Highfidelity-Verrücktheit!

Reginald's finger work on "Somebody Stole My Gal" is nothing short of God-like.

Ten years ago I started collecting the bits to build a music reproduction system that would truely do justice to Reginald Dixon's seminal Organ album "The World of Reginald Dixon" (Recorded live at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom during Tuesday afternoon tea). Well folks, the time is near and this represents a first approximation. This system has been patched together through judicious hunting and required the saving of an inordinate number of milk tokens.

General overview of Die sehr großen Lautsprecher.


Altec A7 Voice of the Theatre speakers deliver real Blackpool Tower Ballroom ambience.


Conrad-Johnson MV-55 Valve amplification drives the low end.


Home made 2A3 Valve amp borrowed from Mr PF drives the High Horns.


Marchand XM-126 Valve driven active crossover means those amps deliver Reggie's thunderous playing with jaw-dropping clarity.


Basmati rice damps the HF horns which are prone to "ring" when driven hard. Sushi rice delivers a sweeter top end but the upper Mids the Basmati takes to school!


Roksan Xerxes Turntable serves Decca's venerable pressing well. The first few playings dredged out a disturbing amount of cake-crumbs from the groove - but after a clean Reggie OWNS that organ!


Later on we test the bass response with Salt N Pepper - earthquake alert! Still room for more though...

First up this is not too bad. Still need a dedicated support, although the dining room table was surprisingly lucid. Half way through Pennies from Heaven an old dear really rips into stirring her tea and the sound of that teaspoon hitting the Blackpool Tower crockery was an incredible "I haven't heard that before" moment - and believe you me I know this recording well - or at least I thought I did! At the moment I'm running a budget MM cartridge on the Xerxes so when I source a Moving coil we'll really be in business...