Readers will know how much I like the Quad 405 amplifier. In this article, I look at the Quad 405 amplifier service process and what’s involved when a 405 visits Liquid Audio. Talk about great-sounding amps, this particular Quad 405 is completely original, with its original capacitors and connectors. The new owner wanted me to […]
The Pioneer PL-514 belt-drive turntable is an absolute classic. Let’s find out why. The Pioneer PL-514 is a high-quality, great-sounding belt-drive deck from one of the big Japanese manufacturers. In terms of build and performance, like so much other Japanese gear, it puts many other belt-drive decks to shame. The motor alone is far better
I’ve just repaired an amazing Yamaha MX-1 power amplifier. Read on for more about this stunning, heavyweight amplifier. It’s fair to say that Yamaha, along with Sony, soldiered on with high-end consumer hi-fi gear for longer than many others and this beautiful Yamaha MX-1 power amplifier proves it. The Yamaha MX-1 was the best and
Come along as I overhaul and upgrade a beautiful British classic, the Quad 405-2 power amplifier. The Quad 405-2 is still revered, some 40 years after its release. These are truly special amplifiers, don’t let the understated English looks fool you. What almost all of them need however is work, so come along for this
In this video, I explain some considerations when correctly setting up a turntable like the legendary Kenwood KD-600. This particular KD-600 came to me very poorly set-up. The deck’s owner received some very bad advice from, of all people, Ortofon! I’m a big fan of Ortofon cartridges, but clearly not everyone there knows what they
I just serviced this lovely Denon DP-30L direct-drive turntable and want to spread the word about this great deck. The Denon DP-30L is an excellent turntable with a good feature set, quality motor, solid chassis and excellent speed control circuitry. The DP-30L weighs in at just under 10kg, much more than today’s lightweight decks. This
Wow, I’ve just serviced a complete Kenwood L-1000 hi-fi system! This is incredible gear, beautifully constructed, with stellar build-quality. The Kenwood L-1000 series are becoming rare now, so to find a complete system in the hands of its original owner is something pretty special. This stack of gear consisted of the Kenwood L-1000M power amplifier,
Amazing Kenwood L-1000 Hi-Fi System in for Service Read More »
I’m lucky to have great customers, it makes my job such a pleasure. But every once in a while, someone takes the time to share their thoughts in the form of written or verbal feedback about work I’ve completed for them. Positive feedback like this from my customers makes me incredibly proud of the work I
By popular demand, I’ve decided to write some articles about servicing direct-drive turntable motors. Having recently overhauled a Denon DP-1200, this seemed like a great motor to start with. The Denon DP-1200 is a direct-drive classic, loved by thousands around the globe. Consider this a workhorse deck, solid, well-made, reliable, with great sound. This is
As a follow-up to my article on servicing the Kenwood KD-500/550 motor, I bring you an article detailing the comprehensive service of this gorgeous Kenwood KD-500 / SME 3009 combination. The KD-500 is a heavy hitter from the late 70’s, still punching above its weight 40 years on. The Kenwood KD-500 and KD-550 direct-drive turntables
