Realistic 42-2109 phono preamp upgrade

Even if I was a Radio Shack devotee in the early 80s, I didn't pay much attention to this RIAA phono preamp because it didn't have high-end audio pretensions. As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss.😆

scanned from page 36 of the 1989 catalog

This unit was first introduced in the 1980 catalog (p. 22) as part number 42-2101 at $19.95, then as part number 42-2109 for $24.95 in 1989, and made its final appearance for $27.95 on page 103 of the 1992 catalog.

Realistic MKVII idler-driven turntable, a future feature😊

With the resurgence of interest in LP playback, it was rediscovered by aficionados and has developed quite a following. No ICs or op-amps are to be found inside. It's a simple discrete circuit, which minimizes signal processing.

!!!WARNING!!! 

The voltages in this circuit are potentially lethal! Proceed at your own risk!

The circuit is a basic two stage cascade + a negative feedback RIAA EQ looped from the output back to the input. It is very similar in topology to its tube forebears - the Shure M65 and the phono section of the Dyna PAS.

Typically, I don’t subscribe to a wholesale approach of replacing caps but this is a very simple circuit that was built at a certain price point. Since I had some decent quality parts surplus from my CD player and DAC modification projects, I replaced the electrolytic capacitors in the signal path with film type WIMAs and increased the filter capacitance in the power supply section.

In stock form, I was already impressed by this preamp's listenability when passing through my loctal tube line stage. The parts upgrade tidied up the sound further, but it wasn’t a magical transformation.

In terms of midrange presence and transparency, low level detail, micro and macro dynamics, this preamp isn't the equal of the Shure M65 or a refreshed stock Dyna PAS phono section. Its main advantage over its vacuum tube forebears is low output impedance. This could plug into the 10k input Z of the Nobsound NS02g/JLH 1969 with no loss of frequency extremes. I won't recommend that with the M65 or PAS. There's also a slight graininess in the midrange that wasn't ameliorated by parts upgrades. That said, I don't know if one can find a "plug 'n play" phono preamp in the $100 range (or possibly more?), which will provide as much musical pleasure!

Japanese Idler-Driven Turntable Part 1: Pioneer PL6U

Ever since I discovered the Shield MO19 (aka Neat P58H) and Realistic MkVII at the turn of the new millennium, I've become fascinated by, and in the process have collected a few Japanese idler-driven turntables. To my ears, none of them measure up to the Garrard 301, 401 or Thorens TD124. However, the models I'll be covering in this series, IMHO, offer great musical value for money when properly sorted.

For this initial installment, I'm featuring the Pioneer PL6U, which I used as an interim turntable when I returned to the US in 2016. It's the little brother of the Pioneer PL7, which was built to much higher specifications.

OJAS @ Lisson Gallery NYC

Our dear friends Charito and Joey, whom we haven't seen for over five years, were in NYC visiting for a couple of days. On short notice, Tish was able to take a day off so we were able to meet up with them. Joey is an avid audio DIYer and was a frequent collaborator especially during the annual November Hifi Show when I was still based in Manila. He represents G.I.P. Laboratory in the Philippines. 

It was also timely that Devon (OJAS) Turnbull's HiFi Dream Listening Room No. 1 exhibit at the Lisson Gallery NYC was on its penultimate week. So Joey and I agreed that this was going to be our meeting place! 

Factory Records Shop Dover NJ

Every time Tish and I go on a long drive, I'm always on the lookout for antique malls, flea markets and record stores along the way. On this particular weekend, we were en route to visit friends in Rye, NY. 

 

To avoid the monotony of New Jersey turnpike and congestion on George Washington Bridge, I took the longer route through scenic back roads of PA via New Hope to catch Route 202 and I-287. Then I exited for a brief detour to Dover NJ to check out Factory Records.

Rows and rows of Rock, Pop, Metal, Jazz, etc. of new and used LPs! Some CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes as well.

I'm a sucker for the warehouse vibe!

What use are LPs without record players...

...amplifiers and speakers?

It was a pleasant stop over!

I picked up these three 80s LPs for a very reasonable amount!

Stop by if you're in the area!

The following two pictures were taken by my navigator and co-pilot. 😊

Back on I-287

Crossing the Hudson River via Tappan Zee aka Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge

SRPP SE2A3 Circuit Redux

Back in the late 90s, I dismissed the hi-mu/low-gm SRPP input/driver because I found that the circuit had a tendency to sound tiring over extended listening. However, my memorable encounter with the Morikawa SE2A3 amp owned by my buddy Jose was haunting. I had to revisit this circuit just to make sure I left no stones unturned. 

Earlier this year, Steve of Angela Instruments shipped me the "shop mule" SRPP SE2A3 amp for a check up. After replacing the leaky coupling caps, the amp was as good as when I delivered it to the shop over two decades ago.  

My hotter operating point = slightly more power compared to Prof. Morikawa's SRPP 2A3 amp.

!!!WARNING!!! 

The voltages in this circuit are potentially lethal! Build at your own risk!

Click here if you'd like to try the SRPP 45 triode circuit.

Use a Hammond 302AX power transformer instead of T1 + T2 A&B

Click here to see the "cleaner" 10kHz square wave from the Morikawa SE2A3 amp

In spite of the 10 kHz square wave spike from the budget Hammond 125ESE output transformers, it was a very refreshing musical reunion with the Angela SRPP 2A3 amp. 

During its residency in the man cave, the amp powered my back up Altec 2-way system above, Altec 755As and Altec 755Cs in Silbatone cabs below. It was totally devoid of the listener fatigue I previously ascribed to the circuit. Even with the brightest and harshest software and/or hardware thrown into the listening chain, I couldn't induce the unpleasant quality which bothered me in the past. 

Then it dawned on me that I started doubting the SRPP's musical abilities when my Altec 2-way project commenced. Sorry SRPP, it wasn't your fault...😟

YMMV!😉

Hub City Vinyl

We took a long drive to visit relatives in Western Maryland for Memorial Day weekend.

I made sure we checked out Hub City Vinyl in downtown Hagerstown, MD. This really cool record store is housed in an Art Deco structure that served as a car dealership in its previous life.

I was based here from the latter part of the 90s till the late 2000s and never imagined a well-stocked record store of this size could thrive in this town.

Notice da boss patiently waiting in the listening lounge?

The Zu Omen speakers driven by Schiit Audio electronics with Steely Dan's "Gaucho" spinning on a Technics turntable made the atmosphere even more endearing!

Towards the back of the building is another room full of LPs and CDs.

The left hand corner of that room had stacks of classic hifi gear!

 This Gates CB1200 3-speed idler driven turntable + Gray 206 viscous damped tonearm definitely caught my eye. But I've run out of space and need to unload to pacify the boss.😉 

So I hope a blog reader will buy the above set up and enjoy it!🍻

I like the black out aesthetics of this 70s Plainview NY era Harman Kardon 330C receiver, which sported technically innovative circuitry. The rack mountable Tandberg tuner is also interesting!

How about a custom tube amp using 6BL7 tubes?

One of the sales associates told me that the back end of the building will eventually be transformed into a live music venue as the pandemic winds down. This is really great news for the cultural life of Washington County!

If you're a record collector and/or audio buff driving through the junction of I-81 and I-70, this place is a must-see!

Welcome, summer! Safe travels!

Fidelity Research FR64fx - dead channel fix

After many years of service, my FR64fx tonearm dropped one channel. 

I started sleuthing by studying the vertical pillar.

By peeling off the tonearm height scale (essentially an aluminum backed sticker), the set screws are exposed.

I loosened the set screws to carefully pull out the 5-pin DIN terminal + horizontal bearing housing from the vertical pillar. The unsoldered wire was instantly visible. 

After soldering the broken connection, I re-assembled in reverse order. I used rubber cement to secure the tonearm height scale back to the groove in the vertical pillar. 

Happy listening!

Kutztown Radio Show Spring 2022

All pictures taken with a Fuji X-E3 camera + W-Nikkor 35mm f2.5 LTM lens

It's hamfest and radio show season!👏

 

On Friday, May 13th, I drove through the back roads northwest of Philly towards Kutztown with Ding, who attended this event for the first time.

The weather wasn't very cooperative. Soon after we got there, this vendor had to move to the pavilion due to a heavy downpour.

There weren't as many vacuum tubes compared to the past years, but Ding found enough 5U4Gs to replenish is stash.

A pair of Utah Celeste 12" co-axials driven by a DIY 6CK4 SE amps in para-feed mode provided nice tunes.

A clean Rek O Kut belt drive turntable + Grado tonearm

A well worn ROK B12 Rondine with a Borg "death cube" motor

I've never been a JBL fan, but here's a pair of 4311B monitors + a Harman Kardon receiver.

Green Altec 802D + 806A!👍 

Unfortunately, the diaphragms were fried.😥

Fisher mono receiver + a Scott stereo integrated

Art Deco and Noveau speakers

Hifi guys

A nice monophonic hifi system could be built around this University 6201 co-ax housed in a nice mid-century modern cabinet!

A pair of Heathkit W-7 PP EL34 monoblocks + a DIY tube amp

When stuff I used to see at Circuit City, Crazy Eddie, J&R Music World, The Wiz, etc. are considered vintage, we can only guess what that means.😆

A pair of PPP 6L6 amps

Technics SP15 + a mixing console and a cool art deco TV

Stereo Lab of Columbus Ohio demo'ing brand new Wharfedale speakers driven by a Leak integrated amp fed by a Leak CD player.

Visit the Delaware Valley Historic Radio Club website for more info.

Before leaving, I spotted this '56 Chevy Bel-Air.

My paternal grandparents had one, albeit, black and white, 235 cid "blue flame" straight six + three on the tree. It was in service until 1981. 

See you in September!