[336881]

Currawong I note you are considering A7 monitors for near field. You might want to look at the DIATONE)P-610MB+KB-610MT see link to photo below scroll down page. They are different beasts-A7 powered 2way monitors, P-610 unpowered full range. Diatone built speakers specifically for radio broadcasting for Japan's NHK.

http://audioelex.blog.fc2.com/blog-date-20111212.html

Outside of Japan there is a cult following and limited availability second hand of the original drivers (lots of Chinese made knock offs). Inside Japan they are fairly common, but also popular from what I can gage from Hifido sales. I bought a pair just like the ones in the link - the 1996 50th anniversary MB = 8ohms and they are phenomenal, especially in a small room. They are also relatively cheap around $400 USD. I use mine with Leben CS300xs (nos tubes) which sometimes doubles for h/p duties. Don't be put off by their frequency response as they IMO lack very little. I also own the Diatone DS-5000s downstairs in the living room which have huge bass drivers (16inch). Be aware there is also a 16ohm version too P-610MA.




They might not be what your after but considering your location thought it would be worth a look.

I had a7x's for five years. Great speakers. For me for sure the best in their price class and I never noticed a large upgrade till I heard $5k krk expose's as far as powered monitors go.

That said the upgrade to Sony APM-4's is a very large upgrade over the Adam's and $4k not $5k. I think it is quite a bit better than the exposes but that is going back quite a while in time and different chain so probably a moot comparison. The detail and the bass are the 2 biggest stand outs. Really reminds me of a well driven 007mk1 when I listen. I'm using a Accuphase c-280 pre and Technics se-a100 power amp with RAM speaker cables, canare cable/viablue sheathing bare wire crimped.

DO NOT get your speakers from yahoo japan. The shipping is insane $2500 for $1600 ds-3000's and if you win a bid and back out you WILL be placed on a blacklist. Get your record players from yahoojp in particular hakana113. Hifido or local for speakers.

 

[Currawong]

DO NOT get your speakers from yahoo japan.

I'm in Japan, so I'll try the Diatone's sometime. I've seen the brand around, but had no idea if it was good or not. Someone also suggested Genelec monitors, especially the ones with room correction. I reckon if I am going to use them near-field, then porting doesn't matter, but if I use them in my room, I'd probably get a pair with either front or no ports so placement would be easier.

 

[mrtim6]

Antimatter those AMP-4 are legendary & pretty rare outside of Japan, where did you find them?

Antimatter I agree your comments regarding Yahoo Japan. I bought a rare tone arm for my Yamaha GT-2000 turntable- the YSA-2.
The packaging was a disgrace and the tonearm arrived with a small part broken off. I got a full refund & I'm going to try & repair the tonearm.

 

[336881]

Antimatter those AMP-4 are legendary & pretty rare outside of Japan, where did you find them?

Antimatter I agree your comments regarding Yahoo Japan. I bought a rare tone arm for my Yamaha GT-2000 turntable- the YSA-2.
The packaging was a disgrace and the tonearm arrived with a small part broken off. I got a full refund & I'm going to try & repair the tonearm.

I got them from ds2000 on Barter town on A.K. He was stuck on the price but I got him to throw in shipping which almost always ruins deals from Japan. I think he paid $399 to ship them from NYC to STL. I have not talked to him in a while but last I heard he had some Onkyo 5001 scepter's for sale.

I'm sorry your tonearm showed up busted. I think yahoojp is more of a crap shoot than hifido. Hakana113 on yahoojp does not play though. Great pics, great condition and in most cases, not some, you get the original packaging. I know some people think packaging does not matter so much but in anything record player it is sooo essential it's not even funny.

I love vintage japan obviously but drivers are incredibly hard to make worth your while. The 007mk1 and maybe w3000 are the only headphones I recommend. Everything else vintage japan headphone wise is silly priced to me. Speakers are better, mainly cause there is allot to choose from, but even from hifido a pair of ds3000's will run you $900 shipping. Will the ds3000's take on modern day speakers twice their price? With ease imo. but they are $2k speakers and even if they keep up with $4k speakers cause of the expensive shipping you really only save $1k and thus probably the cheapest you can go and still make it worth you while.

I have zero qualms about putting my $4k APM-4's up against anything $8k modern day.

Sorry for going OT. I will take some pics soon

 

[336881]

I'm in Japan, so I'll try the Diatone's sometime. I've seen the brand around, but had no idea if it was good or not. Someone also suggested Genelec monitors, especially the ones with room correction. I reckon if I am going to use them near-field, then porting doesn't matter, but if I use them in my room, I'd probably get a pair with either front or no ports so placement would be easier.

They are also known as Mitsubishi. Their totl stuff is very serious indeed. I'm pretty sure Nakamichi used them for testing out their equipment and their Dragon series of audio products is legendary. You will not find any info on them on the Vintage Knob, which shocks me, but plenty of info on audio heritage/database.

 

[mrtim6]

Mitsubishi- Diatone = Diamond Tone speakers were developed in conjunction with NKH the Japanese version of the BBC

see link for more info:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatone

I own their 1982 flagship DS-5000 see my avatar. These were cost no object speakers and I have been advised by a former USA Diatone dealer & speaker engineer these are world class in the league of Wilson Alexandrias. Not sure about that, but I have not been blown away by any speakers I've listened to at hifi shows.

The P610MB full range speakers have around 50 years of R&D in them and are remarkably for a speaker the other end of the price spectrum. I love what they can do in a smaller room.

Diatone were the most popular speaker manufacturer in Japan for many years.

 

[Currawong]

Maybe I should head in to the city and audition a few things. I found this JBL unit at my local shop. A bit above my price range though!

http://www.hifido.co.jp/KWfukuoka/G1/P0/A10/E/10-10/S0/C17-11612-56715-00/

 

[jigster]

Paragon! Nice.

 

[Blueshound24]

edited for thumbnail instead of full image.

 

[Blueshound24]

SanDisk Extreme PRO 240GB SSD + Samsung Seagate HN-M201RAD Momentus SpinPoint ST2000LM003 2TB HDD -> Flac -> JRiver 22 -> optimized /w Fidelizer Pro -> Supra USB -> Industrial Intona Hi Speed Isolator -> Schiit PYST USB -> UpTone Audio USB Regen -> Hard adapter -> PS Audio Perfect Wave II 2.4.3 -> Discovery Plus 4 XLR -> Parasound Halo -> KEF LS50 (IsoAcoustic stands) + HSU STF-1 Sub x 2.

~ OR ~ Same source to: Icon Audio HP8 MKII / Lyr -> Elear, AH-D7000, HD700, HD650, LCD 2.2f, HD598, Layla, Roxanne, ES Velvet, W4R, GR07 BE, UE TF10, MDR 7550.

 

[Trerit]

Some of these desks look amazing. Once I move to a bigger place I will probably end up making my own desk
I want to get a fancy one with a back plate facing the door. That way I get more air behind the speakers. Maybe some clever way to incorporate speaker stands

 

[oneguy]

Small update. Added an SRM-007ta, SR-L700, LPS-1 and ultraRendu.

 

[kid vic]

Just got this bad boy from a local tech, this pic was taken by him on his work bench

Oracle Delphi mk1
Design, build, listen- The Wand+
Demon DL110
(unpictured currently unmounted:
Denon DL103LCii
Denon DL301 mk1
Sumiko Talisman S)

 

[kid vic]

^^was at said tech's house for an arm swap.

 

[nordkapp]