[Music] Hi-Fi - Going Old(ish) School

[1066familyman]

Btw. Since there's lots of vintage hifi talk on this thread. Coming up at the K2 in Crawley soon:

Next event | Audiojumble

Location, directions, opening times and entry prices for the next Audiojumble event.

www.audiojumble.co.uk

 

[1066familyman]

I have a lovely vintage Thorens deck from the early seventies. Also a Rotel amp I bought from Sevenoaks HIFI in Preston Street Brighton in the early 80's. And my pride and joy are Spendor SP1 speakers which I made in the mid eighties. They are another local make but a less well known brand which like many British manufacturers was spawned through BBC audio workers in the 60's. Spencer Hughes who founded the company made breakthrough discoveries using different surround materials for the drivers. I must confess though, I mostly just stream Spotify for convenience.

I knew someone who worked at Spendor, when they were in Hailsham, before they relocated to Sheffield.

He told me the company was named after the founders Spencer and Dorothy, hence Spendor.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

I knew someone who worked at Spendor, when they were in Hailsham, before they relocated to Sheffield.

He told me the company was named after the founders Spencer and Dorothy, hence Spendor.

Yes that's right I knew them both. I am a friend of their son Derek also an ex BBC man who incidentally once lost a whole Nine o clock News video reel just before it was due to go on air in the seventies. I don't think he was at the bbc for much longer after that! Who did you know at Spendor?

 

[1066familyman]

Yes that's right I knew them both. I am a friend of their son Derek also an ex BBC man who incidentally once lost a whole Nine o clock News video reel just before it was due to go on air in the seventies. I don't think he was at the bbc for much longer after that! Who did you know at Spendor?

Well, know, as in was on a training course with him. Young lad, whose name I can't quite recall now, lol.

Anyway, he told me he really liked it there and had moved up to Sheffield with them, but his other half couldn't settle up there and wanted to come back home, so they did.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Well, know, as in was on a training course with him. Young lad, whose name I can't quite recall now, lol.

Anyway, he told me he really liked it there and had moved up to Sheffield with them, but his other half couldn't settle up there and wanted to come back home, so they did.

They must have moved in the last few years. I left in the nineties having worked for them for 8 and a half years in production and quality control. It was annoying, when I handed in my notice my supervisor offered me an immediate pay rise of fifty percent and said had I been at B&W I'd have earned even more. Didn't make me want to hang around. I ended up in support work in schools which was far worse paid but crucially I found satisfaction doing something that made a perceptible difference to a person's life.

 

[1066familyman]

They must have moved in the last few years. I left in the nineties having worked for them for 8 and a half years in production and quality control. It was annoying, when I handed in my notice my supervisor offered me an immediate pay rise of fifty percent and said had I been at B&W I'd have earned even more. Didn't make me want to hang around. I ended up in support work in schools which was far worse paid but crucially I found satisfaction doing something that made a perceptible difference to a person's life.

That's quite a sad story, albeit with a positive ending.

And yes, the move apparently happened just last year.

 

[1066familyman]

Talking of vintage British hifi brands that are still going, possibly the most successful of them all are Kef. Still based in Maidstone.

I heard a pair of vintage Kef 105.2 recently, and they were lovely!... although too big for my space. The bass tightness and control, being a sealed unit, was superb! Kef are also very transparent in providing measurements for all their speakers too.

There's also Neat acoustics from Northumberland, but they ain't so forthcoming with measurements. I haven't heard any of their speakers yet, but I might get the opportunity to hear some Neat Petites at some point.

 

[Glawstergull]

Upgraded my old Audiolab to the newer 7000A and a 7000CDT (amp/dac and cd transport) which pair with Kef LS50s. I now have integrated phonostage for my Thorens TD318. its also has bluetooth for spotify streaming etc

which is nice

View attachment 195637

Looked long and hard at Audiolab. Eventually went for Arcam and some Dali’s

 

[Glawstergull]

My wife went on a speaker buying spree about a year ago and I have 2 pairs of Heybrook HB3s sitting behind me without a purpose now.
She also bought me a new Rega Planar 3 when I had no vinyl, having parted with a huge collection over 10 years ago. In 13 months, I have over 100 LPs again. I just love proper sounding music.

Last year I gave my 30 year old HB1’s to my mates teenage daughter as she was getting into vinyl. Still sounded lovely

 

[clapham_gull]

After several years I have bought a new pair of speakers and set up my old CD/Amp.
My goodness, what a difference. Music actually sounds like music again. I still have a decent Bose speaker that can do all the internetty stuff but I might get rid and buy a streamer separate.
Having sold all my vinyl a few years ago I don't think I'll be going back *that* far though.
Anyone else gone a bit retro ?

Massively.

Just bought a new FM/SW/AM radio. To to be fair, I have many radios but wanted something quality that picks up FM.

I've also had a bit of fun picking up shortwave. Chinese state so far.

Down in Sussex this week, I relived my childhood by picking up London FM stations with a long wire. Listened to a French classical station on FM and had to explain to millennials at work that I'm nearer Calais that you.....

I've also bought a 5 inch television for the desk and then couldn't resist a 10 inch version. Utterly "retro", because I'm near a transmitter I can pick up Freeview with the inbuilt radio.

I'd forgotten recently how FM pisses all over the awful low bit rate that radio stations choose to transmit DAB in.

To be fair, I bought 5 portable DABS over Xmas when bored and then got all my old ones out.

 

[clapham_gull]

My new best friend.

 

[alanfp]

Slightly off topic, but I recently watched MOTD while listening through my (enclosed) Sony headphones (they've got a 3m cord). The background noise of the crowd made me feel as though I was right in the middle of it. all. I was pleasantly surprised at the effect it had.

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Slightly off topic, but I recently watched MOTD while listening through my (enclosed) Sony headphones (they've got a 3m cord). The background noise of the crowd made me feel as though I was right in the middle of it. all. I was pleasantly surprised at the effect it had.

Try a live game with headphones, it is fun to listen to the comments picked up on the pitch side microphones that you don’t hear through the speakers.

 

[Dibdab]

Should also mention that I recently added a wonderful British made to order subwoofer from BK Electronics. Easily up there with the really expensive brands in terms of quality but way cheaper and wonderful to deal with talking me through what the best options were for my space. Has made a huge difference to the sound. Check them out if you need bass!

B.K. Electronics Homepage

 

[ozzygull]

Oh dear, it’s a slippery slope

About 10 years ago I bought a vinyl album in a charity shop just because I used to have it, even though at the time I had nothing to play it on.

My husband for Christmas that year bought me a suitcase record player, even though I appreciated it, it didn’t sound good and to be fair he agreed, but it started an obsession with turntables as I loved the feeling of physical music despite its flaws

Anyhow I now currently own five turntables, ranging from Rega, Technics, Project and Audio Technica.

I think you will agree the one in my office has a great looking slipmat.