Area 51

Congratulations on your good taste. "Mystery To Me" is often under appreciated like most pre - Buckingham & Nicks Fleetwood Mac music. I think it's a terrific album.

Hmmm ... $49.99 on Amazon.

I am considering bringing it back to life. I'd like to find someone familiar with old Thorens to service the TD160. I wonder if that could be cost effective. Would the same amount of money spent on service and repair buy a comparable new turntable? Seems it wasn't that long ago you wouldn't have a lot of new turntables to choose from. Now there are quite a few aren't there?

I have seen the Q up or something similar advertised. Have you - or anyone - ever used one? Would you recommend it?

That's funny. I was listening to it on my EPI 201s ! (Which I still have, by the way, up in the attic with my old Thorens TD160)!

Vague recollection. My memory isn't what it once was. Those guys are from West Virginia, aren't they? (A little home cooking', geezer)? And they've been around like forever? Those guys must be older than I am! Can't be original personnel, can it?

And it would appear you're not the only one.

A "W" is a "W" ! On to Purdue...

Cool. I sold the jukebox but kept the little records with the big hole and I haven't started offing my LPs yet and I don't think I will. Hell, I kept them this long and dragged them half way across the country with me so I'm hoping I can get some advice about where I might find someone to help with Thorens rehabilitation. The old TD160 is tired. I would prefer someone sorta local to southern California so I could carry it in and meet the folks but I would be willing to ship in the right situation. Anyone out there have a recommendation for turntable service?

It's good to hear that, geezin. My ears are old, too, and yes, I know how it is! I'm back after being away from audio for quite a while so I'm experimenting with as much as I can get my hands and ears on to try to learn what I want. Earlier I quoted Walter Egan, "and the joy is in the chase" and a Grateful Dead line, "I might be going to hell in a bucket but at least I'm enjoying the ride" because these lyrics seem appropriate to my geriatric audio adventure. What are you listening to, geezin?

No, I don't really think. Really, I don't. I didn't mean to offend anybody. I'm asking because I don't know. I got the impression from a couple of things I read that the K-77s might be preferred by some over the K-77Ms. So, I asked. I have come seeking wisdom. Thanks for allowing me to benefit from your experience.

Yeah, they're in Newhall; almost "just down the road" from me here in Southern California. Expanding to production in Texas, I think. Pretty cool website. They've got a sense of humor. In my main system I am currently using the Class A (first 10) Aegir with a Saga pre to power my Cornwall III highs and two Vidars to drive the lows with a Freya + pre. Currently CDs through a Bifrost DAC. I'm using the original LOKI. That's a lot of Schiit. No Schiit! I'm full of Schiit. (Okay, we got that out of the way). No complaints but I am currently tube curious so I will be experimenting with the above mentioned Chi-Fi low power, low dollar amplifiers when I finish moving into my new place and finish unpacking boxes. Do you have any experience in this area?

And the K77 is highly desirable while the K77M: not so much?

"Toys In The Attic" Auto tone arm lift was a feature I envied on friends turntables. In fact, it was THE feature. Drove me nuts! I guess mine is not a "Super". I wonder if a rehab might somehow include adding that auto tone arm lift feature. Is it something that can be retrofitted? So, Full Range, what are you going to do with your TD147 ?

I - O! Couldn't help but notice your reference to "that school up north", Dave1291. But, what actually caught my eye was Full Range's reference to the Thorens TD160. I have my old TD160 in the attic. I parked it a long time ago but carried it with me when I migrated west and have wondered where to take or send it for rehab. I'm in SoCal now. Anybody anywhere near Ventura or the San Fernando Valley who is reliable and knows and appreciates these old turntables? GO BUCKS!

And that's what I'm going to do as soon as I get moved in to my new place. I have ordered some of the low watt, low dollar Chi-Fi amps seen on Amazon and around the web. How will they pair with my Cornwall IIIs? My new Belles? Heresys? Somebody out there on the forum must have experience with these or similar combinations. With what kind of results, I wonder. Some think 30 or 40 watts are a minimum. Aren't there others using less power?

Just a congratulatory "good luck" with your new Heresys, jcn3 and a compliment to another forum member: When I posted seeking input in my search for a tube type amplifier KT88 was kind enough to share the same kind of thoughtful audio wisdom displayed here. As a newbie I found the advice both interesting and helpful; an enlightening experience. And, being a somewhat ignorant newbie I had-other than a sincere thank you-almost nothing to offer in return-except maybe a turn on to one of my favorites: an old, rather obscure, American blues/rock group, The Electric Flag. I recommend their music to you, too, jcn3. Try "A Long Time Comin'". It's great Heresy music; like it was made for those speakers. "KT" might agree-and that would be a pretty good endorsement.

It's great to hear from new Belle owners. I, too, recently acquired a pair of Belles-haven't even connected them yet. So, hello Joe Ward and Domenic. I hope you'll keep posting. Please share your experiences and impressions. Thanks!

Along those lines I currently use a class A Schiit Aegir for the highs on my Cornwall IIIs and two class AB Schiit Vidars for the lows. Listening to CDs sent through a Bifrost DAC to a Freya + preamp, balanced to the Vidars. The highs are sent from that DAC to a Saga pre, then the Aegir. It doesn't sound bad. But, I can't help feeling I'm missing something. Maybe I am a victim of unreasonable expectations. I didn't expect it to change my life. I just wanted the best audio I have had. And, I guess I do have the best audio I've had but I guess I want something better. So, I'm considering a tube type amp to use with my recently acquired Belles and/or Heresys. Maybe that'll change my life.

Thanks! Would it be safe to assume you don't hold the low power amps in high regard? Some of the Decware amps, for instance, are rated at 6 amps and even 2 amps. They seem to have a pretty good reputation (along with a 12 month waiting list). They do caution you; efficient speakers are a necessity. I have read that the high sensitivity Klipsch speakers would work with a low power tube type amp. I'm in the market for something to power my recently acquired Heritage and was hoping to find something for less than $35,000 - and I don't want to wait a year! So, I am soliciting recommendations. Thank you for your thoughts.

Wow. I have a lot to learn. I would have expected 200 watts and 50 watts to be a lot! Would that "fine" apply to Klipsch Heritage speakers? I thought they would be "fine" with a lot less.

What's the story with these so-called "hybrid" amps I see advertised? Some of these are dirt cheap. Some are more. I read one criticism that said the tubes are "just for show". Is that possible?

Hey KT! That album is my favorite from The Electric Flag. As I recall, they didn't record many. Prior to that (I think) Bloomfield played and recorded with blues legend, Paul Butterfield. For a while the other guitarist in that group was Elvin Bishop. The stuff Bloomfield recorded with Al Kooper is some pretty special music. I think Kooper's contributions to American music are sometimes overlooked. He knew his friend, Mike was a special talent and I think he wanted to memorialize that talent so we get SuperSession, another one of my favorites. New to me, the album that initiated my re-entry into Bloomfield world is called, "Living In The Fast Lane" and ... *at this point I got tired of taxing my often unreliable memory and jumped over to Wikipedia for some, hopefully more reliable information. Being an old dog trying to learn new tricks this is something I often forget is available to me. (I'm not a Luddite but I can be something of a moron when it comes to technology). I mention this because I had apparently forgotten how much I like his music. That album was the first posthumous release of Bloomfield material. I'm glad I stumbled into it. I like it and it reminded me how much I like all that other stuff he had done. Wikipedia also mentions the VOS guitar. Thanks for the link straightening me out on that account. I had never heard the term. Now I understand your guitar is an actual Gibson Les Paul; the "Vintage Original Specifications" version. I think I agree with you regarding the "fake" "aged" version. Amplifiers: what kind of amp do you use with that guitar? Amplifiers: Thank you. I have determined I will follow your advice and sample at least one push-pull amp while I have the opportunity to "audition" a few. I might as well take advantage of Amazon's generous offer. I'll let you know what we find.

Gotta go do my homework.

You did not disappoint me, KT88. You're right. On paper I find the simplicity of the SET very appealing. I am fortunate to own some of the most sensitive speakers available so it seems I could take advantage of that but I suspect your analysis is spot on. I should try a push pull, shouldn't I? Maybe the R8 recommended above by JeffLebowski? There are more cheap push-pull amps available than SETs. That kinda opens up the field, doesn't it? And makes me chuckle thinking I'm gonna feel a little silly if I find my geriatric ears can't appreciate the difference between a Katie 88 and a solid state amp. Walter Egan said "the joy is in the chase" and I hope I can maintain that attitude. "I might be going to hell in a bucket but at least I'm enjoying the ride". And you're hip to Mike Bloomfield? That "Living In The Fast Lane" album I mentioned last night led me to one of my all time favorites from his earlier band, The Electric Flag, called "A Long Time Comin'". I guess Bloomfield was tight with another one of my favorite artists, Al Kooper. I first discovered Mike Bloomfield when he was playing with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and then he popped up on "Super Session" with Kooper. Although I don't play guitar I know a Gibson Les Paul when I see one but I don't recognize your model. Are VOS popular in Europe? Well, I'm thinking I have to open up the amplifier trials to include push-pull don't I? In my new place I have the opportunity to listen to some loud music so I do. Last night I was blasting that Electric Flag album. The low power SETs might not get it. I'll just have to try a few and find out. Thanks Amazon! Thanks Katie! Your input has been valuable and is appreciated.