Coincidence? Luck? Or...

   Coincidence? Luck? Serendipity? Synchrony? Do these exist independent of mind? Does quantum entanglement hold sway in human affairs? I don't have an answer, but I sure like when the universe seems aligned for even a moment...

          A few days ago,  my initial blog posting mentioned growing up listening to a Fisher Vacuum tube stereo. Part of me wishes I knew where dad's stereo went. More of me wishes he was still alive so I could ask him. As I write this I realize it's not even about his stereo; whether or not it was a vacuum tube set; where it went; what it's worth; or where it is now... It's about the fact that he realized that music is an incredible gift to humanity, and the Fisher was the mechanism through which he was able to share that with me (much to his chagrin I'm certain when Aerosmith "Toys in the Attic" was in full swing). I admit I felt remiss not taking more care to know where the stereo went. I feel better knowing that the Fisher was merely the mechanism that allowed us to share a bond that linked dis-similar materials. (I'm as unlikely to listen to the "Scots Guard Plays..." as he was to listen to The Amboy Dukes). So I find the fact that I don't know where the Fisher is less bothersome to me now. The Universe we live in is very strange. I couldn't tell you the definition of"strange attractors" in regard to modern physics( yet I know I've read about them somewhere). I can tell you that sometimes letting go of something, often brings something better into our lives. This afternoon a non-functional all tube Fisher receiver appeared and with a little negotiation I brought it home. It needs some restoration, but after putting a new fuse in and slowly bring the voltage up on a Variac, it lit up and plays music. I thought about trying to find the "Scots Guard Plays..." LP as the first music when I'm finished cleaning the receiver up, but I'm kinda leaning toward Dave Brubeck "Take-Five"; It's one of the first records I remember hearing and something my dad would appreciate too...

  Dusted off the old Dynaco St-70 on the 4th of July. I usually don't use this during the summer months because it generates a fair amount of heat.  I put a fresh set of JJ E34L's in this a few months ago.(That's no typo- they ARE E34L's -they do draw a little more current than a stock EL-34, so do your homework before you substitute them for the EL-34). How does the amp sound? Well, it gives up a little bit of bass definition compared to the McIntosh 2100 power amp it displaced- but makes up for it with a wide and deep soundstage and euphony that kept me listening until 4:30 in the morning. The sound improved markedly after the first hour, and once warmed up is a desert island pick. Or perhaps better referred to as a deserted island pick; with that kind of heat, the Aleutian Islands will certainly do.
    Thanks to Chris J. for the inspiration to dig this out, and for bringing a Thorens turntable and some vinyl for the occasion.  The pre-amp was a Luxman R-115 receiver. Speakers by Dahlquist. DQ-10's to be precise.

The Audio Giant has Landed...

   Welcome!  Thank you for tuning in to Hi-Fi-Freq, a blog dedicated to hi-fidelity audio, it's associated

equipment and the sheen or stink that accompanies the pursuit of aural nirvana.  I'm pretty sure my

enthusiasm for sound and audio has something to do with hearing my first music through dad's Fisher

tube stereo amp. Fast forward to hearing Tony Pikulas massive speakers blaring Deep Purple's

"Machine Head" while his parents calmly ate spaghetti (as if listening to something that powerful at

insane volume was normal) I wondered how he'd been able to manipulate them into accepting

this free and completely radical perversion of the status quo. I doubt Tony has any memory of that

                                   
                                        experience, but it certainly had a profound effect on me.