Post by Bigman80 on Jun 19, 2019 21:53:54 GMT
It occurred to me lately that my hifi memories have become a treasure to me. You don’t realise it at the time, but certain things seem to form a connection with you that endures. Here are just some of mine.
My first system in my own place: Misison 775 Turntable with AT95, Rotel RA840BX2 and Monotor Audio 252s. I remember Billy Ocean having a real presence in the room that made me want to listen forever.
Carrying a new boxed Cyrus One home from Lintone Audio. Standing on the Metro platform as the light faded, it felt like I had found treasure. I loved that wee amp and I wish I still had it in its box.
Standing outside the Sound Organisation and wishing I was brave enough to stick the blue Incatech Claymore on my credit card. My Claymore love today stems from this unfulfilled desire.
Heading to York to meet a guy on a train platform and buy his mint Myst Tma3. A design classic inside and out, I loved that gorgeous amp with my brand new Epos ES14s my wife and I carried home on the train.
Dropping the needle on my LP12/Ekos/AT OC9 for the first time. Courage of Lassie materialising through the Kans like they had just transported into my room. I’d upgraded from a Basik Plus and fitted the Ekos myself, I’d spent the new central heating money on the arm but the warmth from the Linn was all I needed.
After a period of being skint and unwell, with no hifi for 6 years, I’d put together a system again. A Philips C624? for £8 from cash converters, an Arcam Alpha amp I’d bought at a car boot sale for £6 and a pair of MA352, which I have always loved. Hearing Counting Crows Hard Candy felt like the end of a really bad time had come and great times were ahead. That amp had been full of candle wax when I got it because the owner had stood a church candle on top. I picked out every last piece and resprayed the top. I fired it up with trepidation and still can’t believe it worked. If felt like life was flowing again.
Sitting back in my newly decorated room having spent every penny I had on a Naim export 22/120 pairing and a walnut pair of DMS/PMS Isobariks. The scale and weight were soul-salving. The upward firing sound was my first exposure to a sound I have come to need.
Lying in bed and enjoying our bedroom system of Naim CDi, Naim 62/HiCap/250 and SBLs. So sumptuous it still touches me today. I recall Francis Black completely enthralling me for hours every day,
Another bedroom system with a Xerxes, LK1, KSA50 and Rega Elas. Bass that gave me the same deep pleasure you get from extreme chocolate indulgence. Van Morrison’s presence was awe inspiring.
My Spica TC50s singing on the end of my NVA P50 and 4xA40s. I knew I had something special and that system just played everything as though it was a top recording. Moving to an Audion Sterling was icing on the cake and I could sit and look at as well as listen to beauty.
My current system which is easily my best in so many ways. I love the house, the room, the comfy chair, the gorgeous oak stands, and the TC60s are even better than their older brothers, The sonneteers do more for me than any of the above and I have what I see as the world’s most beautiful turntable. I’m at ease like never before and although it’s current, I know that today’s experiences with my system will be my best memories of all.
My first system in my own place: Misison 775 Turntable with AT95, Rotel RA840BX2 and Monotor Audio 252s. I remember Billy Ocean having a real presence in the room that made me want to listen forever.
Carrying a new boxed Cyrus One home from Lintone Audio. Standing on the Metro platform as the light faded, it felt like I had found treasure. I loved that wee amp and I wish I still had it in its box.
Standing outside the Sound Organisation and wishing I was brave enough to stick the blue Incatech Claymore on my credit card. My Claymore love today stems from this unfulfilled desire.
Heading to York to meet a guy on a train platform and buy his mint Myst Tma3. A design classic inside and out, I loved that gorgeous amp with my brand new Epos ES14s my wife and I carried home on the train.
Dropping the needle on my LP12/Ekos/AT OC9 for the first time. Courage of Lassie materialising through the Kans like they had just transported into my room. I’d upgraded from a Basik Plus and fitted the Ekos myself, I’d spent the new central heating money on the arm but the warmth from the Linn was all I needed.
After a period of being skint and unwell, with no hifi for 6 years, I’d put together a system again. A Philips C624? for £8 from cash converters, an Arcam Alpha amp I’d bought at a car boot sale for £6 and a pair of MA352, which I have always loved. Hearing Counting Crows Hard Candy felt like the end of a really bad time had come and great times were ahead. That amp had been full of candle wax when I got it because the owner had stood a church candle on top. I picked out every last piece and resprayed the top. I fired it up with trepidation and still can’t believe it worked. If felt like life was flowing again.
Sitting back in my newly decorated room having spent every penny I had on a Naim export 22/120 pairing and a walnut pair of DMS/PMS Isobariks. The scale and weight were soul-salving. The upward firing sound was my first exposure to a sound I have come to need.
Lying in bed and enjoying our bedroom system of Naim CDi, Naim 62/HiCap/250 and SBLs. So sumptuous it still touches me today. I recall Francis Black completely enthralling me for hours every day,
Another bedroom system with a Xerxes, LK1, KSA50 and Rega Elas. Bass that gave me the same deep pleasure you get from extreme chocolate indulgence. Van Morrison’s presence was awe inspiring.
My Spica TC50s singing on the end of my NVA P50 and 4xA40s. I knew I had something special and that system just played everything as though it was a top recording. Moving to an Audion Sterling was icing on the cake and I could sit and look at as well as listen to beauty.
My current system which is easily my best in so many ways. I love the house, the room, the comfy chair, the gorgeous oak stands, and the TC60s are even better than their older brothers, The sonneteers do more for me than any of the above and I have what I see as the world’s most beautiful turntable. I’m at ease like never before and although it’s current, I know that today’s experiences with my system will be my best memories of all.
