I’m embarrassed to admit that my first separate amplifier, bought for me as a present by my parents when I was about 14 or so I think, was an Amstrad 8000MkIII. Looking back it was basically a piece of tat, but it sounded great I thought at the time. It was 10W/channel, which at that time was quite respectable, and it was a clear cut above my previous all in one stereo record player. I used it with a BSR McDonald MP60 turntable that came with an ADC K8 cartridge, and a pair of cheap Sony bookshelf speakers that I think originally belonged to a Sony music centre but were sold off dirt cheap by the local hi-fi shop.
I really thought I’d hit the big time with this separates system. It wasn’t long before I upgraded the turntable to a Connoisseur BD1/SME3009S2/Shure M95ED. So you can see that even then I was very much a “source first” guy. I knew I would get an LP12 eventually but I had to wait until I was 18 for that. My parents financed all this (well my university grant bought the LP12!) and they were by no means well-off people. I really don’t know how they managed it. It sort of set a precedent in my mind for all future hi-fi purchases that prevails to this very day.
My first funded by paper-rounds (morning & evening), pocket money and a year’s family birthday/Christmas presents requested as cash. Initial upgrades over the forst 2 years of my system were funded the same way were beefing up the amp with 30w modules replacing the original 15w, and building new bigger speakers, 3-way floorstanders in place of original single driver ones (driver from latter becoming midrance in second). Leaving school at age 17 and starting work enabled me to save enough to buy a decent TT (Thorens TD150) - source first in a way, though a term and concept not yet bandied about, and only because of the rumble of my SP25 and not wanting to waste money upgrading to something middling then later inevitably upgrade again, at that time having no other demands on my new-found income. (My discovery of the benefit of really good speakers was still 5 years away at that point). Qualifying through A levels, degree and beyond were a part time occupation for the following 15 years!)
The Garrard SP25 MkIII is something I’ve always had a bit of a fetish for. Particularly when fitted with the Goldring G850 cartridge with that red stylus housing. Lovely! The local record store had two of them playing continuously on the counter into a Sansui amp and a pair of JBL something or other. Sounded incredible.
But they were rumble generators - at least the Mk Ii was, but I’d be surprised if it didn’t happen with Mk Iii) - though the of course inaudible if speakers don’t go low. Also quite crude in design compared to Thordns TD150 or even Connoiseur BD1 (I would have preferred to get latter rather than SP25 in original system, but it was a few £ too far)
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. I love how this looks with that sexy Goldring G850 with the red stylus housing! I feel like buying a used one just to sit and look at it! I know it’s completely irrational - but there we are. Apologies for the diversion.
Not all i feel. Whose to tend to convince themselves that a Wim Pro makes a good source for their Nait 50, those who thinks that Rega carts are the best choice for a Rega tt ( ), those who are hypnotised by Linn Lp12 upgrades, and those who don’t think like me.
The turntable in my first separates system was also a BSR MP60 (though mine came with an Empire 999 RE/X cartridge, which I soon changed for a Shure M75-6S). On my way to my first LP12, I too had a Connoisseur BD1 with an SME 3009/ Series II improved (fixed headshell, of course), which I used with a Shure M75 ED/II. I transferred the SME arm and Shure cartridge to a Thorens TD 160 BC Mark II, before swapping the cartridge for an Ortofon VMS20E Mark II and then swapping the turntable and arm for a Linn LP12 with Rega R200 (the S-shaped one).
Wow! Almost exactly the same as me Paul, I got the TD160 too after the Connoisseur and before the LP12. I had the Shure M95ED before the Ortofon, and I had the original S shaped Linn Basik arm to start with on the LP12. Just before I got the Linn I did buy a Mission 774 arm which I intended to fit to the TD160 in place of the SME. I never did this as literally a couple of weeks later I decided I had to go for the LP12 so I traded in the Mission arm (which was still boxed and brand new) to help pay for it.
Oooh FR…to be more precise, I believe (without needing to convince myself) that the best Rega MCs are both the simplest and fantastic solutions for high end Rega TTs. LP12s…fantastic TTs..are they the best, they will be FOR SOME. People do convince themselves of stuff, one of which I have mentioned more than once on these threads.
), those who are hypnotised by Linn Lp12 upgrades, and those who don’t think like me.
