Karajan-Edition Beethoven Symphonie Nr 5

This is one of the best recorefing by Karajan for Beethoven No 5

張宇加十一郞=好男人的情歌

Hung Hom center 红磡中心

Having been away from Hong Kong for 3 years, i have visited my old CDs stores in Mongkok and one was closed and moved.

Lucky i have been able to find the shop at a new location

Some of my favourite CDs

These are some of my favourite CDs

New hifi set up Hkg

Since moving into my new apartment in HKG, I have decided to set up a small hifi system for my listening pleasure.  The Tannoy Mini autograph has always been my favourite.  Tbis is my 3rd set. Originally, I was contemplating the vintage Marantz 8b or the Mcintosh. However, these will require much works involving the power transformer, the pre and power amplifiers as well as the range of tubes etc. Too much work and space needed.

As such, for the CD player and amplifier, I have decided to give a try the widely acclaimed Marantz AMP1, and CDP1. After trying for a few days, I must admit that the sound quality is so good for a small amount of money invested plus the set looked so cool together. Happy listening!

RIP

Mozart Complete Edition

Mozart is one of my favourite composer and I have been on a look out for the Complete Mozart edition consisting of 180 CDs. Still contemplating as it requires huge storage spaces for these CDs. 

Vintage 755a speakers + Modern Elekit Tu Tu amplifier + Western Electric 111c

I was back Singapore last week to attend JJ's army open house and to have breakfast and dinners with parents and to bring Mel for medical check up.

When I was home alone, I have decided to listen to some music using my Elekit Tu Tu amplifier together with my 755a fullrange (全音)speakers and the sound was wonderful. Full range speakers excel in coherence & transparency. These two simple combination are perfect fit and listening to the music is a truly enjoyable experience.

全音域的好處，是可以不經分音器，完全正確地重播聲音！前人留下的755a全音單元，有相當好的作品，全音喇叭是沒有分音喇叭的壓縮感,無分音元件音染、高效率、單點音源、高訊變等特性希望更貼近原音,发烧友的系统就像女人的衣柜，永远少了一件衣服, 如果能夠親身感受一下，相信對音樂的感覺，另有一種新的反思

In the late afternoon, I have brought out my Western Electric 111c in the box to connect with my cheap CD player and the sound was further enhanced. The 755a is really superb for vocal and light instruments and a small power amplifier is able to do the job nicely.

The following information is a from the internet on Western Electric 111c:

"Long known for their superb sonic integrity and ample headroom capacity, the Western Electric 111C still can outperform most, if not all, the audio transformers of its type made today. There are not many remaining on active duty around the US at radio stations. The changeover to dedicated digital audio telephone circuits over fiber as well as ISDN lines for special “remote” broadcasts has removed the need for these coils.

The 111C is a toroidal type repeating coil was designed for dependable impedance matching applications and for line isolation at circuit transfer points. It is intended for use with amplifiers for program transmission over long or short cable or open wire circuits equipped with proper loading. It was the Bell System standard coil for broadcast radio lines for 50 years.

The factory specifications call for a frequency range of 30 to 15,000 Hz. with an insertion loss of less than 0.5 dB. The maximum power capacity at 30 Hz is 1.1 watts (+30dBm).

In actuality, the Western Electric specifications are quite conservative. Using a Hewlett-Packard 3551A Transmission Test Set on 6/1/2007, the actual measurements are a bit better. Overall loss is 0.4 dB at 1,000 Hz. The frequency response is +0, –0.2dB 28 to 20 kHz referenced to 1,000 Hz. The oscillator in the test set does not go below 28 Hz. The high end was down 0.3 dB at 24,000 Hz. At the upper limit of the test set, the response was down 2.0 dB at 65 kHz.

Input impedance is 600/150 ohms. Output impedance is 600/150 ohms.

Each unit weighs 4.5 lbs. It measures 2-9/16 inches x 4-3/16 inches x 4-17/32 inches. These units are ideal for eliminating ground loops and other electromagnetic hash. They have an inter-winding electrostatic shield that can be connected to the audio ground."

http://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/0004/forgotten-technology-kills-the-buzz/315611

http://shopafroaudio.com/2014/04/27/21048/

Marantz CD 唱機 HD-CD1 and Marantz HD-AMP1

Following my search for the Speakers, I am on a hunt for a nice mini CD player and the Marantz HD1 came to sight. The look of it is lovely with silver or black colour body with wood like sides. I was thinking of matching it with my Elekit TuTu. As there is a space constraints, the set up needs to be small. In the past, I used to play with many vintage CD players with great fun. However, the down side is the maintenance as well perhaps lack of details with the used laser head. I remember I used to have the vintage Marantz CD player by Ken Ishiwata, which I have sold following my move from Hong Kong to Thailand. As such, the new Marantza HD-CD1 has one advantage as it was the work of Ken Ishiwata. Marantz has added the HD-CD1, an up-market midi-sized CD Player, to its rebooted MusicLink Hi-Fi series.

First I love the classic look with the contemporary components. Designed by Ken Ishiwata, the deck can function as a CD transport with the HD-AMP1 amplifier (pictured below), or function as standalone CD player. It features a centralised CD mechanism, able to play MP3, WMA and AAC files as well as regular CDs. It uses a double-layer chassis for rigidity and vibration suppression.The player employs a 192kHz/24bit Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC  and low noise crystal oscillator master clock.  The deck also has a discrete headphone amplifier with its own volume control and HDAM-SA2 amplifier, complete with adjustable gain setting. This is the best of both worlds.

From the review, it was highly praised : 

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/marantz-hd-cd1

I have always love tube amplifier. As such, my plan is to match it with my Elekit tuTu. nevertheless, I am also tempted to try the amplifier by Marantz (Photos from the internet) as a set as well

The Marantz HD-AMP1 has the matching look.

Doing my research now...

Start of a new Hifi journey: 書架喇叭

I have been rather inactive with my hifi since my posting to Bangkok almost 3 years ago due to the constant travel. With my new posting, its time for me to restart my hifi journey!

For a start, I am now contemplating getting a pair of  small speakers owing to the limitation of space and the choices are:

1. TAD 300 TSM

2. Tannoy Mini autograph

Even though I have the LS3/5a gold badge, 755a full range and the Pioneer Pure Malt VP, I didn't want to ship to and fro from on country to another. Given that I shall spend much time in office, I am seriously considering the Tannoy Mini Autograph that will fit the decoration of the office as well as the space. The TAD 300 TSM may be too huge. Basing on my memories, the Tannoy mini's best feature is their imaging due to having titanium concentric drivers and the speakers are also great at disappearing. With their speed they are amazing on a range of music be it acoustic music, acoustic guitar; with lots of detail as well as great look. I have just reserved the set with complete box and papers with the help of Kevin. 

RIP Chuck Berry

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RIP 林良樂

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RIP David Bowie