I've been turned to the dark side :lol:

[_D_S_J_R_]

I should also temper the above by saying that I made some good and lasting friendships through it all and I do have some wonderful memories too. The UK industry has been in a decline since the late 70's, with the Linn/Naim domination delaying that for a few dealers by a decade or so. I couldn't believe how things changed with the turn of the new millennium, AV suddenly being the 'in' thing and 'stereo' being well out of favour my days were numbered and I was put well in my place when we moved East and I went for an interview ten years ago with what was once a serious East Anglia Hifi dealers with three branches approx. It was now a custom install specialist dealing with £20K or so multi-room installs. I've never felt more like a dinosaur than I did at that interview. The shop's gone now, so maybe better for me...

[_D_S_J_R_]

How can I describe the X.....It's like a Naim Nait 5i-2, but with less ouch....

S.

I think you mean MORE OUCH!!! Neither of these two clip nicely I remember and truly hurt when they do

[southall-1998]

How can I describe the X.....It's like a Naim Nait 5i-2, but with less ouch....

S.

I think you mean MORE OUCH!!! Neither of these two clip nicely I remember and truly hurt when they do

Well, the X is no shrinking violet for sure. I've enjoyed using the X with my Petites and Rega Planet.

S.

[southall-1998]

DSJR,

Still enjoying the AP20? Have you tried any of the small JPW speakers with the AP20 yet?

S.

[_D_S_J_R_]

No I haven't. I ventured into the local Cash Converters at the weekend and picked up some later (nicer grilles) Diamond IV's, a tatty pair of which annihilated some AVI N5's and Pro Nines, much to AVI's Ashley James' fury with me, 'cos I don't know what a good sound is any more (Naim's Julian Vereker rold me the same thing thirty years ago). Apart from a little tinkle in the treble, they're amazing - only cost me a tenner as well

[southall-1998]

No I haven't. I ventured into the local Cash Converters at the weekend and picked up some later (nicer grilles) Diamond IV's, a tatty pair of which annihilated some AVI N5's and Pro Nines, much to AVI's Ashley James' fury with me, 'cos I don't know what a good sound is any more (Naim's Julian Vereker rold me the same thing thirty years ago). Apart from a little tinkle in the treble, they're amazing - only cost me a tenner as well

Good find! Never heard the Diamond IV's before. There is a chap over on AOS that uses the same speakers and raves about them!

S.

[_D_S_J_R_]

Friend Alex bought a tatty set to use as sacrificial speakers with some of hifi Dave's vintage amps. We soon discovered that they were something rather special. Don't know if you'd like them, but for a tenner they're amazing Later Diamonds seem to have a mid bass lift in the classic BBC tradition I think. Alex subsequently bought some 7.2's, which have better? drivers to the 7.1 model and these are very Harbeth like - fulsome balance but with a clear midrange and treble. Later from these were larger and I have no idea at all.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

I have had both, I think little JPWs are better.

[_D_S_J_R_]

I really didn't need yet more speakers, yet these in mint condition for a tenner just couldn't be turned away, especially as they'd been twenty quid the day before...

[TheRealAleman]

Of course, £10 is a find for both of them.

As far as I am concerned those Diamonds will make a pair of LS3/5A look plain silly.