Aging Gear for Aging Ears


A couple of weeks ago I picked up a Kenwood KA-501 integrated amp to power a small system that's primarily used for background music in my combination mini-den/computer room. Since space is at a premium, a set of Totem Mites was chosen to pair with the amp, and the sound wasn't bad at all. Then I found myself wanting more bass than was possible with the Mites, and decided to hook up a pair of Genesis 1 speakers.Talk about serendipity....it's like the amp and speakers were made for each other. The 65 watt output from the KA-501 definitely helps the 8-inch woofers on the Genesis' deliver the goods. The sound is solidly mid-fi, but to my vintage ears, there's not much lacking. A Sansui TU-217 tuner is the source, and I found my toes tapping to the sound these pieces from the late 1970s project into the room. Sometimes it's good to let technical aspects and critical-listening practices take a vacation, kick back and enjoy the music.
discnik

Showing 1 response by normansizemore

I have a hard time these days with ‘audiophiles’, since I no longer consider myself one.  Had all the high end gear, Mac system, Levinson system, Krell etal’. Then one day while moving hooked up an old Sansui receiver and a pair of EPI 100’s along with my turntable to spin records while we packed.  My wife and I ended up sitting on the floor, sipping wine and listening to record after record, then she says to me, “where have you been keeping this at?”I was enjoying music like I hadn’t in years.  Now I’m a music lover.  My system consists of what sounds good to me, regardless of age (though it is all vintage) and snob appeal.
I had an enormous collection of gear, and when we moved I spent months listening to each piece. Sold off most all of it, and as mentioned kept what I couldn’t part with sonically.  Your “toes tapping” comment should tell you something.