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Conference hips::uk_audioo

Title:You get surface noise in real life too
Notice:Let's be conformist
Moderator:GOVT02::BARKER
Created:Thu Jul 28 1988
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:550
Total number of notes:3847

150.0. "modify or replace" by NEEPS::CAPPERAULD () Wed Feb 21 1990 14:23

    Has anyone any knowledge of or dealings with a company by the name
    of Avondale Audio from Chesterfield. They specialize in modification
    of hifi components amps/turntables and the like.I am about to upgrade
    my amps  Quad 44/405-2 or have them tweaked/wrecked by someone depending
    on the feedback I recieve about this company.
    
    I telephoned the company and they sent me some details of the upgrade
    they would perform to my amp ,but it contained very little facts and
    a lot of generalisations.
                                                               
    My ultimate aim is to improve the sound of CD in my system.
    
    Any ideas on the subject would be welcome.
    
    
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150.1FORTY2::SHIPMANThu Feb 22 1990 13:338
The magazines (Hi-Fi Choice, Hi-Fi News/Record Review if I remember rightly)
give good reports of Avondale Audio's work, and Quads are certainly a good
subject for the type of improvements they specialise in: basically a good
design but Quad don't believe amplifiers sound different.  Make of that what
you will...  If you do decide to try these guys, let's know what the results
are like.

Nick
150.2CD player upgradeIOSG::DUTTNigel DuttThu Feb 22 1990 16:468
    In a similar vein, if you're into serious CD player tweaking, Covent
    Garden Records in Charing Cross Road offer some fairly meaty upgrades
    to standard Phillips CD players. This concentrates on the DAC and power
    supply areas. Let me know if you're curious and I'll send you a copy of
    their leaflet.
    
    I haven't used them, but have heard good reports. Does anyone know any
    more?
150.3LARVAE::IVES_JSiegmund, sieh auf mich!Wed Mar 28 1990 15:0711
    In this months HiFi answers Naim warn against using Avondale(or there type)
    but then again they would would'nt they.
    
    I'd be inclined to go for it. They probably replace some/all of the 
    passive components. I'm in the process of doing this myself to my old
    Radford.Just replacing carbon based resistors with hi-quality metal oxide 
    makes a big difference. They probably replace as many electrolytic caps as
    they can.
    
    Do you feed the CD player direct into the 405 (i.e not through the
    pre-amp, but through 100K stereo pot). If not it's well worth it !