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Mike Oldfield


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I have been listening to MO on my old Hi-Fi and have been bought recently some new LP's including Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'. However I seem to have sound problems with the Hi-Fi which dates back to 1976. The tuner amp is a Trio/ Kenwood 40 watts rms per channel model, the record deck is a Thorens TD 160 C and the speakers are Acoustic Research units. I gather capacitors suffer as they get old and they could be the problem ? --Anyone had similar problems and had their Hi-Fi repaired ?

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Posted by Mike Etheridge 1 on 07/01/2018 13:14:14:

I have been listening to MO on my old Hi-Fi and have been bought recently some new LP's including Pink Floyd's 'The Wall'. However I seem to have sound problems with the Hi-Fi which dates back to 1976. The tuner amp is a Trio/ Kenwood 40 watts rms per channel model, the record deck is a Thorens TD 160 C and the speakers are Acoustic Research units. I gather capacitors suffer as they get old and they could be the problem ? --Anyone had similar problems and had their Hi-Fi repaired ?

I remember ages back, WhatHiFi did a feature on getting their old system out of storage and back into the listening room. Anyhow, they turned the speaker cones 180* to counteract any speaker sag...Trouble is, getting old stuff repaired might cost more than new gear. The new stuff might even be better. Though, any decent hifi shop will let you try out different budget/ combinations. Not knowing where you live I googled “hifi repairs “ and found several pages. 

I’m hoping my “REL Strata I “ sub will outlive me. 

Edited By cymaz on 07/01/2018 14:53:38

Edited By cymaz on 07/01/2018 14:53:59

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All this talk about Linn LP12's has taken me right back to when I was a student in the early 80's when I was really into HI-Fi.

I used to spend hours in the "Audiofile" in Bishops Stortford listening to a Linn LP12 fitted with an esoteric arm and cartridge and a Naim amp feeding a pair of Linn Isobariks's.

My budget only stretched to a second hand "Revolver" (similar to a Rega 2/3) turntable, a Rotel 820B amp and a pair of Celestion speakers. I would sit listening, totally absorbed in the music, for hour upon hour to the likes of Pink Floyd,etc. Oh what happy days and simple pleasures of removing a vinyl album from it's sleeve, placing it carefully on the turntable and gently dropping the stylus at the begining of those spiral grooves.

Nowadays, I just don't have the space or time unfortunately and it's mostly a case of the PC with headphones via the internet. I do still have the Revolver though, albeit in the loft of my Mothers house. One day I will resurrect it, if only to look at and enjoy the memories.

Edited By Steve Colman on 07/01/2018 15:35:27

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Gosh! Those were the days! I still have an original Rega Planar 3 turntable, with AKG, Ortofon and Satin cartridges. The Armstrong receiver is now part of my garage/workshop set up, as are the speakers I built from plans in Hi Fi News back in'74. A living room makeover a few years back required me to upgrade to something a little more domestically acceptable. IMO, the KEF and Cambridge Audio gear I got to replace them ain't half as good (mind you, the ears have had a bit of wear as well...)

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img_2374.jpg

A family discussion a few months ago led us to dig out our old vinyl collection. We had loads from the 60s and 70s, but nothing to play them on anymore. A look on local Gumtree found this lovely 1974 Dynatron unit, one owner from new. So here it is alongside our modern Bose, the best of both worlds!!

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Posted by Mike T on 07/01/2018 17:46:30:

Gosh! Those were the days! I still have an original Rega Planar 3 turntable, with AKG, Ortofon and Satin cartridges. The Armstrong receiver is now part of my garage/workshop set up, as are the speakers I built from plans in Hi Fi News back in'74. A living room makeover a few years back required me to upgrade to something a little more domestically acceptable. IMO, the KEF and Cambridge Audio gear I got to replace them ain't half as good (mind you, the ears have had a bit of wear as well...)

I suspect that as we all hear/perceive music differently, this is why there is such a number of speaker/ separates manufacturers. Love the sound of Meridian, Chord, Wilson Benesch.......if only I could afford them dont know. Still, back to reality. After a decade of demo listening ( I always take Mrs C, she has a great ear) and slowly upgrading, its Arcam FMJ amps, Merdian CD and B&W cdm9nt front speakers. Home cinema stuff on top of that...but that's another story.

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Have read up about my amplifier problem. i.e, 'the sound diminishes on one channel and then with a crackle it returns to full volume', it seems this can be caused by dirty contacts on the speaker protection relay. The trouble is that I will have to disconnect everything and remove the tuner amplifier case and identify the relay to clean the contacts. Only months ago I removed the case and discovered a considerable amount of dust in the case plus cobwebs !

I had a friend that bought a Dynatron unit years ago but was subsequently upset to find out that they were linked to Philips Electrical.

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My old Technics turntable from the 80s failed last year, so I bought a new Denon one so I could continue to play my vinyl. It has an MP3 conversion feature, and its output is designed to feed directly into the phono inputs of modern amps. It works well and sounds good to me, but it's very plasticky compared to the older stuff, with wobbly buttons. And it hasn't got a cueing lever to enable easy playing of specific tracks. Still, you have to get up from your armchair every 20 minutes anyway!

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Nice one cymaz.

Think I'll have myself the Linn Klimax LP12 at that bargain price! I remember the Linn Sondek LP12 costing around 400 quid way back in the 80's + arm and cartridge of course.

Seriously though, It's good to see the old familiar names like Linn and Rega still going strong after so many years. I used to live close to Huntingdon where Quad were based and bagged a tour of the factory and a listening session on one occasion. Whether they're still going now I have no idea though.

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Crackling/varying sound could be a dirty pot. Try whipping the volume and stereo pan controls backwards and forwards a few dozen times.

Cheers Bruce it appears to have worked, I have been blasting out 'The Wall' and Tubular Bells without problems at high volume whilst my wife is at the Tate gallery. Must try some Moody Blues next.

Having looked on the internet my Thorens TD 160C turntable second hand is priced at just under £600 but nothing like the cost of some that Cymaz has spotted.

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My LP12 is the Sondek . (Not the more expensive one posted by Cymaz- I don't think that the wife would ever forgive me if I bought that!) I was very fortunate to acquire this from the estate of an old friend who was a true audiophile and in the record business. I also managed to get my hands on a Nakamichi Dragon.1000 ZXL (currently being refurbished).Audio Research integrated amp and a set of B & W speakers to suit!

For those interested in Audio equipment I have in the past bought equipment from Gildings the Auctioneers (Sale was on today for Collectors Auction - which included Amps, reel to reels etc) 

Edited By Tomtom39 on 09/01/2018 14:16:57

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Posted by Tomtom39 on 09/01/2018 14:07:44:

My LP12 is the Sondek . (Not the more expensive one posted by Cymaz- I don't think that the wife would ever forgive me if I bought that!) I was very fortunate to acquire this from the estate of an old friend who was a true audiophile and in the record business. I also managed to get my hands on a Nakamichi Dragon.1000 ZXL (currently being refurbished).Audio Research integrated amp and a set of B & W speakers to suit!

For those interested in Audio equipment I have in the past bought equipment from Gildings the Auctioneers (Sale was on today for Collectors Auction - which included Amps, reel to reels etc)

Edited By Tomtom39 on 09/01/2018 14:16:57

TT39...is there a difference between the 1000xl and the Dragon? This thread says there would be. I always thought the Dragon was the best cassette deck ever made...I may be wrong?

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Hello Cymaz,

You are quite right, there is a difference between the two . Sorry should have said I have both. My Dragon is the "Golden" limited version. I worked (part time) for a chap who used to bring these in as Grey Imports back in the mid 70's to 80's . He had his fingers in lots of pies! I can't remember how much these were new but seem to recollect figures of £2,000 back then. I managed to get hold of the G.D about 10 years ago from my ex bosses estate . It languished in my cupboard until I met a chap in the US last year who specialises in refurbishing these (I have had several offers but will hang on) . I will collect when I go to the states in the spring. The 1000ZXL is a lovely bit of kit but is also in need of some work and is packed ready for my trip in March.(Bought in auction)

PM me if you fancy a trip up to have a look as I'll be moving closer to you post summer!

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