Rega Planar 3 - Hassle free & ideal for beginners. Installed with the upgraded motor kit from Rega, RB300 arm & AT95E cartridge. In Superb Condition.
Please contact Eugene at 012-2117759 or eding@tsh.com.my
Many thanks to my learned friend who has contributed a review on one of his favourite classical pieces. In his words:
One of the last great Deccas before they went digital. Needless to say, it involves the two legendary K's—Kingsway Hall (the location) and Kenneth Wilkinson (the engineer). The two K's were behind some of the best Decca FFSS black labels in the history of stereo classical LPs, particularly during the late 50s and early 60s. I do not have another performance of the Bartok 2nd violin concerto to compare with, but I am confident that this recording featuring Kyung Wha-Chung and Georg Solti/LPO has to be one of the top 10. Just as I identify Mozart with Uchida, Schubert with Martzy and Chopin's 1st piano concerto with Argerich, so the Bartok somehow 'belongs' to Wha-Chung. She is, after all, best remembered for the eight curtain calls at a concert at the Champs Elysees Theater in Paris when she performed the very same Bartok. The sound: What I remember most distinctly about this LP, when I heard it some 20 years ago, was the entry of the solo violin immediately after the pizzicato intro, in the 1st movement (Allegro non troppo). It simply grips you with its realism and power. Even today, it never fails to raise the hairs on my arms! I have not heard anything like it since the Danse Macabre in Witches Brew. The massed strings and brass are captured very well too, and although loud, will not distort on a properly set-up turntable/tonearm/cartridge. Bass foundation is solid. Placement is perfect, with the violin taking centre stage (of course), no spotlighting, and the orchestra spread out behind the soloist. No, you don't need an exotic cartridge to bring out the magic of this disc. Decca & Wilkinson have done a very good job already. All you need do is sit back and enjoy. The Bartok/Wha Chung/Solti LP (Decca SXL 6802, UK pressing, 1978) should be among the prized discs of any classical music connoiseur. As with all Decca records, it is best to stick to the UK issues, where possible. From experience, the German, Dutch and US pressings don't match the quality of the UK versions. The Japanese pressings are good though. The UK copy used to be easily available and didn't cost very much. Prices seem to have escalated lately and a nice copy could set you back £30 or so today.
Today I am honored to have a very good friend posting on this blog for the first time. Below is his take on Radka Toneff's legendary album, Fairytales.
Before I continue with this review, let me make it clear that I have little affection for 'audiophile' LPs. A hi-fi reviewer once described such music as "musically bankrupt" and I cannot agree more. Now that we've got that out of the way, on with the review. Radka Toneff's last studio album Fairytales needs little introduction to aficionados of good music and great (ok, ok, audiophile) sound, because here is an LP of easy listening songs, presented in the best way possible to showcase the female human voice. From the moment the stylus hits the groove, the first impression you get is that of etherealness, as Radka's voice floats out of the system on gossamer wings, veering between fragility and emotion. The accompaniment (solo piano performed sympathetically by Steve Dobrogosz) is pretty close to the mike, but never intrudes or glares harshly. The recording is immaculate and whisper quiet, with hardly a fault or bum note. First issued in 1982 on Odin Records, originals are long out-of-print and depending on quality, exchange hands for serious money. It was subsequently reissued on 180gm vinyl (also on Odin) and Japanese CD (neither of which are 'cheap'), but the copy to gun for is the priceless original. This is music to soothe and salve wearied souls.
Let's take a break from all the hardware and focus on the software. After all, the hardware is the slave to the software. It is sad but true, many people have fallen by the wayside and become enslaved to their equipment; choosing to play the same piece of music over and over again in the pursuit of audiophilia*
Audio Note AN-S silver interconnect. In Very Good condition. I have used it with great satisfaction between the phonostage and amplifier. 1 metre in length & terminated with Audio Note plugs.
The LP12. Comes with Ittok Arm. Price RM4,500
For Vinyl fans, the Pink Triangle Turntable (comes with PSU) with Alphason HR-100S arm. RM6,000.
True collectors item in very good condition. The CDP that established Meridian as a digital giant. CD lens was replaced prior to my purchase 1.5 years ago. DOES NOT PLAY CDRs though. Comes with Manual and the Meridian 209 remote control..JPG)
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Rogers AB-1 in immaculate condition. This sub was specially designed to go with the LS3/5A monitors and won the prestigious '95 Las Vegas WCES Audio Exhibition Innovations Award. Click here for more details:
