Kwangho Kim's Hi-Fi and Photos

As part of my recent audio gear refresh, I brought in a Western Electric transformer-based preamplifier, which features line-level inputs only—no phono input. To accommodate my vinyl listening, I added a Graham Slee Era Gold phono stage, pairing it with my existing Graham Slee Elevator EXP head amp. Since both units are from the same manufacturer, their synergy is excellent.

Upon listening, I immediately noticed a significant upgrade in clarity and resolution compared to my previous McIntosh MC240 and C20 combination. It’s hard to describe precisely, but there’s an increased crispness and clarity that truly elevates the experience. Although not a tube-based phono stage, the Era Gold matches wonderfully with my high-end Acoustic Solid turntable and Ortofon Bronze MC cartridge, blending seamlessly with vintage amplifiers and speakers.

Interestingly, this setup results in a delightful blend of modern and vintage—my Audio Research CD3 CD player and vinyl source gear bring contemporary clarity, while the classic amplifiers and speakers provide warmth and charm. This combination beautifully bridges the best of both worlds.

Currently enjoying a brief audition of the Fisher 202C vacuum tube integrated amplifier, kindly loaned from my local audio shop. While I’m not entirely clear how it compares to its well-loved sibling, the 202B, it does deliver a balanced and pleasing tube sound. That said, it doesn’t strike me as having an especially unique sonic personality. A solid, reliable performer—but perhaps not the most distinctive.

I recently upgraded my audio setup by replacing the McIntosh C20 with the Western Electric 178D Transformer Pre-amplifier. The difference was immediately noticeable—I’d say it’s at least two or three steps above the C20 in terms of sound quality. Interestingly, even compared to the famous C22, the 178D delivered a richer and more captivating listening experience during my shop audition. I’m genuinely impressed by the remarkable performance and unique charm that only a transformer-based preamp can provide. This pre-amplifier was custom-built by Tube Link using original Western Electric components, and it features a sturdy aluminum chassis. To match it aesthetically with my other equipment, I had a wooden case specially crafted and fitted by a local workshop. I’ll spend more time listening and will share detailed impressions on its sonic character soon. Stay tuned!

In July 2009, when I acquired the JBL C40 Harkness, the thought of pushing my amplifier setup to the limits crossed my mind. It’s fascinating how human desires seem endless; I ended up parting with my cherished McIntosh MC240 power amplifier and C20 preamplifier, which I thought I’d keep for a lifetime. While it was incredibly hard to let go of the MC240 and C20 due to their elegant appearance, I felt they lacked about 2% in terms of sound character. This led me to consider triode amplifiers and eventually brought me to acquire a rare push-pull amplifier using 45 tubes.

The Presto 45 monoblock power amplifier uses the 45 tube, which was in use before the development of the 2A3 tube. This includes the 245 and 345 tubes, often referred to as “eggplant tubes” due to their shape. This amp is a monoblock from the 1930s-40s, originally part of Presto’s cutting machine equipment. Although it uses the same triode configuration, unlike the 300b amplifier which delivers a rich midrange, the Presto 45 provides a sound that is modest yet refined. Whether paired with the Harkness or the C38 Baron, it indeed delivers a beautifully delicate sound.

I finally acquired the JBL C40 Harkness I had been eagerly searching for. Despite continuously searching through markets, eBay, online stores, and shops, a proper Harkness in its original enclosure was nowhere to be found. It does appear on eBay very rarely, but due to its size and weight, it’s mostly only available for shipping within the US or for local pickup, making it impossible to get from Korea.

Then, I received a call from an audiophile in Daegu willing to sell their Harkness. I immediately rented a Starex and, together with my wife, drove to Daegu in pouring rain like I’ve never driven before. It felt like driving underwater rather than in rain.

I had planned not to buy it if the original enclosure was not available or the condition was not as good as expected, but the moment I saw the speakers, I knew they were meant for me. We auditioned them connected to the owner’s 300b power amplifier and a Scott 130 preamp, and the sound was impressive. Although it’s the same 001 system as my currently used C38 Baron, the rare back-loaded enclosure design provided a completely different level of sound. Without a second thought, we loaded the heavy equipment and returned to Seoul.

Comparing it to my currently used C38 Baron, there seems to be a heavyweight versus bantamweight kind of difference. The sound, needless to say, is spectacular. I have attached the 175 driver to a 2345 cast horn and the performance is remarkable. I’ll continue to use it and plan to post a detailed review later. You can gauge the size of the Harkness by comparing it to the Sony 52-inch Bravia TV hanging on the wall.

My favorite piece of audio equipment is the McIntosh MC240 power amplifier.To the left of the MC240 is the McIntosh C20 preamplifier. It’s one of the popular preamplifiers along with the old and new versions of the C22. After comparing the new C22 and the Marantz 7C preamplifiers connected to the 240, I found that the Marantz 7 and the C22 are delicate and smooth, while the C20 has a thicker and richer mid and bass range. Although the price is lower than the Marantz 7 or C22, I prefer the more masculine sound of the C20. I haven’t yet listened to the old C22, which features a brass strip on the front.

Recently, there have been some changes to my main and sub speakers. Last year, I replaced my main speakers with the JBL C38 Baron 001 system from Altec, and recently swapped out the AR3, which I used as subs, for the hard-to-find Jensen SS-100 3-way system. My wife had been eager to bring them in when we first upgraded the audio system last year, and we finally got them when a good-condition original enclosure became available. I thought these would be the last speakers we’d buy. They say the greatest enemy of audio is the wife, but in my case, my wife has also caught the audio bug, which makes me happy and a bit worried at the same time 🙂

Since the Jensen model isn’t well-known, I’m posting a few photos. The Jensens, which I only heard about, have a smoother timbre than expected, and it’s hard to believe the vintage appearance given they are about 50 years old. These speakers have a “Stereo Director” panel that allows you to adjust the direction of the sound by moving the panel direction instead of the entire enclosure. Additionally, they have a unique design where the woofer faces downward rather than outward.

The Baron C38 recently switched from using the 075 bullet tweeters to 175 honeycomb horns. The midrange has tightened up, and it sounds better even in large orchestral music, which I am very satisfied with.

Here’s the current setup:

• McIntosh MC240 Power Amplifier
• McIntosh C20 Pre-Amplifier
• Inkel AK650 Integrated Amplifier
• JBL C38 Baron 001 System (175 Horn, D130 Full range) Speakers
• Jensen SS-100 Stereo Director Speakers
• Audio Research CD3 MK2 CD Player
• Acoustic Solid Turntable
• Ortofon Rondo Bronze MC Cartridge
• Graham Slee EXP Elevator Head Amplifier
• BOSS Lifestyle28 5.1 channel Media Center AV System
• SONY PlayStation 3 – used as an SACD Player
• PaoView DVD Player

Entering the analog realm

As the year changed, I switched my equipment. I replaced the McIntosh MX110, which I was using as a pre/tuner, with the C20 preamp. I’m satisfied with the condition of the volume. Before sending out the MX110, I took a commemorative photo with it placed on the speaker. Now, using the C20 connected to the MC240 power amp and listening through JBL Barons, the midrange, which was lacking, has become solid, producing a beautiful sound. It’s amazing what this veteran can do after more than 50 years in production.

The desire to listen to LPs that had been shelved for over 20 years became strong. While looking for a turntable, I impulsively brought in a brand new German-made Acoustic Solid Wood. I had Linn LP12 in mind, but it was pricey, and being an old turntable, it seemed difficult to tune, so I went for the Acoustic Solid Wood introduced by the shop. It exceeds expectations with its hefty appearance and performance. The cartridge is an Ortofon MC Rondo Bronze, and the step-up transformer is the British-made Graham Slee Elevator EXP. Even though the Acoustic Solid Wood is reasonably priced compared to a brand new Audio Research CDP, the emotional impact of its sound is greater than that of the turntable. It might be the placebo effect, but even to my ears, LPs sound better.

I compared Schubert’s “Arpeggione Sonata” performed by Rostropovich and Britten on both LP and CD of the same recording. The CD gives the feeling as if there’s a thin curtain in front of the performers, while the LP offers a vividness as if the performers are playing right in front of you. The sound of the strings on the LP is so crisp that it gives you goosebumps.

Apart from the extra effort required to use them compared to CDs, the noise from scratches, and the difficulty in finding records, the true joy of audio seems to lie in analog. It’s quite nostalgic to pull out LPs I bought 20-30 years ago and place them on the turntable one by one. My wife also loves the sound of LPs, saying she didn’t know they could sound so good. For the time being, I’ll be busy listening to LPs. It seems I should focus less on the audio equipment and more on the music itself.

2009. 4. 21 글

지난 9월 업그레이드 후 호방한 소리를 들려 주던 알텍601C를 내 보내고 마음에 두고 있던JBL C38 Baron을 들였습니다. 알텍 특유의 소리에 애착이 컸지만 대편성 들을 때 해상도가 아쉬웠던게 사실입니다. 바론에서 JBL 특유의 금속성 소리가 나지 않을까 우려했지만 기우였습니다. 독주 악기는 앞으로 나오면서 오케스트라는 뒤로 물러나 주고. 해상도와 음장감까지 있습니다. 크기가 아담해 우리 나라 아파트 잘 어울립니다. 15인치 우퍼를 작은 인클로저에 담아 낸 설계자에게 감사합니다. 아내도 바론이 무척 마음에 든다네요. 새로 찍은 기기 사진 몇 장 같이 올립니다.

​McIntosh MC240 Power Amp

Audio Research CD3 MK2 CDP

McIntosh MX110 Pre Amp / Tuner

BOSE Lifestyle Media Center

Powertec DAM1000 Down transformer

​성질 급한 아내가 벌써 크리스마스 트리를 만들었습니다. 연말 잘 보내시고 좋은 음악 많이 들으시기 바랍니다.