Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Fuga y Misterio by Astor Piazzolla

Transcribed for piano trio by Albert Tiu

Albert Tiu, pianist
Joseph Esmilla, violinist
Sean Katsuyama, cellist

Thursday, March 24, 2011

November 2010 Hi-Fi Show

Harana/Tono/SETUP collaboration


Passive tri-amplified mono system

Harana SOLENN mono-speaker:
4.5-way w/ ambiance tweeters in tri-amp configuration
Altec 1803 multi-cell midrange horn 
Dual midrange drivers: Altec 291 (phenolic diaphragm/alnico magnet) +JBL-LE85
ALTEC LANSING COAX T3000 tweeter w/ 416A 15” woofer

WESTERN ELECTRIC D150 15” woofer
 Passive tri-amplified mono speaker engineered by Joey of Harana Audio

Garrard 401 in Harana Audio plinth
Right: FR25 tonearm/Ortofon SPU mono
Center/back: 12" Gray viscous damped tonearm + Tannoy variable reluctance cartridge (LP + 78) courtesy of Rofiel



JEL mono  preamp + SE10 amp = JEL mono integrated SE210 amp
The JEL mono integrated has a buffered preamp output simultaneously connected to the integrated
SE210 amp driving the Altec 1803 multi-cell horn midrange drivers and ambient super tweeters
+
Harana JIO dual mono SE300B amp: 
each channel driving the Altec 416 woofer + Westrex/JBL D150 woofer respectively
6SN7 input > 6SN7 driver > 300B >Tango XE60-3.5S OPTs = 8 watt
Dual mono volume control/ DRD (Direct Reactance Drive Output)
Edrel Sison power xformer, 6 chokes on a Kamagong (Philippine Ebony) base

Stereo source: Tono Erotique
All tube phono stereo stage with built in MC step-up transformer
A pair of 417A/5842 tube first stage –passive RIAA-
Western 407a tube second stage
Edrel Sison power xformer with M6 lams

Garrard 301 grease bearing in Harana Audio crafted plinth with FR tonearm with either SPU or DL103
feeding the Erotique preamp connected to the line level section of the JEL mono integrated SE10 amp

The system - LIVE!

Icing the cake ;) 

After show dinner





Setup 2 with his darling Leic'a bids you.....'til the next show!

Visit wiredstate.com!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Olympus Pen E-P1

Why shoot digital?
Instant gratification!

I've gone through three digital point and shoot cameras: Fuji 1.3 MP which I inadvertently left in a coat pocket and thrown in the washer, quickly replaced by an Olympus 2.1 MP and then a Lumix FX01. All of them served my web/internet needs but practically useless for serious photography specially in hand held low light/no flash situations.

Being a Leica and clone enthusiast, DSLRs were out of the question since my M and LTM lenses will become redundant. Besides the Leica M8, M8.2, M9 and even the Epson RD-1 are out of my league.

E-P1 + CV Nokton 50/1.5 
So I patiently waited for a digital body that is adaptable to Leica RF compatible lenses. The Lumix G1 m4/3 was introduced in late 2008 but the DSLR look was a big turn off.


Finally during the '09 Holidays I saw an ad for an unloved E-P1 which has received lukewarm reviews due to slow auto focus, lack of an electronic viewfinder and etc...but those features didn't really matter to me and praises for its in camera JPEG quality was a plus since I would rather develop film rather than process RAW.

The price was right...


...so I took the plunge!

Helios VF just for show ;o)
It's been over a year and I am a satisfied user despite the 2x crop factor and LCD only viewing...but still shooting a lot more grain than pixels.

Buying a used EP?  This shutter count thread might be useful.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

JEL SE10 amp

A Harana Audio/JE Labs collaboration

After the November 2009 Hi-Fi Show, a friend commissioned a pair of mono block SE10 amps. Given my busy concert schedule I needed the expertise and assistance of our friend Joey of Harana (Serenade in Filipino) Audio for the chassis and woodwork.


Me and Joey drafting the layout and marking pilot holes


Hashimoto H20-14U output transformers, C10-10W chokes
+  proudly Filipino wound power transformers on M6 laminations by Edrel Sison


Wiring, scope and ear testing at the attic 
E-P1 + Summicron 50/2-IV

JEL SE10 monoblocks' new home driving (1600mW per side!) PHY-HP drivers in Hans Kortenbach enclosures

E-P1 + Summicron 35/2-I
Thanks for waiting and happy listening!








Sunday, March 6, 2011

Harana/Tono/SETUP

Harana = Serenade
Tono = Sound
SETUP = Single Ended Triode Users of the Philippines

Canon P + CV 35/2.5
APX100/Diafine

Music lovers, audio hobbyists, culinary enthusiasts, wine/watch connoisseurs, camera buffs.....cool bunch of dudes in pursuit of the finer things in life!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011