Carnegie Hall![]() |
Leica M6 + Leitz 8-element Summicron 35mm Kodak PX125 in Diafine |
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Old Haunts: Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School + the UWS
Saturday, March 22, 2025
S.M.S.L PL100 CD player
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Friday, February 14, 2025
Altec 406Z + 406-8Y + Madera + Horns
💙HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!💙
To commemorate this special day, here's a recording of Salut d'Amour by Sir Edward Elgar performed by yours truly on the violin, assisted on the piano by my friend and colleague Albert Tiu from our CD Sentimyento for Bookmark Audio recorded in 2000.
PLAYBACK EQUIPMENT:
CD Transport: SMSL PL100 CDp
DAC: DIY nosTDA1541tube DAC + UTC A20 line transformers
Line preamp: DIY 12B4A + Sony/TamRadio transformers
Line Attenuator: Intact Audio Nickel AVC
Amp: DIY 6F5 direct coupled SE2A3 amp
Speakers: Altec 406Zs in Coronado cabinets + Altec 3000H super tweeters
Video by iPhone 12 mini
Saturday, February 1, 2025
2A3 Firecracker
GOLDEN VOICE 2A3C
About a year ago, I ordered a matched pair of Golden Voice 2A3Cs from AliExpress priced a little below $100, shipped. Within two weeks of receipt, one tube started arcing. I sent the above TV7 test video to the seller.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Remembering Mommy (1934-2021)
Joseph Esmilla, violinist
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Graybar Electric Company
Friday, December 20, 2024
2024 Redux
December: KARMADON 311 Tonearm + 2024 Redux
Monday, December 9, 2024
KARMADON 311 Tonearm
In late 2023, Serge Rogozyansky of Karmadon posted his exquisitely crafted Ortofon-inspired 12" tonearm on Facebook. Being an aficionado of bespoked pieces, I was smitten! When I mentioned it to Tish, her immediate reaction was, "You already have too many turntables and tonearms!"😉
Due to an upcoming visit to the Philippines, I had to curb my enthusiasm.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Intact Audio Speaker Autoformer + Lycan3R WP12024 Horn
I ordered the Intact Audio speaker autoformer with a -6dB to -15.5 dB/0.5dB attenuation range based on the fact that my Altec 802 drivers are about 12dB more sensitive than my 99 dB/1W/1M Altec 414A woofers. Other than that, I went into this project hoping that Google would be my friend, only to find out it wasn't!😉
Since I use external crossovers for my Altec 753C, disconnecting (and reconnecting for comparison purposes) the Altec 32C/802 horn/compression driver is a breeze. The 753C-style cabinets essentially serve as bass bins in which the 414A woofers operating in wide range mode (unfiltered) + the 20275 diaphragmed 802 compression drivers mounted on the Lycan3R WP12024 horns are perched on top!