November Hi-Fi Show 2024

 From 2008-2016, I was an annual audio DIY exhibitor and always had a GREAT time!

I highly recommend this event to Philippine-based HiFi enthusiasts!

Visit the November HiFi Show Facebook page for more info!

Celebrating Steve Melkisethian's Life

photo by Susan Melkisethian

This past weekend, Tish and I attended a wonderful celebration of my dear friend Steve Melkisethian's life (1950-2024)!

JE Labs Mono HiFi 2024

Over two decades ago, I ventured into single channel music reproduction to trace the roots of high fidelity. From that whole experience, I developed an aesthetic quest for a certain purity and honesty in sound, which runs parallel with my other hobby of black and white film photography! Sadly, I had to leave that particular mono set up in the attic in 2017.

Kutztown Radio Show - Spring and Fall 2024

 May 10-11, 2024

I wasn't able to attend any hamfests this season but I made sure I'd be at both events at Kutztown.

Classic JE Labs HiFi in Manila

This was how the attic looked when we left in early 2017. Our first visit since then was in March this year. 

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 7: Kenwood PC350

Kenwood PC350 - a Japanese TD124 spinning a jazz tune!😉

This ca. 1969 Kenwood turntable adapted the Thorens TD124 drive system sans eddy current speed control.

Back to the Future: AR XA + NAD 3020

Whenever I find them at reasonable prices, I re-acquire audio components I owned and enjoyed in the 80s. I started my quest with the Grace G707 tonearm, a TDA1541-equipped Magnavox CDB 473 CD player and the dynakit stereo 35 PP EL84 power amp. I also tried to rekindle my affection for the BBC LS3/5A monitor and my MC SUT collection now includes a pair of Sony HA-T10s. Meanwhile, I've been hunting for an AR XA turntable and a first generation NAD 3020 to complete my journey back in time.

A Visit to VAS Audio - SPU-G, Miyabi & Ikeda

 

During a recent visit to Steve and Ray at VAS Audio, my attention was caught by an amplifier I built in the early 2000s. This is one of the very few I released into the wild.

AliEx amorphous, Hashimoto HL20K6 + Sony TamRadio line output transformers

L>R: 6AH4 + AliEx, 12B4A + Sony/Tamradio and 6AH4 + Hashimoto HL20K6

The last time I saw my buddy J-Rob was pre-COVID, but we keep in touch via email and text messages. During one of those hello/how you doin' moments, the chat progressed to line preamp transformers and how the $100/pr. amorphous jobs from AliExpress perform. 

I used to own a pair of Tango/Hirata NP216N nickel line OPTs, which were featured in my Sound Practices issue 17 homebrewer article. In hindsight, I don't think I gave them a fair chance so this was a good opportunity to revisit the topology.

Lycan3R WP12024 Horn

A couple of months after I blogged about the 3D printed prototype of the WP12024 horn, Trieu sent a pair of these beautifully finished cast aluminum production versions. Included in the package was a set of parts for a horn stand patterned after the Western Electric original I've only seen in Stereo Sound Tube Kingdom.