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.😊

Altec 755C + Super Tweeters - Altec 3000H, Realistic 40-1375 and Peerless MT225

L > R: Peerless MT225, Altec 3000H and Realistic 40-1375

Although I prefer listening to my Altec 755As neat like a double shot of fine aged single malt, for certain well-recorded music, I hanker for richer harmonic overtones from the better spec'd Altec 755Cs.

Western Electric 131A/133A Inspired Amp - Mono

 

While I was relishing a pair of Altec 32C horns in the attic during the late aughts, unbeknownst to me, my stateside audio comrades, Dave V. and Joe Roberts, were praising the same horn's virtues in audio forums. When these veteran audio hobbyists consider the Western Electric 124 one of the finest-sounding amps they've ever heard, I listen. 

See Dave's (@Salectric) WE124 amp project and WECo 133A clone thread started by another 32 horn adherent (@gilmorneau) at Hifi Haven.

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.