Frequently asked questions about general hi-fi stuff including various types of equipment, technical concepts and advice for getting the best results.
No, you should never do this. Japan has a different FM band frequency allocation, spanning 76 – 90 MHz. The Australasian, European and North American FM broadcast band spans 88 – 108 MHz. That means that with a Japanese FM tuner, you’ll see a tiny 2 MHz overlap. You’ll be lucky if you can pick […]
Yes, if you want equipment to last, all of it needs some form of periodic maintenance; the more complex, the more it needs. Nothing is exempt, and maintenance, including cleaning, lubrication, adjustment, or parts replacement, is simply a designed-in element of ownership. Complex electromechanical equipment, containing hundreds of parts and often operating decades beyond its
Both electronic and mechanical components experience wear over time. Electronic Components Many will know that capacitors degrade over time, specifically wet aluminium electrolytic types. Wear rates vary according to type, quality of construction, thermal loading, age and hours of use. I’ve seen capacitors fail after 5 years and older parts that are still perfect after
There is some risk associated with buying anything, whether old or new. I would argue that it can be even riskier buying modern, firmware-driven, plastic, made-in-China equipment that will likely fail within 5 years and at that point be completely unrepairable. As long as you mitigate your risk, buying older hi-fi gear should not be
Oh, that’s simple: belt drive turntables are cheap to make. Even small manufacturers can tool up to make basic new belt drive turntables. You could just about make your own at home, and that’s how many small manufacturers start out. Direct drive turntable manufacture is quite different, though. It requires considerably more engineering and capital
It depends on the system, sometimes yes, usually no. The sound pressure levels achievable with a hi-fi system come down to two parameters: amplifier power output and speaker sensitivity. These two parameters are inextricably linked. Low-power amplifiers can create realistic sound pressures and dynamics, but only when partnered with sensitive speakers. This all comes down
Are low-power amplifiers acceptable in hi-fi systems? Read More »
That depends on the circumstances. Properly installing and setting up a cartridge with the right hardware and precisely calibrating overhang, azimuth, tracking force, anti-skate, VTA, arm lifter position and height using the correct tools is not a 5-minute job. It can take significant time with a complex deck/installation, and doing this work correctly requires time
