Stoneaudio.co.uk Warning...!!!

Stone Audio are also on my 'never use this company again' list

Just do a search... it'll keep you in reading for a month about this shower.

Oh and if you are in the unfortunate position of waiting on Stone Audio, don't waste time with email because in my experience (and that of many others it seems) they never reply. You have to get them on the phone.

 

For what it's worth I've heard that they don't hold any stock.

 

That's better!

 

I was thinking of a scam to make money.... I'll offer non-existent goods for sale on the internet, people will pay for them and I will earn interest on the money they have paid until they start getting annoyed and demand refunds, which I will of course provide but leaving me to enjoy the interest their money has earned.

I really hope no-one is already doing this.

 

Mmm... I reckon that's the problem. As I live in some deserted little backwater up in North Yorkshire all of my buying is best done using the internet. If I visit Hi-Fi dealers I have to travel for hours to get there. All we have locally is Vickers Hi-Fi in York and Sound Organisation also in York and neither of which are of any interest to me. Oh to live in a large city centre...!!!​

 

Bit of a way perhaps, but there's a couple of interesting hifi shops in Huddersfield.

 

I've just had notification on Wednesday March 11th that my Creek Audio OBH-22 preamp has been dispatched...!!! Let's wait and see. It's due for delivery tomorrow.​

 

I-S, thanks for taking the time and making the effort to chip in to this thread. Also, thanks for the advice but Huddersfield would be around 2.5/3.0 hours drive for me. I do appreciate it though.​

 

I'm in North Yorks also. I have used SO in York before, but recent years the Hi-Fi Studios in Doncaster have been my choice. Just off the A1 in a nice stone barn with good listening rooms and run by a good chap who loves music.
Even sells some used and ex-demo stuff at very good discounts.
I got my Unison Research S8 amp there for a good amount off list (circa 35% off IIRC)

 

Tizz true, Hi Fi Studios are superb or at least were. If you do an internet search now it tells you that they are no longer trading or at least a few weeks ago when I tried to find them.

I used to live in North Lincolnshire up to 2005 so getting to and from Doncaster was a doddle.

The Creek Audio OBH-22 passive pre sure enough arrived this morning at around 09:00. Barring some confusion over the use of the remote control, all is well. Next I shall be looking for a new power amp to replace the Samson. I kind of like the sound of the NVA A40 monoblocks which are specifically designed for use in a passive system. 400 quid for two monoblocks...!!! OK, low power but my speakers are 90db/W/m and 4 Ohms. Could be the way to go.​

 

nice one...I'm still tempted to buy a pair of those dalis too.....

will 30w be enough?

you got any pics of yours too?

 

Mr Cat... If I had to sum up the Dali's I would have to call them polite. I do not mean that in any negative way. They are nice and polite and very unlikely to offend your ears with any awkward antics. As for 30 Watts...??? The NVA's I'm thinking of buying are only 40 Watts and transistor power at that. I really do think there is a lot of overegged nonsense about amps and Watts. OK, I have 300 Watts per channel and the sound is very relaxed and effortless as a result of never being strained but is it really necessary...? I don't think it is. In spite of that, I would love a set of Icon Audio 80 Watt EL34 monoblocks. Yeah, in my dreams.​

 

well, if you're ever thinking of selling ya dali's - give me first shout...

 

Jeff (HiFi Studios) has moved into AV now and so they now trade as Unlimited Dream or something like that. However the gate still has Hi-Fi studios sign. A year ago (or just over?) he sent a note to all customers letting them know of the new direction and he sent a list of all stock which was being sold off.
Last time I spoke with him, he still had some goodies he was clearing off.

 

http://www.unlimiteddream.co.uk/

Definitely one of the most eye-catching hifi websites I've seen for a while...

 

I personally think it's a great shame they have turned their back on Hi-Fi and gone into AV. I remember around fifteen years ago buying a Unison Simply Four from them. I guess like all of the others they'll go where they can make the most profit.​

 

The decision wasn't that simple. I have known Jeff for many years. He invested his redundancy money when the pit closed to initially launch HiFi studios and traded from his semi-detached in Sunnyside. He got in for the right reasons and has a real passion for it still.
But when so many now won't travel to listen to kit, and want to buy on the internet etc ...... you can see why sometimes the head has to rule the heart.

Sad fact is if we continue on this route (which I think we will), we will only have internet deals left, so yes, we may be able to get stuff cheaper, but we will have lost something that I personnally (and I think many others) used to enjoy in this hobby - calling in to your fave dealer's to listen to stuff, enjoying great customer service and often getting stuff on home loan.

 

Yeah Samantha I agree with you...!!! It was Sunnyside from where I bought the Unison and I was only too happy back then to travel to buy but nowadays as an impoverished, self employed person I have to buy almost everything secondhand and that has to include ebay. I am soon to be in the market for a new power amp. My choice would be a Prima Luna valve power amp but at almost a grand, it's out of the question. If I had those funds available I would undoubtedly still travel to listen and share the experience but if I have to end up paying 300 quid for an Audiolab 8000P then it'll be over the internet. I miss the old days of owning a Nottingham Analogue and travelling to shops for a chat and a coffee. My financial downfall was my doing. There is no one else to blame but me. I'm now trying to put together another quality system but it will definitely involve the internet.​

 

yes... too true.

I've sold my kit, probably sounding at its best too, to raise some money. I've had to buy "blind" some cheaper items and hope the separates I've been getting off the internet translate well from their reviews and that there's a synergy between the components. So far neither has been the case. My Tannoys and Mastersound amp was quite a combo, I also miss my LP12 and Hadcock arm. Now even Johnny Rotten sounds like a crooner.
If I could afford the dealer experience, I'd be there in a shot. Something tells me my own situation will get worse before it gets better, but you have to see both sides to appreciate the good when you have it - however brief.

 

I'm not having a dig ....... many are in the same boat.

I got my S8 from Jeff (one of the few quality dealers that didn't stick to just selling items at list price), but my turntable and speakers were both second hand purchases found via t'internet.
Tis a sign of the times but will be sad once the record stores and quality hi-fi stores are all just a memory.