Author: Francesco Pivetta

REVOX A740

Published by Francesco Pivetta

Beginning of the 80’s STUDER created a new range of professional amplifier , the model A740 has been branded as REVOX. The main differences from the Studer brother are the front controls and 2 wonderful analog/needle instruments driven by one of the most serious VU meter units ever produced (only Mcintosh offered a similar fine precision) R.M.S is capable of 300 Watt per Ch. or 100 Watt with almost 0% of THD; XLR inputs. The mechanical construction and the electronics design is outstanding, the sound capabilities are unique even with electrostat or other planar loudspeakers.

Braun Receivers

Dieter Rams

Published by Francesco Pivetta

Dieter Rams Design is mostly related to BRAUN. The production of this german Brand was technically advanced in materials, electronic design, and superlative sonical performance. Overall quality was extremely high in every category of products and many Patents still belong to Braun. The Regie units in the picture are Receivers; the digital 550 D is a pure metal case, engineered as sturdy as possible. The Loudspeakers are unique in design , quality of the drivers with dome midrange & tweeter in Silk , passive cross over; die cast aluminium case…the so call Taunus Sound; expression widely used for Heco, Canton and Grundig. In the Photogallery the Dieter Rams Bookshelf used to host a superlative designed Bang & Olufsen series 5000 with pure Crystal fronts, is the famous aluminium bookshelf produced under license from different Design Brand in the furniture industry. A B&O receiver 2400 with Rosewood sidepanels is also recognizable. Mine is sourced from De Padova (Milan) . Materials:Aluminium, Rosewood, Crystal, Silk treated Dome

Refoaming: repairing session

Published by Francesco Pivetta

The most common failure is due to the age. This affects the foam suspensions of the Woofer and the Midrange units. After 20/25 years the foam suspensions is simply dissolving; this process  is heavily influenced by external factors i.e: heat, smoke, extrem dry atmosphere… To restore a driver with a  new foam is a MUST to remove the dustcap and to fix the coil within the magnetic gap. Many repairs shops are simply avoiding this procedure  .  The result of such unreliable methods (fast and cheap) is a mechanical stabilty under high power requirements very  far away form the minimum requirements of quality. A replacement of a burned or interrupted Coil is also possible.

LENCO L70 Idler Driven turntable

Published by Francesco Pivetta

Swiss Made in the Sixties, heavy platter sturdy and reliable mechanic also for a broadcast use. The tonearm is a 9 inch version, with the same geometry of the SME 3009, the counterweight is dinamically controlled by 2 springs. BBC mounted the Arm on the Thorens TD 124 The speed can be continuosly varied thanks to a clever conical axis. On the picture the same arm on a famous abum from the Status Quo (probabilly branded Goldring for certain Countries).

SAEC WE 308 SX mounted on Denon DP 1000

Published by Francesco Pivetta

The SAEC is a double knife 10 inches tonearm, the precision in details and mechanical tolerances of such japanese jewel are sinply outstanding. The set up with a  DENON DP1000 mechanic mountend on a JVC plint, makes this combination a classic of  the 80’s. A Shure M97 cartridge  set at  2,5 grams reading weight ensures a stable and clean bass spectrum reproduction.

Micro Seiky DD40 Direct Drive turntable and MA 505

Published by Francesco Pivetta

The Micro Seiky direct drive DD 40 turntable was fitted with an arm based on the model MA 505, a S shaped high precision, low tolerances, tonearm totally hand made in Japan. The unique design of the arm made it possible to adjust the tracking weight and the antiskating whilst on playing. A tungsten wire connected to a spring is working as tensioner, moreover a simple and stable mechanism is controlling the VTA. The motor is held in a aluminium die cast structure encasted in a amazing Rosewood frame.

Brionvega Radio Self made prototype for docking station

Published by Francesco Pivetta

The famous “Filodiffusione Radio” designed by Achille Castiglioni for Brionvega is an iconic piece of  Industrial Design . Realized in a glossy polished stainlesssteel diecast, has been transformed bymyself in I POd docking station. Is suplied with a T.Amp, Blue Tooth and Infrared technology. Brionvega  wished to reproduce it following the design and advice of my prototype but the original moulds have been lost.  (so I’ve been told by the CEO of the new Company). The design lamp is supposed to be Gae Aulenti design. High Gloss polished massive brass structure.

Thorens TD 150 Mk2 Belt Driven turntable fitted with SME 3009 Improved Tonearm

Published by Francesco Pivetta

  Claiming the Swiss Precision, the TD 150 followed the most popular idler wheel / belt TD 124. Very compact in dimensions but elegant with a real  european walnut veneer frame, heavy 30 cm platter and freedom to install different tonearms, makes this gear a fantastic and simple combination. SME 3009 I and a classical Stanton 681 EEE fits very well in my unit , updated with a new motor and an external AC 16 Volts power  supply. An High Gloss black Arcylic top finishes is completing the picture.

GARRARD 401 Idler Driven turntable fitted with SME 3009 Improved Tonearm

Published by Francesco Pivetta

  This is one of the most classical Vinyl set up from the very best British Hi Fi age. My 401, arrived safely with an original Garrard Box directly from the place where it was built and I’ve been told that the first owner was a passionate engineer working at BBC.  This late versions has a 16 watt motor and it runs very smoothly. For a living room set up it  stinks, but for an hi fi freak this smell is better than a Chanel #5. Technlogywise is more close to a tractor rather than a Quartz driven machine, it takes almost 20 minutes to reach the speed stability but this are  the  “core” ff the appeal of such professional and iconic tool of the best Era in the Audio World. Doing the plint by myself I have opted for the Skeleton Concept: 2 layers of Black MDF, coped with a Sorbothane mat in order to add mass avoiding internal vibration and eventual external feedback; easy and effective. This method allows also easy and painfree …