Stereo Sound Tube Kingdom - Finale!

 This sad news flew under my radar. 😔

Autumn 2025 = Final issue!

Bonsai SE Amps: 6BQ5 & 6V6 in Triode

It's been an unusually bitter cold winter. Typically, I could build a chassis or do simple woodworking in the garage but the frigid temperatures this season were prohibitive. So I postponed a stereo amp project and decided to revisit the 5687 and WE396A. These are tubes which have a loyal following but failed to excite me musically in the past.

OJAS @ Cooper Hewitt NYC

Last weekend, I visited Devon Turnbull's HiFi Pursuit Listening Room Dream No. 3 at the Cooper Hewitt, which opened on December 12, 2025.

Welcome 2026!

A few days before Christmas, I received greetings from two audio buddies, J-Rob and Gary B., with the above caption taken from Part 2 of Shared Dreams article by another friend, Devon T. of OJAS published by MJ Audio Technology in Substack. Perhaps this glitch is one of the reasons why we are being cautioned about AI.😉 

🎄HAPPY HOLIDAYS + 2025 Redux!🎄

 

Not much has changed in the man cave since my last update. At any rate, here's a mini-tour to a tune celebrating the holiday season by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

Ceramic Phono Cartridges: Sonotone 9TA + Sony VX-23P

Last summer, I attended a gathering of audio DIYers and my friend Mark S. brought his neatly refurbished Rek O Kut B12GH with a 12" Jelco tonearm sporting an unusual but very familiar-looking phono cartridge. 

GE A1-400 & RCA 501S1 (aka SL123)

November Hi-Fi Show 2025

 

To my Manila-based readers - it's that time of the year again!

Lots of LP/CD vendors and an abundance of rooms filled with turntables, digital players/streamers, DACs, solid-state and vacuum tube amps, speakers + a special section for DIYers. 

As always, entrance is FREE! 

Mark your calendars!

Visit Instagram for FAQs and a listing of this year's exhibitors!

Past show pictures are on Facebook and videos on YouTube 

An invitation from the organizer...

I was there between 2008-2016 and always had a great time! 😊

🍻 ENJOY!🍻

Fulton RS-1, Entré EC-15x Ltd and EC-25ST MC cartridges + ET-100 SUT

Kutztown Radio Show - Spring and Fall 2025

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable FINALE: NEAT P58 + FAQs

This is the final installment of my Japanese idler turntable adventure but as Sean Connery said, "Never say never again..." 😉

Thrifted Hi-Fi

Last time, the Altec 753Cs were driven by my Resto-mod Magnavox 8601 amp. In the spirit of my Vintage Japanese Drivers page from my old website, the same amp will now be used in the context of audio components and speakers I found in flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales + some DIY added to the mix.

Magnavox 8601, JE Labs Style

Fulton FMI 80

One evening, I spotted the above pair of speakers on FB marketplace. The description was plain and simple, "a pair of speakers in wooden cabinets for $30." Since the seller was less than an hour's drive away, I immediately sent a message expressing interest. I received a quick reply and set an appointment to pick up the following morning. 

Advent Model 300 FM Receiver

The Advent Model 300 receiver is an example of exquisite industrial design! I see Dieter Rams' influence in the input selector switch and knobs, as used in the Braun CSV60 tube integrated amplifier from the early 60s while the rotary vernier tuning dial echoes FM tuners by H. H. Scott.

A Tribute to Don Garber of Fi + Robin and Lipman!

Don Garber's Fi 2A3 amp Ad from Sound Practices

My first exposure to Don Garber's Fi 2A3 amp was at a gathering of burgeoning SE-DHT/High Efficiency speaker enthusiasts organized by Mike LaFevre of Magnequest and Peter Breuninger, then president of the Philadelphia Audio Society. This was held in the outskirts of Philly during the latter part of 1994. I attended to assist my friend Steve Melkisethian in exhibiting the Audio Note Kit 1 amplifier since he was the US distributor of Audio Note UK Kits, transformers and parts at that time. Sadly, these guys are no longer with us. 😔

Silbatone Acoustics at the Munich Audio Show 2025

My buddy Joe Roberts of Sound Practices has been sending me pictures from the Silbatone Acoustics room at High-End Munich 2025. I'm sharing them in this blog with his permission.

Old Haunts: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School + the UWS

Carnegie Hall

Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm
Kodak PX125 in Diafine

I heard many great artists, chamber music groups and orchestras visiting NYC at this venue. In 1982, I was one of the few fortunate young violinists chosen to participate in Alexander Schneider's New York String Orchestra. We performed here on Christmas Eve! I've also played at Weill Hall as a chamber musician.

S.M.S.L PL100 CD player

 

It's been almost two months since I uploaded this video on my YouTube channel. So far, the PL100 CD player has been performing flawlessly and I'm fairly confident to report my findings!

AliExpress Amorphous SE OPTs + Jean Hiraga and the SE-DHT Amp Revival