Audioless Winnipeg Group!

It seems we have hit our 1GB limit on photos via google picasa!  High resolution photos take up too much space!  Need to start downsizing some of our photos.  Or maybe start using a 3rd party image host.

Here is a great turntable.  Now I know Toshiba doesn't raise much attention, but sometimes it has it's advantages.  While some may snub their nose at the name, there is a lot of beauty on this turntable.  First, it weights ~26lbs, and that's pretty heavy.  Second, it has a beefy direct drive motor.  Third, it has heavy platter.  Fourth, the plinth is uses a metal/steel top for added vibration control.  And finally, if you can't seem to find any information about this turntable, instead of using Toshiba SR-355, look under Aurex SR-355. What's Aurex?  That was Toshiba's namesake for their higher end gear, like how Acura is for Honda.  This was named Aurex SR-355 in Japan as they thought it would compete with some of the bigger name.  And, in a way I can see why. It is truly a well built turntable.  It's a direct drive, 2-speed and fully manual turntable.  Comes with a new Pickering V15 cartridge as it seems to be a better match over the Shure.

Now this is a rare gem!  Before you snub your nose at the Realistic name, the question you have to ask yourself is who made it for Radio Shack?  Well, the answer is simple, very simple.  This is a Mosfet amplifier and there was only one company to use mosfet technology back in the late 70s and early 80s, that was Hitachi!  This is a Hitachi made receiver for Radio Shack, and is one sweet sounding amplifier! Many may recognize it as the receiver sitting on top of my component stand.  It sat there for more than a half of year and I don't think I've really used it except on a couple occasions.  And, if I haven't used it in the past 6 months, it's time to part ways with it.   So what's so special about mosfet?  It has a strong resemblance to the good old tube sound without the added harmonics and distortions.  Which means, its softer in presentation in comparison to their bi-polar transistors with a lovely mid range frequency.  Bass and treble are still very nice,

Here is a turntable that I miss, the Mitsubishi DP-EC8.  It's one of those odd turntable that you don't see very often, and this one is the second one to ever come into my hands.  I really like these turntables, as they're well built, they sound great and the foot print is smaller than most turntables.  It's a tad more slimline than most, which is a plus for some. Last blog posting for this turntable, I did not provide a description.  This time I will! This is a fully automatic, direct drive, quartz lock, 2-speed turntable with repeat feature.  It features a straight tone arm with a carbon fiber headshell.  Everything on the tone arm design from the aluminum base, the arm design itself and headshell was designed to minimize resonance. It also features an automatic disc selector via that crystal at the rear left hand corner of the plinth.  So, really, all you need to do is press some buttons.  It's a very trouble free turntable as you don't really need to d

One of most elegant looking turntable I've ever owned.  Wide stance, heavy and flat platter, beautiful chrome/metal accents in a beautiful looking rosewood vinyl wrapped plinth with a clear dust cover! One of my favorite looking turntables so far, and it's beautifully built as well!  Freshly serviced and ready to go!  The original took care of it, and so have I! 2-speed, direct drive, quartz lock, semi-automatic turntable.  Feature's Hitachi's uni-torque motor, oil-dampened cue arm and a quality tone arm!  As well, a two-way counter-weight system, the main weight and sub-weight for those who want more cartridge flexibility.  Also features the original aluminum headshell with an Empire 5000 III cartridge and a brand new Jico stylus from Japan! The Empire 5000 III is a very, very, very nice cartridge and sounds exceptional!  The Empire 5000 may have been one of Empire's higher end cartridge for this particular series and with the new stylus it sounds superb.  Ve

Here is a rare treat!  A nice pair of IMF Super Compact, 1st generation or the original.  British made and British designed!  It has one of the nicest 8" woofers in it's class and an excellent tweeter! http://www.imf-electronics.com/Home/imf/speaker-range/compacts/super-compact While they are not a true transmission line design, they are still well engineered and one of the better sounding "small" speaker out there that has an 8" woofer, hence the name Super Compact!  But, it's a bit wide.  They make great speakers for someone who wants a nice sounding pair of speakers in a small den or bedroom. It has a KEF woofer, Audax or Polydax tweeter and either a Peerless or ELAC mid driver.  All wrapped in the classic real walnut veneer.  It has that typical British cabinet design, think Celestion, Celef, etc...If there was not an IMF badge up front, it'd be hard to tell who made this speaker. Overall, it has a nice presentation in sound, ve

Fresh trade!  Big ol' speakers.  Well, not really, but they have a big sound to them.  These heavy guys are the Bozak LS-250.  Bozak was an American Company who made plenty of wonderful sounding speakers, and made right in the USA.  LS stood for Listening Series. These are great sounding speakers for those who love that "old school" sound.  That 12" woofer produces a lot of bass!  They are a 3-way with, 12" woofer, 4.5" mid and 3.25" tweeter with adjustable controls for the tweeters in the back.  No foam on these drivers, just rubber and treated paper so no need to worry about replacing the surrounds. They make great speakers for a wide variety of music genres from Classical, to Classic Rock, these Bozak are great.  Overall, they're in great shape.  Cabinets are in wrapped in wood grain vinyl and they're heavy so be careful when you lift them! I tried to take some pictures with the grills on but, the low lighting and the overcast made i