General Asylum

General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

Return to General Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Page: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ....

24.89.169.194
Posted on September 24, 2016 at 10:07:01
reelsmith.
Audiophile

Posts: 13131
Location: CT
Joined: June 7, 2005
Contributor
  Since: January 19, 2010
 For me it was a pair of Euphonic Audio Nymphs, from New Egypt, NJ

A decent review in TAS (around 1990 or so) prompted me to hunt for a pair the following year.

My hunt ended at Q-Audio in Boston where I traded a Nakamichi 680ZX cassette deck for them.

A very nice, smallish speaker. Great for small ensembles and singer/songwriter stuff.

My recollection is that as with the Pyramid Met 7, the woofer was forward of the tweeter, mounted in/on a tube.

A Google picture search turned up nothing. I doubt they made 500 pairs.

So, what is/was the most obscure component you've owned ?

Dean.






reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.


 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
Euphonic Audio Nymphs..., posted on September 24, 2016 at 10:37:49
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31872
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 Don't know how they sounded but I like how they sound.

A Will Vincent modded ST-70 for me. Not sure he still makes them but pretty sure he made less than 100.

Had two different ones, now have only the first one which someday I will get running again.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

Rudistor RPX-33 headphone amp., posted on September 24, 2016 at 11:41:12
Smelly_Socks
 I am big on brand names.. I think folks who have been making enough stuff to become audiophile household words deserve a look.
Things made by isolated inventors I will typically pass on.
(Particularly cables from obscure folks make me laugh)
So I own stuff by Audio Research, Magnepan, Bryston, Sony, Cardas, Kimber, Rega, Dynavector, Benz.. Slightly less well known, Kuzma and VAC.

But the Rudistor is not an isolated product. It is an Italian outfit. They made the headphone preamp and it was sold here for awhile. I bought mine used.

The RPX-38 is the current iteration.

But it IS the 'oddest' thing I own.

 

Not really that obscure, but. . . , posted on September 24, 2016 at 12:04:47
Chris from Lafayette
Audiophile

Posts: 26434
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 . . . I owned a Eumig T1000 tuner - one of the first digital tuners on the market IIRC, designed in Austria and built in Japan (again IIRC). What was really funny about this tuner was the superfluous digit on the read-out, since the tuner was not even able to tune to that degree of accuracy. But of course it LOOKED like an example of vaunted Germanic precision - LOL!

 

Genesis speakers. No, not those Genesis..., posted on September 24, 2016 at 12:21:33
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 The original Genesis brand. The first speakers I bought at 15 years old were Genesis 1+ speakers. Later sold those to a friend and bought the 320 model. I built new boxes (1 1/2" thick fronts) and arranged the drivers in woofer, tweeter, mid, woofer (aka D'Appolito) arrangement. They sounded MUCH better than with the flimsy stock boxes. Eventually... sold those to the same friend!

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 24, 2016 at 13:06:09
Quint
Dealer

Posts: 3657
Joined: June 21, 2003
 Maybe not totally obscure, but not exactly household names, either:

Aria Audio WT-350 hybrid monoblocks. Designed and built by Mike Elliot of Counterpoint fame. Terrific sounding amplifiers.

Connoisseur 4.2 preamp. Japanese ultra-high-end pre. Paid through the nose for it, but it was pretty sweet. Probably the best preamp I've ever owned.
This is a public service announcement . . . WITH GUITARS!!!

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 24, 2016 at 13:34:12
tesla
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: San Diego County, California
Joined: October 25, 2000
 My Paragon 12A tube preamp.

Even more obscure is a decent schematic.



Proudly serving content-free posts since 1984.

 

My first speaker ..., posted on September 24, 2016 at 13:39:13
reelsmith.
Audiophile

Posts: 13131
Location: CT
Joined: June 7, 2005
Contributor
  Since: January 19, 2010
 ...was the original Model One ...with the green surrounds and the yellow tweeter.

Genesis Physics was of Newington, NH.

Bought mine in 1976, a year after the company was founded. Its the speaker that got me interested in audio.

Dean.




reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.


 

So far nearly obscure, but that could change, posted on September 24, 2016 at 14:51:34
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6599
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 I just took delivery of a component most have not heard of, a Don Sachs Model 2 line stage. It is an upgrade of the tubes 4 hifi SP14, utilizing that circuit board. I had been reading a few favorable reviews, then I saw John Ellison's positive comment on the SP14 he built. But no time now to build one and Sachs offers several upgrades so I put in an order for an assembled unit.

It is still burning in but shows great promise to be something exceptional. After all the dust and little electrons settle I'll post a review.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: Euphonic Audio Nymphs..., posted on September 24, 2016 at 15:38:39
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4306
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 Nice speaker. I forget I have a pair with the 1st woofer(Speakerlab I think?) in my closet. The second version with the double voice coil Focal was even nicer. It was a really smart design with some of the earliest computer design(one of the partners was a scientist at the Princeton fusion lab).

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 24, 2016 at 15:42:19
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4306
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 A GeorgeMark Audio DAC/linestage. It was a 2 box(DAC and tube line stage/ power supplies). The circuitry was an improved version of the best old Melos line stage. The DAC was an MSB board with a tube output stage.

I still use it; it's excellent.

 

Audiodharma Big Bertha, posted on September 24, 2016 at 15:49:51
Luminator
Audiophile

Posts: 7331
Location: Bay Area
Joined: December 11, 2000



This was a rare, 12-outlet version of the Power Wing, itself an (unfortunately) uncommon PLC.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

 

Genesis Physics - Me too, posted on September 24, 2016 at 16:06:04
J.Mac
Audiophile

Posts: 3553
Location: Colorado
Joined: November 6, 2002
 Mine was the Genesis Physics Model II with the neon green foam surrounds. Bought them in October 1979, if I remember correctly.

I gave them away about 20 years ago, then got nostalgic for them and a number of years ago I bought a pair of Model 1+, but still haven't gotten around to refoaming them.

My Model IIs were like the pair shown below, with the tweeter off center between the woofer and passive radiator, and velcro for attaching the grills. I believe later models moved the tweeter to the top and used pegs for the grills.

 

and not exactly obscure in their day, posted on September 24, 2016 at 16:48:53
J.Mac
Audiophile

Posts: 3553
Location: Colorado
Joined: November 6, 2002
 Just the fact that the company has been out of business for almost 30 years.

 

VSP TransMOS 150 amplifier, posted on September 24, 2016 at 16:59:47
boboli
Audiophile

Posts: 997
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Joined: May 12, 2005
 Bought a demo version in 1983 from a dealer in Tempe, Az, whose show room was his finished garage. It was made in Ann Arbor and served me well for 20 years, driving some old B&W, then Martin Logan Aerius speakers. I think it languishes in my storage closet, but I still have all the literature, schematic and even report from a McIntosh amplifier clinic in 1990, where it performed better than original specs. Fun reading. Good purchase. Reasonably obscure.

 

Rappaport Preamp and a Radford Preamp NT, posted on September 24, 2016 at 17:30:43
jnr
Reviewer

Posts: 2164
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: April 5, 2000
 .
theaudiobeatnik.com

 

Holy cow! What a blast from the past..., posted on September 24, 2016 at 17:51:15
Steve O
Audiophile

Posts: 12359
Location: SE MI
Joined: September 6, 2001
 ...I've got a pair of the rack mount versions in storage someplace. Those amps were probably my most satisfying audio purchases ever. Did what they were supposed to, met all my expectations and were dead reliable unlike a lot of so-called hi-end stuff that followed. Think I'm going to dig one up and see how it fits into my Bose 901 Series IV "fun" system.

 

RE: Holy cow! What a blast from the past..., posted on September 24, 2016 at 19:00:57
boboli
Audiophile

Posts: 997
Location: Phoenix Arizona
Joined: May 12, 2005
 I'd be interested to hear about that.

 

B&W speakers, MyRef amps, posted on September 24, 2016 at 19:03:20
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 1587
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
 I purchased one of what I was told was the first 50 pairs of B&W speakers imported to the US. These were the DM6, back in 1976. Whenever I told someone I owned B&W speakers, their response was usually, "Oh, I didn't know BMW made speakers!" Whenever anyone heard them, they wanted a pair. I used them for 20 years, then sold them to a friend who still uses them.

Now I own a pair of monoblock MyRef amplifiers, designed by Mauro Penasa. I bought several pairs of PCB's and built them myself, refining the components each time I built another pair. With the mixture of parts they contain, they are perfectly unique in the world.

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

 

Same, posted on September 24, 2016 at 19:22:17
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7724
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 Had friends who were getting into audio at the time (one had BIC's, Technics The Rock TT, Technics receiver, the other had Genesis 1 speakers, can't recall the rest of his system), they got me to see Larry at Larry's Stereo Awareness in Vancouver, got hooked on great sound.
Genesis 1+ started it...

 

Sequerra Metronome 7.7 Mk 6 speakers, posted on September 24, 2016 at 19:36:51
tketcham
Audiophile

Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
Joined: March 21, 2005
Contributor
  Since: October 1, 2005
 Not really obscure but I had a pair of Sequerra Metronome 7.7 Mk 6 speakers...



I Haven't listened to nearly as many speakers as some of the lunatics here but after 45 years of audio I haven't heard another speaker quite like them. They got some good press but those paper tweeters weren't my cup of tea.

Regards,
Tom

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 24, 2016 at 20:19:14
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 for me I bought a set of audio technica electrostatic headphones way back in '83 while stationed in Japan. I was fairly disappointed since it didn't have the heavy bass required for that era's popular music. Further it was pretty pricey. Obviously there was no ebay or other convenient way to unload it so I held on to it for decades. One day back in the late 90s I pulled them out of storage and noticed the cups had decayed to the point where I just tossed them.











 

Symfonia Opus 10 Amplifier......, posted on September 25, 2016 at 01:48:20
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 There are maybe 3 or 4 of these amps in the world. Best solid state power amp I've ever heard, let alone owned......

Several years ago, I sold the amp to a friend who was able get someone to restore the amp to "like new" condition. (The amp had a blown transistor, and I didn't even know it. I thought it would need the filter caps replaced, but didn't know anyone willing to work on a rare amplifier.) So this unassuming piece will still have years of great music ahead of it.

 

Gallo Nucleus Ultimate Speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 04:05:45
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 Circa 1996. Four Dynaudio "bassballs" per side, one topped with the original -- make that VERY original --CDT tweeter, all sitting in metal frames enabling the proud owner to position individual drivers every which way.

My current speakers. And they're not going anywhere. Google "Gallo Nucleus Reference* Ultimates" to see what they look like.

* I forgot the "Reference" part when I did the subject heading.

 

RE: B&W speakers, MyRef amps, posted on September 25, 2016 at 05:13:42
seas
Manufacturer

Posts: 138
Joined: December 21, 2006
 Well, not to burst your bubble on B&W and the DM6, but it was nowhere near the first product B&W imported into the US. They had the DM70 dynamic/electrostatic hybrids and the DM2 long before that. I started working for Audio Consultants in 1973, and they had the DM70's on display when I started.That speaker was released in 1970. The DM6 was a pretty popular model and sold well.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 25, 2016 at 05:19:31
seas
Manufacturer

Posts: 138
Joined: December 21, 2006
 My most obscure components were both from Dennesen: The JC80 preamp and the ABLT-1 air bearing tonearm. Both were touchy, problematic designs. But when they worked, the sound quality (for the day) was extremely good.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 25, 2016 at 05:26:06
JURB
Audiophile

Posts: 2056
Location: North Ohio
Joined: May 29, 2016
 Southwest Technical Products preamp.

 

RE: Sequerra Metronome 7.7 Mk 6 speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 05:29:13
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor
  Since: December 14, 2012



Met 7 Mk II here, which were breathtaking with the GSI-modded Stereo 70, and even better with the VTL Compact 100's. Astonishing, clear, detailed, deep bottom, dynamics for days, could deliver a huge whallop without a hint of strain or any change in timbre, good mids with just a touch of grain, and pretty good low-level detail as well. Setup right, they threw a huge, deep soundstage with spooky-good imaging.

One day we had a pair of Spica TC-50s in the house. We had just listened to Caballé sing Casta Diva. Swapped the Spicas in. *Oh.* With the Met 7's, it was a great reproduction. With the Spicas, she was in the room. So the Sequerras went out, along with any hint of bass and all the dynamics. It was the right decision, but I miss them. They were fun.


WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

 

that's easy -- ADC B100 preamplifier, posted on September 25, 2016 at 05:58:39
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16013
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 ADC Mark Deneen B100 preamp

Amazing piece of hardware, designed by Mark Deneen.

Absolutely chock-full of 6922s, and a pair of on-board SUTs (Jensen? if memory serves) for MC phono support.

Stumbled upon it on eBAY years ago - for thirteen dollars (before shipping).

It had one weak channel. Long story short, I passed it along to its designer, for his own collection/use. Somehow in packing & shipping, I managed to lose the power supply cards :-( Never did find 'em (nor did Mr. Deneen, AFAIK). He said that he could fabricate new ones.


I do still feel bad about the boards :-(


all the best,
mrh

 

runner-up Polk Audio LF 14 subwoofer, posted on September 25, 2016 at 06:04:36
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16013
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 an... interesting... Polk product of the late 1970s. Essentially the bottom of an RTA-12/Monitor 12, for subwoofer use (mono or stereo).

I couldn't resist one to go with my Monitor 7As -- used it for a while, stored it for far longer... ultimately donated it back to Polk (although I must admit/confess, I am not 100% sure it actually ever got to them!).

DSC_1151
all the best,
mrh

 

N.E.W. DCA-66 battery powered amplifier, posted on September 25, 2016 at 06:22:40
genungo
 N.E.W was an innovative but short-lived company from California. The amp itself was pretty amazing. Four 12V SLA automotive type batteries (!) in a separate box plus amp for a grand total weight of well over 100 lbs. Great sounding amp, but bulky and idiosyncratic design.

I bought it on the AA trader from ex-inmate "Unclestu" several years ago, in brand new NOS condition.

 

Rauna Tyr speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 06:48:49
Gary
Audiophile

Posts: 1294
Location: New York, NY
Joined: April 21, 2000
 Concrete enclosures. From Sweden. I still have them.

 

RE: Rauna Tyr speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 06:54:30
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
 Any pictures?

 

Vantas S50A, posted on September 25, 2016 at 07:01:02
G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8475
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: May 23, 2023
 HT processor and 3 channel amp that routes the front R/L through the main rig and tracks main rig volume without being in main rig signal path. The amps are a beefy 100 WPC.

Gsquared

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 25, 2016 at 07:06:34
G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8475
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: May 23, 2023
 ATH 7 electric condenser.

I had them
Gsquared

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 25, 2016 at 07:25:24
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016



Back in 1976 my fiancés step dad worked for Atari and asked if I would be interested in trying out a new prototype, "sure I would". Not really sure what it was he sent it to me in Fl from Ca, it was the Atari Video Music. It was a novel idea way ahead of its time, the TVs were just to small to be that great, but we stoners thought it was awesome. I grabbed two more, one for my older brother and the other for someone at work.

They've been used in concerts by Devo and Daft Punk, on tv in the X-Files, and in a few movies. Finally lost mine in the great sell off of 2012 during a time when the music had disappeared from my life.

Martin

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 25, 2016 at 07:28:18
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
 Not sure what's going on, but each time I try to edit my post all but a few words in the text are deleted. The only fix is to delete the post and resubmit, anyone else experiencing this issue?

Martin

 

RE: Rauna Tyr speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 08:30:20
Gary
Audiophile

Posts: 1294
Location: New York, NY
Joined: April 21, 2000



The original foam grills disintegrated a long time ago. I replaced them years ago but it's been so long it's happening again. I think I bought these in the mid eighties.

 

Futterman H3aa amplifiers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 08:45:42
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 When I became aware of the Futterman's sometime in the late seventies I knew I had to have a pair.

have to admit I was just as fascinated with the wires coming out of the tops of the tubes as with the sound. I was young.

They were not that expensive compared to Audio Research amplifiers. Of course, their build quality was nothing like AR either!

I wrote a letter to Mr Julius Futterman and he responded quickly telling me how the process would go. I sent him a deposit and a month or so later I had a pair of the most unusual amplifiers I would ever own.

I had many opportunities to talk to Mr. Futterman on the telephone. He was easy to talk to and very friendly and informative. It was like talking to a legend.

You have never seen anything like the inside of a Futterman amplifier. You would swear the parts were collected from bins sold on Canal Street. Wires going every way - you figure only Julius would have ever been able to work on the things.

They were very reliable until I let an Atlanta audio legend "modify" them. They caught on fire in my listening room. Luckily i was there and pulled the plug before there was damage to the room. I called Julius and told him what I had done. He was well aware of who had done the work since it was through him that I became aware of his amplifiers. he fixed them for me, certainly not for free - I was worried he would say NO! He did sternly tell me not to EVER let the audio legend ever touch those amplifiers again. I got the feeling they would truly be MY amplifiers if I did that.

I never owned speakers that the Futterman's liked. I never heard them at their best. I kept them for a few years and then I think the fellow who ran that great little used audio marketplace publication bought them. Walt Bender I believe is the name. A very fine fellow he was.

Ever since I have enjoyed buying products from folks like Mr. Futterman.

Second most memorable experience was getting a pair of the "baby" WAVACS from Mr. Shishido himself. He took my note and handled the process. A great memory and another great audio engineer/music lover. Must say those were nice sounding amplifiers but they did tend to make every recording sound a little too similar but it was all part of the learning experience. I modified those amplifiers to death. Literally. Mr. Shishido would have been very upset with me. No more than I was with myself! Miss both of these fellows.

 

RE: Rauna Tyr speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 09:02:35
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
 I looked them up online, saw these and other models, I like them. Those open cell grills always deteriorate into a powdery substance, I might consider running them sans grills, could always either paint, or coat the concrete enclosure with plastidip or some similar product.

Martin

 

RE: Rauna Tyr speakers, also a floor stander, posted on September 25, 2016 at 09:12:20
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6599
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 We had a dealer in San Diego and they featured the floor standing version.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: Rauna Tyr speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 11:10:08
Gary
Audiophile

Posts: 1294
Location: New York, NY
Joined: April 21, 2000
 OK but be aware that on both of mine the adhesive for the top and bottom plates dried out. Both plates on both speakers fell off. Not surprising on a speaker this old. I reattached them with Gorilla Glue. Mine are the original version, with the speaker connectors (banana only) on the underside of the speaker. Unless you use thin cables that will fit in the channel on the plate, you have to put something under the speaker to provide enough room for the cables.

They're nice speakers. That's why I've held on to them for so long. I used them with an NAD 3020B, which I also still have. Good luck and be careful not to drop one of these little guys on your foot. It's an experience you'll remember for a very long time.

 

Legendary modifier?, posted on September 25, 2016 at 11:24:42
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37584
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 Sam P?

 

Audire One power amp, posted on September 25, 2016 at 11:35:11
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37584
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 With Frank Van Alstine inspired beefed up power supply. Added a new 30A bridge and another 60,000 uF to the stock 20,000 uF caps.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 25, 2016 at 12:47:22
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016





Next up would have to be my recent acquisition, the Belles I Stereo Power Amplifier. There's almost nothing on the Internet about this amplifier, but what I could find was all positive. Still not in rotation so no comments on its performance, but opening it up and a look inside shows it has the right stuff.

 

Yes, I've read good things about it hearabouts... N/T, posted on September 25, 2016 at 12:53:02
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31872
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 aa
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

An Audire 'Poco" headamp, posted on September 25, 2016 at 15:47:58
risabet
Audiophile

Posts: 3197
Location: SoCal
Joined: January 10, 2005
 battery powered and I got is really cheap, which was what it was worth.



Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.

Adam Smith

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 25, 2016 at 16:31:53
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Ezekiel metal cone two way. Drivers made by them too at their factory less than mile from the DC line.

Klipsch branded ruby cantilever moving coil cartridge.

Psy-Coustics IMX





ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Gallo Nucleus Ultimate Speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 16:36:06
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
 Those were cool. I'd say your tape head pre is rare/obscure too.


ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

different bubble?, posted on September 25, 2016 at 16:37:44
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 1587
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
 Thanks for the background. I don't claim to be an audio historian. Do you know when that model was introduced? Perhaps they meant it was of the first 50 pairs of DM6? Or else it was another audio salesman lie. Guess the model number "6" should have been a clue that it wasn't their very first.

At any rate, they were obscure at that time compared to their current ubiquity. No one, and I mean no one I knew, had heard of B&W speakers. Even salesmen at the other three (3!) audio stores I frequented did not recognize the name.

The DM6 sold well because they were excellent speakers and once people heard them, they wanted a pair. A friend of mine bought a new pair after hearing mine, and I know his were slightly different, the design having already been revised. I sold my Yammie NS1000M's soon after buying the B&W's because they no longer sounded good enough, even run by my Threshold 400A, another fairly obscure product at the time.

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

 

Dayton-Wright LCM-1s, posted on September 25, 2016 at 16:57:02
wawa2020
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: NC
Joined: October 25, 2002
 Gooood sounding small speakers.

 

The tapehead preamp (deHavilland 222) ..., posted on September 25, 2016 at 17:57:15
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 ... is a current production item, as far as I know. Rare, yes, but available, and a sweetheart of a component.

 

Audiosphere Model 3 speakers, posted on September 25, 2016 at 23:15:58
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 Truncated spheres cast in cream-white concrete. QB3 critically damped alignment Fb 38Hz.

Foster/x drivers. 2-way. 3rd HP plus eq on 35mm dome tweeter, 8inch WR main. No low-pass. 91db/w, 8 ohms.

HP xover by air-core coils, 10watt Rs, and film-caps in ladders. 35-13,000 Hz -3db.

Made in the late 1970s through late 80s.

Still have the original pair and another pr swapped.







Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger


 

KLH Burwen TNE-7000A Transient Noise Eliminator, posted on September 26, 2016 at 04:44:46
Ripple
Audiophile

Posts: 536
Location: Connecticut
Joined: September 30, 2001
 It was able to eliminate a lot of pops and ticks on LPs, but not all. Purchased in 1979. After about 3 years some part fizzled and I never got it fixed.

Ripple

 

Sam did not ever destroy anything I am aware of, posted on September 26, 2016 at 06:53:15
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
Audiophile

Posts: 3040
Location: Atlanta
Joined: December 15, 2003
 I will send you a PM with the culprit named.

No need to cause public embarrasment.

 

Fun thread thanks! nt, posted on September 26, 2016 at 08:11:00
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 26, 2016 at 08:23:32
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003

...Infinity 2000axt speakers in 1973 after I graduated from college which I purchased from Pacific Stereo in Long Beach, CA.

That's a Walsh tweeter on top - they sounded a little bright and sibilant.

I had seen a review a year earlier in Stereo Review of the Infinity 2000a speaker, a box speaker with electrostatic tweeters that Julian Hirsch gave an A- score (yes he used to rate them) so I thought these would be as good. They weren't.

 

I'd say either my Dali 8s, or Fanfare Acoustics Tempo II., posted on September 26, 2016 at 08:38:57
David S.
Audiophile

Posts: 3552
Location: Mountains of WNC
Joined: August 31, 2000
 Have never met anyone else who had owned either of those loudspeakers.

Sold the Fanfares quite a long while back, but the Dalis are currently languishing under a tarp.

 

RE: different bubble?, posted on September 26, 2016 at 08:46:38
seas
Manufacturer

Posts: 138
Joined: December 21, 2006
 I completely agree with you about the DM6. I had a pair that I loved. Sold them to a friend. I think he still uses them to this day. Very musical and well balanced. Prior to that I was an IMF fan, and when I got the DM6s I couldn't believe the difference in coherence. The IMF's sounded like a bunch of separate drivers playing where the B & W's sounded like music. And certainly, B&W was quite obscure at the time in the US, though they had a pretty good presence in England and Europe. They were a KEF competitor, making them one of the bigger companies in the British market. I visited them in 1980, and their operation was pretty impressive, including the fact that they made all their own drivers. As far as I know, the DM 70 was introduced in 1970.

 

Sargent-Rayment 2051 integrated, various Gott Labs, Acrosound Stereo 20-20. Nt, posted on September 26, 2016 at 09:13:21
viridian
 Nt

 

Audio Points and Dual Mono, posted on September 26, 2016 at 09:54:02
jedrider
Audiophile

Posts: 15166
Location: No. California
Joined: December 26, 2003
 All STUPID stuff:

Who should want to gouge out their beautifully finished shelves with 'Audio Points'?

Dual stepped attenuators (with NOT enough steps to feel continuous) and PASSIVE to boot.

Completely Idiotic.

 

RE: KLH Burwen TNE-7000A Transient Noise Eliminator, posted on September 26, 2016 at 10:28:10
Tadlo
Audiophile

Posts: 1925
Location: midwest
Joined: March 8, 2003
 I remember that one. Did you like the way it worked when it was working?

 

RE: KLH Burwen TNE-7000A Transient Noise Eliminator, posted on September 26, 2016 at 10:46:38
Ripple
Audiophile

Posts: 536
Location: Connecticut
Joined: September 30, 2001
 Yes, it helped make listening to LPs more enjoyable. Many pressings of that era (1970s and 1980s) used poor quality vinyl that could have the pops and ticks pressed into them, usually at a low level, and the TNE did a good job of cleaning those up. Well-used LPs with a lot of groove damage were made less annoying but it didn't get all of the ticks out. Then there are the really loud ticks that came from scratches. Some could be eliminated, some not. Sometimes the really loud ones were due to an embedded particle that could be physically removed very cautiously with a dull knife.

Ripple

 

Best Monitor Speaker I've ever heard !....................., posted on September 26, 2016 at 12:43:45
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18285
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021



I have still got a Near Mint Pair of Rauna Tyr.... --- I have had many pairs of Monitor Speakers (Up to $12 Grand a pair) in my Home trying to Best the Rauna Tyr, but none have. My banana connectors are on the rear of the speaker toward the bottom, so no trouble attaching speaker cables.

I believe the guy is still in business... Here is a link to history..




 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 26, 2016 at 15:06:00
jperry
Audiophile

Posts: 418
Location: Phx, AZ
Joined: September 11, 2004
 I owned a Paragon System E preamp, now sold. Sounded good not sure why I sold it.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 26, 2016 at 15:18:37
tesla
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: San Diego County, California
Joined: October 25, 2000
 I've heard of the Model E, what was it like?



Proudly serving content-free posts since 1984.

 

RE: Best Monitor Speaker I've ever heard !....................., posted on September 26, 2016 at 15:57:16
Gary
Audiophile

Posts: 1294
Location: New York, NY
Joined: April 21, 2000
 Thanks for that link. I do understand your love for the Raunas. They really are amazing little speakers. I remember a review in TAS where they were described dismissively as "little boat anchors". Not anywhere near true. They were my primary speakers for a number of years. Then the Spica TC-50s came along.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 26, 2016 at 16:11:41
jperry
Audiophile

Posts: 418
Location: Phx, AZ
Joined: September 11, 2004

It has been so long I don't remember the sound. Physically it was low profile with an outboard power supply.

I posted a link to one for sale - not mine as far as I know.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 26, 2016 at 16:31:34
tesla
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: San Diego County, California
Joined: October 25, 2000
 Wow, that is a low profile for tube unit.

Wonder what it's selling for.



Proudly serving content-free posts since 1984.

 

RE: Best Monitor Speaker I've ever heard !....................., posted on September 26, 2016 at 16:42:45
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18285
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 They were also my Primary speaker about 14 years ago, until Horns and SET amps afflicted me. :-)



 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 26, 2016 at 17:21:35
Peter Breuninger
Reviewer

Posts: 601
Joined: August 28, 2002
 Toss up...

Luxman PD555, or Grand Integra 510.

 

RE: Muse Model One pre-amp (nt), posted on September 26, 2016 at 17:45:04
kitch29

 

Inspire KT88 SEP amp, posted on September 26, 2016 at 18:00:26
Justlisten2
Audiophile

Posts: 1266
Location: SE PA
Joined: March 8, 2001
 Created by Dennis Had formerly of Cary Audio Design.

Interesting concept and idea, I really wanted it to work, but alas, it did not in my system.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 26, 2016 at 18:42:21
niws
Audiophile

Posts: 790
Location: Northeast
Joined: September 4, 2003
 Brb200 power amplifier. Mine sounded good. I sold it because they went out of business.

 

Others......., posted on September 26, 2016 at 22:25:47
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
 Larry Moore Ten Squared amplifier.... The most exotic amp I've owned.... It had rectifiers the glowed "blue"..... It was an amp that could be operated "wrong" and ruin the rectifiers. Also had limited bottom end response and needed a high-output line stage.

Aiphone TX-1200 AM/FM tuner. Rare consumer piece that beat the highly-regarded gear. (The Harman/Kardon 930 receiver also had a phenomenal tuner section.)

BRB preamplifier. (Unit has no model number.) Still the best solid state MC phono stage I've heard.

Saras of America Model 11 (original version) loudspeaker. The budget two way bookshelf speaker that threw a high-end soundstage and almost seamless response at the crossover point.

 

We had a Dynaco Quadaptor once upon a time that we used, posted on September 26, 2016 at 22:25:58
Road Warrior
Audiophile

Posts: 21653
Location: Dallas
Joined: August 31, 2004
 in Casa Nasty Mk. I back in the day. Casa Nasty MK. II's listening room layout wasn't conducive to 4 speakers so that was the end of the Quadaptor!
To this day I recall how great Al Stewart's Roads To Moscow sounded to wife and I and a group of heavily medicated friends and family very late one night when the preferred listening position was horizontal. The effect of the rear channel ambiance the unit added on that one song was a revelation.
----------------------

"E Burres Stigano?"


 

LOTS of simple 2-mike coincident/near coincident or coincident multi-channel recordings, posted on September 27, 2016 at 04:30:04
Timbo in Oz
Audiophile

Posts: 23221
Location: Canberra - in the ACT - SE Australia
Joined: January 30, 2002
 THE most important component of all.


Warmest

Tim Bailey

Skeptical Measurer & Audio Scrounger


 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 27, 2016 at 07:13:05
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016



Again, almost nothing on the net about this amp that wasn't posted by me. Used one to power a couple of built in passive subs to good affect, even rattled my neighbor's windows. This 200watt/channel amp will double down into 4ohms, and is 2ohm stable, so bridged it becomes an eighty pound 800watt mono block behemoth.

 

MOSCODE super-it phono preamp, posted on September 27, 2016 at 12:13:18
py272
Audiophile

Posts: 140
Location: Hawaii
Joined: February 20, 2007
 Picked this up at the swap meet for about $15 over 15 years ago. Used it with Dynaco ST 70 amp, Thorens 160 TT and Celestion 3 speakers. Worked well with this system but have not used it for a while.

 

Guess what?, posted on September 27, 2016 at 12:35:02
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6599
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 I still use one today.

That is to say the revised version for 5-channel audio with video, the QD-1/IIL.

An expensive home theater surround system in my second bedroom was not practical so I set up the QD with a NAD integrated and five speakers. Modest cost and effective, if limited, surround experience with my flat screen HD TV.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: MOSCODE super-it phono preamp, posted on September 27, 2016 at 14:29:10
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 This is a gem. Not terribly well made (what do you expect for $260) but it thoroughly outperformed my $2K Conrad-Johnson phonostage back in the day. Liked it so much I had it modded by a friend into a superb phono stage-- we called it the SuperDuper IT --which is still serving a good friend in Oregon. Really takes to tube-rolling, as I recall.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 27, 2016 at 16:17:55
jperry
Audiophile

Posts: 418
Location: Phx, AZ
Joined: September 11, 2004
 See below for additional details quoted from a 6 Moons review for a Juicy Music preamp.

"As Mark Deneen, the owner of Juicy Music, said to me in an email: "1974 was a loooong time ago." That is when Mark Deneen formed a small company, Paragon Audio in San Carlos/California and came to market with a new tube preamplifier based on a design licensed from Bruce Moore. This must have taken considerable courage at the time since tube equipment was fast disappearing and the only company still really serious about it then was the formidable Audio Research. Despite these odds, Paragon sold about 400 Paragon 12 preamps and 250 System E preamps."

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 27, 2016 at 16:18:02
stereo5
Audiophile

Posts: 1356
Location: New England
Joined: June 22, 2008
 I'm almost embarassed to say a pair of RF-1 speakers. They probably made less than 100 pairs and they sounded very phasey. The rep for Kenwood Electronics sucked me into buying a pair. It seems a friend of his was in the speaker business but the trouble was that the speakers I saw and listened to in his living room weren't the speakers I received. I was told the designer changed the design, and I fell for that line of BS. He hyped up the speakers so much that I decided I was going to buy them one way or another. Hey, I was only 22 and only into the hobby for 7 years at that time.

The second worse component was a Click and Pop Machine to get rid of noise from my records. It did get rid of the noise, and all the music along with it. I really got taken on that one

The third one was for my car audio system, an Earthquake Bass Restorer. It restored bass all right with like 50% distortion!


"I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the
most of us...very hard to explain why you're mad, even if you're not mad..."


 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 27, 2016 at 16:22:25
tesla
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: San Diego County, California
Joined: October 25, 2000
 Since there is only mentioned the model 12, I wonder how many model 12A were sold?




Proudly serving content-free posts since 1984.

 

Audio Pulse Model Two time delay and Ultra Tweeters, the Deluxe version. Nt, posted on September 27, 2016 at 17:16:28
geoffkait
 Nt

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 27, 2016 at 17:30:51
davidandcandy@gmail.com
Audiophile

Posts: 192
Location: Virginia
Joined: May 12, 2014
 I second the "click & pop" thing. I believe it was associated with Dolby, so that was all the endorsement I needed at that young & impressionable age. It was the "phasey" loud, then almost-silent, its musical presentation that was so disconcerting, I returned it that afternoon, trading it for a very nice, at that time, Yamaha cassette player. I'm embarrassed to say that I really didn't audition it sufficiently beforehand, buying it mostly because of the hype.
Everyone thinks I'm strange except my friends deep inside the earth

 

Probably a Sansui integrated amp., posted on September 27, 2016 at 20:30:09
mark111
Audiophile

Posts: 4699
Joined: April 12, 2002
 I had it for a couple of years in my late teens.Can't remember the model # , but it was pretty ballsy for it's day.
enjoy,
mark

 

Sonic Hologram Generator (nt) ...., posted on September 28, 2016 at 04:16:57
lochrider
Audiophile

Posts: 493
Location: Southeast Minnesota
Joined: March 15, 2001
Contributor
  Since: March 17, 2002
 nt

 

dbx 296 spectral enhancer n/t, posted on September 28, 2016 at 05:07:01
reuben
Audiophile

Posts: 1639
Joined: September 28, 2004
 n

Dark energy? Ridiculous!
We live in an electric universe.

 

I had one of those, posted on September 28, 2016 at 05:23:35
Jack G
Audiophile

Posts: 9739
Joined: September 24, 1999
 It was fun for a while, but got old real quick.
jack

 

RE: Sequerra Metronome 7.7 Mk 6 speakers, posted on September 28, 2016 at 08:26:05
TWB2
Dealer

Posts: 316
Location: N. California
Joined: July 10, 2004
 I too own a pair, but they were fried long ago. Also had the T-1 ribbon tweeters. With the Sequerra subs, they were a full range 3 piece system. The subs are still in use, now paired with Fritz mini monitors. Superb!

 

Quadaptor ALL the time, posted on September 28, 2016 at 09:08:39
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15387
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 on all sources, surround receiver used as pre/pro and for video switchinn and the amps are idle. the adcom 555II does all the work, rear ambience channels through the QD1 (panor) front channels direct from 555II.

nobody notices it unless i turn it off while playing the music.
...regards...tr

 

A pair of Parmeko microphone transformers, posted on September 28, 2016 at 20:18:36
JDK
Audiophile

Posts: 19655
Location: Sydney
Joined: June 26, 2000
 They sounded fantastic as moving coil step ups!

Should never have sold them :-(


Trying to hide from entropy
John K

 

Phonosophie No.3..., posted on September 28, 2016 at 21:25:08
kuma
Audiophile

Posts: 10272
Location: IN
Joined: July 8, 2001
 With a Naim P3PS power supply which utelise Naim NAP140 power amp.
This was the turntable Naim founder Julian Vereker used after the infamous Linn/Naim split. Phonosophie was then German Naim importer owned by Ingo Hansen. Many think this was a tweaked Thorens ( and certainly looks like one and even comes in the TD2001 box and manual ) but according to the article, the only thing it shares is the knobs and turntable cover. Altho, I see the same leaf spring suspension system which Julian adopted for their CD spinner's transport later on.


From what I understand, Julian wanted US Naim dealer to drop the Linn and carry the P3 instead but dealers were reluctant to give up more profitable Linn Sondek. I bought mine from a friend in Germany who knew Ingo Hansen.
I know one other No.3 owner in the US, but curious to know who else has it.

I believe No.3 is still in production in Germany with their own power supply, tone arm and cartridge but Naimed version ( P3PS + arm board to support Naim ARO tone arm ) is pretty obscure.


 

Sonic Impact cardboard speakers., posted on September 29, 2016 at 08:57:03
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3725
Joined: August 9, 2001
 Took them to a family reunion about 10 years ago and still a conversation piece.

 

Most of it is obscure, posted on September 29, 2016 at 10:06:53
Larry I
Audiophile

Posts: 2229
Location: No. Va.
Joined: June 28, 2000
 The amp and preamp are custom made by Aldo D'Urso of Italy. My back up linestage is an Emotive Audio Epifania. My phono stage is a Viva Fono. My speakers utilize the bass driver/cabinet and tweeter from a Stumenti Acustici Precisione J2001 speaker, with the midrange horn replaced by a Western Electric 713b and KS 12025 horn.

The rest is more conventional-Basis Debut turntable/Vector arm/Transfiguration Orpheus cartridge, Naim NDS/Uniti music server. I can also substitute an Audio Note Kageki for amplification.

 

Transcriptors Vestigial Arm (nt), posted on September 29, 2016 at 17:09:32
andy_c
Audiophile

Posts: 1470
Joined: June 2, 2007
 nt

 

RE: Futterman H3aa amplifiers, posted on September 29, 2016 at 19:19:53
TWB2
Dealer

Posts: 316
Location: N. California
Joined: July 10, 2004
 Futterman amps were notorious for catching on fire! In fact there was a joke oft repeated that they came with a fire extinguisher!

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on September 30, 2016 at 09:18:01
Dr RAC
Audiophile

Posts: 66
Location: DE
Joined: September 12, 2006



Back in the 1980's I inherited a Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator from my father. I'm not sure what it was supposed to do… perhaps it created sonic delay in the channels but I don't think it improved the sound quality.

 

RE: What is/was the most obscure component you've owned ? ...., posted on October 1, 2016 at 06:59:21
Kingshead
Audiophile

Posts: 574
Location: Florida
Joined: September 14, 2016
 Sonic holography only works if you fully understand it's design principles and implement them correctly. Many people just connect the equipment, engage the generator and think that's it, it's not.

If you've ever read anything on the Polk SDA speakers and what they're trying to achieve then you have some idea. Sonic Holography works the same only with any speaker connected. Both systems have their limitations, IE you must sit "exactly" centered, and the speaker setup is absolutely critical in all of its domains. This is its greatest weakness, it's just not multiple listener friendly.

But when set up correctly it can be pretty amazing actually.

Martin

 

Markel turntable, ASRU Expander, end-record lift on AirTangent tonearm, Cello Audio Palette, posted on October 2, 2016 at 15:21:51
JazzDude
Audiophile

Posts: 368
Joined: July 30, 2002
 From what I recall of components I've owned what comes to mind as obscure are these 4:

- Markel Playmaster turntable. Definitely my most obscure component. This 'table is a mechanical marvel capable of stacking 6 LPs (or 78's) and playing all 12 sides automatically without flipping any records over. Likely designed in the late 1940's my Dad purchased one directly from Mr. Markel, who was a friend of his, and I used it extensively in grade school and high school. I still own it though have not used it in centuries.
Markel Turntable in action 1. For a look at another Markel in action please see the link at the end of this thread.

- ASRU Audio Signal Restoration Unit. Some people mentioned a Noise Eliminator and click'n'pop removers. This ASRU device, a combination noise-reduction and signal expander, is a variation on those functions. Its expander and noise filters, per ASRU's rap, restored emotional impact lost during the recording process by making low-level signals softer and loud signals louder thereby providing improved realism and reduced noise. One such use they promoted was to enable LP playback to approach the dynamics of CDs. Purchased as a kit via an article in a 1981 issue of Radio-Electronics. Still have it but have not used it in centuries.

- An AirTangent tonearm with a sophisticated-in-implementation electronic End-of-Record Lift. I gave a lot of thought to whether this optional function was worth paying extra bucks for. After purchase I was thrilled I did. This is one of those features you are unaware is needed until you have end-of-record lift that works without compromise. I got addicted to its use especially on those occasions where it was difficult to stop what I was doing to deal with the turntable. Sold the arm years ago.

- Cello Audio Palette. Definitely a known and respected component though I don't believe there are many of these in the wild.

Reelsmith--thx, this is a fun thread. And I remember the Q-Audio you mentioned though my (faulty?) recollection was it was located in Cambridge.

 

Page: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]

Page processed in 0.110 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]