CREEK CAS 4140/ 3140 FM Tuner WARNING:....You may want to LISTEN to more Music!
For some Unknown reason,I'm going backwards in Audio,likely budget related mostly,and I'm not impressed with current reliability issues of new gear,the cost of repairing it,or it not being worth it(landfill).. or worse,the Designer will not repair it.
Seems lately,a few people I've recently come in contact are too,choosing to restore vintage and High end Audio.
Saw my first pair of Duntech Soverign,Biggest speakers I have ever been in a room with!...Holy Crap,400 lbs ea.,too!
Unfortunately their woofers need re-foaming,so no chance of a Listen.Bummer!
I had a local opportunity to grab a vintage Creek pair.
Approximately 25 years ago,shortly after moving to Ontario CANADA,I listened to this Lil Creek CAS 4140 Integrated,with some special edition Tannoy Mercury's,& a Linn Axis,and all I remember it had a moving coil cartridge,and that combo blew me away!
I went back the following week to buy the Demo Creek,but it had been sold,and a newer version was coming out.
I waited & read a review of it in Stereophile,and it was not well received,it bombed,so I passed on ordering the new Model,and kinda forgot about Creek for many long years.
Even,after 25 years I remembered,and cherish the memories of the then owner of London Audio,sharing his personal speakers and setting up such a high quality budget Turntable system,one quiet evening for a recently arrived B.C boy to audion,Thanks Steve!..so,as you've likely guessed,I jumped all over this used Creek CAS pair.(These have White lettering,not Green.
Well,I was a little apprehensive upon setting them up,wondering whether this would turn out to be a personal version of an Audio Urban Legend,or really if what I had heard many years ago,was as great as I remembered?
Turns out even the FM Tuner is Absoultely Stellar,turns out this is the best tuner I have ever owned,giving good Bass and a rich full-bodied sound,even though I'm using just a simple T aerial.
Its Green digital display gets brighter as the signal is stronger,how cool is that!......definitely both Keepers,all ways wanted a matching FM only tuner!
Fired up the Cas 4140,running through my Altec(Z-19 crossover mod/cloned Birch plywood cloned cabs),and popped on a Canadian dvd I'd just picked up,Natalie MacMaster,Live in Cape Breton.If you have never heard of her she is Canadian,and Boy can she Rock a Fiddle,my Daughter came down,and said Wow,can she ever play,look at her go!
Love it when that happens!
Later that night ran MANY cd's,Female vocals,mostly,light Acoustic,then put on a cd called Enigma,AMAZING,I have never heard this cd sound so damed good,this amp is so very detailed,and considering their are no Tone controls(minimalist design,I like that too,)I felt it was perfectly suited to my needs,and older ears too,as well showing that my cd/dac combo was capable of better sound,Wow,now that was a Big Surprise!
My opinion,if you have Altecs,or for that matter any other horn speaker,and are on a limited budget,don't pass this VERY SMALL Integrated by,its looks are total opposite its tonal character,it has lots of reserve power too,and without a sign of brightness on my horns,and w/out tone controls,just a Balance control. Whoda Thunk!
I feel this unit may work well with just about any horn speaker,but can't say for sure,anybody else try out this combo?
If you were thinking of buying/building a tube amp for your horns,or need to wait till your kids get older,and want a Musical,warm,detailed,get up-n-dance solid state on for size,it may provide everything you wished for?
Don't say I didn't warn ya,if you partner grabs you for a Dance!
They don't go for to much on the bay,but they're getting hard-n-harder to find,however you can fix em!
Just saying audio Boys-n-Girls this amp works 'Very Well' with my modded Altec19's.
.....AND it has a Killer Phono stage,I think there is a switch or it can be converted to moving coil inside the unit,sorry I've forgotten,and don't have a manual?.....Tell me what more do you need!!!
Tonights concert......The TREWS,Acoustic
Altec Concert Kenny