BOOTHROYD STUART MERIDIAN: Designs … the very rarest of the rare

Quite a few facts here that are unknown to many. Meridian 102. A concept with possibly only one prototype of a stand-alone phono stage and/or step-up. Never put into production. Meridian 101B with hard anodized finish over the raw aluminium. An experiment to test surface-finish durability. It was indeed resistant to even a heavy set […]

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INTERCONNECTS: [pre owned] for sale and NONE you will find on ebay!

Today we have Atlas / Audience / Belden / Black Rhodium /Cardas / Chord / Kimber / Krell /Linn / NAIM / Nordost /QED (and many more … ATLAS … https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649667770-atlas-interconnects-and-power-cord/ AUDIENCE … https://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/cables/listing-2879211438.htm AUDIENCE SX … https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649711243-audience-sx-interconnects-selling-two-pairs-1m-and-75m/ AUDIOQUEST … https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649679852-audioquest-audiotruth-rare-diamond-extreme-pair-1-meter-wxlr-interconnects/ AUDIOQUEST … https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649714154-audioquest-water-rca-2m-interconnects-excellent/ AUDIOQUEST … https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649714249-audioquest-golden-gate-rca-interconnects-one-06mt-pair-amp-one-2mt-pair/ AUDIOQUEST WIDE BLUE YONDER … https://www.quoka.de/hifi-audio-tv-video-foto/verstaerker-equalizer-receiver/c7260a308987051/audioquest-wild-blue-yonder-analog.html BELDEN … […]

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Quill

AUDIO ORIGAMI: PU7 Tonearm – test review

Roy Gregory writes: If Audio Origami ‘s nomenclature evokes a dull echo somewhere in the deep recesses of your memory banks, seeing it in the flesh might well seem like déjà vu. Back in the day, when real turntables came from Scotland and they all carried Ittoks, more enlightened audiophiles (or just those who saw […]

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Jumping man

The amplifier faulty / spare parts market-place

FIRST … Please read the important statement at the foot of this page. Thank you. —//— Fisher / Linn / Marantz / Meridian / Musical Fidelity / NAIM / Onkyo / Rotel / Tandberg / Technics FISHER … https://www.bonanza.com/booths/HeroDirect/items/1290285820?awc=6238_1660856572_bc1977f59097962147032b0fef8c7791&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=cpa FISHER … https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124886460322?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338381867&toolid=10001&customid=33324554-1f39-11ed-933b-346232333965 FISHER … https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185487616419?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338381867&toolid=10001&customid=0064fd2e-1f39-11ed-8cfe-356263666166 LINN … https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275224482318?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338381867&toolid=10001&customid=0bbb14c0-1f38-11ed-a093-346232333965 MARANTZ … https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284930828198?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338381867&toolid=10001&customid=bf20cf74-1f37-11ed-881f-356263666166 MERIDIAN 208 … https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193961140117?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338381867&toolid=10001&customid=d92edc02-1f38-11ed-9945-346232333965 […]

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NAIM: Julian Vereker – the interview

This piece was originally published in Stereophile in 1998: One of the big industry stories of 1985 was the split, both personal and commercial, between the British Linn and Naim companies. Led by Ivor Tiefenbrun and Julian Vereker (footnote 1) respectively, both companies had started up in the early 1970s. Both men held similar views, […]

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MERIDIAN: Their gimmick-free golden years of 2-channel music

Howard Popeck: Emerging phoenix-like or perhaps Cinderella-like out of the turmoil of Lecson via the short-lived Orpheus designs, Bob Stuart and Allen Boothroyd announced the arrival of BS Meridian in Hi-fi News 35 years ago. The series 1 system comprised initially the 101 preamp, the 103 power amp and the astonishing M1 active speakers with […]

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Quill

SYRINX: PU2 / Mass Ring and Mr. Scott Strachan

Scott Strachan, the inventor and constructor of the Syrinx arm was a very likeable chap. His enthusiasm was infectious. His tonearms looked, frankly, terrible. Not quite as bad as the original Hadcock, but not far off. They were, until the Ittock, the only intelligent and sonically acceptable alternative to the Grace G707 arm on a […]

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JVC: AX-Z1010TN may make uncomfortable reading for those wedded to their NAIM amplifiers!”

Stanley Kramer writes: JVC AX-Z1010TN Digital Reference Integrated Amplifier SuperDIGIFINE – A Review Let me state that for those who think long reviews are just self-gratification, you better stop now.Also it may make uncomfortable reading for those wedded to their NAIM amplifiers! A bit of history:-I have been a lover of NAIM amplification for as […]

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Quill

Blast from the past – July 2008 / Dear diary …….. Trio KT 917, DAB vs DDB, Squeezbox, declining mental powers, Mcintosh vs Bel Canto, TACT RCS 2.2XP, Richer Sounds getting a thumbs up …. and more – by Howard Popeck.

Taken from my diary for 17/7/2008: Bit of an up ‘n down day yesterday. Slightly disturbed to discover that my ‘must buy’ list of CDs now runs to 59! It’s not so much the money; but how am I going to find the tine to listen? Ho hum. Hooked up my wonderful old and massive […]

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REVOX: B750 II integrated amplifier test review

  Try as I might, and frankly I don’t try all that hard that often, I’m rather taken with the look of an audiophile item to the extent that I’ll buy, or covet it. Yes, it’s sad. But … Or put differently, the sound quality takes second place – sometimes. My Yamaha C1 pre amp […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

NAKAMICHI: 680ZX dual-speed cassette deck – test review

Howard Popeck … Launched in 1980, the maker’s claims were, on the face of it, outrageous; “True high-fidelity performance at half-speed”. Although cassette recording and play-back technology were, through outstanding engineering, approaching the theoretical limits of what could be achieved, and enthusiasm for the medium was probably at its peak, true audiophiles rarely accepted that […]

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TECHNICS: SP10 Mk2 owner causing a headache

My search for audio nirvana is proving frustrating the constant pain in my frontal lobe coming from the continued banging of my head against a brick wall. First things first, my system comprises the following; Technics SP10 MkII Slatedeck plinth SME V Denon DL304 Trichord Dino for vinyl duties, Esoteric X03se CD spinner, Linn Klimax […]

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Lux (Luxman) PD-300 turntable mini test review

Howard Popeck: Those of you of a certain age will remember I hope the magnificently engineered range of turntables, amps and tuners built by Luxman (formerly Lux) in the 1970s. They were one of the first, if not the first to introduce vacuum clamping for the record against the platter. This was via an inbuilt […]

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MICHELL ENGINERING: Mycro – help required

Please could anyone advise me how to tune the subchassis balance on the Michell Mycro?? I have tried for hours to get the thing to bounce without appearing drunk, but it just eludes me every time. I have owned a beautiful Mycro for a few years now that I won on e-bay, it is fitted […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

NAKAMICHI: 680ZX dual-speed cassette deck – test review

Howard Popeck … Launched in 1980, the maker’s claims were, on the face of it, outrageous; “True high-fidelity performance at half-speed”. Although cassette recording and play-back technology were, through outstanding engineering, approaching the theoretical limits of what could be achieved, and enthusiasm for the medium was probably at its peak, true audiophiles rarely accepted that […]

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AUDIO INSIDER

ACCIDENTAL MAGIC: What does it mean in practice?

Neil McCauley asks Howard Popeck Howard, Historically, what did you mean by ‘accidental magic’? Well …….. a combination of equipment that previously you’d not encountered and which sounds right immediately. Unusual combinations. Amps and speakers that just by chance sound magical together – even though the makers probably hadn’t used each other’s equipment. That kinda […]

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TONE CONTROLS: Howard Popeck in conversation with Neil McCauley about his SAE 2800, Cello Palette, Yamaha C1, Carver 4000 and the Daniel Hertz

This is the next in an occasional series of recorded brief conversations between Howard and myself during snatched time between deadlines and other time issues. Neil: Howard? Howard: Yes! (faking irritability) N: it’s that time again! (faking sarcasm) H: Oh …… good (faking sarcasm) N: So, whatever happened to tone controls? You know, the bass […]

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