Radio Road: Re: WHAT IS MISSING FROM THE SEQUERRA MODEL 1 TUNER? by robertdimpel@comcast.net

Hi Andras...

Just spoke with Tom Cadawas (Sequerra's Lead Tech) who built the first 250 Sequerra's... he said that he was unaware of any issues relating to gain or noise and that there must have been other issues causing the problem, however he did indicate that some of the early prototypes may have made it out to the public.

According to Tom, Serial # 1001 is actually the First Sequerra Model 1 to be produced, and stated that the sensitivity of the Sequerra Model 1 is around 1.7uv... not 55uv and while there is one tuner that when properly aligned will have better specs... sonically it's not accurate, nor does it have the seductive low end or physical appeal of the Sequerra. Tom concluded by saying that the Sequerra is virtually indistinguishable from a properly aligned 10B.

My own Model 1 picks up stations 30 miles away with a 3" piece of wire for an antenna... that's a clue!

Tom is the best tuner man in the country and was originally the lead tech for Marantz in Woodside. Shortly after the model 20 was produced, Dick Sequerra and Sid Smith left Marantz to start their own company... but they had a problem... the prototype changed frequency on it's own every 20 minutes, after 2 years of effort, Dick approached Tom to bail them out... Tom resolved the issue in less than two weeks. Dick had the "size ratio" of the antenna and oscillator coils in the front-end reversed... sometimes all you need is another pair of eyes.

The original Sequerra was a technological and sonic masterpiece using a voltage driven Analog front-end... in addition, with the exception of the final audio output stage it's completely balanced front to back which gives it a dynamic range of over 100db... Sonically you would think you're listening to a CD through vacuum tube gear.

It also incorporated miniature air-trimmers instead of the cheap compression ceramic jobs that drift all over the place, and featured an 18 pole IF that gives it incredible adjacent channel rejection. It was completely modular with all the RF sections isolated in their own Stainless Steel enclosures. The multiplex and audio board is also isolated in its own enclosure, away from the power-supply.

The moral of the story is...

Nothing is "missing" and there are no "dark secrets"... anyone that has issues with the Sequerra or a 10B, has one that isn't working properly. If you love music, accept no substitutes... buy a Sequerra; and if you own a Sequerra or a 10B and would like it to be the best it can possibly be, send it to Tom for alignment!

Audiogon Member
DimpelR