Customers' Comments

Obviously I'm not going to put the few, let's just say, "comments from customers who were not entirely satisfied" here, there are a few, sometimes things don't go as they should, mistakes are made and sometimes the odd customer just can't be satisfied regardless of the lengths taken but on the whole I receive nothing but praise.

It is important to ensure the people are entirely satisfied with my work and that they are happy to entrust their machine with me.

To those who are not entirely satisfied I apologise, and will always try and rectify the problem if I am informed.

The comments noted here are copies, with the customers permission of course, and I would like to thank all of my customers for allowing me to attend to their machines.

This is concerning an Edison integrated valve amplifier that was completely redesigned and rebuilt.

"Well, it's been one week since I brought home the Edison and I can safely say that I've had a grin on my face every night. Until last night I was only playing vinyl, and what a treat that has been. Ok, I know you don't rate the Icon phono stage but running it through the Edison everything just sounds so much sweeter. I've been trying so many different tracks and they all sound so good; my 'test' album is Johnny Guitar Watson "A Real Mutha For Ya" is incredible. The bass lines are deep and rich and the mids are beautiful. Still not sure about the top end though - I know you said you could do a minor tweak to bring it down a notch or two, but I'm not entirely sure it's the amp. I'm more inclined to think it's the ribbons on the Lumleys. Maybe they are just a little too precise. Anyway, that's only a minor moan.

One thing I have noticed (for good or bad) is that the Edison is very unforgiving on mediocre recordings. Maybe that's where I'm hearing some of the shrillness; it's so difficult as some tracks sound just perfect while some are simply crap. So maybe the amp needs a tweak or I get new speakers - time will tell.

Anyway, on to today (or last night to be precise) - I bought a cdp from the same guy whole sold the Edison. This time I got a Luxman, mid 90s. Not their top end but sounds just lovely through the Edison. So, I've had a few hours of CDs (something I thought I would never do again) and I really like it. The Luxman is supposed to have an analogue sound and pushing it through the Edison it definitely does, I'm glad to say.

And now the final comment for today; speaker cable. All week I've been using one of my cables and everything (as I've said above) works well. Today was the turn of the 2.5 twin & earth. Geoff, you're not wrong. There's a focus to all sounds. I'm finding it difficult to chose the right words here, but there just seems to be a bit more to everything. And all without pushing anything over the top, if that makes any sense. I've only listened to a few tracks, so more effort is required on my part.

I'll keep you up-to-date with things as time moves on. For now, though, you have my deepest thanks.

Finally, may I say how much I enjoyed my visit last week (and ta for the tea). Should you ever be in the Heathfield area then I would like to extend the same invitation to you. Just give me a call and I'll put the kettle on - there may even be a biscuit!

Thanks, again. As soon as the Dynaco arrives I'll call you and arrange a time to bring it over."

Dave

Hi Geoff
Just a short note to thank you for all your work and skill in getting my tape recorder back to sounding as good as it as did years ago and now I can start to play a lot of music that I though I would never hear again, thanks once again you are a genius.
Brian

This was regarding a very old and very very battered Sony reel to reel tape machine. Actually, it was in such a bad state that I nearly gave up on it, glad I didn't though!

Hello Geoff,
The new amp is now fully set-up since 7pm on New Year's Eve and I have listened for one evening and most of the following day. I want to describe my first impressions but it's hard to know exactly where to begin! I was only looking for someone to repair my amp and suddenly I feel like I've accidentally stumbled on the Holy Grail of uncanny musical fidelity! Equally, whilst I love to write lively, descriptive prose, it's hard to tear myself away from the feast of music Radio 3 is bringing over the New Year - practically each new piece a fresh revelation! Thank God for an interview so I can at least make a start!

I have to say from the outset I had a certain degree of scepticism. Geoff Kremer - someone I had never heard of - versus the might of Audio Research, one of the most respected 'names' in audio. Your opinion, versus glowing reviews of my former amp I had read, by some of the most respected critics in US audiophile circles. To put it another way, ditch my pre-conceived notions of a piece of equipment I had believed to be a 'Rolls Royce' of amps (don't we all love to latch onto the security of a big, highly respected name!) and listen anew with fresh ears. I think what swung it was the piece you sent me on Proteus and the success you had with this recently at the audio show in London.

I have regularly listened to live music and even played the trumpet and alto sax in my youth. I have also listened to a lot of top flight audio equipment. In other words I know what music SHOULD sound like, as in live performances, and I know the limitations of transmitted live/recorded music re-played via equipment.

The comparisons I am making are between music transmitted on Radio 3 from a tuner (you know) via B&W P4 speakers amplified by my previous D-70 amp and the new amp you have just created. That is the ONLY major change in the system (the only other change being different speaker cables ie. - having ditched the cables I showed you - a temporary provisorium I happened to have in my cupboard: conventional 0.75 mm multi strand household copper flex).

The well worn reviewer's phrase: 'As if a veil had been lifted' springs to mind, except it's more like 'A wall has been blasted away!' Adjectives like awesome, uncanny, majestic also spring to mind.

Perhaps - for someone whose life has been art - the most satisfying analogy is to imagine the star of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum: Rembrandt van Rijn's 'Night Watch' had languished beneath centuries of discoloured varnish and, having undergone a radical cleaning and restoration process, suddenly revealed a wealth of vivid detail! Subtle degrees of light and shade. Bright crimson's, rich ochre's and glowing hues of gold, plus all the depth and perspective previously hidden beneath layer's of grime!

What are the new amp's strengths and differences when compared to what I can recall of the old one?

SOUND
- Dynamic range, even at relatively low listening levels, is most impressive. A massive improvement!
- Superb transient response gives music outstanding 'attack' and startling realism.
- The ability to resolve fine musical detail with uncanny accuracy, even in complicated multi-layered passages.
- A rock solid sound stage with precise, well defined stereo imagery.
- Lower register is a revelation!. Bass notes are extraordinarily taut and solid, with a weight and punch the old amp could only dream of!
- Male BBC announcer's voices have lost their exagerated 'chestiness' and sound more natural.

OTHER
- Mains transformer gets warm but, from memory, runs cooler than previously.
- Output transformers run a LOT cooler. Whilst not 'stone cold' never get warm to the touch. Previously they got quite hot over time.

I began my new listening experience - to go into more detail - with BBC's 'New Generation Artists' on New Year's Eve. Appropriately enough with piano. I say this because piano has this vast range, spanning so many octaves. If I had to chose a single instrument as a 'bell weather' to an amp's musicality I would always chose piano. It's basically percussive but, unlike drums, there is a change in tone quality with dynamics, as well as a change in tone quality from bass to treble, due to the wealth of harmonics in the lower registers. In the new amp this manifests itself as a 'bell-like' clarity and crispness giving stunning realism to the sound. Bass notes are ultra solid with impressive weight, extreme treble notes also have a startling purity and attack. I have never heard such satisfying piano sound!

Next came a short piece with piano and trumpet, again a revelation in startling tonal realism and crispness of attack, plus a lovely brassy raspiness!

As revealing as the amp is of well recorded sound, it is equally brutally revealing of inferior recordings! The New Year's Eve repeat of last night of the Proms revealed the Albert Hall at it's worst with an often muddled, boomy acoustic and the mike for the piano in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy too closely balanced. The best piece was the Verdi 'Falstaff' excerpt with Bryn Terfel sounding great - as he did in all his other appearances - and an uncannily realistic rasping brass sound from the orchestra at one point! Singers benefit from the amp's incredible dynamic range in that they can clearly be heard increasing the volume of a note to a fortissimo.

Perhaps the most impressive two pieces were on New Year's Day with another Proms repeat. This time far better recorded. The Mark- Anthony Turnage piece 'Chicago Remains' was extraordinary. At one point he gives full reign to a particul weighty percussion section. I had no idea my speakers could play so low and so loud! I am building new sub-bass units to try and re-create these frequencies because I thought my speakers were lacking in this respect. Now I realise it was the old amp that was to blame!

The Mahler 6th Symphony was equally impressive. Whilst any composer benefits from better equipment, Mahler particularly, with his very rich and varied tonal palette, comes off better and is well served by the ultra wide dynamic range, the extraordinary resolution of fine detail, the superb stereo imagery, plus the weight and solidity in the bass register.

These are just a few of the revelations I have been enjoying thanks to your transformation of my amp! In the attached pic's you can see I have re-fitted the protective grille mesh, as well as the small but sturdy unit I built previously to house amp and tuner. The 'bad bit of wall' behind is where I had a radiator removed so that I could sit in the window alcove (visible in the wide angle shot) where the equipment and speakers were formerly located (I had to stand outside and take this one through the window to get back far enough!)

Having the speakers against a solid wall is better for the sound. Although the room looks small it is actually the small leg of a big 'L' shaped room (extends to the right of the shot) which helps the acoustic considerably.

There are a few points I want to ask you in due course but I have deliberately kept this e-mail free of them as it's dedicated to thanking you for your superb achievement!

Kind regards
Brian

This was regarding the redesign and build of a Audio Research D50 power amplifier. (As with all my design work, designed by ear, built by hand -----and keep it simple!)

Hi Geoff,
Well I've had it hooked up and have been playing it for about an hour or so now. I must say I am very impressed! The first thing that struck me was how much more powerful than the 300B mono-blocks I have it is (even though they are rated at 25Wpc). The gain required on the pre-amp to achieve the same volume is significantly less. There is NO perceivable distortion which is a first for me on a valve power amp. As for the sound... very transparent! I can hear a lot more going on as though some kind of discreet veil has been lifted. Vocals are much more 'there in the room - right in front of you' and the subtleties of instruments (strings, guitars, percussion etc.) are clearer. That said, the sound is not harsh. It is definitely a bigger and sweeter sound (dare I say warmer?-bit of a stereotypical comment about valves I know). The bass builds and envelops you as opposed to thumping. The highs are sweet as opposed to piercing. Well I don't wish to bore by being too prosaic but suffice to say I am very happy with my newly built amplifier and would like to extends my gratitude to you for a job well done!!
Kind regards and many thanks, Steve.

Well Mr K, Sir, what can I say?
Tried to ring you last night while playing David Ponsford at Wells Cathedral organ giving it welly on Howells, JSBach etc. but you was incommunicado. I don't know at what frequency the bass cuts off but it's rather low. The earth moves alright. Richard Lord (REL) - you're not required (sorry, mate).
Emma Kirkby singing Haendel, Dire Straights So Far Away, King's Cambridge doing Tallis' 40-part motet Spem In Alium, it seems to handle it all so far. And Yes, there is
... POWer.
Gor blimey, Guv, is there ever
!! POWer !!
The Alps Blue Velvet is hardly wound round for sound, I've found :-)

If you want a reference sell, here I am. There's a lot of darkness out there - Thank you for being a star. - One Satisfied Customer
P.S. I see you omitted a balance control. Minimalist approach - right. Don't need it.
(This was for a Leak ST20 I rebuilt and modified plus a matching pre amplifier I built for him)

Just a brief e-mail to let you know how pleased I am with the work you have done on the Tandberg. It's over 30 years old and now it looks and sounds brand new! If I ever encounter anyone with a reel to reel that needs some TLC, I will definitely recommend that they come to you for efficient friendly service.
Thanks once again.
Kind regards, Chris Jenkins.

Hi Geoff
As I type this I am listening to the TC 755. It sounds superb! Even allowing for the fact that I haven't heard good open-reel sound for some time in this harsh digital age, it is superb! Pitch and speed consistency are a revelation, and I swear I am hearing things on the tapes that have been lost over the years. I do thank you. Wonderful! Cannot recommend your service highly enough. I'd just about written this deck off, but as you promised it's as good as new again.
Kindest regards Nigel.

Geoff!
A belated thank you for your attention to my Akai 4000DS. It was a pleasure meeting you! I enjoyed your vinyl demonstration on your huge valve amp. The Akai is just perfect, lovely and shiny out of the box and I’ve noticed that it is much quieter when in operation. All work fine, so I’m now in the process of moving recordings from Open Reel to PC and thence to .WAV and MP3. At first I fretted a bit when your invoice mentioned the worn heads, but hey, its over 30 years old and I wont use it as much as previous years. The M25 gave us a return journey to match the inward; orrible! Best wishes, good luck.
Nicky C

Hi Geoff.
Just felt that I had to email to say thank you for the continuing pleasure your work on my equipment gives me. As a respite from visiting elderly relatives all last week prior to Christmas, (worthy but tiring), I've just savored an afternoon of tapes on my Tandberg Series 12, the Sony TC 755, and finally a mix of 45's and 78's on the Ecko record player. Wow! Your super restoration work gives me such continuing pleasure - I do thank you. May I wish you all the best for 2009, if that's realistic for any of us!
Kindest regards Nigel Collingwood.