[Vintage-Audio] Are You Using Vintage Audio Gear?

[Salmons, Michael]

Hi Duane, it's been a long time since we've talked. I have been crazy busy making web pages for the librarian-bosses at my workplace. they've got restless intellects, I tell you what. I put the kids to bed and despite the fact I'm exhausted, I thought I'd catch up on some leisurely online reading for the first time in... months?

Anyway, I'm glad your question came up. I've been curious what others on the list are using for their systems. I have talked to you several times about your own gear. Here's what I've been using.

For private listening I have a space on our bookshelves with a comfortable chair nearby: Proton 400 tuner connected to a homemade cubical quad antenna mounted to the highest point to which I have easy access, the ceiling of the front porch. The amp is a Leak Delta 70, a very smooth sounding early transitor amp. I also plug in my Macbook pro into the Leak and play high quality MP3 files through this system. I monitor it through DCM Macrophone shelf speakers (specifically designed to be listened to at low listening levels, at which they excel, although they sound good turned up, too). Typically though I listen to the radio with Sennheiser HD420 headphones. I'll swap them out for a pair of Audio Technica ATH-3s occasionally because I like the midrange on those (but the bass of the Sennheisers is vastly superior).

Record playing setup: I run two systems on the same rack in case of component failure. I don't like to be without records for very long. System A consists of a Kenwood KR-6600 receiver, Yamaha CDX-530 CD player, NAD 5120 turntable and Astatic cartridge (not sure of the model). This I monitor using Boston A-150 speakers. System B has a Pioneer SA-6800 amp, Kenwood KT-7500 (I like Kenwood tuners!), Philips 755 CD burner-player and Harman Kardon T55C turntable with Empire 500 cartridge. This system I listen to with diminutive but powerful EPI M60 speakers.

Why vintage? For one, I am a music lover. Two stereo channels is all I need (or want) to enjoy it. I don't need surround sound and in fact have only rarely enjoyed surround sound- the technology is in its infancy and sounds artificial to me. So the latest crop of surround sound systems, which usually sacrifice high fidelity for the novelty of multiple channels, in my opinion, won't do. I'll only consider gear that has the main purpose of reproducing music. And the best gear available of this sort has already been produced, frankly, unless we're talking about five-figure systems (see below).

The other factor is money. I need to have multiple music sources to be happy, one because I enjoy the contrast and two because I need music with me everywhere I go. So I have several pieces of equipment. I have found some of my equipment for free, some for very cheap indeed, and a few pieces I sought out specifically and had to pay premium prices accordingly. But even in the latter case it's a fraction of what I would spend for a new, truly competent system. 

The other factor is sound quality. I like the sound of tubes, but I am just as attracted to the sound of really good early transistor amps. There is a clarity and smoothness that you can only get nowadays, again, with megabucks- megabucks, as I've already stated, I don't have. But monetary considerations aside, these old transistor amps, the good ones, have such a fantastic sound in and of themselves, I want these specific pieces. I wouldn't part with them even if someone gave me the money to buy something new in the same ballpark.

hope this helps you in your quest for info, Duane.  


-----Original Message-----
From: vintage-audio-bounces at mailman.qth.net on behalf of Duane Fischer, W8DBF
Sent: Fri 10/26/2007 4:24 PM
To: vintage-audio at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Vintage-Audio] Are You Using Vintage Audio Gear?
 


Hello All,

I am wondering just how many of you are using a vintage stereo system or 
parts of one combined with more modern equipment? If so, please tell us what 
you have, what you play and why you like the older gear?

Thank you. This could make for some fascinating reading.


Duane Fischer, W8DBF/WPE8CXO
dfischer at usol.com
HHI: Halligan's Hallicrafters International
http://www.w9wze.net
HHRP: Historic Halligan Radio Project
hhrp.w9wze.net

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