Pundit
Post by raveydave on Aug 2, 2020 9:40:08 GMT 12
www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/home-audio/amplifiers-tuners/auction-2724287687.htmI have fond memories of my SP260T timekeepers, back in the day. Glowing reviews from a certain AudioVideo reviewer, even when powered by a Border Patrol 300B SET amp, if I recall correctly? What was the name of that shop on Broadway, Newmarket, opposite from the bottom of Khyber Pass, that used to have them for sale in their showroom? These Trademe ones for sale (not mine) have the same metronomic cabinetry, but seem to have replaced the ribbon tweeter and original drivers (were they called “CARMA”?) with ones from the later Minstrel range. Shame to lose the beautiful rimu finish as well, but must admit that piano black paint job lends them a certain Wilson watt/puppy vibe...
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Pundit
Post by garym on Aug 2, 2020 10:19:43 GMT 12
Shop would have been Absolute Sound in Short Street, Newmarket. I've given Garry a heads up.
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Aug 2, 2020 11:26:53 GMT 12
Shop would have been Absolute Sound in Short Street Right era & area... but the place I am thinking of was down that same Olympic Pool end of Newmarket, but actually on Broadway (as opposed to EHF which was tucked away in Queens Arcade, on the other side of the street, and down towards 277). Absolute Sound was mainly doing that Linn “single speaker“ demonstration thing around that time, but they did also carry Infinity (Kappas etc) and a couple of other speaker brands. Pretty sure not Lambert though...
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Post by michaelw on Aug 2, 2020 23:22:48 GMT 12
Didn't Peter Gilbert have a shop down there ? I remember seeing CRAFT amps at Absolute Sound, still have the brochure 
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Post by Citroen on Aug 3, 2020 8:40:05 GMT 12
Shop would have been Absolute Sound in Short Street Right era & area... but the place I am thinking of was down that same Olympic Pool end of Newmarket, but actually on Broadway (as opposed to EHF which was tucked away in Queens Arcade, on the other side of the street, and down towards 277). Absolute Sound was mainly doing that Linn “single speaker“ demonstration thing around that time, but they did also carry Infinity (Kappas etc) and a couple of other speaker brands. Pretty sure not Lambert though... Is there a Queens Arcade in Newmarket? I only know of the one off Queen Street
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Aug 3, 2020 9:44:10 GMT 12
Pretty sure there used to be two, but look forward to being corrected. This was late 80’s and early 90’s.
The Newmarket arcade has gone now... I think maybe some camping & outdoor store took over the whole site.
Not sure about Peter Gilbert.
I do remember when Absolute Sound started selling Jamo, after they moved to Parnell Rise.
So maybe the connection is there?
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Post by michaelw on Aug 3, 2020 10:33:08 GMT 12
PG was the Jamo importer at the time
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 3, 2020 10:46:42 GMT 12
Absolute Sound were, I think, listed by Lambert Audio as retailer at one stage back then. Peter Gilbert was on Parnell Rise & later Absolute Sound moved to there too, similar location ('90s?). Everybody was around there at one time - Audio Excellence, Audio House(?), mid-late 80s).
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Post by sub on Aug 3, 2020 14:03:08 GMT 12
I bought my first Hifi system from Peter Gilbert back in the 70s. He then had premises somewhere near the Station Hotel in Anzac Avenue.
Dual 1219 TT, adc cart, AWA amp, Richard Allen spkrs
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Post by michaelw on Aug 3, 2020 14:06:33 GMT 12
Glory days.
I remember in 1984 driving up to checkout high end car stereos - Kenwood, Alpine, Clarion, Denon (?).
Eventually bought a Concord radio-cassette unit from Smith's Sound when they were in the city.
Still some of the best sound i've heard from a car cassette player.
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 3, 2020 14:45:37 GMT 12
Digressing some more.... Smith Sound by late 90s moved from the Mid City(?) Arcade in Queen St, out to the old villa on Mt Eden Rd.
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Post by Citroen on Aug 3, 2020 14:59:16 GMT 12
I thought I saw a pair of Lamberts in a store maybe in High Street in the 80's?
Spent a bit of time at the back of that arcade on Queen St in the 80's, annoying Phil and Alec. And got back into vinyl in the 2000's after a visit to that old villa in Mt Eden.
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Post by Citroen on Aug 3, 2020 15:04:24 GMT 12
Absolute Sound were, I think, listed by Lambert Audio as retailer at one stage back then. Peter Gilbert was on Parnell Rise & later Absolute Sound moved to there too, similar location ('90s?). Everybody was around there at one time - Audio Excellence, Audio House(?), mid-late 80s). Audio House was at 100 Parnell Road. I bought my pair of Audax A100 and Gale 301's from them. Sticker on the back of the 301's 
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Member
Post by eyejay on Oct 15, 2021 11:54:45 GMT 12
I have a pair of the SP260T units, with slight modification, have replaced one of the reed tweeters with a dome tweeter and altered the loom setup to suit. These Babies have been in storage for over a decade (in a dry warm environment), they still sound great however I no longer have a good enough Amp. to drive them properly.
With great sadness I will be selling them, probably on TradeMe in New Zealand. If you know of anyone interested let them know, will be auctioning next month some time NOV. 2021
Cheers
Ian
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Oct 15, 2021 16:42:50 GMT 12
Thanks Ian / eyejay … Do you know if the tweeter “modification” is reversible? Was it intended to improve the treble, or perhaps a necessary repair with the only available parts? Those ribbon tweeters do seem to be quite fashionable nowadays!!! 🤓 
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Member
Post by eyejay on Oct 16, 2021 6:54:48 GMT 12
Thanks Ian / eyejay … Do you know if the tweeter “modification” is reversible? Was it intended to improve the treble, or perhaps a necessary repair with the only available parts? Those ribbon tweeters do seem to be quite fashionable nowadays!!! 🤓
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Member
Post by eyejay on Oct 16, 2021 6:55:07 GMT 12
Hi Dave, the chap I bought them from made the change it rounded out the very peaky sound the double reeds produced. Could post a picture if you like, do you know of anyone that would enjoy having them. I also have a set of the smaller Timekeepers, unfortunately the magnets have grabbed on them so the need freeing up. The cabinets are in Rose wood veneer and approx 50cm tall with single mid-range and one reed tweeter they are a sweet unit I would give them with the deal for the larger units.
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Oct 16, 2021 18:06:17 GMT 12
Yes please, pics of both the 260T and 225T would really help.
Useful for getting a sense of the finish of the cabinets, visual condition of the main driver surrounds etc.
Have any members had recent dealings with Peter Boland in Waihi, with regard to servicing /spares for Lamberts?
Thanks.
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