VINTAGE HIFI BLOG

10/1/2022 1 Comment

Quad II mono valve amp and acoustical QC2/ 22 preamp

This pair were nice to have in, fully working and great sounding Quad ii with Accoustical badged Quad QCII mono pre.

Only minor marks, which is amazing considering they are nearly 70 years old, with assumed original valve line-up. Superb examples, one for the collector.

The paper work inlcuded a 50's brochure, schematics for the II, and 22, we are aware that the pre isn't a 22, but these are the papers that came with it, so he may well of purchased another pre/power at a later date, hence why he has these slightly later manuals/papers.

1 Comment

22/3/2019

This weeks pick of the best - Michaelson, Copland CDA266, Rose RV23, Rogers Cadet, The Source, Odyssey RP1, Acos rega planet, Tripletone, Sony TC-377, Sugden P51 & C51

Here are a few of the items we have had in over the last week.
It's been a week for interesting valve gear, including a number of high-end valve preamps.

Michaelson Odysseus amplifier

Copland CDA266 cd player

Michaelson Odysseus amplifer

This very cool EL34 stereo integrated, is an interesting one, as you can probably see from it's style and blue writing that is bears a striking resemblance to Musical Fidelity gear.

You'd be right, as Michealson (and Austin) later turned into Musical Fidelity. In our option, the Most notable product from M&A is the stunning sounding and great looking TVA10 stereo power amp made in the mid 80's.

Copland CDA266 cd player

Lovely CD player from style and sound Legends Copland, we think that there are few companies that have a design signature quite like Copland..

All of their products form the off have the same style and look, which is bang on and is still current and relevant today.
From their (relatively) affordable transistor gear to their exotic Valve based designs, they have maintained a strong sound signature too, always great sounding kit, and among our favorite brands.

Rose RV23 pre-amplifier

Rogers cadet III valve amplifier

Rose RV23 pre-amplifier

A very rare, lovely sounding and beautifully made, early 90's British built valve pre-amplifier with a really good valve phono stage. Not much information can be found on these. They were very well reviewed but the brand disappeared without a trace.

Rogers cadet III valve amplifier

One of the most widely vintage valve amplifier, probably Rogers best selling amplifier,

Was available in 2 different versions, one with an integrated chassis and one with separate pre and power sections that could be removed from the case, this version is more sought after by collectors.

The Source Turntable

Odyssey RP1 xp Export gold

The Source Turntable

A very elegant hand built turntable, which features a sub-chassis based on a floating spring principle, switchable two speed, belt driven, with separate power supply in a wood box. Comes with a very heavy solid brass platter which really gives it a bling appearance.

Odyssey RP1 xp xport gold tonearm

This RP1 Export Gold is about as fancy as vintage tonearms get... built to compliment the 'source' Turntable, there was even a version that featured real diamonds in the head-shell!

Acos Rega Planet turntable

Tripletone pre & power valve amplifier

Acos Rega Planet turntable

This is the original Rega Planet 3 suspension turntable from the early 1970s. It was marketed by Acos and fitted with an Acos / Lustre manufactured tonearm... Only 200 were made.

Sugden P51 & C51

Sugden P51 & C51 Pre & power

Arguably the rarest Sugden pre and power amplifier, affectionately know as the welder (as it looks like one). For every 10 A21 you get, you only get one of these! these came can both with original boxes and manuals which was nice.

Epos ES14 speakers

The classic Epos ES14 speakers on original stands, designed by speaker legend Robin Marshall.
The bigger version of the first epos speakers, the ES11
Very well made speakers, that really hold there own in todays speaker market...

Tripletone pre & power valve amplifier

Tripletone were unusual in the fact that they named themselves after their main selling point which was the use three tone controls, treble, mid and bass.

Mid range controls are a very unusually feature on hifi amplifiers (even today).

Sony T-377 reel to reel

Sony TC-377 reel to reel

The classic Sony T-377 reel to reel, amazing to have this one in original box and all manuals in pristine condition.
Fully serviced by Steve Bennet @ Retrotech.co.uk

Concordant excelsior preamp

Concordant Excelsior

Concordant made their name modifying the classic Quad II amplifiers and added a few preamps to compliment them.
This is the middle one in the range.
They are great sounding valve based pres, that are becoming a real collectors item now.

22/10/2015 2 Comments

The almost mythical Rogers LS3/5 speakers

Yesterday, i had a call from a guy, who has a pair of the LS3/5 (WITHOUT THE A).

There were only around 20 pairs ever made and were used to show case the product to potential licence holders, and i am not sure how many pairs survived, but this pair are in incredible condition and i believe that the pictures have only been shared with myself and Paul Whatton...
So this is a world exclusive!!!

Here is his story....

"My grandfather worked for BBC research team to Kingswood Warren -. He was a research scientist at the BBC for several decades having started his career at PYE in Cambridge after the war. He had a number of Patents to his name and was part of the team that first delivered live TV pictures across the channel in 1950 - he was also part of the pan-European team that decided on PAL as the defacto colour TV protocol.

He left the BBC and moved up north to be a lecturer in Electrical Engineering at UMIST in Manchester. He sadly died 15 years ago and I was very close to him. He was always an earlier adopter of tech with the first Phillips CD Player, Nicam Surround sound Amp (together with a pair of the Rogers repros) for his TV/VCR set up and an early Motorola Mobile in the 80s - I am sad he never saw the internet age as he would have been all over it I’m sure!

I loved listening to these speakers in his study where he would often pretend to conduct his favourite Halle Ochestra CDs after a few glasses of wine! "

SO HERE THEY ARE....

2 Comments

Author - Steve Ansell

" This page, is to share what we feel may be of some interest to our fellow hifi junkies, It will cover articles and restoration projects from both us and our friends, please feel free to contact us, if you would like to contribute to this page.."

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Quad II mono valve amp and acoustical QC2/ 22 preamp

This weeks pick of the best - Michaelson, Copland CDA266, Rose RV23, Rogers Cadet, The Source, Odyssey RP1, Acos rega planet, Tripletone, Sony TC-377, Sugden P51 & C51

Michaelson Odysseus amplifier

Copland CDA266 cd player

Rose RV23 pre-amplifier

Rogers cadet III valve amplifier

The Source Turntable

Odyssey RP1 xp Export gold

Acos Rega Planet turntable

Tripletone pre & power valve amplifier

Sugden P51 & C51

Epos ES14 speakers

Sony T-377 reel to reel

Concordant excelsior preamp

The almost mythical Rogers LS3/5 speakers

Author - Steve Ansell

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