Alan Brown writes: Since when will an amplifier sound better the louder it plays? Sure, louder can be more exciting, more visceral, but usually there’s a point where things get ‘ragged’. This can manifest as harshness, sibilance, collapse of soundstage or loudness. Yes, I said loudness, which seems to me to be an artifact of […]
Technical clinic
Found 77 results
Colin wonfor has just sent us this review. Mike Tierny (Proclaim Audio) writes: Colin and Alan, thank you for the opportunity to audition Elsdon Wonfor Audio’s LS-XXV speaker cables for review. I must tell you, as a “certified cable nut”, I am mightily impressed. I have run the gamut of speaker cables over the past […]
Neil McCauley / editor in chief Why no images? Because the test review that follows here are of a pre-production pair in casework that doesn’t properly represent the finished product which, so we are told, should be available in early March 2017. Priced, including VAT @ £4.6k per pair. A bit of history Please note […]
QUESTION: I am needing to change the Aeco silver RCA plugs on one of my interconnects for some male XLR plugs. As it is a UP-OCC conductor, I am thinking of getting a plug with some silver plated pure copper connectors. My thoughts were with the ETI or Xhadow. What’s your opinion Colin? COLIN SAYS … […]
QUESTION: Hello Colin, I can’t seem to find a definitive answer. Nowadays, many speakers are made with a built-in woofer amplifier. Vandersteens, Martin-Logans , Von Schweikert, etc. How will an amplifier affect the tonality or dynamics of this type of speaker? COLIN WRITES … This is normally done to stop frequency interference of the high and low sounds, […]
Hello Colin. I’m sure you’re aware of passive preamps such as Music First. I don’t think you’ll sort person to comment negatively on a particular brand but I do wonder what your views are on such devices? Not wishing to anticipate your answer, I’ve listened to the MF device and been very impressed by the […]
COLIN WRITES … Ideally one would love to remove the effect of the capacitance completely but keep the Inductive coupling tight as it acts like a common mode choke helping to reduce non musical sound. With normal PVC webbing you have poor coupling. It can be done by loading the PVC with iron but it is too stiff […]
Hello experts. I have used audiophile fuses for years in various equipment without problem, generally appreciative of sound quality improvement. Recently, I’ve encountered problems with audiophile fuses blowing in my Coincident Turbo 845SE amplifier. At this point I’ve had two failures of Synergistic Red Quantum 6.3a 250v sloblo fuses in this amp. Recently I discovered […]
See what Colin is up to HERE and … HERE colinwonfor@gmail.com
Dear Colin, I need some theories and hopefully answers please. This is a situation, neither I, not anyone who I asked, have encountered before. It is very simple and puzzling at the same time. Here it is: There is a faint buzz coming from the amplifiers, NOT the speakers, barely audible from a few feet […]
HP: Gentlemen, you’ve been designing amps and preamps for over 30 years. Is it still a challenge and ….. are you having fun? A: Colin has been designing electronic professionally for over 40yrs. He has done this for a living. His many designs include power control and power supplies Linear, Resonate, Switch Mode and even […]
Q: Hi Colin. When a amplifier or preamp has 2 ganged pots for the balance and/or volume controls which pot of the 2 is usually the left and right channel for stereo. Is there a standard for this? Meanwhile, greatly pleased to see you are striking out on your own, or at least NOT burdened […]
The image above is one of just six gold plated issues. Note: This was originally published here in April 2015 Neil McCauley (HFA editor in chief) writes an introduction: Colin was and remains one of the UK audio industry’s gentlemen. No one in our office has heard a negative comment about him nor a negative […]
Dear Colin. I’m being a bit greedy here but two questions if I may In your opinion, what makes an Audiophile a true Audiophile? In your opinion, what do fake Audiophiles do that makes them fake? I know these two questions open the door to all kinds of jokes but I’m looking for more thought […]
Hello again Colin. I guess you hold a couple of patents, possibly quite a few. in layman’s terms – if indeed such a thing is possible – can you explain what these are and perhaps their significance in the audiophile world? Crickey Howard, some of those got back a bit and now and are out […]
Editorial note: Written by Alan Elsdon and Re-engineered by Colin Wonfor (above) Q: Looking at the EWA power cord – your MC-V – it doesn’t look anything special. But knowing you, there’s clever engineering that’s gone into it and so a few questions if I may. Let’s start by looking at the topic through the […]
Hi Colin. Just had a crackle in a left channel (nothing you’ve built by the way), fade to nothing, then that stench of death. Took the lid off my Crimson mono (a simple oblong) and all looks healthy in fact like new, the only thing that’s gone is the fuse. Could it be a mains […]
Q: Colin – help required please! Hum and woofer oscillation… I have just rearranged my system and entire room. This has lead me to run my Pioneer PL-707 with Denon DL-301II through an AU-320 SUT to my (freshly recapped) Accuphase C-200 and on to my little Cayin TA30. It’s the smallest amp I have and […]
Hello Colin, please be patient with me because although I am an experienced listener I’m not very conversant with the technology that is available today. By this I mean I really just plug in and just listen. However recently I started to think about some of the units I use, In particular a Musical Fidelity […]
Hello Colin What sources and speakers does you use in development and why please? Thanks. Mike Hi Mike, Now that is a tricky question I like my old Ruark Sabres, they are old friends made for me by my old friend. I also use Spendors, and borrow others makes depending on what I am designing. […]
Hi Colin. I love your ‘clinic’. Neil promised that you might be offering education for us novices. So may I ask – have you ever thought about using braided hose to run your interconnects. I am talking about type usually found as brake lines on motorbikes and car braking systems, i was messing around with […]
Dear Colin, I recently saw a 240v integrated amp from the UK and was wondering if it is ok to use with a Step Down Converter? What are the pros and cons of using a step down device? Does it affect the sound and am I in jeopardy of blowing the transformer or ruining the […]
Dear Colin, Computer grade parts? What are computer grade parts.. such as Computer grade power-supply caps? Are these type of parts an upgrade and/or better than audiophile grade parts? For example, I’ve heard some people say, “I’ve upgraded my power supply caps in my amp to computer grade caps”. I don’t think I’d want computer […]
Q: Hello Colin. The unit in question is a Lafayette 4 channel decoder. When turning off my system, there is a popping noise from the rear speakers unless I turn the volume down on the decoder first (I’m only using the rear outputs). I’d like to eliminate the problem. I’ve searched bypass capacitor and coupling […]