If you read my Kindred Spirit post, you'll remember that as Mr. Yazaki-san was discussing the 'capacitor adventure' we are doing with my vintage McIntosh MC30 monaural amplifiers, he said:
"Well, I think my inspirations also come from confidence in the thought that, Jeff-san’s hearing sense would be very close to mine. I understand Jeff-san loves traditional American music, just as I do, and Jeff-san’s most favorite speaker has been the beloved Tannoy Westminster Royal. On the other hand, I also love the sound of vintage GEC or Marconi DA30 dome-type, one of the best sounding direct heated triode, hard-to-find in this day and age, and it is full of grace and noble tonal character. I have felt that these British products were real superb articles and have a common desirable character. Yes, key words for your “Capacitor Adventure” kit would be the fusion of gorgeous vintage American sound and lofty British fineness of tone. This sound character that I have been long pursuing, was the desired tone image that I had in mind for your kit."
NOS Haltron 5U4G rectifier with the beautiful ST bottle shape.
Mr. Yazaki-san wanted me to hear the "lofty British fineness of tone" that he loves, in the MC30s, so he searched out some very nice examples of British vacuum tubes for me to try in the MC30 monaural amplifiers: A pair of beautiful NOS Haltron 5U4G rectifiers (above right) with their gorgeous ST bottle shape, and a pair NOS Mullard ECC83 for the driver position in the Mac's.
NOS Mullard ECC83 in the driver position of the McIntosh MC30 monaural amplifiers (left).
Well, I'll tell you what, the combination of the NOS Haltron 5U4G rectifiers with the NOS Mullard ECC83 drivers in my vintage MC30s sounds pretty amazing, and I'm definitely hearing that "lofty British fineness of tone" that Mr. Yazaki-san has been telling me about.
MC30s with NOS Mullard ECC83 (far left) and NOS Haltron 5U4G (far right).
The combination of the Mullards and Haltrons in the Mac's made The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd sound ravishingly beautiful, with a lot of clarity, but also very natural tonality, and lots of tone color that makes the music sound very 'real'.
The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd (Analogue Productions 45-RPM).
It's easy to see why Mr. Yazaki-san likes the tonal characteristics of these British tubes, and I really appreciate him sending them so I could hear them. Thank you Mr. Yazaki-san!
Ortofon SPU Classic GM MkII stereo phono cartridge on the prototype Woody SPU tonearm.
To play back the Charlie Byrd album I was using the combination of the Ortofon SPU Classic GM MkII stereo phono cartridge with the prototype Woody SPU tonearm, which is a very nice sounding combination for stereo listening.
Ella & Louis Again (Analogue Productions 45-rpm) in accidental mono.
Listening to my 45-RPM Analogue Productions version of Ella & Louis Again was riveting. This album is another example of accidental mono, and it's ridiculously good played back with the Ortofon SPU Mono CG 25 Di MkII phono cartridge on Thomas Schick's tonearm.
Ortofon SPU Mono CG 25 Di MkII phono cartridge on a Thomas Schick tonearm.
I'm really looking forward to hearing the combination of the "lofty British fineness of tone" combined with the upcoming "Resistor Adventure" we have planned for the vintage McIntosh MC30s.
The McIntosh MC30 Capacitor Adventure has met the lofty British fineness of tone and they're in love!
Mr. Yazaki-san's vision for "the fusion of gorgeous vintage American sound and lofty British fineness of tone" in the Capacitor Adventure with the superb vintage McIntosh MC30 monaural amplifiers is being realized, and it's truly a gorgeous vision.
Many thanks to Mr. Yazaki-san for sharing so many beautiful audio revelations with us here at Jeff's Place. With the combination of the Western Electric WE16GA wiring, the Belden 8402 microphone cable interconnects, the Capacitor Adventure, and the fineness of tone of these superb British valves, my music listening has never been more engaging, more beautiful, or more 'real'. Many thanks to Mr. Yazaki-san for the gift of 'real sound'!
Thanks for stopping by, much more to come!
