What's your holy grail?

[MR F]

http://www.thevintageknob.org/micro_seiki-AP-M1.html

Came to say this

[d334578]

EMT 927 and/or Nak Dragon - love that centering feature.

[steve195527]

The Gale GT2101:-wouldn't use it as a turntable,more a work of art!

[Dismord]

The Gale GT2101:-wouldn't use it as a turntable,more a work of art!

Without wanting to be rude that reminds me of your avatar.

[steve195527]

The Gale GT2101:-wouldn't use it as a turntable,more a work of art!

Without wanting to be rude that reminds me of your avatar.

the Lecson amps are on display in the New York Museum of Modern Art!both designed by folk who departed well away from what was "normal"

[Dismord]

The Gale GT2101:-wouldn't use it as a turntable,more a work of art!

Without wanting to be rude that reminds me of your avatar.

the Lecson amps are on display in the New York Museum of Modern Art!both designed by folk who departed well away from what was "normal"

Yes, I ran across them there last year along with the original iMac and the IBM 'golf ball' electric typewriter. I still think they sound like a bucket of transistors even though I do admire the design. What's needed is an enterprising manufacturer to resurrect that fabulous design but with top class circuits. The sliding potentiometers could be a problem sourcing though as all the one's that work well and are reliable over time are larger than Lecson's originals.

[steve195527]

Yes, I ran across them there last year along with the original iMac and the IBM 'golf ball' electric typewriter. I still think they sound like a bucket of transistors even though I do admire the design. What's needed is an enterprising manufacturer to resurrect that fabulous design but with top class circuits. The sliding potentiometers could be a problem sourcing though as all the one's that work well and are reliable over time are larger than Lecson's originals.[/quote]
you obviously have never heard a set working correctly if you had you wouldn't think they sounded like a bucket of transistors!top class circuits lol what do you mean by that:-do away with fets used for switching and replace with mechanical ones?
put the volume/tone controls in the signal path rather than in the feedback loop where the can cause more signal degradation? apply tons of neg feedback to get better measured results rather than better sound?,Bob Stuart was 1st guy to design an amp(Lecson) for minimal transient distortion and not Otala,although he may have 1st mooted its existence:-problem was the original design of the power amps didn't allow for the components being not 100% up to spec,very unreliable as a consequence:-the AP1 either worked or blew up lol,the AP3mk2 which Stan Curtis designed will still wipe the floor with most modern power amps,problem is finding one that hasn't had poor repairs done to it(they are nearly 40yrs old) and Lecson went bust for last time not too long after they were released:-the AP3mk2 sounds very valve like ,but with balls:-bit like a very good pair of EAR 509s

[Zebbo]

EMT 927 and/or Nak Dragon - love that centering feature.

Well Definitive Audio have an EMT927 on their S/H list at the moment, yours for a cool £42,000!!!!!

[Dismord]

You obviously have never heard a set working correctly if you had you wouldn't think they sounded like a bucket of transistors!top class circuits lol what do you mean by that:-do away with fets used for switching and replace with mechanical ones?

Obviously indeed as I didn't take to the sound at all. I would have bought the full set as I fell in love with the looks but running the Tannoy 'Westminsters' I had at the time they sure didn't impress me. The mid range of the power amps I thought rather lacking in transparency and tonal richness. If memory serves me I was comparing them to my Audio Research D 70 Mk II. So, maybe I heard defective examples? They were demo models on loan from the retailer so I doubt they'd been modified. The remainder of your suggestions puzzle me. I guess there's some kind of irony involved but I don't get it. Sorry.

[steve195527]

You obviously have never heard a set working correctly if you had you wouldn't think they sounded like a bucket of transistors!top class circuits lol what do you mean by that:-do away with fets used for switching and replace with mechanical ones?

Obviously indeed as I didn't take to the sound at all. I would have bought the full set as I fell in love with the looks but running the Tannoy 'Westminsters' I had at the time they sure didn't impress me. The mid range of the power amps I thought rather lacking in transparency and tonal richness. If memory serves me I was comparing them to my Audio Research D 70 Mk II. So, maybe I heard defective examples? They were demo models on loan from the retailer so I doubt they'd been modified. The remainder of your suggestions puzzle me. I guess there's some kind of irony involved but I don't get it. Sorry.

Sorry was being a bit ironic,just wondered what you meant by"top class circuits":-I have a very modern Chord power amp with probably some of the best modern,circuitry and WHEN my lecson is working right(not at the moment lol) the lecson sounds better:-
which power amp did you try:-the AP1 was so hit and miss my friend had 6 before he got one that sounded good and didn't smoke(not joking) the original AP3 was never too good sound wise,the AP1x sounds superb,the AP3mk2 even better:-but none are most reliable of things,the last 2 are from when Stan Curtis took over design and reworked the AC1 and designed completely new power amps

[Dismord]

Sorry was being a bit ironic,just wondered what you meant by"top class circuits":-I have a very modern Chord power amp with probably some of the best modern,circuitry and WHEN my lecson is working right(not at the moment lol) the lecson sounds better:-
which power amp did you try:-the AP1 was so hit and miss my friend had 6 before he got one that sounded good and didn't smoke(not joking) the original AP3 was never too good sound wise,the AP1x sounds superb,the AP3mk2 even better:-but none are most reliable of things,the last 2 are from when Stan Curtis took over design and reworked the AC1 and designed completely new power amps

I have the greatest of respect for all of Stan Curtis work having used a number of his designs over the decades. I have no idea which versions of the Lecsons I auditioned in fact I can't even remember which Melbourne retailer I borrowed them from. I will tell you though I was very disappointed as I really wanted to like them given the looks of the preamp which in my opinion hasn't been equalled by anything since.

[steve195527]

Sorry was being a bit ironic,just wondered what you meant by"top class circuits":-I have a very modern Chord power amp with probably some of the best modern,circuitry and WHEN my lecson is working right(not at the moment lol) the lecson sounds better:-
which power amp did you try:-the AP1 was so hit and miss my friend had 6 before he got one that sounded good and didn't smoke(not joking) the original AP3 was never too good sound wise,the AP1x sounds superb,the AP3mk2 even better:-but none are most reliable of things,the last 2 are from when Stan Curtis took over design and reworked the AC1 and designed completely new power amps

I have the greatest of respect for all of Stan Curtis work having used a number of his designs over the decades. I have no idea which versions of the Lecsons I auditioned in fact I can't even remember which Melbourne retailer I borrowed them from. I will tell you though I was very disappointed as I really wanted to like them given the looks of the preamp which in my opinion hasn't been equalled by anything since.

The mission power amp,not the one with the fancy case saying "mission" is basically a Lecson AP3mk2 in different clothes,Stan has his own web page:-ask him about the Lecson AP4:-that never got into production but was probably the 1st"super amp" before any of that breed had been born!:-It was available as self build through some mag for a while under one of his pseudonyms,jeramhia braithwaite or something:-still have a head amp built under that name!

http://www.stancurtis.com/AP4.htm

[d334578]

EMT 927 and/or Nak Dragon - love that centering feature.

Well Definitive Audio have an EMT927 on their S/H list at the moment, yours for a cool £42,000!!!!!

Does it come with an arm?