Sony recalls nearly 500,000 PCs worldwide

[madasahatter]

Then there's Bush and Leak (though I've never seen that one used).

Never heard of Leek, but I remember my parents having a Bush radio with the big round tuning dial on the front - I seem to remember seeing that there were replicas of it going about a couple of years ago

This is the one I mean 

[Rik]

Leak were a leading British hi fi firm in the 60s, the first to bring a transistor amplifier to market. I had on, and several of its successors - they were based not far from me, so any problems and I used to pop over. They were bought up about the same time as Wharfedale, and the brand continued for a short while with Japanese innards, then faded away.

There's an example here.

[Ray]

Rik do you remember the Armstrong Audio range of amplifiers, receivers and tuners?  I used to have one of their 621 Amplifiers and a 623 AM/FM Tuner during the late 70s and early 80s very good they were too.

[Rik]

Indeed I do, Ray, I also enjoyed using them.

[john]

Rik do you remember the Armstrong Audio range of amplifiers, receivers and tuners?  I used to have one of their 621 Amplifiers and a 623 AM/FM Tuner during the late 70s and early 80s very good they were too.

I nearly bought the same Armstrong Amp and Tuner but the only thing that put me off at the time was that the cases always looked to me to be done on the cheap compared to Japanese equipment. I bought one of these instead. I wasn't able to compare the sound of them both side by side but was very happy with the Yamaha which I've still got in the loft.

Another British name of decent HiFi was Rogers, a friend had one of these which also sounded very good with some homemade speakers from a Wharfdale kit (when Wharfdale had a good reputation).

[Rik]

I always felt the Rogers was heavily influenced by the Leak, John.

[john]

I think you may be right Rik but I've never heard a Leak or even seen one in the flesh as it were but the styling of this one is quite similar to the Rogers.

[Rik]

It was the first to market, John. I owned that, then the Stereo 30+, then I think it went to Stereo 70, and finally the Delta range. Happy memories.

[john]

And I bet they still sound good today even compared to modern equipment at a similar price.

One of the Engineers at work was given a rogers valve amp by someone who was clearing out their garage and said it sounded wonderful.

[Rik]

The early Leaks were excellent for their time and price, the later one suffered in build quality, daughter boards with tinned contacts which wore badly. Gold would have helped them a lot.

[john]

Actually I once read that gold contacts usually only have a very thin layer of gold (measured in microns) and that silver would be better as it still conducts well after it tarnishes. I'm not sure if silver would be better though, I'll have to investigate later.

[Simon]

Would that be a leaky bush?   

[Rik]

 

[Rik]

Actually I once read that gold contacts usually only have a very thin layer of gold (measured in microns) and that silver would be better as it still conducts well after it tarnishes. I'm not sure if silver would be better though, I'll have to investigate later.

These were just solder-bath tinning, John, they 'dented' in no time and worked loose.

[Sebby]

I read this story on the way home. As well as the huge financial impact, it's terrible for their name. Everyone knows that Sony notebooks are expensive compared with the competition, because they're supposed to be top quality (which actually, given that they're made in China just like everything else, I don't believe).

[john]

Whilst I'm not sure about the quality of Sony Laptops I don't subscribe to the idea that everything made in China must automatically be of low quality.

[Sebby]

I don't mean that, I mean that it's of the same quality as pretty much any other brand, and thus it's not worth a premium.

[Den]

Then there's Bush and Leak (though I've never seen that one used).

I notice that you had a Leak behind a Bush, Rik. 

These days there are very few companies making all their own products and most are re badged (even cars).

[Rik]

It was nice when I could pop round to the Leak factory to get the amp sorted while I waited (same for the Vortexion factory). It wouldn't happen now.

[john]

The other well know manufacturer of the time that is still in business is of course Quad, I've not heard much about their amps/tuners (probably a bit too expensive for all but a few) but their electostatic loudspeakers seem to get very good reviews.

[Rik]

I remember Quad well, John, one of the first minimalist amps.

[madasahatter]

Must admit, I didn't realise that Quad were still going

[Rik]

http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/

Yet another Huntingdon-based hi fi company.

[madasahatter]

Thanks for the link Rik

I am assuming that if you have to ask the price you can't afford them 

[Rik]

Almost certainly. Comparable Meridian products are in the £5K+ bracket without CD deck etc.