 Vs. Sophia Electric EL34-ST Vacuum Tubes
I've been running the Sophia Electric EL34-ST vacuum tubes in my Leben CS-600 integrated amplifier ever since I reviewed them for Positive Feedback back in August of 2017, and I've put a ton of hours on them since then. In my "Summary and Conclusions" for them, I said: "I'm noticing a pattern here with both the Sophia... Read More »
An Introduction to Great Plains Audio and Troy Audio - Keeping the Altec Tradition Vibrant!
If you read my "Today's Fresh Catch: The Great Plains Audio 802-16G Series II & 416-16B Drivers" post (HERE), you know I am pretty excited about the Great Plains Audio and Troy Audio commitment to keeping the vintage Altec tradition vibrant. I asked our Great Plains Audio and Troy Audio friends if they would tell... Read More »
A nice surprise: the Leben CS600 powering the vintage Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers!
My buddy Chad borrowed my Almarro A205A over the weekend so he could give it a listen in his cabin system up on Lake Chelan (Chad's already got the Almarro A205A MkII in his main system). I've been using the Almarro A205A Mk1 integrated amplifier to power my vintage Altec 832A Corona loudspeakers in my... Read More »
Yazaki-san's Ultimate Ruby Mica Capacitor Mod for the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier! Part 2.
I got a chance to do a little A-B listening evaluation of Yazaki-san's Ultimate Ruby Mica capacitor mod for the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier, with the added bonus of a group of friends weighing in on the results. As you might remember from Part 1, Yazaki-san had sent me a pair of his... Read More »
Jeff checking in ... Audio Note UK, Duelund, GPA, Guitars, Leben, Music, Pass Labs, and Spec!
It is Thanksgiving week here in the States, and its a good time to reflect upon what we are thankful for. I'm looking forward to spending Thanksgiving Day with my 94 year old Mom, and hanging out with my friends Chad, Leo, Ron, and Santos for a little hifi fun & games and some general... Read More »
The Audio Note UK Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier - Topless with Circuit Description!
I heard from Andy Grove at Audio Note UK, and we had a nice email exchange about his design of the Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier. I like Andy, it was a true pleasure to meet him while visiting Audio Note UK earlier this year, and as you will read about in a moment,... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: Yazaki-san's Ultimate Ruby Mica Capacitor Mod for the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier! Part 1.
Today's Fresh Catch is the pair of Ultimate Ruby Mica capacitor's Yazaki-san sent me to try as a mod for the SPEC RSA-M3 EX Real Sound Amplifier. If you read Yazaki-san's article, “My Adventure With My Old Marantz Model 7 Part 8" HERE, you know Yazaki-san was so impressed with the Ultimate Ruby Mica Capacitor's performance... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The Great Plains Audio 802-16G Series II & 416-16B Drivers
Being the vintage Altec enthusiast that I am - I have 3 pairs of gigantic vintage Altec loudspeakers in my modest sized home - you can imagine how excited I am by this particular "Today's Fresh Catch", the Great Plains Audio (nee Altec) 802-16G Series II compression drivers and the 416-16B low-frequency drivers. First let... Read More »
Other Stuff: Dealing with Toxic Relationships
As I have done occasionally at times in the past, today I wrote this "other stuff" post for you that isn't on the topic of audio or music, but that I think is particularly relevant this time of year when the Holiday Season is arriving upon us in full force, and the days become short,... Read More »
First Listen - The Audio Note UK Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier, Part 2!
As I was casually listening to Jazz24 while doing a few things around the house, I was rather struck by how musical the Audio Note UK Oto Phono SE Signature integrated amplifier was sounding through its "CD" line input, how it always seemed to tug at my attention and pull me into the music regardless... Read More »
First Listen - The Audio Note UK Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier, Part 1!
Ok, so maybe this isn't exactly my first listen, as I've been casually listening while getting run-in time on the Audio Note UK Oto Phono SE Signature Integrated Amplifier in my vintage Altec Corona 832A loudspeakers based system since it arrived here at Jeff's Place on October 4th (you can read the "Today's Fresh Catch" post about... Read More »
Today's Fresh Catch: The New 600V Duelund DCA16GA Tinned-Copper Wire!
I always love a mystery, and when a mysterious box appears from Frederik Carøe (Duelund Coherent Audio) I get intrigued real quick! I go through the same procedure as I did as a kid during Christmas time when checking out presents under the Christmas tree. I picked up my presents, considered their weight and size,... Read More »
