A Cousin's Listening Room

 

This is a hifi system I built for a cousin who loves music!

The speakers, which I dubbed Altec 753C, is the culmination of my Altec 2-way horn system project.

Western Electric 753 inspired cabinets meticulously handcrafted by John Piro of Hommage Audio

Garrard 301 turntable + Ortofon RMG309i tonearm + Ortofon SPU Synergy for stereo LPs and Alfred Bokrand AB309 + SPU Mono for mono LPs 

Turntable plinth by Hommage Audio

The JE Labs preamp line stage is a plate choke loaded 76 while the SE300B mono block amps feature a Komuro-inspired circuit using type 37 input tubes + Intact Audio nickel plate choke loaded 6V6s or 6F6Gs (connected in triode) and Hashimoto H-30-3.5S output transformers. 

Preamp and amp woodwork by Hommage Audio.

Hifi cabinet by George Nakashima Woodworkers.

Projects like this keep me busy during the pandemic.😊

Begin the Beguine 2022

A well worn 78 rpm shellac disc of a Cole Porter classic recorded in 1938 by Artie Shaw spinning on a Gray Research HF500 turntable + a GE RPX cartridge amplified by my DIY je2a3 mono integrated fitted with a Hashimoto H203S output transformer driving a GE A1-400 speaker in a "vintage DIY" tuned pipe enclosure by Raymond H. Bates from Audio Magazine May 1955.

GE "single stud" RPX + 3 mil sapphire stylus
in a Karmadon slide shell

Cheers to 2022! Hopefully, it will be a much better year for all of us!

 

Happy Holidays 2021

 With the blessing of Early Bender of Hifitown.com, I uploaded two articles written in the 1980s for The Absolute Sound by his parents, Walt Bender (1944-2008) and Lennice Werth. 

WE/Altec 755A is in Part I

Olden Golden Components Part I

Berning EA230 is in Part II

Olden Golden Components Part II

I've owned quite a few of the components discussed and still listen to a couple. This is a reflection of the articles' profound influence on my pursuit of the audio hobby. Since I believe that they are as relevant then as they are now, I added them to the JE Labs Arkiv.

2021 Index

January: Looking back to the past for a Better-Sounding Future + 6C8G

February: Happy Birthday Mommy + Happy Birthday Daddy

March: PSE 6SN7 Headphone Amp + Snell Type J III Part 1

April: Lar Retro-resto Shure M65 phono preamp + Marcel Breuer House with an Altec 604C

May: Hi-Fi for the Deck - Simple Triode'd 6F6/6V6 amp + Kutztown Spring Radio Show

June: morrison micro 2A3 reimagined + Thorens TD124 Tips

July: Old Flame - Rogers LS3/5A + 9"-10" Tonearms from Denon, Fidelity Research and Grace

August: Billingham Hadley Pro & Leica II half case + Gray Research HF500 Turntable & 108B tonearm

September: DKL and Exacta mount lenses & Exa camera + Budget SUTs - Sony HA-T10 vs. Shure mic transformers

October: Kutztown Fall Radio Show & Summer Events + Classic Shoe Mount Light Meters 

November: Tube Rolling Fun (and Peril) & adapters + TT Artisan Light Meter

December: JE Labs Man Cave 2021 + Holiday Greetings/2021 Index

As the year comes to a close, I'd like to thank all the visitors, especially those who've contributed to this blog.😊

Wishing everyone a great Holiday Season and all the best in the New Year!