Building a Hi-Fi system: interview with Valentin, collaborator of maPlatine.com
Today, Valentin, our technician at maPlatine.com, tells us about the building of his Hi-Fi system.
– WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR CURRENT HI-FI SYSTEM?
I currently own several audio sources in my Hi-Fi system. These include a BeoGram 4200 turntable by Bang & Olufsen, which is equipped with an MMC 20 CL cartridge (crystal cantilever and contact line stylus). There is also a BeoCord 900 cassette player and a Philips CD-723 CD player. All these are connected to a BeoMaster 900 tuner amplifier, to which I added the Tube Box S phono preamplifier by Pro-Ject.
A UHER 724L tape recorder also completes my Hi-Fi system, as well as a Pro-Ject DAC Box S.
And finally, the last element of my Hi-Fi installation is a pair of bookshelf speakers, still from Bang & Olufsen. As you can see, I really love this brand!
– WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR CHOICES?
To be honest, it’s rather the elements that came to me… 🙂 For the majority of my elements, I got them back or acquired them second-hand. My very first element was the amplifier, and then I built everything around it.
Once the foot put in the High-Fidelity field, my goal was to build me a complete Hi-Fi system. So naturally I started looking for Hi-Fi products to repair. I was very familiar with the sound of the amp, so I more or less knew what I wanted, what could be associated with.
And then, I wanted to improve the sound reproduction of my installation, and in especially my vinyl listening. Thus I chose to equip myself with a separate phono preamplifier. I opted for the Pro-Ject Tube Box S as it is a small phono stage that offers very good audio performance for this price range.
– WHAT WERE THE MAIN STEPS IN ITS CONSTRUCTION?
So I got into Hi-Fi by taking over my grandfather’s amplifier and Hi-Fi speakers, even if the amplifier needed some repairs. For the little anecdote, I almost stopped there because someone had sold me some transistors that were damaged, so it didn’t start very well… But I ended up finding others and I finally restored the amp in perfect condition.
Following this, I decided to buy a CD player, which I also repaired and upgraded, mainly by changing small capacitors and unplugging the headphones that I don’t use. I didn’t fill it with concrete like some people did at this time, to avoid the mechanics to move 😉
And then some time ago, I had the chance to get a Bang & Olufsen turntable, a brand I already knew well thanks to my amp. Here again, it needed a bit of repair so I got to work on it and now everything is working. Anyway, it does perfectly what it is required and made me rediscover my vinyl records!
– HOW YOUR SOUND RESTITUTION IS?
Being rather eclectic in kinds of music I listen to, I have to admit that I like the sound I currently have with my Hi-Fi system. No matter the kind of music, I think there’s a beautiful sound scene. Since my speakers are closed load, the bass is tense and the treble not aggressive at all. It may lack a bit of medium, but it’s fine for me at the moment.
– ARE YOU PLANNING TO UPGRADE YOUR SYSTEM?
Of course! My wish would be to switch completely to tube elements, thus amplifier, phono preamplifier and line preamplifier. Simply because it’s a sound I like, and I love the robust aspect of the tubes. Moreover, it’s perfect for heating up in winter ;). As an electronics and audio lover, there are chances that these are products that I make myself. Even if, one day, I would like to have devices by Audio Research!
In terms of audio sources, I think I will upgrade my Hi-Fi system with a Rega Planar 3 vinyl turntable, which I will equip with a Hana EL cartridge. It’s the best combination for the type of sound I like: we find the physical side in the listening thanks to the glass platter of the turntable, associated with the detailed side offered by the Japanese Hana cartridge. I listen to all kinds of music and look for dynamics and details in the listening, so I think this combination of turntable/phono cartridge is the ideal one for me in this range!
Finally, one day I’m thinking of replacing my current speakers with Hi-Fi speakers from the French manufacturer Focal, which I particularly like. I love the Focal Kanta speakers, but I think that I’ll start with the Focal Aria 906 bookshelf speakers, which according to me have a great quality/price ratio!
– THANKS VALENTIN 🙂