How many speakers and AMPS do you own, and why?


This question is one of curiosity, and those that answer or reply must have only one dedicated room in which they listen, no second systems set up etc..I'm generally wondering if I'm the only nut that has numerous pairs of speakers and amps (integrated and seperates). I find it hard to part with them, no rational reason why. Maybe I'm a hoarder, or maybe I'm a collector, or maybe I'm just insane. 

128x128audioguy85

Just recently sold off my second pair of speakers which I had stored up in an adjacent room (not part of a second(ary) system). I only have one setup and listening room, that’s it; one pair of main speakers + a pair of subs, and three stereo amps covering their respective driver segment as part of an active setup. No double up (or more) with the remaining gear - not even cables, though I have some additional lengths of Mundorf Silver/Gold interconnect wire, some RCA and Neutrik XLR and speaker connectors, plus a stereo length of Duelund tinned copper speaker cables that I used in a shotgun config. at one point.

I bought my current speakers 2nd hand (from a cinema in Germany) in a slightly different version with smaller horns on top than what I have now, really as an experiment into active configuration. By no means were they a random this-will-have-to-do choice; I knew the speakers, not least the MF/HF comp. driver very well from reputation in their pro cinema segment, and only had to add a third amp for the mid bass section (the digital XO and the rest I had already). I thus embarked on the active from-ground-up journey while still having my other pair of all-horn, passively configured speakers as a back-up. Eventually I replaced the MF/HF horns with their larger big-auditorium sibling (using the same comp. driver, which was orig. developed for use with the this larger horn), which fits with their mounting kit on the same bass bin as this was actually the original design intended with the larger horn.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Beautifully finished, handmade all-horn speakers, lovely as they were, gave their place to an industrial product, looking that as well. Some of my audio friends, prior to listening to my current speaker setup, uttered: "How could you do it??" The lament was obvious - that is, until listening had its say. Those Uccello’s (my previous speakers) were wonderful, though. Some of the best midrange I’ve ever heard, and I sorely miss their beautiful wood finish (that actually felt, looked and smelled like wood). Oh well..

At the moment I have just one phono pre, power conditioner, and one pair of speakers. I have two subs, two turntables, two preamps and 5 power amps (3 of one kind). 7 of those pieces are old school stuff from 70's and 80's.

 

Luv that Just One. The man must have a will of iron.

I had just one turntable a VPI TNT One and a Versa 1.2. Oh wait ...

I had just two turntables both from the last century and then Upscale got me with a sale on the VPI Avenger with printed arm. This was the top VPI arm not so long ago. Since then the turntables have bred like rabbits. 

Next was a Clearaudio Panzer with Universal and TT5 arm for a Goldfinger and a Koetsu Blue Lace diamond. Neither cartridge worked in the TT5. Put the Goldfinger in the Universal arm which worked great. Then I made the mistake of asking the dealer what was the ideal arm/turntable for the Koetsu. Now I'm waiting on a Grand Prix/Triplanar which they promise will be ready real soon now.

Still can't believe the Goldfinger wouldn't work in their own arm. Prolly never occurred to them that some madman would put their top cartridge in an entry level arm. 

* phono stages: two Lumis, two Manley Steelheads and a Nagra Classic in a pear tree. See! Just one Nagra.

 

Oh wait the topic was speakers and amps.

1. Eminent Tech Super LFT8 and Manley Lab 440.

2. Gallo Nucleus Reference and Manley Stingray

3. Replica JBL Hartsfield and VTL 500

Let’s see….21 speakers (not pairs, and 4 not currently in use), 9 amps/preamps/AVR’s.

Why? 3 separate systems.