Discussion
HustleRussell said:
TonyRPH said:
HustleRussell said:
How best to clean a laser lens? Considering the thing appears to work I should probably resist the urge to meddle?
If it's working ok my advice is to leave it alone.In case I missed it - what CD player is it?
Internet seems to fancy it as a pretty decent player. Class AA & MASH. It's missing a foot, and it's remote unfortunately. Keeping an eye out for a foot.
I say if it's not broken don't try and fix it. If it's reading CD fine then leave it.
I have noticed that some CDs will not play in mine. Some copied discs and some that are coloured just don't read.
HustleRussell said:
TonyRPH said:
HustleRussell said:
How best to clean a laser lens? Considering the thing appears to work I should probably resist the urge to meddle?
If it's working ok my advice is to leave it alone.In case I missed it - what CD player is it?
Internet seems to fancy it as a pretty decent player. Class AA & MASH. It's missing a foot, and it's remote unfortunately. Keeping an eye out for a foot.
paul.deitch said:
Does that mean that they stopped making amps or that they were the best?
I believe they were the best of Sony.They went on to make the FB series (930/940) which were Mosfet amps and didn't sound anywhere near as good IMHO.
The FB series arguably did look nicer though!
Well, FWIW, I am currently working with Mr Coltrane in the background, courtesy of an elderly Quad 44 and 405.2. What a revelation!
And to think, these were shelved in the late Eighties in favour of a rather spiffy Braun Atelier set, which is not bad at all, and which had the advantage of a unified remote and tape and turntable. Perfectly competent but shown a clean pair of heels in the amp and tuner departments by the contemporaneous Quads.
I’d hooked them up to listen to them before deciding whether they were worth the investment of my sending them off for a precautionary service and then pressing them back into service in my study. And, while I am at it, maybe some tweaks eg adjustment on some inputs to modern line level (as they are currently taking the streamer input through Rothwells).
Coming back to them evinces a similar sensation in me to that of finding a formerly favourite old jacket at the back of the wardrobe and trying it on.
They are really not at all shabby and have plenty of grunt - I’ve had doses of Bach organ, Elgar cello, the Clash, Ian Dury, Beth Orton, the Eagles, ELO and Supertramp going through them, and am now on the jazz, and nothing much seems to be troubling them.
I suspect the performance would be even less shabby if I had dug out a better pair of speakers than the Fujitsu ones sitting in my study. (I think I have some Dali bookshelf speakers somewhere in the loft that might work well.)
I really had forgotten just how good these Quad units were/are and I’m wondering if I should at least keep the 405.2 and possibly get another for bi-amping duties in my main system. You would have spend a fair whack these days to get an amp of similar grip, clarity and euphony. And they really are not fatiguing at all to listen to.
Both of my streamer/dacs can act as a preamp so the 44 isn’t strictly necessary but I quite like the tone controls (there, I’ve said it) and having the 44 around would permit the use of a turntable. I can make the decision while they are away as I will instead be setting up a spare Quad 99 power amp that will be driven directly by one of the streamer/dacs. Being able to use an app to mute or change volume without moving will be be a blessing OTH, lazy fart that I am…
However, cosmetically they could do with sprucing up. I know that very old Quads have matching paint supplies but, short of going to a car body shop, I am a bit stumped on locating the rather eighties brown and eau de nil tones of the time for these units. The tilt switches in particular, need sprucing up. Any thoughts, please?
And to think, these were shelved in the late Eighties in favour of a rather spiffy Braun Atelier set, which is not bad at all, and which had the advantage of a unified remote and tape and turntable. Perfectly competent but shown a clean pair of heels in the amp and tuner departments by the contemporaneous Quads.
I’d hooked them up to listen to them before deciding whether they were worth the investment of my sending them off for a precautionary service and then pressing them back into service in my study. And, while I am at it, maybe some tweaks eg adjustment on some inputs to modern line level (as they are currently taking the streamer input through Rothwells).
Coming back to them evinces a similar sensation in me to that of finding a formerly favourite old jacket at the back of the wardrobe and trying it on.
They are really not at all shabby and have plenty of grunt - I’ve had doses of Bach organ, Elgar cello, the Clash, Ian Dury, Beth Orton, the Eagles, ELO and Supertramp going through them, and am now on the jazz, and nothing much seems to be troubling them.
I suspect the performance would be even less shabby if I had dug out a better pair of speakers than the Fujitsu ones sitting in my study. (I think I have some Dali bookshelf speakers somewhere in the loft that might work well.)
I really had forgotten just how good these Quad units were/are and I’m wondering if I should at least keep the 405.2 and possibly get another for bi-amping duties in my main system. You would have spend a fair whack these days to get an amp of similar grip, clarity and euphony. And they really are not fatiguing at all to listen to.
Both of my streamer/dacs can act as a preamp so the 44 isn’t strictly necessary but I quite like the tone controls (there, I’ve said it) and having the 44 around would permit the use of a turntable. I can make the decision while they are away as I will instead be setting up a spare Quad 99 power amp that will be driven directly by one of the streamer/dacs. Being able to use an app to mute or change volume without moving will be be a blessing OTH, lazy fart that I am…
However, cosmetically they could do with sprucing up. I know that very old Quads have matching paint supplies but, short of going to a car body shop, I am a bit stumped on locating the rather eighties brown and eau de nil tones of the time for these units. The tilt switches in particular, need sprucing up. Any thoughts, please?
I've been looking at the very early 90s Sony separates.
My Dad had what seemed like quite a good system back then (The cassette player in particularly was quite sophisticated) and fairly large three-way speakers.
The amplifier had full graphical EQ adjustment, and various preset "modes" wth impressive bass boost that would shake the windows to The Prodigy....
...when my friends were visiting and my Dad was at work
My Dad had what seemed like quite a good system back then (The cassette player in particularly was quite sophisticated) and fairly large three-way speakers.
The amplifier had full graphical EQ adjustment, and various preset "modes" wth impressive bass boost that would shake the windows to The Prodigy....
...when my friends were visiting and my Dad was at work
I’m at my holiday home and working through a pile of old kit at the moment.
Today has been the 120/100/100 volt step down day.
There’s an Adcom GFA-555 that needs no work except a clean up. A classic Nelson Pass design that you’d need to spend a fair bit to improve on. Masses of grunt and very clean sound.
It’s being fed by a lovely old preamp that I think may be a 70s Japanese kit - it’s labelled as a Sound Explorer EL-880 Mark II and manufactured by Suzurando. I bought it on a whim from a chap on Pinkfish a few years ago and then put it aside during a couple of bereavements and their admin aftermaths. Anyway, I dug it out recently and what a thing! It is wonderfully clear and detailed but has no obvious personality. I’ve had the top off and can’t see any issues with the electronics, so I’ve just squizzed it with air, cleaned the RCA sockets with alcohol and have put some contact cleaner on the switches and pots.
The problem child is the US-spec 1989 Luxman CD player - a DZ-112, which, when it behaves, is a very civilised way of listening to CDs, far smoother especially in the trebles than Sonys and others of the same vintage. But it keeps rejecting perfectly good discs and it looks like the lens is on the way out and the replacements are unobtainable. As I also have a Cary 308 with the valve output, that won’t be too painful. I got the Luxman for ISTR $10 in a Minneapolis thrift shop twenty years ago so I’ve had value from it and I’ll probably get £15 for the rare remote that still works.
I’ve also been having a bit of fun pairing the Adcom and the Sound Explorer with an early 80s Aiwa mini pair of c30 and P30 power and pre respectively to surprisingly good effect. These are way superior to any reasonable expectation of what these paperback sized units should deliver. Very clear with quite a bit of oomph at reasonable volumes, and very respectable bass. It’s a toss up whether this pair or my Quad 44/405.2 will perform my study duties (although the Quads are their superiors in every way). Both pairs are very easy on the ears over long periods.
If anybody recalls anything about the Sound Explorer preamp I’d be interested as there only seem to be some passing references on Google, largely in Japanese. But I could swear from dredging up very old memories that Suzurando, or was it Suzuran Do, was a Japanese Heathkit type vendor? Anyway I won’t be letting this go any time soon - great but of kit.
Today has been the 120/100/100 volt step down day.
There’s an Adcom GFA-555 that needs no work except a clean up. A classic Nelson Pass design that you’d need to spend a fair bit to improve on. Masses of grunt and very clean sound.
It’s being fed by a lovely old preamp that I think may be a 70s Japanese kit - it’s labelled as a Sound Explorer EL-880 Mark II and manufactured by Suzurando. I bought it on a whim from a chap on Pinkfish a few years ago and then put it aside during a couple of bereavements and their admin aftermaths. Anyway, I dug it out recently and what a thing! It is wonderfully clear and detailed but has no obvious personality. I’ve had the top off and can’t see any issues with the electronics, so I’ve just squizzed it with air, cleaned the RCA sockets with alcohol and have put some contact cleaner on the switches and pots.
The problem child is the US-spec 1989 Luxman CD player - a DZ-112, which, when it behaves, is a very civilised way of listening to CDs, far smoother especially in the trebles than Sonys and others of the same vintage. But it keeps rejecting perfectly good discs and it looks like the lens is on the way out and the replacements are unobtainable. As I also have a Cary 308 with the valve output, that won’t be too painful. I got the Luxman for ISTR $10 in a Minneapolis thrift shop twenty years ago so I’ve had value from it and I’ll probably get £15 for the rare remote that still works.
I’ve also been having a bit of fun pairing the Adcom and the Sound Explorer with an early 80s Aiwa mini pair of c30 and P30 power and pre respectively to surprisingly good effect. These are way superior to any reasonable expectation of what these paperback sized units should deliver. Very clear with quite a bit of oomph at reasonable volumes, and very respectable bass. It’s a toss up whether this pair or my Quad 44/405.2 will perform my study duties (although the Quads are their superiors in every way). Both pairs are very easy on the ears over long periods.
If anybody recalls anything about the Sound Explorer preamp I’d be interested as there only seem to be some passing references on Google, largely in Japanese. But I could swear from dredging up very old memories that Suzurando, or was it Suzuran Do, was a Japanese Heathkit type vendor? Anyway I won’t be letting this go any time soon - great but of kit.
Edited by psi310398 on Saturday 11th March 07:25
You can still buy a KSS-152A replacement laser for the Luxman - don't write it off just yet...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pickup-Optical-KSS-152A-E...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pickup-Optical-KSS-152A-E...
Jaaaag said:
Hey guys
Apologies if this is a hijack but it seemed like the correct place to put it - there is a standalone thread but I was naked as I wrote that one, I'm clothed now as it seems more appropriate.
Any idea what speakers would be a good and working upgrade for this?
It's 60w per channel, so would suit a decent bookshelf speaker.Apologies if this is a hijack but it seemed like the correct place to put it - there is a standalone thread but I was naked as I wrote that one, I'm clothed now as it seems more appropriate.
Any idea what speakers would be a good and working upgrade for this?
If you happy with a used speaker there's a huge choice from Mission, Q-Acoustics, Wharfedale etc.
I can recommend Wharfedale 9.1 / 10.1
TonyRPH said:
It's 60w per channel, so would suit a decent bookshelf speaker.
If you happy with a used speaker there's a huge choice from Mission, Q-Acoustics, Wharfedale etc.
I can recommend Wharfedale 9.1 / 10.1
It depends a bit on your tastes. I’m currently listening to the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club through a valve output Cary CD player into a Quad 99 amp and out on on a pair of cheap Dali Zensor 1 bookshelf speakers. If you happy with a used speaker there's a huge choice from Mission, Q-Acoustics, Wharfedale etc.
I can recommend Wharfedale 9.1 / 10.1
Very, er, lively, despite the smoothing out of the valves, and very much not the BBC monitoring sound. Equally, it could just be a very harsh recording.
A smoother pairing; in my study, I had some Kef Coda 9 floorstanders with a nineties Sony amp for several years. Perfectly decent combination and not overly fatiguing for long spells.
Jaaaag said:
Hey guys
Apologies if this is a hijack but it seemed like the correct place to put it - there is a standalone thread but I was naked as I wrote that one, I'm clothed now as it seems more appropriate.
Any idea what speakers would be a good and working upgrade for this?
My Dad had a similar one, possibly slightly later, 1990/1? . Apologies if this is a hijack but it seemed like the correct place to put it - there is a standalone thread but I was naked as I wrote that one, I'm clothed now as it seems more appropriate.
Any idea what speakers would be a good and working upgrade for this?
That had 3-way Sony speakers. It sounded very good at the time.
Ps. From memory it cost £550, which must have been quite expensive 32/3 years ago.
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