Projects in Progress - Final Quarter of 2026

Motivated by the Empire 208 turntable from Charles, I took my late father-in-law's Rek O Kut K33 turntable out of storage. 

David Vorhis' Listening Room

It was a fortuitous summer season visiting and listening to friends' Hi-Fi setups. I've known about Dave since the 1980s, having built his Dyna PAS preamp modification published in The Audio Amateur. Even if we've corresponded via internet for many years and I've referred to his projects in this blog, I never had the pleasure of meeting him until this past summer. 

It was a wonderful afternoon of talking shop and enjoying music with Dave and his son, Michael, also an avid audio DIY enthusiast, who is well versed with horns and drivers by Yoshimura Acoustic Labs as well as in restoring vintage Jensens, amongst others. I went home with a wealth of new audio knowledge + a pair of Fulton FMI 80s.😉 

Thank you for being such gracious hosts! 

Kutztown Spring and Fall 2026

 

Hanging out with John and Mark in the man cave the day before the Spring and Fall Kutztown Radio Show is becoming an annual tradition.🍻

2016 Honda Fit A/C clutch replacement + more

Rollei 35 + Fomapan 100 in Rodinal

In early August, Tish came home from grocery shopping with a hot head. Literally!😄 It was an absolutely sweltering summer afternoon and the A/C in our 10-year-old Honda Fit GK5 stopped cooling on her drive home.😔

Princeton University Art Museum

There are moments when I just want to revel in silence and let my eyes feast on beautiful architecture and artwork. Fortunately, the Princeton University Art Museum is only a half hour's drive away. So here’s a slide show of photographs I took at the museum, set to the music of Brahms with yours truly playing the violin solo. 🎻 🎶

Audio-Technica AT30E + Fidelity Research MC-44 + Ortofon MC10 Super

Up until 2008, I used to drive over 20,000 miles a year in pursuit of freelance performing and adjunct teaching opportunities. In between rehearsals and studio classes, I'd hit the flea markets, record stores, and HiFi/Radio/Electronic establishments. That's how I acquired these NOS low-output MC phono cartridges.

Jensen G610Bs in Jake’s Music Room

Earlier this summer, Tish and I drove to New England to visit friends and relatives. One of the highlights of our trip was a sumptuous dinner hosted by Jake and his wife, Edie. Other guests included Angela, Andrea, and Charles - all music lovers. After dinner, we retreated to Jake’s music room to enjoy music and sample fine bourbon whiskey courtesy of Angela. The room was filled with over a thousand LPs. It was also the first time I ever heard Jensen G610B speakers and was quite impressed!👍

After I took pictures, I asked Jake if he was willing to provide a virtual tour for this blog on how his personally curated Hi-Fi setup evolved. Thankfully, he obliged!🙏

Eminence Delta Lite 2512 vs. Pioneer PW-302A

Old vs. New

Measuring Output Transformer Primary Z with the FNIRSI LC1020E LCR Meter

For years I had been measuring output transformer primary impedance using an arduous old-school procedure similar to Uncle Doug's and Skunkie Design Electronic's videos. Recently, this video from Mr. Carlson's Lab popped up in my YouTube feed - a significantly simpler process!

Denon DL103 + TEAC TC15 aka Fidelity Research FR1 MkII + Wooden Headshells

These two MC phono cartridges have gone through the skillful hands of Joseph Long, aka Groovetickler. Highlighting his fine craftsmanship in this blog is long overdue!

Mono Hi-Fi Update: 6AH4GT + Altec 15095A line stage

My plate-choke loaded/triode-connected 6C6 + paralleled 6SN7 K'follower line stage is a fine-sounding circuit. However, in the context of my mono hifi setup, it has too much gain. So I thought of combining the sonic virtues of the 6AH4GT triode and Altec 15095A transformer.

Western Electric 124-style PP 6V6 mono amp

!!!ADDENDUM!!!

Another Western Electric-inspired push-pull amplifier.😊