pdspiegel
Responses from pdspiegel
| Turntable-Amplifier-Speaker configuration question. Looking at picture of the Technics SL-1500c online there are two pairs of RCA outputs: one labeled PHONO OUT and the other LINE OUT. To use the built in phono preamp I think you want to plugged into the LINE OUT outputs. Make sure the LINE OUT s... | |
| Electrical question You may get better sound with a dedicated AC line for your audio system, or at least separated from high current drawing appliances such as a microwave. But I don’t think the lower voltage or limited current would damage your equipment. | |
| Aging ears and Nuances There is an awful lot more to music reproduction than high frequency bandwidth. In my experience you can enjoy quality music reproduction and hear subtle component differences as you age despite a gradual loss of high frequency hearing. As other... | |
| Mono cartridge recommendations for Dual 1229Q Grado MC+ or ME+ could be a good place to start. A search reports that the Dual 1229Q tonearm is low mass (designed for 70's quadraphonic cartridges) and the medium-high compliance Grados should be a good match. The Grados are meant for a common... | |
| Do you have a speaker that’s not a big name maker but punches above its weight? Why? Tonian Labs Oriaco G6 stand-mount speakers. Lively and timely with accurate tonal balance. To my ears, instruments sound natural and more like themselves. Tony Minassian is a small manufacturer located in SoCal. Makes great recordings too. | |
| Outer Vinyl Sleeves, is it a good idea? I recently put my entire music collection into Discogs. I decided on a guideline that any LP worth over $20 gets a protective outer sleeve. | |
| Vinyl that is impossible to find @kerrybh - That Johnny Adams LP is great! Fortunately I got my copy from an LA used record store as a cut-out promo back when it first came out. I have an LP wishlist but every purchase is a balance of how much I want the music vs. the format (C... | |
| How old is too old? Disc drives do wear out over time. I recently went through a lot of effort to replace the pickup in my Sony XA5400ES (w/VSE mods) which is still a great sounding player. It’s hard to tell how much use a previously owned player has had or how m... | |
| Can 6AJ8's be safely substituted for 6KA8's? Agree with @jea48. They are a little similar combining a triode and multi-grid unit with a shared cathode, but they are not pin-compatible. https://tdsl.duncanamps.com/show.php?des=6KA8 doesn’t show a substitute for the 6KA8. I’m not familiar w... | |
| 2a3 Tubes - Favorites? @reimarc a 300B filament is 5v/1.2a while a 45 is 2.5v/1.5a. A 2A3 is the same filament voltage as a 45 (2.5v) but requires more current (2.5a). So, a 2A3 may work on the “45” setting but only if the filament supply can provide the additional cu... | |
| Rick Derringer R.I.P Yes, Rick Derringer was a great studio guitarist and 70’s rocker, but don’t neglect that he was also in the McCoys, creators of the garage rock classic and forever party song, “Hang On Sloopy”! | |
| How are you playing your precious MONO Vinyl? lewm, “early” LP’s in my collection with non-RIAA EQs are from 1948-mid 50’s. Sometimes the jacket notes will say “AES playback curve recommended” or similar. However, often there are no notes. There are a number of resources online to help ide... | |
| How are you playing your precious MONO Vinyl? The purpose of a preamp such as the Aurorasound EQ-100 is to playback discs using a pre-emphasis equalization other than the RIAA standard adopted around 1960 or so. If your collection includes original discs from early in the micro-groove LP and... | |
| Sources for 6BY5 rectifier tubes I see 6BY5 available from the following sellers: Brent Jessee Antique Electronic Supply | |
| Picking a power amp Amps and speakers need to work together. The comments in this thread recommend choosing speakers first and then amps to drive them, which makes sense. However, it’s your system and your hobby so do what you like! :) The tubed Mac amps you ment... |