Author Archives: ray kodiak

USHER S520 mini-monitor speakers / A British speaker out of Taiwan ?

Posted on September 10, 2025 by ray kodiak

I picked these up for $300 with stands in the local market place. For the piano black finish, I saw a pair for about $700 with shipping and tax on ebay, and these came with stands too which I will … Continue reading →

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fixing HEX heat exchanger error on original PICO Brew machine

Posted on September 3, 2025 by ray kodiak

One of the things that I like about these machines is that they are fairly accurate and brew good consistent repeatable beer, as long as your recipe is sound… and sure while their later models are better like the Z1, … Continue reading →

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B&K Ex-442 Amplifier – Power PCB Upgrade Boards now available!

Posted on June 30, 2025 by ray kodiak

My main amp of choice right now is the B&K Ex-442. I have upgraded the main filtering caps to brand new ones and even upgraded the rectifier Bridges to support higher inrush currents better (yes, I keep the old parts). … Continue reading →

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Chario Piccolo Satellite Speaker

Posted on June 11, 2025 by ray kodiak

Recently I have acquired some new to me Brand of speakers – Chario, model is Piccolo which are small satellite speakers… The are hand made in Italy (whatever that even means), and sounds very good for their small size, below … Continue reading →

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A Comparison of the Epos ES11 and ES12 Loudspeakers

Posted on March 16, 2025 by ray kodiak

Left (ES11) ~~ Right (ES12) Epos, a British loudspeaker manufacturer, is known for its minimalist design philosophy and focus on transparency and musicality. The ES11 and ES12 models are compact two-way speakers that share some design principles but differ in … Continue reading →

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The Importance of Amplifier Quality in Music Systems: Spotlight on Hi-Fi and B&K Amplifiers

Posted on March 15, 2025 by ray kodiak

Amplifiers are the backbone of any high-quality music system, ensuring that speakers perform at their best by delivering clean, precise power. While speakers are the primary drivers of sound quality, the amplifier’s role in maintaining signal fidelity and dynamic range … Continue reading →

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comparing the EPOS ES11 vs. ES14 with YouTube video

Posted on March 9, 2025 by ray kodiak

The Epos ES11 and ES14 speakers are two iconic models from the British audio brand Epos, which gained prominence in the 1980s for its minimalist yet innovative speaker designs. Below is a comparison of the two models, along with their … Continue reading →

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Cambridge SoundWorks Ensemble speaker 1988 – Quick Review

Posted on March 8, 2025 by ray kodiak

I found a great thrift store deal for $7 on some small speakers, likely made from MDF. They are painted white and feature decent drivers while being surprisingly heavy for their size. A video showcasing them is available on my YouTube channel. Continue reading →

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Quick Restoration of a Yamaha CD-30 (August 1997) – Japan

Posted on January 24, 2025 by ray kodiak

New CD Players that sound good, meaning Audiophile quality sound or close to it, also cost a lot of money, even when you adjust for any inflation comparing costs in the 80s vs now / anyways, I think many are … Continue reading →

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EPOS m22 speakers!

Posted on November 5, 2024 by ray kodiak

A new addition to my equipment collection! These sold originally for $1,995 + tax + shipping, but I managed to find them locally for $400 used / they come with their metal grills, but I took them off for listening … Continue reading →

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