Posts
1181
Joined
12/16/2006
Location
Dam Mam, QA
Edited Date/Time
2/11/2012 4:00pm
Just wondering. Last few years I've been buying and then selling gear and keep upgrading.
If so chime in and let me know. My vinyl collection has grown to about 1000 albums, couple hundred SACD's. and just got a new DAC to feed from my old iMac to DAC to Integrated. Pretty amazed at how well the DAC makes the digital music sound as good (almost as my turntable).
My set-up:
2.1 (Hate surround sound for music. Movie set-up I use it, and occasionally for a something like Pink Floyd's new 5.1 SACD.
Rega Brio Integrated r
Rega DAC--just bought and had a Cambridge DacMagic
VPI Classic 1 turntable with Ortofon Bronze cart--with a Simaudio phono amp.
Oppo SE BDP93
Nola Boxer Speakers.
Kimber Kable cords and connects.
Audirvana for music software off the Mac.
And I thought motocross was expensive!! The only good thing is you don't lose near the value of your gear compared to buying a new bike, riding it for a year or two and selling for half to 3/4 the cost.
Anyway--Hello Old friends...hope all is well. I still watch SX and outdoors...but kids, working, traveling, and all that crap leads to little time for bullshitting on here, as I used to do several years back.
If so chime in and let me know. My vinyl collection has grown to about 1000 albums, couple hundred SACD's. and just got a new DAC to feed from my old iMac to DAC to Integrated. Pretty amazed at how well the DAC makes the digital music sound as good (almost as my turntable).
My set-up:
2.1 (Hate surround sound for music. Movie set-up I use it, and occasionally for a something like Pink Floyd's new 5.1 SACD.
Rega Brio Integrated r
Rega DAC--just bought and had a Cambridge DacMagic
VPI Classic 1 turntable with Ortofon Bronze cart--with a Simaudio phono amp.
Oppo SE BDP93
Nola Boxer Speakers.
Kimber Kable cords and connects.
Audirvana for music software off the Mac.
And I thought motocross was expensive!! The only good thing is you don't lose near the value of your gear compared to buying a new bike, riding it for a year or two and selling for half to 3/4 the cost.
Anyway--Hello Old friends...hope all is well. I still watch SX and outdoors...but kids, working, traveling, and all that crap leads to little time for bullshitting on here, as I used to do several years back.
We need snow..the resorts got a nice dump a couple weeks back...but man, it's been brutally dry.
My 'wood cabinette' system is purring along fine, no recent additions other than new vinyl. Been getting some premo 180 & 200 gram LPs from SoundStageDirect and MoFi. I put a new Shure M97xe cartridge on the PL-530 and it sounds great for an ecomony cart. I printed out a Stevenson protractor to align it, but ended up using a friends MoFi GeoDisc. That thing works great and I need to get one eventually.
I still need to have my RT-1020H (15ips deck) rebuilt, so til then still using the 1020L (7.5ips) deck sings fine. Want to experiment with the ATR mastering tape, they claim its a +10db and man you can hammer that tape and it wont saturate ! But Ive been waiting because I really want to test it at 15ips. For now its the usual Quantegy 456.
On the SPEC rack, I recently got my SPEC-1 and SPEC-4 both recapped finally, all solder joints reflowed and all pots hosed with DeOxit. I will tell ya, fresh caps make ALL the difference! Here is what my buddy sent me regarding the pre-amp:
"100% of all the original electrolytic caps were replaced. I use a combination of Panasonic FM, FC, and SU, Nichicon PW and HE, and lots of Elna Silmic II's in the signal path. Several of the power supply caps were increased in value, more to get the proper lead spacing to fit the board than for the benefits of having a larger cap, but that is a good reason as well. :-) The DC output of the phono stage fluctuated a bit more than I would have liked to have seen, so the input differential pair transistors on both channels were replaced with new matched pairs from Fairchild (KSA992's). That took care of the wandering DC. Other than that, I found a loose wirewrap post that was causing the left channel to drop out, but a simple resoldering cured it. I also replaced the pilot lamp with an LED, since these original lamps are so often burnt up. Now it should be good for 25+ years."
He also created a cool mod to the power amp that keeps the DC bias offset from drifting. If youve ever had to dink with offset, you know how that can be a nuisance when it gets too far outta wack as the amp heats up. Plus for whatever reason they always come with the cheapest little trimpots that are crazy sensitive and hard to adjust.
I also moved the rack into the living room under the flat panel. The HPM-150s are too close to the rack itself right now, so I need to reposition them. I also need to raise them about 6" also to get the soundstage right, but will do that soon as it warms up outside and I can make some good bases.
Oh, I also found a sweet PL-630 for the SPEC rack and put a middle of the road cartridge in it, but want to upgrade on that this spring. As I know you are aware, you can throw down serious money on a high-end cart-stylus.
Those cheesey Sony towers are for the Bravia flat panel, so pay no attention to that late-model junk.
I agree with 2-channel for audio, but I have only just a measly 85 watt Denon PMA-680R integrated amp.
Denon DP29F turntable.
Klipsch KG5.5 towers
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Free shipping: VITALMX
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
When we heard those KG5.5's that was it! Game over.
We bought a set with oak cabinets, and a year later while we were on vacation, our house got broken into and they got those along with a bunch of other a-v gear. (left the Denon Amp, though!)
The KG's were superceded by KF's and we didn't like them. Couldn't find another set of KG's locally, but I tracked a guy down in Texas that had a new set (black, though. not as nice to look at)
(these aren't mine. just a quickie from the web)
Now I'll reply to your post. WOW!!!!
Yeah, that's what got me back into music. I was completely out of it, not inspired at all--and it was something I really missed. But the whole digital revolution took all the fun out of it.
So, I'm in Best Buy a few years ago and notice a Sony TT. I'm like--$100 bucks? Ok, this might be fun and then bought a cheap Yamaha AVR that came with those cheap surround speakers. Then bought a few vinyl records they had in stock and hit the used record store. Took off from there--I was hooked. And so far the journey has been one of the more fun hobbies I would compare to anything.
I cleaned up our used record store of all their MoFi records and discs, and their quad albums. I have a good collection. Also shop at Music Direct, Soundstage, and Elusive Discs for online stuff. My only 200 gram album is the "Untitled" Almost Famous LP. But have tons of 180. Also have about 80 total MFSL LP's and 30 MFSL CD's and SACD's. Love the label and their productions. I was never a fan of Dead Can Dance until I bought their MFSL LP.
Right now, I have about 10K albums on digital file, and a lot of discs. So, I'm ripping to AIFF and routing them on the iMac into the DAC to the Integrated. So, I plan to only be vinyl and computer. After reading The Absolute Sound magazine 4 part series on Computer Audiophile I figured what the heck. And some of the downloads from HDTracks will rival any of the best vinyl productions. Of course all their doing at HDtracks is ripping from SACD or DVD-A discs. But I looked for software on ripping some of my DVD-A's and it was like $500. I only have about 30 so it's not worth it. And a friend of mine showed me a link where a guy rips his SACD's from a PS3. Still haven't really researched it much.
I don't know much about Reel to Reel. I know it's becoming more popular nowadays. But no nothing about it--even why you have two of them? Do you rip your LPs to it? What advantage do they offer in sonics?
Again...VERY nice set-up. I knew someone on here had to have interest in Hi-Fi.
My Top 5 Best Mastered and sounding LPS:
1. Dead Can Dance MFSL--Both vinyl releases.
2. Cars "Self-Titled" MFSL Vinyl
3. Steely Dan "Aja" SHM-SACD (It's absolutely first for pure sound)
4. Pink Floyd "Dark Side and Wish You Were Here" SACD's.
5. Fleetwood Mac "Rumours" 45 RPm LP Vinyl. (Unreal how well this was re-mastered and how good it sounds at 45rpm)
Couple MoFi or MFSL not impressed with:
1. Sister's of Mercy "First and Last and Always"
2. Foreigner "Double Vision"
3. Alice in Chains "Greatest Hits" SACD (Paid $50 for it--what was I thinking? Grunge is not made for high sonics.)
One day I'll attend a Hi-Fi show, but I heard to leave your wallet home!
Good to see ya Mike, hope all is well bud!
Regarding the digital stuff, other than the occasional SACD stuff I dont fool with it really. Well I do have regular CDs for convenience-sake in the truck, but for discriminating listening its 100% analog at my house.
Great to see you pop in here, and dont be a stranger.
Nothing beats listening to vinyl. You're forced to sit and listen and be a part of the music--which I like. And nothing better than getting a new MFSL record and listening to it's first play.
@Scottie-Yes, the cat did drag me in from the trash! ha. Hope all is well with you. I check in every once in a while. Don't recognize a lot of faces. BUt it looks like GuyB has turned this little old site into a nice venture. Good things happen to good people and GuyB is one of them. As are you, brother.
Holy mother of gawd thats a fucking baddass vintage system! I'm a vintage audio guy as well, but I now where near what you have. What I am still looking for is a pair of mid 80s Energy Reference 22 's or Energy Pro 22s or even Connoisseurs. Got any leads on a set?
The thing that pisses me off, is I used to sell eletronics back then and I had every opportunity to buy Energy, Denon, Teac, Nakimichi, B&O etc etc and crazy low prices. I almost bought 2 brand new Tascam reel to reels for something like 500 bucks from the area sales manager but I really didnt get into the audio end of it until years later lol.
I will always remember a column he did back in the 70's about buying a car stereo. He said he asked a salesman what to buy, and the guy said in a low whisper 'Nakamichi'
Satch wrote 'later I found out that 'nakamichi' was Japanese for 'VERY EXPENSIVE!'
It was a Nak CA-7A preamp with remote, SA-7A tuner, a Nakamichi Dragon cassette and THREE PA-7 power amps. Thats right, THREE of those monsters. (most guys would drool to have only one) Those things are very incredible with their Nelson Pass 'Stasis' technology.
Heres the stack (the Dragon wasnt in this picture)
Here are some close ups of one of the PA-7s
I had that rig hooked up to that pair of Klipsch Cornwalls I restored. They were mid 70s 'CBR' s. Meaning Cornwall Birch Raw. Man o man those rascals sound like heaven. Heres some pics of the restoration process I did on them, the first are from the eBay listing when I bought 'em. They were, *shudder* painted battleship gray with brand-x enamel paint. Talk about ruining up some truly high end loudspeakers.
I immediately took 'em down, pulled all the drivers and crossovers and began the misery of getting all that paint off, and then re-veneering them in birch like they were originally intended. Upon opening the backs, the insides were PERFECT still.
After the were emptied out, started stripping paint, and once that was done, did LOTS of body work to square up outside corners and fill voids. (polyester wood colored filler) After I got all the surfaces true, then veneered them with that nice Rockler 'peel-n-stick' birch veneer.
Once the exterior was stripped and perfect flat/square, I redid the baffles also.
Once all that was done, simply put the new birch veneer on and reinstall the drivers and front grilles.
All done excepting pull out the posterboard from inside and put in the drivers. Fresh raw birch just like they were when they were sold new.
And the beautiful thing is, they SOUND better than they look!
Pit Row
I would love to have those blocks right now. Have not ventured to the separate Pre and Amps yet. Way too costly.
This hobby can make motocross seem cheap. Especially when people have systems that hit the 6 figures.
I have a Pass Labs dealer here in town. Their business is right up the highway in CA from me. Been meaning to stop by but I can't buy anything and really just want to hear stuff. I don't think they'd like that.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=nakamichi+pa-7
The coolest part of that rig, at least to me, was the Dragon. That is, hands down, the most incredible cassette deck ever engineered. If you havent, Google that deck and read about what it would do, and all automatically. A true engineering & mechanical marvel even in todays times.
You are right, good power does help. With all the stuff I have, I really need a good power conditioner on each rig.
Once my son gets settled down one day, Im gonna give him all this Pioneer stuff and Im gonna build me ONE nice tube rig with two mono-blocks and get some Klipshhorns or some Cornwalls again.
Bobby, that is some cool looking quipment.
Mcintosh MC 2105 Power Amp
Mcintosh MX 114 Preamp
Thorens TD190-2 Turntable
Mcintosh XR 5 speakers. Just reconed em and they sound great. Kinda old school looking (in a bad way) for my tastes but I can overlook that for good sound.
I've got a computer full of all my ripped cd's that are for iPhone/pod use only. Honestly, you cant beat having that stuff on the road.
But, when I'm at home, the only way I'll listen to digital is through a good converter. I use a Lavry which is pretty much what we use in the studio as well.
SACD sounds great but I dont have a player for it at the moment.
Bobby, do yourself and favor and switch over to that ATR tape. The Ampex stuff really is junk in comparison. If you are used to seeing the Ampex reels, just get some pancakes and transfer it over to your reels
And get yourself one of these while you're at it
You cant beat a Studer machine. We use 2 827 machines at the studio for multi-track, but have an ATR100 for mix down. The ATR is a really nice machine, but nothing holds a candle to the build quality of the Studer. It really is a thing of beauty that not too many folks can appreciate anymore these days.
Yeah I want to buy some ATR but waiting til my 15ips deck is ready. Id love to have a Studer but thats the Rolls Royce and I have a Kia budget. Maybe a good Tascam someday. Thats a nice 1/4" 2-channel pictured, that would be perfect for final mixdowns. As for your 827s, thats good as it gets. Hell Id like to just watch you run that thing!
Arent those Lavry deals MEGA bucks ?
There is no way that is in anybody's budget - at least not the folks I know haha.
Lavry stuff is pretty expensive. I got mine used from a buddy and traded some gear that I wasn't using for it.
As for the Mcintosh stuff, I just got very lucky and got the power and preamp for a stupid cheap price ($450 for both). The front glass panels on both were cracked, preamp switch panel was completely broken, and the power amp wouldnt turn on.
Called Mcintosh, ordered up new glass for the fronts. Opened up the pieces of gear and fixed them both in about 3 hours with some new caps and a new switch assembly.
Their gear is exceptionally well documented and there are a few well known problems that I easily researched online. If the dude I got them from had any clue how easy it was to fix he would be pissed. All you gotta do is know how to use a capacitance meter and a soldering iron. Rest of the parts were under $10 at radioshack. I scored big time on that purchase.
I wont say the speakers are the best, but they work just fine for now. Got those on ebay. Cabinets and tweets were in fine shape, but the woofs were dry rotted. I got a few recone kits on ebay as well and went to work. A few hours and a lot of patience and I was up and running.
I don't really go crazy about the cabling, there are folks who spend mega bucks on that stuff and I think they are crazy. There was actually a thread a few years ago in a forum discussing the benefits of using wood, metal, or plastic wall outlet covers when plugging in your hifi gear. Some folks are out of their damn minds.
I worked with a dude from Hong Kong a few weeks ago. Didnt find out until after his session that he builds speakers. Blew me away - check this shit out http://www.loiminchayaudio.com/
Crazy world out there. He said the bookshelf speakers cost about 30 grand.
Damn.
My digital music when converted through my DAC and in a Hi-Rez format--really can rival vinyl. Of course nothing beats a well mastered album--nothing.
`lo Mike. How's my favorite liberal?
"Liberal"? Not even close. When I lived in Portland I really thought I had some liberal leanings. I do for social aspects. But economic wise--I'm all republican. Though after the Bush mess I had no other choice to vote for Obama. I'm pro Romney right now for purely business reasons. I did not like the strangle hold Obama put on venture capitalism taxes--that's the bread and butter of what makes America the best country. Ok enough...Hi-Fi talk is what I'm into and music. which is good to see a lot of people into.
Also I see you have a joined date of 2011. I have been on here talking politics in years...so you must of had another username? Sorry, I don't remember you from the name you're using now.
Post a reply to: Hey, Mon...anyone into Hi-Fi at Motodrive?