BEATLES: If they couldn’t read music, how did they write down the songs and notes they composed for them to remember and for others to play?

They didn’t write them down at all. They remembered them. In their early years, Lennon and McCartney wrote songs together and one of their rules was that if they wrote a song but then couldn’t remember how it went, they’d junk it. Since they were trying to write songs that were catchy, this rule worked […]

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LINN: Source last…a tale of the LP12 vs a Radioshack

As some of you may know, in the last few years I have migrated from Naim 552/500/DBLs to some custom built speakers and tube amps and have never looked back. A friend of mine who was running DBLs actively with 3×500 did the same and also loved the final results. So, in an effort to […]

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UNCERTAINTY: More power = worse sound … or does it?

Howard Popeck … irst encountered this phenomena as a retailer in 1976, and off and off subsequently. Or, more accurately, I first encountered my own incorrect belief re this quite early on. As I learned more about how to achieve meaningful demonstrations for my customers, after a timely intervention, I came to realise I was […]

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LLOYD WALKER: Has anyone else tried his latest cartridge tweak?

Lloyd Walker has a new tweak: the black diamond crystal for cartridges. It’s a crystal you put on either the tonearm or the cartridge that [I KID YOU NOT] transforms the sound! I know, I know, [don’t ask me to explain it,I can’t] it can’t be all that, but i’m tellin you try this thing […]

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Quill

REGA: How to resolve a P5 vs RP6 purchasing dilemma?

Basically, I’ve decided to buy a Rega turntable and am torn between purchasing a new RP6 and a (slightly) used P5 being sold online by an authorized Rega dealer. The P5 can be had for $850 or $1,100 including the power supply unit upgrade. The turntable already has upgraded interconnects, Cardas solid core OFC I’m […]

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“How about Meridian, or SimAudio? Or Wadia? Of course, EMM or dCS,as well as Esoteric (Teac) but they play SACD as well.”

“I onws a CDSE se and DC2 se, but I as I don´t have not one SACD disc, I want to buy one only CD player, I has heard Naim 555, very very good, also the same for MBL, but not heard new Nagra, and it seems that the Reimyo is not made more. I […]

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MICHELL ENGINEERING: Gyro to Orbe upgrade; is it sensible in this system?

Can you advise me in my quest to enhance my current hi-fi system please? It looks like this: Michell GyroDec + Rega RB600 + Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge. The phono stage is a Clear Audio Basic MM/MC. Loudspeakers are Linn Ninkas and CD player a Linn Genki. The power amp is a Linn LK140 […]

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LOW VOLUME LISTENING: Best speakers for a vivid sound ?

May need to live with some speakers that are good at low volume for a while, due to an ear problem. My room is 15 x 12 and the speakers fire from the 12 foot wall. I use Harbeth C7’s. They have been a reasonable compromise for some years now, but they work a good […]

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VALUE: What value should be placed on the absence of UK servicing when considering a brand?

First published in 2011 Howard Popeck writes: Mail-order bride anyone? All purchases, from cars to mail-order brides carry a risk. Audiophile gear is no exception. However there are unavoidable and avoidable risks when it comes to imported equipment. This article seeks to shed light on an unacceptable risk in the hope that readers are alerted […]

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EAR Yoshino preamps?

Hey folks. I’m debating adding a preamp into my system, which currently comprises an modified Audiolab MDAC (which needs a repair, pending), some sources and a pair of active speakers. Whilst the MDAC does a sterling job with audio, it doesn’t allow me to connect any analogue inputs and I have often wondered if a […]

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Quill

SUGDEN: Their Optima Phono Stage (MM/MC) – user comments

I bought this well respected phono stage as a stop gap earlier this year. I fancy trying something else so this needs to go to help fund it. There’s not a lot on the web about these but everything you do find it positive. I can’t tell you much about the specs I’m afraid. Patrick […]

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