Audiophile Kuruvila Jacob @ Vinyl Bungalow Kottayam

[Saket]

Thank you Record Player for bringing this thread to existence. People like me being too far from southern part of the country would have not even got a glimpse of Kuruvila sir & his enthusiasm without it. I always knew that an audiophile of this particular name exists, but you have shown it from a new dimension.

& Hats off to Kuruvila sir for putting up such set-ups & more importantly, maintaining the enthusiasm at this age too. God only knows if we guys would have energy (& of course money too) to pursue our cherished hobbies when we age!

My best regards to U2,

Saket

 

[Record Player]

Thank you Record Player for bringing this thread to existence. People like me being too far from southern part of the country would have not even got a glimpse of Kuruvila sir & his enthusiasm without it. I always knew that an audiophile of this particular name exists, but you have shown it from a new dimension.

& Hats off to Kuruvila sir for putting up such set-ups & more importantly, maintaining the enthusiasm at this age too. God only knows if we guys would have energy (& of course money too) to pursue our cherished hobbies when we age!

My best regards to U2,

Saket

Thanks Saket. Believe you me, this was indeed a pleasure for me to post my experience and I am gald I could reach this experience out to our members across India and the world.

Cheers...

 

[Hiten]

Nice collection of vinyls and highend turntables.
Audiophile man cave.
Regards

 

[mikehcm]

I remember meeting kuruvilajacob during 2012 audio meet, that is when he was describing about his hobbies and collections, it's good to see them in photos I'm not a veteran in music but I've just started getting into this, specially with vinyl I would like to know more, hope I will get an opportunity to visit his place some point of time.

 

[bhaskarcan]

Now since a part of Mr. Kuruvila's vinyl world is out for everyone to see, I would like to request him to show us some of his records which he considers to be not so common but still contains great music. And also any interesting story of collecting those awesome TT's /records.

This is for all of us who may not be lucky enough to get the experience of visiting him or his vinyl museum personally.

Best regards,

Bhaskar

 

[abhraneel]

Thanks RP ....wonderful post...
Hope to see more ...

cheers..
abhraneel

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Now since a part of Mr. Kuruvila's vinyl world is out for everyone to see, I would like to request him to show us some of his records which he considers to be not so common but still contains great music. And also any interesting story of collecting those awesome TT's /records.

This is for all of us who may not be lucky enough to get the experience of visiting him or his vinyl museum personally.

Best regards,

Bhaskar

I will certainly show you some of my records which I consider not so common as soon as possible. Wherever I go and who ever I meet, I bring up the topic of my hobbies. Many people give me leads of others possessing some records or players. Then I keep following up on these till I get them. I think all of you can also follow this line to get leads.I am not ashamed to climb up the attic to pick up records or players. I have done it several times when people will say that when they get help they will arrange to bring the stuff from the attic. Never give them the choice. Just volunteer to do it, otherwise, you may never get it! I have collected all my records in a span of 9 years. I did not know much about Turntables prior to that. The rarest TT that I posses is a Thorens TT on which you can play both sides of a record. It was made sometime between 1946-53 and it cost Rs 1500 in 1946. It is restored upto 90%. I will post separate thread when it is fully restored

 

[peace_sells]

Thank you Record Player for bringing this thread to existence. People like me being too far from southern part of the country would have not even got a glimpse of Kuruvila sir & his enthusiasm without it. I always knew that an audiophile of this particular name exists, but you have shown it from a new dimension.

& Hats off to Kuruvila sir for putting up such set-ups & more importantly, maintaining the enthusiasm at this age too. God only knows if we guys would have energy (& of course money too) to pursue our cherished hobbies when we age!

My best regards to U2,

Saket

Wow! I just came across this thread! Beautiful photos..actually even i had visited Mr. Jacob's house in May and i bought my first TT from him (the technics SL 1500 in the picture is mine now!:yahoo Even i had thought of taking a few pictures but i din't have any cam with me (my silly phone cam wouldn't have been able to capture the awesomeness of his entire collection)

Even i was amazed..from the moment i entered his house! I don't think i expressed it very well Mr. Jacob, but when you played the Dire Straits album on your NAD+AR setup i was awestruck.. Then when we moved to your main music room and you played me Floyd's The Wall on your Lenco (or was it Garrard 301)..mindblowing experience!

and of course..the hospitality was really nice..a true gentleman of a person! Thank you uncle. Would love to visit you again!

 

[ROBIN LANDANSON]

This is a great idea. How about starting a new thread 'Vinyle Meet - Kottayam'?

Yes, its great idea, would like to participate that meeting

 

[jenson]

RP - great thread

Mr. Kuruvilla - awesome set up

 

[hydra]

I had visited Mr. Kuruvila the sunday before last. I wanted see his record cleaning system in person, and pick up a few LPs from him. This was my second visit to his place -- I'd visited last when I had bought my Rega RP3, and Mr. Kuruvila had graciously offered to help install the cartridge for me.

Needless to say, I had a really great time listening to his immaculately restored Garrard, that rare JP turntable, and a couple of other turntables. The texture of the sound, and the sens of realism of the soundstage they throw is truly fantastic!

I had trouble selecting the LPs I wanted from the HUGE stock he had for sale. I managed to prioritize 30 or so over the afternoon. He was good enough to offer to clean them for me right away, and I could see and experience the process. The difference in the sound before and after his cleaning method is day and night! And it takes so little time for cleaning each record!

I could also experience the huge difference between my RP3 and his players. The cleaned records played flawlessly, with nary a crackle on his players, but there was a bit of crackle when I played them on my RP3. He did mention that he would have liked to take some more time with cleaning the records (most of the ones I chose were really dirty) and let the surfactant act for a bit before vacuuming the fluid away. I wanted to carry the records with me the same day, so I could not ask him to wait. I'm going to try and set up a similar system at my place -- I need to get a wet vacuum cleaner to begin with.

Thank you very much for your hospitality, the music, the LPs and the immediate cleaning, sir!

 

[tiger0691]

Very Good!
Wish to be with you

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Thank you Anup for your nice compliments. Yes, some really dirty records need a second cleaning. Listening to cleaned records really gives a good feeling. Today I did some comparison and JP Player beat all other players for it's clarity and detailing. May be it's got a rare combination of a grease bearing TT which is belt drive and has a very strong motor.So it's very similar construction to a Garrard 301 but belt drive. So it enjoys the advantage of high torque with lower rumble noise than an Idler. It would be good if new manufacturers of High end TT take a look at this combination

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Very Good!
Wish to be with you

You are welcome

 

[Norton]

Super thread on Jacob and his passion for the analogue world...looking forward to catch up in Udaipur

 

[navinsinha]

Kuruvila Sir,
What is JP player?

Thank you Anup for your nice compliments. Yes, some really dirty records need a second cleaning. Listening to cleaned records really gives a good feeling. Today I did some comparison and JP Player beat all other players for it's clarity and detailing. May be it's got a rare combination of a grease bearing TT which is belt drive and has a very strong motor.So it's very similar construction to a Garrard 301......

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Kuruvila Sir,
What is JP player?

Thank you Anup for your nice compliments. Yes, some really dirty records need a second cleaning. Listening to cleaned records really gives a good feeling. Today I did some comparison and JP Player beat all other players for it's clarity and detailing. May be it's got a rare combination of a grease bearing TT which is belt drive and has a very strong motor.So it's very similar construction to a Garrard 301......

JP player is made by a company in Japan and JP stands for Japan Phono motor Company. Though, you cannot find any details of this company on the net, I understand that they used to make transcription players for broadcasting purpose using NEAT arms . They have taken advantage of the merits of both the grease bearing TTs for smoother rotation, and belt drive suspension of a Linn Sondek and made a player ideal for radio broadcasting. It starts quite fast and the momentum helps the belt to take it from there and rotate the platter . It's suspension give isolation needed for low resonance. I feel it's a unknown hero among Turntables. All those who have listened to it have fallen in love with it including John.K.anthony and a few others

 

[Norton]

Jacob, your passion for the vinyl world and exotic TT's is infectious and has me in an absolute frenzy....thanks to you, i have managed to round up a couple of good TT's(Technics SL 1400 Mk2, Lenco 75, Thorens TD 125 Mk2, Thorens TD 124 Mk2, Luxman PD 282) and a decent collection of quality LP's........thank you Jacob......the Garrard 301 is missing but will get home soon......

 

[Jazzhead]

kuruvilajacob ... Mr Jacob , kudos on keeping the art of vinyl alive . I am purely a Digital user , I hope I am able to visit you some day to sample your treasures . Wish you many hours of happy listening in good health .

 

[kratu]

I've visited Mr Kuruvila Jacob's place last weekend. Truth be told, I've enjoyed the beauty of Kerala more than the turntables. I appreciate the hospitality extended both by him and his brother. I wanted to listen to vintage TTs and I did get the opportunity to listen to many well-regarded turntables.