JE Labs

Friday, December 20, 2013

Altec 32C horn

I've been listening to this horn and liking it A LOT!

The lineage of this horn can be traced directly to the Western Electric 753 monitor (scroll down).

More later ;)

Monday, December 16, 2013

Hashimoto HC-203U SE output transformer

In the past I have used a pair of H20-14U for the JEL SE10dx monos project and I'm also very familiar with the not quite so Simple 45 fitted with H20-7Us built by Setup 2 for the November Hi-Fi Show head honcho. Today I will report on the entry level SE OPT offering from Hashimoto.

Colors in Kanji

Technical and listening tests were conducted using the JEL SE2A3DX circuit.

Scope jockeying the HC-203U

(Primary DCR=150 ohms)

100hz

1khz

10khz

vs.

Tango U808 (Hirata not ISO*)

(Primary DCR = 200 ohms)

100hz

1khz

10khz

*Tango ISO (successor to Tango/Hirata) closed operations in September 2013.

Aside from a 3.71mm difference in lamination thickness and use of flying leads instead of terminals (U808) these two transformers seem to be technical and physical twins. But sonically they're not even distant cousins. The HC-203U is a bold performer and gives a front row presentation. Given its rather small stature, it has bass slam and definition that I associate with transformers twice its size. Vocals are presented in a lifelike manner and there is enough extension in the highs to give a sense of spaciousness and airiness. The Hashimoto HC-203U is what I always wanted the Tango U808 to be.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Fi

30 Watts Street

Soho, NYC

Winter '93

A short-lived (early 90s) Hi-Fi shop located in SoHo NYC owned and operated by Don Garber which featured amplifiers and speakers crafted by himself and other audio artisans like Noriyasu Komuro, jc morrison, Gordon Rankin, Herb Reichert, just to name a few.