[Blackmore]

This is a Rek-O-Kut 12GH with a Sumiko MMT arm.  Dave sold me the old ROK and he pointed out the mangled Micropoise arm.  I put the MMT on there and it doesn't exactly fit the dimensions (OK, it is too long) but I jammed the cart all the way back and I'm groovin' in the front room.  This old thing just sings.  Comes up to speed immediately and has 33,45,78 speeds.  I love it and will have to look for a cartridge that is shorter.  I can also mount the Zeta tonearm on the wood plinth at the rear of the table.  Twins, Nigel, twin tonearms!!!!!

[Scott F.]

That's just too cool

[Blackmore]

I'm stunned how good it sounds.  Maybe those idler guys are on to something.  In many ways this combo is better than the Michell/Zeta combo.  You'll have to come up and hear it.  Please don't look at the alignment since it is way too odd.  Sort of like most my audio projects; way off center!   

[daves]

Mark, I'm very glad it is working well for you! Maybe the good karma worked for me as well - the Harman Kardon Citation III tuner that was AWOL from New Jersey for six weeks showed up Saturday night, curtesy of UPS. Saved me from calling the police on the seller.

It's great to see this old gear working like a champ.

[Scott F.]

You'll have to come up and hear it.

Cool! Are the Dyns recapped yet? I could bring the Fisher 

[bside123]

Very cool Mark. BTW, what's under the towel?

[catastrofe]

Very cool Mark. BTW, what's under the towel?

I wager it's body parts. . .he does have a number of caskets lying around.   

[electricbear]

It's probably a pair of Bose headphones that he's embarrassed to admit to owning.

[Blackmore]

Bose Wave Radio, Tim. 

[Blackmore]

Listening tonight to Herbie Mann "Impressions of the Middle East".  The ROK is feeding my old cj preamp as a phono stage, then into the Hafler driving the re-capped A-25 Dynacos.  I feel like there should be a hookah in the corner and I should be in a smoking jacket (Hef-style).  And I don't smoke.

Scott is stopping by on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate June as the wedding month.  We will be marrying the ROK, Dynas and his newly refurbed Fisher tube amp.  Anybody free?  We'll be spinning vinyl and groovin' to vintage all afternoon. 

[KenSeger]

I should be able to come out on Tuesday, unless the wife invents some more honey-do's.  Fat chance?   
What time in the afternoon?
Ken

[Blackmore]

I think around 2:00 would be great.  Again, no alignment protractors are allowed near the ROK.  It'll just spoil the fun.  Hope you can make it out West.

[Joe_K]

I should be able to make it out too!
Can I bring anything?
JK

[Blackmore]

Charity and a sense of humor. See you on tuesday.

[Joe_K]

Charity and a sense of humor. See you on tuesday.

That may be challenging for some of us curmudgeons!

[Blackmore]

Thanks for coming out and hearing the ROK and the Dynaco A 35.   For BISL, here's some pics to prove we were there.
The Rek-o-Kut did most of the vinyl service tonight.  Scott and I started off with some Perry Como Christmas.  Too funny.  Also did some Zoot Sims and Joe Pass on Pablo



After a while we tried to marry the Fisher console pull to the Dyns, but I think the Sophia Baby worked a little better in the "under 15 watt division".



Here's a pic of the naked Dynacos in all their Alnico goodness.  The big Consonance horns were waiting their turn.  Scott, I promise some Gov't Mule on the M12 next time you're up.




I think we were listening to the Ramones at this point.  Nobody needed the sweet spot seat on the couch to enjoy Joey Ramone. 



Thanks for coming out west for "vintage gear /poor cartridge alignment/ Alnico yumminess" night.   

[Scott F.]

Thanks for hosting Mark!

The Dynas mated to the the old Hafler were really something special. Tons of tone, warmth and involvement. They may not be the last word in resolution or depth of stage but holy crap are they fun and easy to listen to.

The ROK is da bomb! That big 'ole  hulking mass of turntable is just plain cool...and sounds great on top of it!

I wish I'd put some better tubes in the Fisher before I came over. I think it would have fared better while courting the Dynas. Not that it was bad by any stretch, it just wasn't near as involving as the Hafler. The Baby was surprisingly good driving them too.

IMO, in a lot of ways HiFi has taken too many steps backwards compared to simple vintage systems like this. For all the expense we take on with new (and Improved!) gear, it just doesn't hold a candle in the 'involvement' column of this combo. If you can find the 'right' vintage integrated, I'd sell everything else and call it quits...but that's just me 

[daves]

I have the right vintage integrated for it, Scott, but Mark won't be happy with the price. It is the Eico HF-81, but with the Mullards all around and two rebuilds, it is at the opposite end financially from the ROK.

[Blackmore]

I finally tried the c-j MV52 with the Dynacos.  This is the spiritual sister to the Stereo 70, so it really does match the A35 just about right.  It may be a better match than the old Musical Design Hafler.  I'll let it burn in for a few more hours (hasn't been powered up in a year or so)   

Dave, the Eico would be just about right.  I'm also jonesin' for some Leben integrated action that we saw at St. Louis Stereo. 

Hummmmm, maybe Scott is right.  Get an integrated and sell all the rest of my stuff.  I may take a big boy pill and start the process.

Oh, and one final picture of something you don't see everyday.    Scotty and Beethoven.   


 

[Scott F.]

Not to push you over the edge but I'd bet Mike Pranka would let you borrow one of the Lebens for a week or so. Looking at the options, the CS600 appears to be a fine option.
http://lebenhifi.com/products/cs600.html

If not the Leben, you could pick up a nice HH Scott 299 off eBay for about $400 and have it rebuilt by either Hot Glass Audio or NOS Valves.


..then again you could really mix it up and do a Mac 275