Tubed gear. Try as I might I do not get the love shown for it here. I've lugged home new and vintage, restored and original on the basis that anything that looks that cool just has to sound wonderful
Akai indeed... Couple of years back, I bought slightly used Akai ATT022U table, to replace my old Kenwood KD-1600 which had loads of electrical (and grounding) issues. It seemed to be in mint condition, it even had the original box!Akai
I hear you! It's been a lot of blood, sweat and tears with 2230s--you think you have it fixed (what could go wrong now? I've recapped just about everything!), then a channel starts cutting out and you get that tired feeling in your bones.Definitely my Marantz 2230 it's been chasing a dragon trying to get it properly working. I don't really want to put more into it and frankly I don't really know of any good techs in Dallas. I've pretty much thrown in the towel on it for now. Eventually I'll replace it with a nice tube receiver that's been properly serviced. It's shame it's a really nice sounding receiver when it's actually working.
The 1250 has a great tuner section though.Sx 1250- not really a let down as much a personal revelation that I had absolutely no need for all that power. And I like separates a whole lot better. And I have no need for a tuner.
I'd have to go with Cornwalls on this one. I searched and searched for the right pair finally driving 12 hours round trip to pick them up. Every time I cranked them up, the woofers broke up on me. They just couldn't handle the coals.
Their 12AU/AX7's aren't for me either and the only output tubes I've heard are 6BQ5's and those are wonderful sounding.I can't bring myself to like Mullard tubes.
Marantz 2230 update: Well, sometimes you need to call in a professional. Catrafter rebuilt my phono board, kindly explaining and correcting my errors (if you put that big blue cap in backwards your 2230 will not thank you for it), then including a hand-written (now framed & hanging over the mantle) schematic about how to re-install it. The 2230 lives again! Sadly, it must now leave my list of frustrating equipment (what will I do with my free time now?).
Oh, believe me, I own up to it, and I quote myself: "Now before you get all hot and bothered on me, this is a sad tale of bad luck, not a bad receiver. The 2230 is an outstanding receiver." I was clear about that. This thread is as much about bad luck, inexperience, too-high expectations, etc. as it is about gear that disappointed. There is, perhaps, no "disappointing gear," just consumers whose expectations did not match the design of the product. I loved my Zenith clock radio for many years until one of my mother's boyfriends left a Heathkit tube amp and speaker (yes, just one speaker!) in our apartment. Then the Zenith didn't sound so great anymore. And obviously, like anything on the Internet, consider the source. I am an unwashed amateur, not a professor of music nor a seasoned technician, so my opinions and experiences are just that--no more.Between the three pieces of hi-fi that disappointed you, the gear was never at fault. Hmmmm
I've played with speakers that had monster woofers and have been similarly disappointed!Hi-Fi gear that I find myself most disappointed with....
Sansui speakers...
Talk about kabuki. Thats all the bass they could get out of a 16in woofer?!?!
If you put it that way, then i am disappointed in my sansui 9090db that died and my THREE hafler dh200/220 amps that i got on ebay that have issues.This thread is as much about bad luck, inexperience, too-high expectations, etc. as it is about gear that disappointed.
If you put it that way, then i am disappointed in my sansui 9090db that died and my THREE hafler dh200/220 amps that i got on ebay that have issues.
This thread doesn't make a lot of sense if its about good gear that has problems. This thread makes perfect sense if its about gear working as the engineers intended yet the results were poor.