The Yorkshire Hi-Fi Club

[savvypaul]

I'm going by train...

[wiicrackpot]

Is anyone from here actually going to this event on the 11th ?

And if so going by train ?

Do you need someone to hold your hand? I will if that means you are attending?

I thought it was a strange post too or a unfinished one.

Enjoyed reading past Yorkshire HFC get togethers,long may it continue.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

[savvypaul]

Photos now, write-up later. After lunch...

[savvypaul]

Thanks to David, Nick and fellow attendees for an enjoyable and interesting day.

The system set up to hear the turntables through was Nick's Music First Reference phono stage and preamp, 211 valve power amp and Maxonic speakers.

First up was the £25k Clearaudio Innovation with a North West Analogue cartridge. Flawless - open, airy, big, all the tricks in it's locker - and very, very boring, imo. The music selection was a bit 'audiophile' in the early stages, though, and by the time that my choice of the Stones 'Let It Bleed' album came on, the 2nd turntable had just been plugged in...

Garrard 401 refurbished by Loricraft and mounted in a Carl Ellis plinth, Jelco 12" arm, Acoustical Systems cartridge. Driving rhythms from this combo. The Stones album sounded dirty and urgent, as it should. When the Nils Lofgren track (from 1997 'Acoustic Live' album) returned, it sounded like the man had done a line of cocaine since he came off the Clearaudio! I also enjoyed a Donald Fagen track called 'Security Joan'. However the Garrard was not without it's problems; vocals could be a little 'shut in' with a hint of coarseness that I didn't hear with the other tables, and it had a tendency to lump the instruments together a little. Still, much more enjoyable than the Clearaudio and the propulsive quality put a big smile on my face. I definitely want to hear more idler drive tables.

Next up was a Technics SL1210 with SME 3009 arm and Micro Benz Glider cartridge. The deck also had a 'specialist' replacement bearing (Funk?) and LDA linear power supply. This was more open than the Garrard and timed well but there was something missing for me - timbre and shading. I found it a bit samey, a tiny bit flat. Nit picking, perhaps, but it just didn't quite give me the emotional connection that I wanted. Well worth hearing, though.

I escaped via the train station just before the football fans flooded the place, but before that I did get a chance to hear Alan's new and improved Vivant phono stage. Used the Nils Lofgren and Donald Fagen tracks plus one 'audiophile girly' track. Big, bold and colourful with rich textures. Unfortunately it lost me on the Donald Fagen track (or rather it lost the bass player) so I'm not sure that timing is all it could be. Worth hearing if it's the sort of 'flavour' that you are seeking and it suits your music. The NVA Phono 2 played the same tracks - it's already my favourite and what I chose to spend my money on, and I wrote up a review of it at my own bake-off, so I will let other attendees comment on that one.

[Karnevil9]

The place looks packed

[savvypaul]

Taken late in the day. A couple had already headed off by then and a couple may have been outside. I don't recall exactly. The photo is a moment in time, not the official attendance...

[Karnevil9]

[joe]

Someone needs to tell those blokes that cut-off denims are not a good look if a) you are male and/or b) if you are over 25.