Audiophiles hifi appreciation thread old and new

Tempted to go and pick this SL-1700 up, any reason not to go for it?
Edit: Just watched a video and now wondering if I’d find the auto-ness a bit clunky, I’m not used to hearing all that clickety clackin

I’d probably hold out for a fully manual machine if you’re not particularly taken with how it operates anyhow. There’s plenty about.

Closed back wired headphone recommendations? Reasonably neutral, minimal leakage, can be driven without a separate amp, and around £100. Is the answer AKG K361/371?

I have a pair of Audio Technical ATH-M30X which are 'ok' and I probably wouldn't bother replacing them, if it wasn't for the clamping force and pads making them super uncomfortable to wear.

HD 25/ HD 25 Light?

I'd hold out, you'll probably find a 1500 for the same money, that is manual and with the better tone arm. Also the plug situation and the way the that earth wire is isn't inspiring.

Yeah good shout (and @Stevethecoffee), I’ve saved some more relevant searches now.
Is there anywhere in London where I could look at these things? I found one place but it was more like £700 for the same. I’d happily spend a bit more if I could try before I buy but not that much.

Audio Gold maybe, not too sure about elsewhere. There's a place in Walthamstow called Armstrong Audio.

Beyond that British Heart Foundation have some bigger shops that carry electronics but it's luck of the draw really.

I imagine if you're getting something refurbished though it would be outside the £300 budget, and is it going to be better than a Project or a Rega, or is it getting into Technics money?

HD 25/ HD 25 Light

Are the Light essentially the same drivers, but without the split headband, rotating cups, single cable etc?

Yep. Initially there were some sonic differences ( smaller drivers or something) but now they are the same internally.

Snapped up a second hand Pro-Ject pre amp on eBay, sounds great, phono stage is a huge upgrade. Thanks @Stevethecoffee for the suggestion. Fits very well with the Thorens and anodised cabinet door.

Gonna build a 12v trigger power cord for the hypex and hide it in the cabinet I reckon.

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Nice one. Such a versatile piece of kit with all those connections. Looks great.

Have you fiddled with the up-sampling and filter settings? Not sure what I prefer

I think when I tried DSD upsampling it sounded rubbish, the others didn’t make much of a noticeable difference. Mine’s set to upsampling bypass (sound mode 3), filter 1 (natural) but I’ve just looked up the manual and it seems you can only bypass the upsampling when using USB, which I don’t anymore. SPDIF all gets up-sampled. I dunno.

My Cambridge Audio MXN10 streamer was hooked up by both toslink and RCA and I could switch between the 2. They did sound a bit different, not better or worse particularly. Now I have to use the RCA input for the phono box so the Project pre-box does DAC duties for streaming and CDs and sounds great. I switch between amps to tune the sound for different moods, that makes a genuinely noticeable difference

Very neat looking setup. Did you make the ply sideboard / storage?

Yup, that’s one of mine 🙃

What’s the door panel made from?

Pressed anodised aluminium

This SL-1500 worth it? Comes out as about £350 inc postage from Latvia. Needs a cartridge and a 100v transformer, neither of which I know anything about. I take it I can’t use the cartridge from my Project?

Needs a headshell too? Don’t see one in the pics.
Seems a bit of a punt that may end up costing you more when there’s loads of Rega, Project, Edward’s audio and similar available new and used here in the U.K.

Yeah I figure that’s why it’s been up for ages.
I’m tempted to just buy a new Planar 2 at this point, these SL1500s aren’t coming up for less than £600 and I still don’t have a turntable to listen to music on.

it looks lovely and clean but 100v plus shipping from Latvia would put me off a bit.

Are you sure it's not a switchable power supply?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/311954997435

Hmm it says “Japanese version 100v” so I doubt it.
Would the headshell/cartridge from my Project fit onto this?

I don't think it would fit but I've never used the Project.

I think you should consider a 2nd hand Rega P3 though. If you can stand to move the belt to change the speed it sounds great.