tube research labs gt 400s, sound lab a1s, Golden triode pre, oracle premier mk 2, dynavector arm, arc ph3se, Paul's cables, I sure do miss that man!
The first system you had that was "high end/audiophile", by you standards
I did have some others before, but the first system that hooked me on this passion/hobby and would still be pretty good today was:
Stacked Large Walnut Advents, with the top ones upside down so the tweeters were close together,
Yamaha CA-1000 integrated (usually run in the class A mode)
Yamaha top end direct drive turntable (YP-800?) with ADC XLM II cartridge
Yamaha CT-7000 tuner
Early Monster interconnects and speaker cables
Advent cassette deck
Teac reel to reel with 10" reels (model ?)
The first thing(s) that were replaced was the Large Advents that gave way to a pair of
Dahlquist DQ-10.
From that system I have gone on to several others that I have enjoyed, but I do remember that first one.
Stacked Large Walnut Advents, with the top ones upside down so the tweeters were close together,
Yamaha CA-1000 integrated (usually run in the class A mode)
Yamaha top end direct drive turntable (YP-800?) with ADC XLM II cartridge
Yamaha CT-7000 tuner
Early Monster interconnects and speaker cables
Advent cassette deck
Teac reel to reel with 10" reels (model ?)
The first thing(s) that were replaced was the Large Advents that gave way to a pair of
Dahlquist DQ-10.
From that system I have gone on to several others that I have enjoyed, but I do remember that first one.
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@tomic601 - yep, there was that ARC v. C-J what sound are you after. I didn't keep up with C-J; met Bill Thalmann years later as an independent. The ARC stuff changed several times- they had that "analog module" or whatever it was called (one of the times I got to meet Wm. Z) and they went into their "white period" at a certain point-- sort of bleached, dry, more analytical. I don't really keep up with ARC either. I did buy a stash of parts, including tubes, for my ancient Dual 75a (which I am the first owner of, still have the warranty card and price list) before the company got sold the first time. The history of audio equipment is itself sort of a field of endeavor. I think I mentioned I was chatting with a designer of that Quintessence, and he built crossovers for ESS back in the day, and is still designing and making equipment. I did get to meet Peter Walker many years ago- he was pleasant, but I didn't rattle his cage. So much history, and I only know the obvious stuff. Somebody I knew at the gym had a pair of Dayton-Wright electrostatic in non-working condition. Go figure! I'll bet even 1/2 a Concert Grand could kick ass. |
Around 1982 Technics SL-1600MKII turntable Pioneer PL1000 turntable Rodec SM200 Mixer Pioneer SPEC-4 power amp Soundcraftsman SP4001 EQ/pre amp Teac X10R R2R dbx 224 Type II noise reduction unit dbx 3bx dynamic range expander Original Bose 901 speakers with chrome stands Over the past three years, I've given it all away except the R2R and dbx components |
80s (Single) McIntosh 5100 integrated Bozak Concert Grands (these babies were the size of refrigerators) 90s (Married) Pioneer Elite VSX 90 5.1 Paradigm surround with powered subwoofer Current (Still married but I said screw it, I want large speakers again) RPi4 Streamer REM ADI-2 FS DAC Luxman 509x Integrated Magnepan 1.7i |
@mijostyn: The Marantz tube preamp has withstood the test of time. I gather than the ARC SP3-a-1 (updated to some other nomenclature) is also still a contender, though I found both the SP3 and the later sp10-mk ii, though glorious in some respects, to be simply too noisy for the Avantgarde horns. But, in the right system, with a different sensitivity to noise, and perhaps some mods (I did have the SP 10 back and forth to Minn. many times, including for some "hot rod" version), they are classics too. I much wanted to put a Marantz 7 tube in the vintage system, but I didn’t want to pay the tariff given the nature of the system and the fact that I have another, "main" system to play. But, those are the bomb. After what, more than 60 years? ( suck at math) |
In 1973, I had stacked Advents driven by the original Phase Linear 700 (no jokes please, I was 18 years old), a Quintessence preamp (rare bird, though Bill Leebens wrote about it somewhat recently) and a Technics SP-10 with custom plinth, a couple of arms and cartridges. By 1975, I had done a complete about face-- all ARC tube stuff (still have that first ARC amp, though many followed it, all in the same vein --ARC tube stuff in the 60-75 watt/channel range) and Quad ESLs. I still have the Quads too, and after being refurbished, use them in my vintage system. I have owned that pair of speakers since around 1973-4. It’s been a long road, but as others say, it’s the journey, not the destination. |
Denon DP790, Denon Arm, Audioquest AQ-404, Hegeman HAPI 2 preamp, Modified Hafler DH-100 i built myself with inputs from Sensible Sound ( remember that rag ? authors / tweaks… KEF kit 104 ab in massively braced cabinets my pattern maker Dad and i constructed ( cabinet within a cabinet ), Fulton speaker wire, with IC Sumiko used to backdoor to usa from Japan… fun. |
@mesch IF you were in Columbus, Ohio i maybe sold you that excellent sounding system….ha. The MMT with modifications, rewire, is still competitive today…. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/3803#&gid=1&pid=18 |
Linaeum Model 10 speakers, McCormack DNA1, Synergistic cables, California Audio Labs CDP. Originally on a 2x12 plank, then moved to the rack currently in the corner. Same room. We have come a long way in 30+ years. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367 |