‘What is music to me? Music is a thing that makes things better. Music is one of the last legitimate opportunities we have for a transcendence experience’.

Said by Nick Cave.

Hallelujah to that.

Yesterday I received something nice as a gift. Woofer, Mid and Tweeter. No, not a visit from the local jazz or skiffle band trio of older guys or girls asking me to play bass guitar in their band. Nor proffered name suggestions from my grandson for each of the wooden box of Teddy Bear inclusions that are there for when the other younger grandchildren visit. Mind you they are outgrowing keepers like Teddy Bears now.

They, Woofer, Mid and Tweeter, are music speaker driver types. Mid is for Midrange, but that would have spoiled the imagery in the ‘Grancher Summers’ stoopid joke’. Three coned speakers exist in each beautiful and heavy old school wooden speaker box.

The Wharfedale Linton 3XP, ‘Made in England’ around 1972 to 1975, is a speaker model specifically made at the Rank Wharfedale factory in Idle, Bradford. The two speakers were a gift from my wife’s friend, who had them in her attic. They were ones that her late husband bought. He, unlike myself, wanted speaker sound ‘perfection’ and I remember him buying a few models. My wife’s friend still has his turntable, amp and speakers set up in his version of The Den. A small room at the back of their cottage where his media experience was housed. Books and vinyl albums mostly. He wasn’t a musician, so no cumbersome guitars or drums could ever fit into the small box room like experience. But we had some fabulous chats in that room. Mostly listening to his favourite music ….which was John Martin.

Back to the speakers and the Google search regarding compatibility with the 1970 Pioneer SA500 bought last week? Their AI results’ findings throw up answers that say ‘Yes….they are suitable, however….’. They spoke of not overloading the volume for fear of damaging the Tweeters. But as with all AI internet results, you still have to verify their findings and read sources. I have noticed that by typing in a different phrasing to the same question can bring up alternative answers.

My listening volume, which is really comfortable for The Den, is actually only up to volume 3 from a choice up to the loudest 10. The Bass and Treble can be tweaked on the amp to suit more depth or lightness. But I dial them both to the middle as ‘Flat’ and find the speakers are pretty consistent in giving a decent sound without altering dials.

I digress. The speakers are very much more superior, in my ears, to the Jamo Cornet 30 IV ones I bought last week. But again, my ears are different to others’ ears and preference of listening ambience determines choosing one’s favourite for sound results. I love a gentle vibe of warmth and no thumping out bass beats currently. I say currently because past music listening was, as the Nazareth album was called, ‘Loud ‘n’ Proud’. Sound is currently where the varieties of included instrumentation can all be heard. And the Wharfedales certainly deliver in that way.

I am not going to upload any music to show sound quality. Firstly, because I don’t know what copyright involves. Secondly, you will not get the true sound of actually being in The Den and listening to the ambience first hand. Interestingly, I realised this when listening to sound examples of the speakers on YouTube. No way near my own experiences here in the room.

But, this blog brings to a closure my building up of a sound system to suit my late brother’s Pioneer turntable. Pioneer speakers were the intention. But having my late friend’s speakers means more. When listening to the sound produced by the guy who sold me the Jamo speakers, and looking at his beautiful vintage valve amp central system, you have to stop somewhere. His valve amp, with see through top showing the glowing light of the vacuum tubes, would probably cost hundreds of pounds. His stylus needle is likely top tier quality. He can show buyers what to expect ‘speaker working properly’ sound wise. But the sound you hear only works on his particular system. So..if you stumble along trying to find Nirvana and continually experimenting….it becomes Crazy Town. I now have an enjoyable and simple combination/synergy that produces a sound that , with simple tweaked nuance, provides a happy listening state. So, it’ll be a keeper.

However…….on thinking about it? I may look for a better stylus needle. Well…..I’m only human.