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This website along with trade marks Graham Slee and HiFi System Components are owned by Cadman Enterprises Ltd

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JamesD View Drop Down
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    Posted: 17 Feb 2015 at 11:32am
Perhaps what I'm about to write here is already known by some of you (or you may have reason to disagree) but my theory is this... anyone interested in hi-fi should be made to listen to good late 60's amplification before considering the purchase of anything new.

Why? Because it will hopefully make people realise that what Graham produces is based on what's necessary in hi-fi and not on what isn't.

I had some money that had mounted up from birthdays etc. just before Christmas and wanted to spend it on something that I'd want to keep rather than something that would be out of date or obsolete in a few years. Having read a particular website relating to older gear and then having had a look on Ebay one evening I came across a 1968 receiver made by a well known manufacturer. It had a lovely look to it and the price wasn't silly, and I was led to believe it would sound good enough for a bedroom system.

Today I have finally managed to get it connected up to my main home-brew speakers that soon let you know if something is or isn't right (or good enough). I don't profess to have fantastic hearing but over time I've realised what music can sound like with a decent system. (Aided by a Reflex M).

The 1968 receiver sounds very, very good. For the cost, excellent. Very clear and defined. Pretty tight bass and a crisp treble that doesn't annoy when the volume is turned up. Despite the fact that it doesn't have gold-plated phono or speaker sockets. Nor 1000's of uF of capacitance in it's power supply. The internal wiring is a rat's nest. It doesn't have multiple output devices to feed the speakers it's modest 40W output. It's nearly 50 years old. I don't know if anything has been done in the past to maintain it but it looks pretty original. The only 'bling' it has is a nice aluminium fascia and silky smooth controls. One thing that doesn't work any more is the loudness control (it's physically broken) but that's no great loss.

So why does it sound so good? Probably because it just has decent, knowledge-based engineering, components that stand the test of time, wasn't built down to a price to maximise profits and was built in an era when music was music and not just a formulaic tune given some words and then wrapped up in an eye-catching video...

We are stuck with today's music (some of which is still good) but fortunately there are people still working with the right principles. If you're reading this you know who they are :-)
Aren't ears brilliant
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Drewan77 View Drop Down
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Points: 1544 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Drewan77 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 2015 at 12:13pm
Originally posted by JamesD JamesD wrote:

Very clear and defined. Pretty tight bass and a crisp treble that doesn't annoy when the volume is turned up.... I don't know if anything has been done in the past to maintain it but it looks pretty original. ....One thing that doesn't work any more is the loudness control (it's physically broken) but that's no great loss.
That doesn't surprise me James. As part of a long forgotten system, when I was a student in Sheffield I purchased a NAD3020 from Richer Sounds, just after it was launched in the late 70's - it is still going strong and sounds as sweet as ever in a room upstairs.... in fact considerably sweeter after all this time than a certain young lady I fell for at the same time (...bass not as tight as it once was and treble is not 'crisp' any more, definitely has the ability to annoy when the volume is turned up, loudness control broken etc. Still looks pretty original though so I can't complain Wink)

Your post has reminded me that I keep meaning to bring its Pioneer PL12D sibling down from the loft. I daren't play anything again on my original Dansette however!


Edited by Drewan77 - 17 Feb 2015 at 12:17pm
Older than I once was, younger than I'll be
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JamesD View Drop Down
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Points: 246 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JamesD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 2015 at 1:20pm
Originally posted by Drewan77 Drewan77 wrote:

Still looks pretty original though so I can't complain Wink

Ha Smile
I think I'd also be careful about the equipment I'd use to play my vinyl.

One downside to the receiver is that the inputs are too close together to allow the use of my GSP interconnnects Cry

It does sound better than my early 90's Technics amp that got good reviews at the time though (and has better specs). Maybe some things started going downhill in the 80's.
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Fatmangolf View Drop Down
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 2015 at 6:40pm
Good specs and great sound aren't always the same thing unfortunately.
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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JamesD View Drop Down
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Points: 246 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JamesD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 2015 at 7:46pm
Originally posted by Fatmangolf Fatmangolf wrote:

Good specs and great sound aren't always the same thing unfortunately.

That's something I've figured out after spending too much money in the past I think. That and taking magazine reviews as gospel.

Half of me is tempted to leave the old receiver as-is, half of me is tempted to renew the PSU caps and anything else that could have deteriorated or shows signs of such which could make it sound even better.
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Fatmangolf View Drop Down
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 2015 at 10:39pm
Originally posted by JamesD JamesD wrote:

That's something I've figured out after spending too much money in the past I think. That and taking magazine reviews as gospel.


Me too, sob!
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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Graham Slee View Drop Down
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Points: 16314 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Graham Slee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Feb 2015 at 12:42am
Originally posted by JamesD JamesD wrote:

...half of me is tempted to renew the PSU caps and anything else that could have deteriorated or shows signs of such which could make it sound even better.


Would you think it has been on for a total of more than 10 years out of its 50 years existence?

If so, then maybe renewing the PSU caps could result in better sound.

If not, then leave well-alone! Wink
That none should be able to park up and enjoy the view without a smartphone and the knowledge in how to use apps
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