Pundit
Hi from Europe Apr 1, 2019 19:14:46 GMT 12
via mobile - Edited Apr 1, 2019 19:21:59 GMT 12 by belbo
Post by belbo on Apr 1, 2019 19:14:46 GMT 12
Dear all, I just wanted to say hi to everyone. I was surfing on the darklantern blog and was really impressed with the quality of the posts so decided to join the forums (congratulations to Owen). I’m actually not from New Zealand, I live in Europe (Copenhagen). I have a lot of interests ranging from music, photography, books, art but music probably is very high in my priority list (I listen to classical, jazz and a lot of indie rock - Brit pop particularly) - I go to concerts a lot. I’m a photographer as well doing a lot of digital and a fair amount of film b&w, you can check out my Flickr account: www.flickr.com/photos/thebelbo/A few years ago I’ve started with the intention of getting “a good stereo system” and now I’m quite involved with equipment (although I try to remember that music is the important piece). I’m very fond of tube amplifiers, single driver speakers and vinyl, which to me is what sounds most natural. Having listened to a lot of gear I have to say that I favor the Japanese overall and especially smaller/niche firms. If I sound like I have been through a lot of gear it’s not true: not that much and I don’t like the idea of getting something new every few months, I would really prefer to enjoy what I have right now for a lot of time. My current system consists of a Leben CS300XS amplifier with Almarro speakers and a Denon DD turntable. I’m also building a second system around a set of 47 Labs speakers. But I don’t have so much experience and I’m still learning, so looking forward to exchanging views and learning from you, Belbo
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 1, 2019 20:20:20 GMT 12
Hi belbo - welcome & thanks for your introduction & for the compliments! Looking forward to your comments & contributions. Leben amplifiers have enthusiastic fans here & we would be interested in seeing Direct Drive turntable too I'm sure. I expect that Copenhagen will have a very good live music scene. I know that Jazz is still very strong in Europe. Interested that you are a photographer still shooting film - I still have my Olympus OM1, Nikon & a couple of other film cameras. (I'm a bit p*ssed that Flickr are limiting images on their 'free' accounts & moving to a pay-model - typical strategy for the Flickr developers to build & sell )
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Pundit
Post by belbo on Apr 1, 2019 23:57:16 GMT 12
Thank you Owen,
Cannot say enough about the quality of the writing on your blog as well as the versatility of the topics, apart from photography, music and audio I always aspired to get into architecture so looking-forward following your posts. Copenhagen has an amazing Jazz scene: it's part of the heritage of the city (as many of the Jazz legends lived in Copenhagen during the late 60s/early 70s - among others the great Dexter Gordon & Bud Powell, I'm collecting some of the records from that era), there are a number of Jazz clubs and a fantastic Jazz festival during the summer. I enjoy film photography very much and I have a lot of vintage gear (including the iconic OM1, Nikons, Contax, soviet cameras, etc.), but I also shoot digital with the Fuji XPro system. I used to manually develop & print B&W film but I have zero time for that anymore so I have simplified my workflow. I'm really looking forward participating in the forums and being part of the community!
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Post by colinf on Apr 2, 2019 4:28:01 GMT 12
Hi Belbo, welcome! I’m an Aussie-Kiwi expat currently living in the UK. I’m an amplifier enthusiast and make my own valve and SS amps, and also hybrids. Looking forward to chatting!
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 2, 2019 9:09:53 GMT 12
Welcome aboard. Nice to see the forum growing and getting some international flavour. Be nice to see some photos of your audio gear at some time.
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Pundit
Post by belbo on Apr 2, 2019 11:20:34 GMT 12
Thanks a lot for your welcome. colinf: that is really cool, I aspire to make some simple speaker designs myself but nothing at your level of complexity. cooksferry: that’s easy, I will take a few photos and post, my system is quite simple but happy to share!
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 2, 2019 12:57:38 GMT 12
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Pundit
Hi from Europe Apr 2, 2019 21:06:27 GMT 12
via mobile - Edited Apr 2, 2019 21:08:15 GMT 12 by belbo
Post by belbo on Apr 2, 2019 21:06:27 GMT 12
His speakers sound very good and he has a website with amazing information (although a bit chaotic), here a very interesting article of his on high efficiency speakers: www.troelsgravesen.dk/HES.htmWe had talked at some point but he completely bashed single driver speakers so that relationship ended there lol.
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Pundit
Post by belbo on Apr 3, 2019 5:29:30 GMT 12
As requested by cooksferry a few photos. My system is pretty simple but I’m happy with the sound I’m getting: Leben CS300XS+Black Cube+Denon DD. I also have a modified Apple TV 1st generation connected to the Leben via a DAC, the Apple TV stores most of my 2500 CDs in a more convenient form (just didn’t have enough space for them). Almarro full range speakers. 47 Labs 4722. These are my favorite small speakers period, they sound amazing, I’ve never heard a faster/more dynamic/you’re there speaker, I can not recommend them enough for a small room. Currently running them via a solid state Sony amplifier but planning to get a 47 Labs gaincard at some point (what a great brand!).
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Post by cooksferry on Apr 3, 2019 6:05:52 GMT 12
Lovely gear. Always had the possibility of a Leben amp tucked away but always seemed to get side tracked. The Denon still has a futuristic look . I'd guess no speaker spikes on the wood floor?
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Pundit
Post by belbo on Apr 3, 2019 6:30:43 GMT 12
Thanks cooksferry, I use small pieces of felt fabric under the spikes to protect the floor!
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Pundit
Post by rocl on Apr 3, 2019 8:54:22 GMT 12
and a warm welcome from me in christchurch too. i love the simplicity of your system. i seem to have way too many boxes! i have a 47labs cart - the mcbee. it does many things really well, but is currently the backup for my DV TKR.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 3, 2019 16:25:13 GMT 12
Hi belbo - is that a Denon DP-1000 DD TT?
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Pundit
Hi from Europe Apr 3, 2019 18:53:27 GMT 12
via mobile - Edited Apr 3, 2019 18:56:33 GMT 12 by belbo
Post by belbo on Apr 3, 2019 18:53:27 GMT 12
Hi rocl, those are some seriously nice cartridges! Correct @owen DP-1700W with the plinth.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 3, 2019 20:08:36 GMT 12
47 Labs - Kimura had many influential ideas. His Gaincard amplifier was innovative - ultra short signal paths, fast PSU power delivery, etc. Also his CD player transport & implementation of a non-oversampling, output filterless DAC. Not at all familiar with his l'speaker ideas however.
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Pundit
Post by belbo on Apr 3, 2019 20:41:56 GMT 12
47 Labs - Kimura had many influential ideas. His Gaincard amplifier was innovative - ultra short signal paths, fast PSU power delivery, etc. Also his CD player transport & implementation of a non-oversampling, output filterless DAC. Not at all familiar with his l'speaker ideas however. Everything I've heard so far from 47 Labs sounds really good, there is a lot of presence and speed, a very "direct" sound. Considering the quality I would also say that they're reasonably priced. I also like the design (top-loading CD player and the fantastic looking turntable). The 4722 speakers use a single proprietary 4 inch driver (there is a version with Alnico): imaging, speed and detail is really amazing, personally I've never heard anything comparable apart from electrostatics. I'm using them in a small room (9 sq meters) and they really fill the room including surprisingly enough the bottom end. They are difficult to drive though (4ohm) and require a good solid state amplifier.
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Post by Owen Y on Apr 18, 2019 9:44:47 GMT 12
Hi belbo - I forgot to ask.... The Lehmann Black Cube has received many good reviews. How do you like it?
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Pundit
Post by belbo on Apr 19, 2019 4:31:41 GMT 12
Very much @owen but I cannot say that I have huge experience with phonos. The Black Cube sounds to me quite neutral and with good level of detail and is highly customisable. A big advantage also for me is that it's small as I don't have space for yet another big box. Ideally though in the future I would like to move to a tube phono (something like the EAR or your Phi), both have a relatively small footprint also.
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