Having decorated the lounge, and earmarked CD player and twin cassette 
tape deck as redundant, unnecessary clutter, I decided that TV, DVD HD 
recorder, and Stereo Amplifier, plus 37 year old Leak Sandwich speakers 
were all I needed for my audio/visual requirements.

Then I decided to fix the Phono plug on my Thorens TD150AB Deck, and try 
some vinyl on it...

The first sounds brought sighs of delight, nothing quite like it, but 
then I detected an imbalance from the RH speaker.

The Stanier Black 5 pulling out of Carnforth station did not seem to 
shake the room as much as she used to as she roared past...
<Andrew pricks his ears up>

Playing my "Give Yourself a Stereo Checkout album" confirmed that the 
13" woofer was no longer woofing in the RH speaker.

After dismantling the cabinet and tapping the cone in a knowledgeable 
manner, I coaxed only a few feeble woofs out of it before a firm blow 
with a 4lb hammer silenced it..

OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a 
tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me 
tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1 
speakers.

How on earth can you have 5.1 speakers?   (Or even 2.1  <T-I-C>

In other words whassit all about?
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote in
<XsXh7WRdtNKHFwGb@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid>::

>Having decorated the lounge, and earmarked CD player and twin cassette 
>tape deck as redundant, unnecessary clutter, I decided that TV, DVD HD 
>recorder, and Stereo Amplifier, plus 37 year old Leak Sandwich speakers 
>were all I needed for my audio/visual requirements.
>
>Then I decided to fix the Phono plug on my Thorens TD150AB Deck, and try 
>some vinyl on it...
>
>The first sounds brought sighs of delight, nothing quite like it, but 
>then I detected an imbalance from the RH speaker.
>
>The Stanier Black 5 pulling out of Carnforth station did not seem to 
>shake the room as much as she used to as she roared past...
><Andrew pricks his ears up>
>
>Playing my "Give Yourself a Stereo Checkout album" confirmed that the 
>13" woofer was no longer woofing in the RH speaker.
>
>After dismantling the cabinet and tapping the cone in a knowledgeable 
>manner, I coaxed only a few feeble woofs out of it before a firm blow 
>with a 4lb hammer silenced it..
>
>OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a 
>tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me 
>tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1 
>speakers.
>
>How on earth can you have 5.1 speakers?   (Or even 2.1  <T-I-C>
>
>In other words whassit all about?

'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
replace a matched pair).
-- 
Marc

"Peer pressure works like this: you find a group of people who behave like you wish you had the guts to do; 
you then hang out with them until it no  longer requires courage or nerves to do whatever it was you wanted to do,  
and there you go.  'Peer Pressure' has done its job like it has done for  centuries, if not millenia."  - Jim White

Gordon H wrote:

> OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have
> a tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers
> got me tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of
> 5.1 speakers.
> 
> How on earth can you have 5.1 speakers?  

According to Harware Secrets dot com,
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/268

'What is a 5.1 system anyway? The number “5.1” means that you have six 
speakers: two on the front, two on the read, one on the front center 
(also known as “voice” channel) and one subwoofer (a.k.a. “bass”). So 
you have five similar speakers and one exclusively for bass sounds – 
the subwoofer –, hence the name “5.1”.'

Stu

Stuart Bronstein  writes
>Gordon H wrote:
>
>> OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have
>> a tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers
>> got me tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of
>> 5.1 speakers.
>>
>> How on earth can you have 5.1 speakers?
>
>According to Harware Secrets dot com,
>http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/268
>
>'What is a 5.1 system anyway? The number “5.1” means that you have six
>speakers: two on the front, two on the read, one on the front center
>(also known as “voice” channel) and one subwoofer (a.k.a. “bass”). So
>you have five similar speakers and one exclusively for bass sounds –
>the subwoofer –, hence the name “5.1”.'
>
>Stu

Jeepers!    Thanks, Stu.     The Technics power amp has four speaker 
outputs, two main, and two "surround sound", so I could support up to 
four, though simple stereo would suffice for me.
The Sandwich speaker cabinets are 26" high by 15" x 12", nice furniture 
really <g>, so I may try to find a replacement 13" base units, or rather 
a pair, as Marc suggested.

Then there is the business of a crossover network to cope with the 
existing tweeters, which are quite small, about 3 or 4", IIRC.
I blew two of them and had them replaced or rewound by Leak at their 
factory before I curbed my enthusiasm for the full 35w per channel...

Searching on "Leak Sandwich Speakers" found me various forums where 
retro Hi-Fi stuff is sold, plus details of one guy's modification to the 
crossover network to include a mid-range unit.
It was always a snag with these speakers that the tweeters had to handle 
too much power.

I don't feel quite up to such mods at my time of life, but it is  a 
shame to scrap the speakers, in spite of what one of the cats did to the 
fret on the front of one of the cabinets.    ;-)
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

Marc Wilson  writes
>In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>
>>OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me
>>tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>speakers.
>>
>'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>replace a matched pair).

They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared 
and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote in
<X5QjXQB3lZKHFwHo@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid>::

>Marc Wilson  writes
>>In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>>
>>>OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>>tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me
>>>tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>>speakers.
>>>
>>'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>>replace a matched pair).
>
>They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared 
>and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9

Mayhap.  Though you could get something to fit- the polystyrene cones are
neither here nor there.  Small religious wars have been fought over what is
the best cone material, and so far seem to have been inconclusive.

Have a look at: http://www.retrohifi.co.uk - you might even find the
genuine article.
-- 
Marc

Freedom defined is freedom denied. (Illuminatus)

On Thursday, in article
     <X5QjXQB3lZKHFwHo@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid>
     Gordon@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid "Gordon H" wrote:

>Marc Wilson  writes
>>In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>>
>>>OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>>tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me
>>>tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>>speakers.
>>>
>>'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>>replace a matched pair).
>
>They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared
>and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9

I think you meant to say

        "but all the shops have disappeared
         and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters."

:-^

--
Paul (who the hell does this guy think he is?)
Post pen-pal/date/web-site adverts in uk.adverts.personals

Paul Carpenter <paul$@pcserviceselectronics.co.uk> writes
>On Thursday, in article
>     <X5QjXQB3lZKHFwHo@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid>
>     Gordon@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid "Gordon H" wrote:
>
>>Marc Wilson  writes
>>>In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>>>
>>>>OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>>>tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me
>>>>tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>>>speakers.
>>>>
>>>'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>>>replace a matched pair).
>>
>>They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>>I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared
>>and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
>
>I think you meant to say
>
>        "but all the shops have disappeared
>         and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters."
>
>:-^
>
You are not wrong.    :-(
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

Marc Wilson  writes
>In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote in
><X5QjXQB3lZKHFwHo@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid>::
>
>>Marc Wilson  writes
>>>In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>>>
>>>>OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>>>tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me
>>>>tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>>>speakers.
>>>>
>>>'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>>>replace a matched pair).
>>
>>They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>>I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared
>>and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
>
>Mayhap.  Though you could get something to fit- the polystyrene cones are
>neither here nor there.  Small religious wars have been fought over what is
>the best cone material, and so far seem to have been inconclusive.
>
>Have a look at: http://www.retrohifi.co.uk - you might even find the
>genuine article.

I looked at a few retro sites, but not that URL.
Thanks, I'll take a look.
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

Gordon H wrote:
> Having decorated the lounge, and earmarked CD player and twin cassette 
> tape deck as redundant, unnecessary clutter, I decided that TV, DVD HD 
> recorder, and Stereo Amplifier, plus 37 year old Leak Sandwich speakers 
> were all I needed for my audio/visual requirements.
> 
> Then I decided to fix the Phono plug on my Thorens TD150AB Deck, and try 
> some vinyl on it...
> 
> The first sounds brought sighs of delight, nothing quite like it, but 
> then I detected an imbalance from the RH speaker.
> 
> The Stanier Black 5 pulling out of Carnforth station did not seem to 
> shake the room as much as she used to as she roared past...
> <Andrew pricks his ears up>
> 
> Playing my "Give Yourself a Stereo Checkout album" confirmed that the 
> 13" woofer was no longer woofing in the RH speaker.
> 
> After dismantling the cabinet and tapping the cone in a knowledgeable 
> manner, I coaxed only a few feeble woofs out of it before a firm blow 
> with a 4lb hammer silenced it..
> 
> OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a 
> tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me 
> tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1 speakers.
> 
> How on earth can you have 5.1 speakers?   (Or even 2.1  <T-I-C>
> 
> In other words whassit all about?

5.1 tends to refer to having 5 treble speakers around the place and one 
large sub-woofer. My PC runs on a similar system and it works well. Its 
based on the idea that the higher the frequency, the better we can 
localise it. With one 13" wooofer and several high frequency ones you 
might be able to rebuild them into a 2.1 system!


-- 
John Wright

This sig for rent

Gordon H wrote:
> Marc Wilson  writes
>> In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>>
>>> OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>> tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me
>>> tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>> speakers.
>>>
>> 'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>> replace a matched pair).
> 
> They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
> I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared 
> and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9


We found a good one in Aylesbury not too long ago. But in agreement, I 
remember years ago buying some real Hi-Fi speakers from Comet - try that 
nowadays.
-- 
John Wright

This sig for rent

Gordon H <Gordon@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid> writes
>Marc Wilson  writes
>>
>>Mayhap.  Though you could get something to fit- the polystyrene cones are
>>neither here nor there.  Small religious wars have been fought over what is
>>the best cone material, and so far seem to have been inconclusive.
>>
>>Have a look at: http://www.retrohifi.co.uk - you might even find the
>>genuine article.
>
>I looked at a few retro sites, but not that URL.
>Thanks, I'll take a look.

Page not available . . .
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

John Wright  writes
>Gordon H wrote:
>> Marc Wilson  writes
>>> In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>>>
>>>> OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>>> tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got me
>>>> tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>>> speakers.
>>>>
>>> 'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>>> replace a matched pair).
>>  They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>> I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have 
>>disappeared  and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
>
>We found a good one in Aylesbury not too long ago. But in agreement, I 
>remember years ago buying some real Hi-Fi speakers from Comet - try 
>that nowadays.

That's where mine came from in 1970!
Thorens deck, Leak Stereo70 Amp, and Sandwich speakers.

Or was it Planet in those days?
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

John Wright  writes
>Gordon H wrote:
>> Having decorated the lounge, and earmarked CD player and twin 
>>cassette  tape deck as redundant, unnecessary clutter, I decided that 
>>TV, DVD HD  recorder, and Stereo Amplifier, plus 37 year old Leak 
>>Sandwich speakers  were all I needed for my audio/visual requirements.
>>  Then I decided to fix the Phono plug on my Thorens TD150AB Deck, and 
>>try  some vinyl on it...
>>  The first sounds brought sighs of delight, nothing quite like it, 
>>but  then I detected an imbalance from the RH speaker.
>>  The Stanier Black 5 pulling out of Carnforth station did not seem to 
>>shake the room as much as she used to as she roared past...
>> <Andrew pricks his ears up>
>>  Playing my "Give Yourself a Stereo Checkout album" confirmed that 
>>the  13" woofer was no longer woofing in the RH speaker.
>>  After dismantling the cabinet and tapping the cone in a 
>>knowledgeable  manner, I coaxed only a few feeble woofs out of it 
>>before a firm blow  with a 4lb hammer silenced it..
>>  OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a 
>>tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers got 
>>me  tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1 
>>speakers.
>>  How on earth can you have 5.1 speakers?   (Or even 2.1  <T-I-C>
>>  In other words whassit all about?
>
>5.1 tends to refer to having 5 treble speakers around the place and one 
>large sub-woofer. My PC runs on a similar system and it works well. Its 
>based on the idea that the higher the frequency, the better we can 
>localise it. With one 13" wooofer and several high frequency ones you 
>might be able to rebuild them into a 2.1 system!
>
Hey!    That's an idea!    I know that the high frequencies are more 
directional, so I could mount the remaining 13" unit in the open 
fireplace!     It would mean no log fire while the unit was in place 
though.   ;-)

I wonder what kind of effect the column of air in the chimney would 
produce?     Would it bring all the soot down?
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

In article ,
John Wright   wrote:
>Gordon H wrote:
> 
>> They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>> I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared 
>> and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
>
>We found a good one in Aylesbury not too long ago. But in agreement, I 
>remember years ago buying some real Hi-Fi speakers from Comet - try that 
>nowadays.

Aylesbury's a long way to come from Findhorn to buy a hifi ...

I used to swear by Richer Sounds, though it's a very long time since
I've had any money to spend on toys so I don't know if they still have
such good bargains as they used to.

Nick
-- 
Serendipity: http://www.leverton.org/blosxom (last update 28th Sep 2007)

"The Internet, an ersatz counterfeit of real life"
            -- Janet Street-Porter, BBC2, 19th March 1996

Gordon H wrote:
> John Wright  writes
>> Gordon H wrote:
>>> Marc Wilson  writes
>>>> In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote
>>>>>
>>>>> OK, I could manage with smaller speakers after 37 years, and have a
>>>>> tidier room, but a quick look for a pair of half decent speakers 
>>>>> got me
>>>>> tangled up in weird Home Cinema outfits, and the mystery of 5.1
>>>>> speakers.
>>>>>
>>>> 'Course, you could always put new woofers in the old Sandwiches (always
>>>> replace a matched pair).
>>>  They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>>> I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have 
>>> disappeared  and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
>>
>> We found a good one in Aylesbury not too long ago. But in agreement, I 
>> remember years ago buying some real Hi-Fi speakers from Comet - try 
>> that nowadays.
> 
> That's where mine came from in 1970!
> Thorens deck, Leak Stereo70 Amp, and Sandwich speakers.
> 
> Or was it Planet in those days?

It was always Comet, as they started out. Was that before Kingfisher 
took them over?

-- 
John Wright

This sig for rent

Nick Leverton wrote:
> In article ,
> John Wright   wrote:
>> Gordon H wrote:
>>
>>> They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>>> I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared 
>>> and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
>> We found a good one in Aylesbury not too long ago. But in agreement, I 
>> remember years ago buying some real Hi-Fi speakers from Comet - try that 
>> nowadays.
> 
> Aylesbury's a long way to come from Findhorn to buy a hifi ...
> 
> I used to swear by Richer Sounds, though it's a very long time since
> I've had any money to spend on toys so I don't know if they still have
> such good bargains as they used to.

That was when we used to live near Aylesbury. Richer Sounds in Watford 
provided the speakers for that little ensemble. Haven't been there in a 
long time.

-- 
John Wright

This sig for rent

John Wright  writes
>Gordon H wrote:
>> John Wright  writes

>>> We found a good one in Aylesbury not too long ago. But in agreement, 
>>>I  remember years ago buying some real Hi-Fi speakers from Comet - 
>>>try  that nowadays.
>>  That's where mine came from in 1970!
>> Thorens deck, Leak Stereo70 Amp, and Sandwich speakers.
>>  Or was it Planet in those days?
>
>It was always Comet, as they started out. Was that before Kingfisher 
>took them over?
>
I remember a couple of small warehouse type stores named Planet, but 
they were mainly furniture, then they disappeared about the time Comet 
appeared (in the night sky? <g>).
I had to travel to North Manchester to get to a Comet in 1970.

I used to go to Fairbotham's, a Hi Fi dealer in Stockport where they had 
various alternative systems which could be switched instantly, and I 
chose the sandwich speakers for their clarity and transparency of sound.
I suppose traditionalists would prefer the heavier damping of 
Wharfedales...

Then I went to Comet and bought the same set-up, at a cost of £170 
instead of around £240.     Sad really, but in the face of this 
competition Fairbotham's had to lower their standards eventually, and by 
the time the old guy retired they were selling cheap foreign boxes.

I first became a customer of theirs in the 60s, when I built my first 
stereo system, and later amateur radio gear.  At that time they were 
mainly component suppliers, but a well-run business allowed him to 
expand into a larger, more up-market shop across the road.
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote in
<r0mQ85KuQkKHFwx+@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid>::

>Gordon H <Gordon@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid> writes
>>Marc Wilson  writes
>>>
>>>Mayhap.  Though you could get something to fit- the polystyrene cones are
>>>neither here nor there.  Small religious wars have been fought over what is
>>>the best cone material, and so far seem to have been inconclusive.
>>>
>>>Have a look at: http://www.retrohifi.co.uk - you might even find the
>>>genuine article.
>>
>>I looked at a few retro sites, but not that URL.
>>Thanks, I'll take a look.
>
>Page not available . . .

Works for me.
-- 
Marc

"Criminal: A person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation." -- Clarence Darrow

In uk.singles,  (Nick Leverton) wrote in <fgdh61$u7j$1@leverton.org>::

>In article ,
>John Wright   wrote:
>>Gordon H wrote:
>> 
>>> They are a rather specialised assembly and are polystyrene cones.
>>> I'll have a look for replacements, but the Hi Fi shops have disappeared 
>>> and been replaced by warehouse box-shifters.    :-9
>>
>>We found a good one in Aylesbury not too long ago. But in agreement, I 
>>remember years ago buying some real Hi-Fi speakers from Comet - try that 
>>nowadays.
>
>Aylesbury's a long way to come from Findhorn to buy a hifi ...
>
>I used to swear by Richer Sounds, though it's a very long time since
>I've had any money to spend on toys so I don't know if they still have
>such good bargains as they used to.

Richer Sounds is unique among box-shifters in employing staff who actually
know something, and having a great returns policy- and they'll even lend
you stuff to try.

Not generally an ideal place to audition stuff, though.
-- 
Marc

"Criminal: A person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation." -- Clarence Darrow

Marc Wilson  writes
>In uk.singles,  (Gordon H) wrote in
><r0mQ85KuQkKHFwx+@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid>::
>
>>Gordon H <Gordon@g3snx.demon.co.uk.invalid> writes
>>>Marc Wilson  writes

>>>>Have a look at: http://www.retrohifi.co.uk - you might even find the
>>>>genuine article.
>>>
>>>I looked at a few retro sites, but not that URL.
>>>Thanks, I'll take a look.
>>
>>Page not available . . .
>Works for me.

Worked for me today.

Interesting, I saw the for sale items on another site I found by 
Googling.   The depressing thing was seeing the low prices asked for 
Technics CD player, Cassette Deck etc, which isn't surprising really.

There is a link to a decent range of fizzically smaller speakers at 
reasonable prices.
-- 
Gordon H
(Remove "Invalid" to reply)

Marc Wilson  wrote:
> (Gordon H) wrote 
>>
>>Page not available . . .
> 
> Works for me.

On occasion - not often but three or four times altogether, I've found 
web pages that I couldn't initially get to.  Turns out the problem was 
that for those pages even the act of requesting to accept or reject 
cookies makes the site unavailable.  When I have cookies for the site 
automatically accepted, I can get to the page.

Ok, maybe not three or four time, but three or four times that I 
trusted the site enough to allow their cookies if needbe.

Stu