Mick Bell

Craig: Thanks for the heads up on blue jean interconnects. I ordered their interconnects for my downstairs system. They were very reasonably priced, shipped very fast and sound terrific! No snake oil or BS, just first rate Belden cable (a brand of cable I have used for years in my Amateur Radio hobby) and excellent Canare RCA plugs. Mick

The K-77s are sold. Thanks for the interest. Mick

I have a nice pair of K-77 tweeters (square magnet) in good working order. Reasonably priced. Email if interested. Mick

A lot of this stuff is personal taste. I have a Jolida 707A which I think sounds every bit as as good as my McIntosh MC-240 or my McIntosh MC-2105. Mick

FS pair of K-55M squaker drivers. Asking $175 for the pair. Mick

Reasonably priced pair of K-Horn upper grills (frame, cloth and logo). Email me if interested. Mick

FS K-401 Squaker Horns for K-Horn. Reasonably priced. Send me an email if interested. g_michaelbell@sbcglobal.net Mick

I have no experience with the JD 1501 but I've been very happy with my Jolida equipment (707 Integrated amp and Jolida CD). Good company to deal with too. If you call them you'll probably have the president of the company answer the phone! Give them a call and ask them about the 1501. Mick

Rio: Beautiful work! If they sound as good as they look -- and I'm sure they do -- they are fantastic. Mick

Willy, I still think that my Belles with ES networks, Beyma CP-25 tweeters, Altec 811 horns and Altec 902 drivers are superior to the K-Horns. Al K tells me that his trachorns sound a lot like the Altec 811 horn. I certainly agree with that and if I were modifying the Belles today I'd do it with Al's trachorn (which he sells complete with grill). I'd still use the 902 driver in the Belles. (Great Plains Audio manufactures and sells the 902.) I think it's far superior to the K-55 which Klipsch uses but I suppose that is a matter of taste. Some people swear by the K-55. I think it's an OK driver and it's tough. But I prefer the 902. I'm not sure I can explain why except to say it has fantastic clarity, detail, and warmth. The ES networks are expensive but they are well built and worth every penny. They will give you an order of magnitude better definition and a larger sound stage. Complex musical passages which once were just noise will emerge as well defined music. So, Willy, that's my take on the Belles and the ES networks.

I received AL K's Trachorns today for my Khorns. What a difference! Much larger sound-stage. Now these things sound like they should have sounded from the factory. I certainly recommend the change. ALK certainly knows what he's doing. The wooden trachorns come with drop-in replacement grills cut either for the K-77 or the Beyma CP-25. Mick

I have her album "Nightclub" and enjoy listening to it.

Interesting comments. Thanks for the info. Mick

Is there any difference at all in CD-Rs labeled "for Music" and regular data CD-Rs? "Music" CD-Rs are nearly always more expensive. That's one difference for sure. Seems to me that if the disc will accurately record 0s and 1s that's about all that is necessary. What are your thoughts? Mick

Since I no longer play my vinyl, Im selling my Thorens TD 166 MK II. It has been very lightly used because I bought a CD player shortly after purchasing the Thorens. Cartridge is a Grado. Original box, manual. Make me an offer. If interested I can email pictures. g_michaelbell@sbcglobal.net Mick

Congratulations, Dean! Mick

KA7NIQ: I just replace the AK-3 crossovers in my Khorns with ALK's Extreme Slope crossovers. The difference is astounding! Much improved HF clarity and bass definition and GREATLY improved imaging with much wider soundstage. PLUS, you have the ability to select levels of attenuation for squaker and tweeter. Mick

Cherry would be great, Trey!

I'm using Russian 6L6GC (SED). They're $28. per and yield 50 watts per channel in my MC240. Sound terrific. Mick

I have a Thorens TD-166 MKII with a Grado cartridge. Used very little since I purchased it about the time I got a CD player. $175. Original box and manual.

Thanks, D-Man. Very good read! Mick

Amateur Radio Photography Cycling

He once told me he only listened to second generation master tapes which he acquired from various recording studios. Don't know what type of music he preferred.

I tried bi-wiring just to see what all the fuss was about. Turned out it's about NOTHING. I couldn't tell one particle of difference. Mick

For those planning to visit Hope, AR, here's a map. I've written in locations of the Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, and a couple of Mexican restaurants. I ate at Dos Locos Gringos and found it to be pretty good! By the way, #2 on the map labeled "Chamber of Commerce" is the location of the Klipsch Museum. Mick Bell