Post by Citroen on Nov 8, 2020 18:08:08 GMT 12
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Post by RdM on Nov 8, 2020 19:10:15 GMT 12
Declan was famous, or at least I remember him fondly from Audioenz too!
Pity they aren't handed/mirror image pairs, but perhaps some clever cabinet work could correct that?
So many old classic speakers made in that way, not handed pairs.
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Post by Citroen on Nov 8, 2020 19:15:23 GMT 12
Pity they aren't chromed capped either!
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Post by Owen Y on Nov 8, 2020 19:59:03 GMT 12
I like the curved grille-cloth. But pity they weren't the GS4101As.... 
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Post by RdM on Nov 8, 2020 20:08:30 GMT 12
<i>"chromed capped"</i> ?
You've lost me there ... are you taking the piss that I'm questioning an old classic design for lack of symmetry?
(Ah, I now remember old cheap speakers with shiny dust caps, was that it?) Chromed dust caps?
I heard Gales once in a hi-fi shop in K'Rd Auckland, on the right up near Ponsonby Rd, in that complex between Howe St & Hereford St, early 90's? - but maybe a horizontal model on stands, I'm not sure now. Can't remember the name of the shop. But they seemed to sound pretty good at the time, to me.
My own Kef 104aB at the time equally non-handed, kept for ages, but now long since sold.
I did get around to cutting new mdf baffles for an old Peerless set, but my friend sold his workshop later and they got lost somehow long ago too.
Moved on now ...
Cheers!
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Nov 8, 2020 20:42:34 GMT 12
I heard Gales once in a hi-fi shop in K'Rd Auckland, on the right up near Ponsonby Rd, in that complex between Howe St & Hereford St, early 90's? - but maybe a horizontal model on stands, I'm not sure now. Can't remember the name of the shop. That would have been Soundline, after they moved from Three Lamps Plaza at the bottom of Ponsonby Road, but before their Parnell location in the Blind Foundation building. I think the manager at the time was Chris Sinclair? 🧐 Declan certainly is a bloody good chap. I’ve ended up with his much loved Isobarik DMS in our “second system”...
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Post by RdM on Nov 8, 2020 21:17:51 GMT 12
Ah, thanks for that! Yes, Soundline, and the manager was a really nice chap, but I don't see a pic on your link to confirm if that was him. Never mind! They were also featuring those exposed angle faceted plywood speaker cabinets that I can't at the moment recall the name of... Although I should. The only time I heard Linn Isobariks was in a showroom in Newmarket bottom of Khyber Pass and left a block? - before they moved to Parnell. Early - mid 90's. Closing down sale. I bought some great speaker and interconnect cable at really marked down sale price, I recall. Absolute ? Gosh, I'm forgetting that name too! ;=})
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Post by Owen Y on Nov 8, 2020 21:27:22 GMT 12
They'd be the Shahinians. I can only recall 'Wes' down at Soundline in 3 Lamps.
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Post by RdM on Nov 8, 2020 21:40:53 GMT 12
Absolute Sound, of course ...
And thank you Owen, yes, Shahinains.
Well, it was interesting, and exciting times for a chap in his early 40's exploring hi-fi possibilities!
Albeit out of his budget at the time ;-
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Post by michaelw on Nov 8, 2020 21:41:24 GMT 12
Absolute bargain ? Absolutely ropey ! $100 was too much 
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Post by RdM on Nov 8, 2020 21:51:56 GMT 12
Love your succinct commentary! ;=]
But hey, everybody starts somewhere, and ...
Well, maybe the pig in a poke will be an education for later.
And then where does it go?
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Post by RdM on Nov 8, 2020 21:54:14 GMT 12
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Post by RdM on Nov 8, 2020 22:56:26 GMT 12
Declan was famous, or at least I remember him fondly from Audioenz too! Declan certainly is a bloody good chap. I’ve ended up with his much loved Isobarik DMS in our “second system”...
Actually, now I realise I remember him from his many creative posts and auctions on TradeMe, comments therein. We interacted a bit. I'm not sure if via bought or sold or just comments now, but best regards to him! ;=})
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Nov 9, 2020 7:03:01 GMT 12
Ah, thanks for that! Yes, Soundline, and the manager was a really nice chap, but I don't see a pic on your link to confirm if that was him. Never mind! Weirdly, I read an article about Chris and his work on The Luminaries show this year. I only vaguely remember him from back then, as he was attending SAE at the same time as one of my friends. Seemed like a smart cookie. Owen, was it “Wes” who went on to work the B&O showroom in Parnell? I was so young and principled back then! I do remember the *slight* feeling of betrayal & disillusionment when someone who lived & breathed hifi, could just leave it all behind to sell overpriced lifestyle gear to the nouveau riche! Oh, such are the harsh realities (and economics) of consumer electronics retailing... (actually looking at where some of those serious flat earth brands have ended up now, he was probably just slightly ahead of the curve.) 😳
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Nov 9, 2020 8:14:02 GMT 12
I well remember the Gale 401's. They were ungodly expensive at the time iirc. I havent heard a pair in years, wonder what I would think of them now.
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2020 9:38:17 GMT 12
Everything was expensive back then, thank goodness for interest free payment schemes and Hire Purchase There was a Wes Bell who worked at Manawatu TV and Sound, then moved north to run Soundline Auckland, He was deaf in one ear ? Or possible that was another audio salesman. So long ago....
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Post by Citroen on Nov 9, 2020 10:52:04 GMT 12
Is there a resource of HiFi stores and their locations in the 80s/90s?
I recall a store at the bottom of Parnell Rise, on the left heading towards town. Was that Soundline? Then Soundline cnr of Heather Street (no showroom) in 2000's.
There was a store in 3 Lamps, opposite where Millys is now, Renall St. in the 80s. Was that also Soundline? I bought my Dual505 from there.
Eliot Street had a store?
Tanner HiFi? was somewhere?
Smith's Sound in Newmarket or city then Mt Eden?
Audio House, top of Parnell Rise.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Nov 9, 2020 12:04:03 GMT 12
Dont know about Auckland stores in those days but there was a proliferation of stores in Christchurch mid 70's to mid 80's.
At one stage Bob Brown ( A Chch hifi icon if ever there was one...) had 2 stores on the same block (High st iiRC). One store was Yamaha only the other had stacks of rack systems: Pioneer, Sony, Marantz Etc. The big interest item at the time was the new Rait 60/60.... He also had another store in New Brighton and another one in Riccarton I think. How many hifi retailers now could boast of 4 stores in one city ? Also in High st and across the road was Sedley Wells (iirc) that had a Hifi dept upstairs. I remember seeing Dual and Thorens turntables there. I think it was Vic who ran that dept ?
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2020 13:08:20 GMT 12
Absolute Sound was in Parnell Rise ?
Also Peter Gilbert when eh was reatiling ?
I only remember Soundline at 3 Lamps.
Smiths were in Elliot street ?
I bought a fancy Concord car stereo from them in 1984.
That date seared in y mind as the stereo went into the worse car I'ver ever owned - a Lancia.
Tanner HiFi or someone else were in High St ?
Memories getting fuzzy now...
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Post by Owen Y on Nov 9, 2020 13:08:21 GMT 12
Is there a resource of HiFi stores and their locations in the 80s/90s? I recall a store at the bottom of Parnell Rise, on the left heading towards town. Was that Soundline? Then Soundline cnr of Heather Street (no showroom) in 2000's. There was a store in 3 Lamps, opposite where Millys is now, Renall St. in the 80s. Was that also Soundline? I bought my Dual505 from there. Eliot Street had a store? Tanner HiFi? was somewhere? Smith's Sound in Newmarket or city then Mt Eden? Audio House, top of Parnell Rise. AUDIO HOUSE - yes, top of Parnell Rise (early 80s, in a 2 storey old house, no longer there, I can't recall what I bought from them, a MC cartridge?). AUDIO EXCELLENCE - a couple of doors down from Audio House, in a 2-storey brick house (still there), before relocating to a house in suburban One Tree Hill. (I bought Counterpoint amps from Nick & Alan. Did not manage to buy CLSs or Madrigal cartridge or MIT Cables.) SMITH SOUND - in the city (on Q St?), then relocated to the arcade on Elliott St, before Mt Eden Rd villa. (I bought various stuff from Phil, incl. a Denon DL103D) ACOUSTIX - not Renall St (Milly's) but one block Sth on the corner of Russell St on Ponsonby Rd, in that wee cottage (now gone also). (Impressed with but could not afford to dabble in Meridian active speakers.) Later they moved into the city, High St? Lorne St?. SOUNDLINE - was in the back corner of the Ponsonby Three Lamps old cinema arcade (early-mid 80s, I bought Plinius amps there, almost bought a WTT, Shahinian Obelisks.), before moving to Parnell Rd, Newmarket. ABSOLUTE SOUND - was in Short St, Newmarket (next to Mandalay Ballroom, I bought quite a bit of LP12 stuff from John & Dean), before decamping to half way down Parnell Rise, before going to Nth Shore. PETER GILBERT - yes, on Parnell Rise also, before Absolute Sound as I recall (Peter let me take Magnepan IIb/c(?) home but I did not buy them sadly.) TANNER HI-FI - yes, John Tanner was in Lorne St (opp the Victoria St Carpark), before closing. (I bought my Arcam Alpha 5 Plus from John.) Then there were various individuals who imported good stuff but operated from home, eg.... ALAN SECCOMBE - sold me Spendor loudspeakers, from his house in Mt Albert. I remember his Luxman vacuum platter TT.
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2020 13:15:33 GMT 12
I bought Counterpoint/Quicksilvers/MIT and Kimber Kable from John Pease (he also worked at Absolute Sound) at Audio Excellence.
They had a room at one of the Wellington Audio Shows. Good tunes and they bought me lunch
Prior to Alec Isbey founding the Acoustix.retail chain, he would tour the country in his little Citroen GS wagon full of samples.
I bought one of the first pairs of NZ Celestion SL6 after one of his visits to Manawatu TV and Sound
Good times.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Nov 9, 2020 14:50:07 GMT 12
Gee MW if a Lancia is the worst car you ever owned you havent lived !! Most of that English stuff from the mid 70's was pretty dire: Austin allegro, Morris Marina, Austin Princess (hydrospastic suspension), Austin or Morris 1300, Jaguar XJ6 all varying shades of awful. And yes i had 2 Lancia fulvia coupes, the one car I wish I still had tbh.
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Nov 9, 2020 15:15:49 GMT 12
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2020 15:35:40 GMT 12
Mine was a 1984 Lancia HPE IE I suffered a year of mechanical, electrical and cosmetic woes a plenty. Traded one for one on a new Toyota Corolla GT - the suckers !
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Nov 9, 2020 16:56:00 GMT 12
It Wouldnt be the mechanical knowhow for those Lancias it would be the bodywork and rust issues. That was a dreadful period for rust in italian cars. Would be an expensive project unless you had the skills to tackle it yourself.
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Post by Citroen on Nov 9, 2020 17:19:28 GMT 12
Is there a resource of HiFi stores and their locations in the 80s/90s? I recall a store at the bottom of Parnell Rise, on the left heading towards town. Was that Soundline? Then Soundline cnr of Heather Street (no showroom) in 2000's. There was a store in 3 Lamps, opposite where Millys is now, Renall St. in the 80s. Was that also Soundline? I bought my Dual505 from there. Eliot Street had a store? Tanner HiFi? was somewhere? Smith's Sound in Newmarket or city then Mt Eden? Audio House, top of Parnell Rise. AUDIO HOUSE - yes, top of Parnell Rise (early 80s, in a 2 storey old house, no longer there, I can't recall what I bought from them, a MC cartridge?). AUDIO EXCELLENCE - a couple of doors down from Audio House, in a 2-storey brick house (still there), before relocating to a house in suburban One Tree Hill. (I bought Counterpoint amps from Nick & Alan. Did not manage to buy CLSs or Madrigal cartridge or MIT Cables.) SMITH SOUND - in the city (on Q St?), then relocated to the arcade on Elliott St, before Mt Eden Rd villa. (I bought various stuff from Phil, incl. a Denon DL103D) ACOUSTIX - not Renall St (Milly's) but one block Sth on the corner of Russell St on Ponsonby Rd, in that wee cottage (now gone also). (Impressed with but could not afford to dabble in Meridian active speakers.) Later they moved into the city, High St? Lorne St?. SOUNDLINE - was in the back corner of the Ponsonby Three Lamps old cinema arcade (early-mid 80s, I bought Plinius amps there, almost bought a WTT, Shahinian Obelisks.), before moving to Parnell Rd, Newmarket. ABSOLUTE SOUND - was in Short St, Newmarket (next to Mandalay Ballroom, I bought quite a bit of LP12 stuff from John & Dean), before decamping to half way down Parnell Rise, before going to Nth Shore. PETER GILBERT - yes, on Parnell Rise also, before Absolute Sound as I recall (Peter let me take Magnepan IIb/c(?) home but I did not buy them sadly.) TANNER HI-FI - yes, John Tanner was in Lorne St (opp the Victoria St Carpark), before closing. (I bought my Arcam Alpha 5 Plus from John.) Then there were various individuals who imported good stuff but operated from home, eg.... ALAN SECCOMBE - sold me Spendor loudspeakers, from his house in Mt Albert. I remember his Luxman vacuum platter TT. Audio House is where I bought my Gale 301's and Audax 200s. I recently sold my Well Tempered Amadeus to a guy who worked there at that same time. Ah yes, Acoustix, that's it. Nice set up, in which I first auditioned Lloyd Cole's Rattlesnakes, which partly led to my obsession with 2CV's. So it was Absolute Sound halfway up Parnell Rise. I was always too intimidated to feel comfortable in that shop as they had some high end gear. Smiths Sound - I spent many hours and months auditioning speakers with a pal, to Alec and Phil's dismay never to buy a pair. A few years later I did buy a Philips 850 Mkll from them. Tanner HiFi was the place to go to get your stylus checked. He sold Lamberts? There was also a mass consumer hyper store on Queen Street that sold the likes of the Pioneers/Sanyos/Technics/Aiwas etc that I would frequent as a teenager. Anyone know what that was called? What was the name of that more consumer/audio store in Mt Eden cnr of Walter and Dominion Rd (now a Murder Burger joint)? Stereo World? Bought a Harmon Kardon AVR and DVD player from there. Paul Money, now nearby in View Rd, I think was there in the 80's?
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Post by michaelw on Nov 9, 2020 17:22:48 GMT 12
Bought with 1900km It came with numerous niggles at no charge, but nothing in the first month actually prevented the car from being driven, That was next month, when the clutch cable snapped and two brake calipers seized  I didn't keep the car long enough to experience the wonders of Italian rust
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Nov 9, 2020 18:59:32 GMT 12
Ah yes, Acoustix, that's it. Nice set up, in which I first auditioned Lloyd Cole's Rattlesnakes, which partly led to my obsession with 2CV's. So it was Absolute Sound halfway up Parnell Rise. I was always too intimidated to feel comfortable in that shop as they had some high end gear. Ha! Those early Lloyd Cole lyrics did have that effect. For years I always wondered what Eva Marie Sant actually looked like in “On The Waterfront”. This was a long time before the internet! Pretty sure I wanted to go out with a girl called Louisa [sic] who had perfect skin, for similar reasons. I wonder if the *intimidating* place on Parnell Rise was further up, off Heard Park. There was a store there in the 90s that stocked Krell and Wilson Audio WATTs etc... 
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Post by Citroen on Nov 9, 2020 20:23:54 GMT 12
No, not that far up. I'm sure it was in this place, set back from the main road 
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Pundit
Post by raveydave on Nov 9, 2020 20:29:48 GMT 12
Oh ok, yes, that was where Absolute Sound moved to from Newmarket.
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