The Grand Cafe

I think it looks quite nice.

Need to find a Philips cd 104 and a small tuner to make it complete.

1 Like

Horsehoe magnet and steel needle, I think, if memory serves from when I had one back in 1971

I built my own plinth, and built the amp into it - and external connectors were DIN. Horrible things - I discovered ā€˜phonoā€™ (RCA) plugs continued at the time of my next amp incarnation -simpler, cheaper, more robust, and better contact. Imagine my surprise dcades later when I learnt that Naim use DIN!

The SP25 was the entry level seriousTT in 1969 (as opposed to things like autochangers). It cost a bit under Ā£12 for the basic unit, TT with arm, no plinth. Based on RPI that is equivalent to ~Ā£200 today. Mine lasted about 18 months before I dumped it, pleased to upgrade to something noticeably better that then lasted me about 36 years.

I have a Philips cd 150, it is similar to the cd 104 in that itā€™s an early machine with dual mono TDA 1540 DAC chips. Despite it being a 35 year old ebay purchase it worked right out of the box. Mine has now been recapped and is currently set up to work in 14 bit mode, just as Philips had originally intended before Sony insisted on the CD standard being 16 bit.

The cd 150 is not the last word in refinement, but it works and is an insight into simpler times.

1 Like

HS2 railway, UK ā€“ route development to hybrid bill: a collaborative approach

I. C. Blight

174(1), pp. 42ā€“51

Published online:January 4, 2021

https://doi.org/10.1680/jtran.18.00011

Keywords: environment, infrastructure planning, project management

I thought Mike might be amused by the above engineering paper - and its author!!

Iā€™m still a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (itā€™s a long story - donā€™t ask) so I still get their publications. I had a significant involvement in HS1 (again, donā€™t ask, but thatā€™s the one that runs from St. Pancras down to the Channel Tunnel). So today I opened my e-mail to find a few papers related to HS2 written by people that I know quite well. Until I got to the one above.

Some people really do have a name that is appropriate to their job ā€¦ or not !

2 Likes

Hi Fi + rates the new Linn Klimax streaming pre amp the best streaming component made, full stop. I know supply of somethings are still an issue but how come Linn can deliver when many otherā€™s companies just canā€™t.

Is that the $60k one Pete ?

The ND555 is close to that here by the time you add a PS (and thereā€™s people here saying you need 2) and you still need a pre amp.

1 Like

And a power supply for the pre-amp :scream::moneybag::moneybag::moneybag:

1 Like

Good god - I think Iā€™ll keep my pockets closed, getting a bit much , been there done that

And a power supply for your power amp, plus a fully fat Fraim.

Did you decide to get anything in the Naim promotion in Aussie @Pete_the_painter?

1 Like

I know I was talking with Harry the other day and because Iā€™ve gone down the 272 route itā€™ll cost me almost $32 to upgrade (282/NDX2). You can understand why Iā€™m sweating on a replacement for the 272.

1 Like

See my post above. There would be some trade value but Iā€™d have to keep my power supply for the streamer, keep my 250. Also new cables, plugs etc and 2 more Fraim levels. Iā€™m a pensioner now as well. :grin:

1 Like

Ouch. I hope that you kept shares in the business. Seriously though, it does get very expensive above the level you are at unless you can source a good used pre-amp. Youā€™re stuck with NDX2 option if staying with Naim though. And I expect a 272 replacement will be much more than the current modelā€¦ā€¦

If I could get @Bevo address I might call in while heā€™s out in one those trendy pubs in Balmain.

Iā€™m not sure ones coming. I think Naim have missed the boat.

1 Like

Get back to work :stuck_out_tongue:

1 Like

Ha ha good one

1 Like

Thursday night, time for a beer.

1 Like