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valve
radios
&
70's
hi-fi
Although I use a modern Technics in the living
room (mostly as it has aux inputs for my keyboard etc)
I prefer vinyl coupled to an older amp for
listening.
I have collected several valve radios, pictured
below as well as some
audio equipment through the years...I suppose
my stuff would be
considered average by decent standards,
but I like it.
Hi-Fi first
Luxman PD370 Vacuum stabiliser Deck
This deck has a nice tone and since a moving coil cartridge is fitted
I was fortunate to find
a Audio Technic adapter to mate to the magnetic cartridge input found
on my amps.
I usually have this mated to a Grant Lumley GL01 valve amp
(not pictured, since it's being repaired due to one of my cat's spraying
efforts!) which
is a giant 2-man 80w/channel amp with 3 big transformers, two EL84s?
and two ECH?? valves
(can't remember since the amp isn't here at the moment)
and either the Grant Lumley preamp pictured below or a Quad 33 preamp,
since
the GL has awful microphony - you can actually speak into the preamp
as a mic!
Grant Lumley GL100P valve preamp
Quad 33 Preamp
I also still occasionally use these two:
Rogers Ravensbourne
Leak Stereo 70
Upstairs I have a mixer deck attached between the PC and amp to allow
mixing of wav/mp3/midi etc.
This goes to a Sugden A48 amp:
and it's accompanying tuner (T48)
The Sugden is an amazing old amp - class I and II (but mostly class
I)
that has stood the test of time. It doesn't matter what input
I give it - it
performs brilliantly, mated to a pair of aging Mordant Short Pageant
II
speakers - which have both needed replacement tweeters but other than
that still perform admirably.
I recently dug out an old record deck whilst cleaning out - a Bang &
Olufsen
Beogram 1200 bought for a couple of pounds at a carboot. It refused
to work
for a few hours, not responding to any of my button pressing,
then just as I was going to throw it away the deck started up on it's
own and appears
to only need a new belt or minor adjustment, since it plays slightly
slow for the first
20 minutes or so.
I'm actually surprised with this deck - it has very little background
noise and a good output,
especially as I don't have the optional plug in preamp module - it
has a DIN plug, which luckily
mates to the disc socket on the Sugden.
I also use a reel to reel - Akai 4000D for recording my attempts on the piano
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OLD STUFF - valve radios:
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Here are some of the valve radios I possess - all in working order:
Blaupunkt Florenze
A couple of '50's Ekco radios
And whatever this is above?
A very large Westminster bakelite
and a lovely old 1937 Marconi with a pink dial - still working