Transfiguration Axia Cartridge

This is Axia from Transfiguration which has 85% performance of the Orpheus in terms of Musical, Warmness, Analytical power and clarity.
Friend of mine has tested it out with all three Sprit, Axia and Orpheus, he rates Of course Orpheus the best amongst all following with Axia and Sprit.
When budget does not allowed, go for an Axia!
Orpheus is selling RM15,000.00.
Axia is RM 4,500
Sprit is RM7,000


I am asking from this Famous Audiophile guru Da Meng about the the comparison with clearaudio Golden finger VC 2 Diamond now, Only he has the chance listenign to all these four Cartridges.

HK Snob

Transfiguration Orpheus Cartridge

This is a Yokeless design MC cartridge Tansfiguration Orpheus. Ths top of the class, valued HKD$32,000.00.
Well, we have to ask the new Cartridge owner Da Meng to give an Audtion report with the new precious cartidge on his Holfi Turntable, Amplifier and Loudspeaker. I have to wait with patient.

HK Snob

The Legendary John Curl masterpiece Blowtorch Line Amplifier

This Blowtorch line amplifier was designed and hand made by John Curl. The have the similar circuit designs of SCP2 Phono Amplifier. I can not read from the picture but it seems that the dual FET was made by sticking two P and N channel FET transistor back to back with Epoxy. That is what I guess only because I have not seen the actual amplifier myself. I have talked with John Curl that he has no stock on hand, his dealer has stock for sales .It is USD$10,000.00. The wires are all extremely expensive Silver single strand wire. A perfect layout, separate power supply. I am afraid that is the world quietest Phono Amplifier.
If you have a tight budget, try this Halo JC3

Parasound the Halo Series JC 3

John Curl - Parasound's chief amplifier circuit designer - has created several truly exceptional products. His Vendetta Research SCP2B is still considered among the very best phono preamps ever brought to market. His latest masterpiece - the Halo JC 3 - is a dual mono phono preamp built with ultra high quality parts and the typical built-like-a-tank Parasound construction.

Each channel on the JC 3 is housed in its own extruded aluminum enclosure, isolated from the power supply with 3/8-inch-thick low carbon mild steel partitions. Ya think they went the extra mile to ensure a black-as-night background?

As Parasound President Richard Schram told The Absolute Sound: "Curl's Vendetta was so good that it was almost magical, but each one was essentially hand made, and would probably cost over $8,000 to build today. Now, Parasound has a new design that draws from the same creative genius while offering amazingly high performance from each piece we produce."
How's about these for some impressive specs and features:
- Designed by legendary John Curl - renowned designer of Vendetta Research phono preamp.- Unbalanced inputs and outputs use Vampire RCA jacks; balanced outputs are Neutrix XLR jacks

- MM 47 k Ω, MC 100 Ω or 47 k Ω; (47 k Ω is also ideal for Statement Series Grado moving iron cartridges)

- S/N 83 dB MM; 73 dB MC

- RIAA accurate within 0.2 dB

- Audio path resistors are exclusively Vishay-Dale

- Triple shielding; low carbon mild steel partitions isolate the power supplies & AC wires

- Dual mono design; each channel is separately enclosed in its own extruded aluminum enclosure
- Separate high speed-soft recovery rectifiers, filter caps and voltage regulators for each channel
- Low emission R-core power transformer

- Mono can be selected to improve sound of mono or older recordings

- Built-in AC line conditioner to prevent AC noise from entering the set

- AC polarity reverse switch can reduce hum in many systems

- Non-magnetic aluminum rear panel for purest sound

- Turn On Options switch: manual or auto with 12v trigger input

Halo3 is selling on line at US$2,350.00!

HK Snob

The Best Turntable from UK?

This is Garrard 301, the best Turn Table using rubber idler as a machanical rotation transfer from the motor to the heavy platter. The one on top belongs to Andre Sim of Penang, and the one below will be likely be purchased by Friend of mine Alf in UK... I am still wondering if that is better than LP12.. I think we have to worth spending  one day or two to use the same Cartridge and make a comparison...
I hope that One day I can tell which design is better, Idler or Rubbter Belt!??

HK Snob

Sony Professional Walkman Three Musketeers WM-D6C, DD and DC2

While almost everyone is enjoying his fast food music through his Handphone connected to their iPod, iPhone or iPad or any MP3 Players. Wearing a high tech ear piece that claims to have a frequency response from 20 Hz to 18Khz +/-4 db.. I admit that the MP3 could product quite rather good music and it is true very convenient.
I am thinking that the best sound reproduction by hand held player is this Sony Three Musketeers...especiallt the WM-D6C. of CD 2.
The Sony Walkman WM-D6C and DC2 is basically similar, D6C can record and Play whilst DC 2 can go "Play" only. Both model provide the quartz servo capstan, speed control, Dolby NR with B-type and C-type control, tape selection on Normal, CrO2 and Metal...
The DC2 might be the best music player for outdoor application as it is smaller, but it is quite heavy with its size.
I am looking for a brand new Dc2...through eBay now.
The Panasonics Ear piece was a 2-ways design, produced in 1980, I bought it at Victory Electronics Shop at Mongkok, I still remember that was selling at HKD$600.00 that is about HKD$6,000 in today money!
The Sound is Superb, tight good deep bass, accurate Treble... and mellow Mid-range!
The best combination would be WM-D6C, Alkaline Battery cell, TDK MA-XG metal tape and the Panasonics 2-way Ear piece...Can beat most of the System available in the market now...
I have been recording the best of my LP including Teresa Tang through Koetsu Rosewood Signature II Cartridge, LP-12 Table and Ittok III Tone Arm. Vendetta SCP1 Pre-pre-amp, Anthem Pre-1P phono amp and Audio Space 3-1 Preamp onto this Professional Walkman WM-D6C.....
I am carrying it to work, I am sure that is a heavy weight Walkman but the sound is very nice.... Only listen would tell...
HK Snob

Hong Kong Hi Fi Show 2010

Annual Hi Fi Show was held in Hong Kong Convention Centre this year, there are a lot AV equipment companies to join in as to penetrate into the younger consumers. Of course there are some Hong Kong' best Hi End Audio Maker Like Audio Space to participate. The Lenmo culture has been launched into the Hi Fi Show, as we could see there are a lot of Camera man holding their SLF or Handset to aim at those sweeties young model. Here is some of them.

HK Snob

Marantz 510M

This is a Marantz 510m Power amplifier. It was building in 1975 and had been renowned as the most powerful dual power amplifier at that time. It was driven by Marantz 3600. The Sound was vivid, live, and powerful, it matches with JBL 4343, 4350 Loudspeaker, and I was listening to Technics SP10 and Shure V15 Type III cartridge hanged on SME 3009 SIII Tone Arm in MongKok Hi Fi Shop 1976.

I had a best listening experience with Hotel California and Wild Cherry’s Play that Funky Music… Listen to believe it..

Friend of mine Alf told me that there is one selling n in eBay at About 3,000 Pounds. If I had a chance to get one in good condition, I think I may like to try buying one. I am sure it can beat the best of the punch from my Harbeth HL-Compact!? What That Worry me is that those component has been aged for 34 years and If there is some DC drive at the output, It burn the loudspeaker! Marantz 510M was the first complementary pair Output stage with no coupling capacitor…

Anyway, if that has been restored and tested, should be OK…
I had hardly found one in Hong Kong; Probably most of the people do not want this prince to be moved out from his listening room at all. It is about 46 pounds… I can not move it at all alone.

Feverip

Phase Tech P3 MC Cartridge

Believing it or not, this is so far the best value MC cartridge in USD$1,000 range
I have been using
Ortofon MC20 Super
Denon 103R
Denon 103 GL
Denon 103 MA
Denon 305DL
Koetsu Rosewood Signature II
Kiseki Agate
Clearaudio Gold Finger Diamond VC2
Phase Tech P3 stylus is line contact 0.03x0.003 mm diamond, Pure Boron Catilever, DLC Alumium case.
I think this Cartridge beats all the above cartridges in definition, clarity and accuracy, except the dynamic range and channel separation in not as  good as the Gold Finger.

Highly Recommended, Sonata Club is selling that!

HK Snob

KK Lam

KK Lam has been working on DIY for many year, I know this chap since the time he ran his shop at Tak Fat Mansion, Mong Kok some 5 years ago.

He is honest, not really a business man, very knowledgeable on Classic Music, A Super Maniac for Aida.

He is running his new shop at Kwai Chung, he represents King Sound Loudspeaker, he has some of the best LP collection.

This day, we went to listen to his hand made 211 PP Power amplier and his 300B SE power amplifier pushing King Sound Prince and King Tower Loudspeaker,  The King Sound Electrostatic speaker is the best that I ahve heard, the bass is the selling point, clear, high definition with good accuracy! If not for my ting piegon hole, I will have no hesitation to get one home. Price is unbeatable with any of other Make!

Man, you have to listen to believe!!

HK Snob

Tape Deck Fever

Just a few days ago, A K.L. Hi Fi Fever man stumbled across a vintage SONY TC766-2 open reel tape deck in an electronics Shop and it was to end up in some 'Kopitiam' cafe as a decorative showpiece. Then LH offered RM250 to buy it after checking on the net that its one of the last few Sony tape deck with 15 inch per sec (studio Lab Equipment) capability. He confirmed the purchase and brought home. After checking that all functions are working perfectly although it sounds a bit noisy and distorted. He managed to restore its former glory.

Work on it for 2 days of cleaning and polishing the exterior and cleaning the mechanism and oiling, and most important the capstans, heads, rollers - the machine was superbly built - all metal, aluminium steel and wood, very minimum plastics. All knobs and switches heavy duty made for Vikings. The beast weighs some 60 lbs.

After all the servicing - it sounds wonderful playing the old worn tape that came with it. The highs and bass very natural. At 15 ips tape speed the frequency response is 20Hz to 30kHz and that’s better than CD !! And no tape hiss is audible to him. The electronics is still in good working condition. Probably some of the Electrolyte Capacitors are dried up!?

I have been using some Akai, TEAC Open Reel tape deck some 30 years ago, followed with Yamaha Cassette tape deck, now, I am having Nakamichi 680ZX cassette tape Deck.

I like TDK MAG-X tape for recording from my favourite LPs. The TDK MAG-X is made with Carbon Graphite cases, heavy Stainless Steel Screws. That tape is the Best I can find on Earth, I bought the last 10 pieces at HKD900.00 some 6 years ago. If you had a chance to see it. Don’t miss it.

Salute to the Analogue Tape Deck!

HK Snob