Hopkins' System

[hopkins]

Lucky guy with 10.000 78s…

Once in a while I have the urge to buy one. The last one I ordered on Discogs - a Teddy Wilson/ Billie Holiday session - broke during the shipment! What a shame…

 

[hopkins]

On the topic of 78s..here's a random track I came across today:

Recorded in NYC on December 10, 1938
Bobby Hackett - cornet
Slats Long, Chester Hazlett - clarinet, alto saxophone
Bud Freeman - tenor saxophone
Milton Rettenberg - piano
Ken Binford - guitar
Ed Brader - bass
Ed Rubsam - drums
Maxine Sullivan - vocals

Here's a needle drop available on the Internet Archive:

Say It With A Kiss : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Artist: Maxine Sullivan And Her Orchestra Title: Say It With A Kiss Year: 1938 Date: NY, Dec 10, 1938 Performers: Maxine Sullivan (vcl) acc by Bobby Hackett...

archive.org

 

[hopkins]

Welcome to France

 

[hopkins]

I mentioned this video in another thread:

I found the sound to be quite pleasant. I was curious to listen to that same track on my speakers. I tried it first on my open baffle speakers, which I no longer use (but I have kept one handy):

I then played the track on my Teufel speakers:

I must admit, I am still under the spell of these ultra-cheap speakers in my living room.

 

[hopkins]

The Teufel speakers are fairly light. I tried adding weights at the bottom or top several times, but it didn’t not seem to have much effect.

I had another go at it, as I found cheap (20€) steel plates on Amazon that could fit into the speakers.

They weigh 4.5 kg (10 lb) each. I placed two per speaker, for an added 9 kg (20 lb).

https://amzn.eu/d/dM2ifKL

I then added four sylomer pucks beneath the speakers.



These pucks are available in a variety of densities to suit different weights. They are super cheap.

My first impressions are really positive. The added 9 kg and pucks resulted in tighter, deeper bass, and generally better, cleaner, sound. I have to say that I am quite surprised by the results