RockRolley Posted March 13, 2024 Posted March 13, 2024 Hi all, I am the fortunate owner of a few Goldenage audio products, a MM/MC phono stage, external SUT, a couple of wooden headshells, and am hopefully also going to get a Univector tonearm. I thought it might be useful to have a group thread where owners can show off their products and also share ideas on any tech needs or setup needs give Duc (RIP) is no longer able to off product support. Also tube replacement/rolling ideas, cartridges that work well with his products etc. I'll post some pics soon. 3
MattyW Posted October 3, 2024 Posted October 3, 2024 Sadly too few people got to experience Goldenage Audio gear. Duc's time was too soon 5 1
vinyl-62 Posted October 4, 2024 Posted October 4, 2024 On 14/03/2024 at 10:20 AM, RockRolley said: Hi all, I am the fortunate owner of a few Goldenage audio products, a MM/MC phono stage, external SUT, a couple of wooden headshells, and am hopefully also going to get a Univector tonearm. I thought it might be useful to have a group thread where owners can show off their products and also share ideas on any tech needs or setup needs give Duc (RIP) is no longer able to off product support. Also tube replacement/rolling ideas, cartridges that work well with his products etc. I'll post some pics soon. Pics please. I'm waiting for mine to arrive, so anything that I need to know would be most welcome. 1 1
RockRolley Posted October 4, 2024 Author Posted October 4, 2024 Sure, over the coming week I’ll add some pics 1 1
Jakeyb77_Redux Posted October 5, 2024 Posted October 5, 2024 On 3/10/2024 at 12:59 PM, MattyW said: Sadly too few people got to experience Goldenage Audio gear. Duc's time was too soon Too true. Always enjoyed going over to see him. 1
andyr Posted October 5, 2024 Posted October 5, 2024 (edited) On 14/03/2024 at 10:20 AM, RockRolley said: Hi all, I am the fortunate owner of a few Goldenage audio products, a MM/MC phono stage, external SUT, a couple of wooden headshells, and am hopefully also going to get a Univector tonearm. I thought it might be useful to have a group thread where owners can show off their products and also share ideas on any tech needs or setup needs give Duc (RIP) is no longer able to off product support. Also tube replacement/rolling ideas, cartridges that work well with his products etc. I'll post some pics soon. Great idea, Simon! Here's my 'SkeletaLinn' - which I designed to be able to take one of Duc's 12" Univector arms (ebony armwand): It has a number of mods from when I bought it: a fixed headshell, in place of the original setup - which was a flat piece of delrin (which the cart bolted to), which itself was bolted to an arm stub. Duc had these fixed headshells on the last arms he made, before he 'left the building'. The fixed headshell gives the arm a much more focussed delivery. a new, heavier c'weight - machined by Mark ( @SonicArt) - so it sits as near to the pivot housing as it can get, with my ZYX Airy cart. an armwire 'repositioner' - which positions the arm wires directly above the UP ... instead of at the front of the pivot housing (where it will affect the bias - albeit very slightly). Machined by Mark Doehmann when he a. mounted the fixed headshell and b. re-wired the arm from cart through to the phono stage plugs. The arm works excellently with the ZYX Ultimate Airy which is currently fitted ... as well as the Benz LP which I had before. Edited October 5, 2024 by andyr 5 2
SonicArt Posted October 5, 2024 Posted October 5, 2024 Am more than happy to machine up parts that may be needed for Duc's arms in the future, rewiring etc, custom parts fabricated if possible. Nice to keep his gear alive and in service. 10 1
Be Quiet...Listen Posted October 7, 2024 Posted October 7, 2024 I have some prototype/experimental tonearms of Duc's. If you diehards are keen to be their next custodian, shoot me a PM.
Tasebass Posted October 10, 2024 Posted October 10, 2024 My Univector Ebony in situ….with DV XV1s… which also has an Ebony “Block” I modified this one with a bonded fixed headshell to Linn geometry Not used for a while though have plans in the future!! Tase. 1
RockRolley Posted October 10, 2024 Author Posted October 10, 2024 Wow!!! Stunning. Thanks for sharing. Looks very smart on the LP12 1
mloutfie Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 On 05/10/2024 at 10:53 AM, andyr said: SkeletaLinn That looks quite different now @andyr
andyr Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 1 hour ago, mloutfie said: That looks quite different now @andyr Sure ... different to when you saw it - but still the same concept ... just a bit more 'techy'!
frankn Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 I have the Ref. phonostage and accompanying Step-up transformer. Nice woodwork and sound. There are a couple in SA. 3
RockRolley Posted October 12, 2024 Author Posted October 12, 2024 8 minutes ago, frankn said: I have the Ref. phonostage and accompanying Step-up transformer. Nice woodwork and sound. There are a couple in SA. Nice! Any pics and/or technical info on them? I wonder if anyone has a schematic for his phono stage to assist with servicing
frankn Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 So this is the phono section of my system. Duc was very sparse with accompanying details of his products. Suffice to say they sound very good. We are lucky in Adelaide to have an excellent tech (@skies2clear) who is able to work on these without requiring schematics. They are all point to point wiring, Mundorf, Lundhal components etc. 4 2
RockRolley Posted October 12, 2024 Author Posted October 12, 2024 20 minutes ago, frankn said: So this is the phono section of my system. Duc was very sparse with accompanying details of his products. Suffice to say they sound very good. We are lucky in Adelaide to have an excellent tech (@skies2clear) who is able to work on these without requiring schematics. Very nice, looks very similar to mine although mine has MM/MC inbuilt stage rather than tow MM inputs. Has @skies2clear done any work on yours, and if so, mind if I ask what?
frankn Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 Had a problem with noise and Nick designed and installed a very high quality , very transparent regulation circuit without having to make any external mods. Very happy with Nick’s work. Recommended him to anyone. 2 1
Be Quiet...Listen Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 22 minutes ago, frankn said: Had a problem with noise and Nick designed and installed a very high quality , very transparent regulation circuit without having to make any external mods. Very happy with Nick’s work. Recommended him to anyone. Can’t say enough positive things about Nick. Known him for years, absolute gentleman and has done some amazing work. 3
frankn Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 5 minutes ago, Be Quiet...Listen said: Can’t say enough positive things about Nick. Known him for years, absolute gentleman and has done some amazing work. He is my go to person too, and, as you say an absolute gentleman, superb circuit designer. He fixed my Clear Audio Smart Syncro when CA wouldn’t help , designed a new clock circuit to replace their failed clock/chip …… works as good as new, if not better. 2
RockRolley Posted October 12, 2024 Author Posted October 12, 2024 21 minutes ago, Be Quiet...Listen said: Can’t say enough positive things about Nick. Known him for years, absolute gentleman and has done some amazing work. Shame he’s not in Melbourne-did you ship gear to him for work?
Be Quiet...Listen Posted October 12, 2024 Posted October 12, 2024 4 hours ago, RockRolley said: Shame he’s not in Melbourne-did you ship gear to him for work? Driven it to him. He’s that good. 2 1
buzz lightyear Posted October 13, 2024 Posted October 13, 2024 Thought I’d add this pic also do have one of Duc’s phono stage . 2 2
RockRolley Posted October 13, 2024 Author Posted October 13, 2024 1 hour ago, buzz lightyear said: Thought I’d add this pic also do have one of Duc’s phono stage . Oh wow!! More pics?
vinyl-62 Posted October 14, 2024 Posted October 14, 2024 Thanks Simon for initiating this important thread and will hopefully become an information and sharing hub for all those fortunate enough to own one of his products. I have only in the last week acquired his phono stage with the separate step up transformer similar to the unit that FRANKN owns above. I'm getting my head around the unit in terms of tube placement etc. Looking forward to sharing my experiences with the unit once I have spent some time with it. 2
RockRolley Posted October 14, 2024 Author Posted October 14, 2024 16 minutes ago, vinyl-62 said: Thanks Simon for initiating this important thread and will hopefully become an information and sharing hub for all those fortunate enough to own one of his products. I have only in the last week acquired his phono stage with the separate step up transformer similar to the unit that FRANKN owns above. I'm getting my head around the unit in terms of tube placement etc. Looking forward to sharing my experiences with the unit once I have spent some time with it. You’re very welcome, I hope the same. It’s already encouraging with people like Mark @SonicArt offering to keep the arms in great order, and some leads in techs who can find their way around Duc’s phono stages. Hopefully there’s some Melb techs who can also work on the phono stages.
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