andx0r
Well-Known Member
The past year has been a fun time. I quit my job of 5 years (Carrier HVAC technician) to go back to trade school for a semester and get some extra learnin' in and try to get a better job. I've since gotten said better job, working for my local gubbmint and decided to celebrate with a new system.
The audio timeline basically goes:
- Sold my Sony ES setup to a fellow AK-er.
- Sold my Mirage M5-si speakers and Music Hall Marimba speakers on ebay.
- The Focal Daline 3 speakers I decided to keep were murdered by the cat.
- I got some Boston HD5's free from another AKer but they needed foam. The friend I asked to refoam them still hasn't gotten to them, lol.
- At that point I just said 'meh' and packed up all my audio stuff and was content to listen on the computer with my AudioEngine D1 and Audio Technica headphones.
Then I got my new job and decided it was time to rebuild. I started by picking up a set of Focal 705V's on closeout:
They sound great, but can't quite match the bass response of the transmission-line Dalines, and are a bit undersized for my space. Turning the loudness knob up on my amp a little bit helps. They'll do for now.
Then I picked up my first DAC and first tube anything, a Musical Paradise MPD1 mk2:
Also pictured - cheap TEAC CD player and iPod full of ALAC files, some Amazon special power conditioner, some BJC cables, and my prized $2.25 Onkyo cassette deck.
Then I pulled my Technics SL-1500 (with SL-1200mk2 feet and dust cover) out of mothballs:
And last weekend, I got the last piece of the puzzle, from AK-er silversport:
My first McIntosh, an MA6200! I pestered him about this thing for ages, but eventually we were able to meet up and get the transaction done. It really does sound fantastic. It's got an older workover from Audio Classics, and apart from a couple of bad bulbs, it's in great shape. I've probably heard a couple of dozen integrateds over the years, and this is the first one to knock my former Onkyo Integra A8087 off it's pedestal as my favorite.
Eventual plans are to move up the Focal line for speakers, maybe to a set of Aria 906's or something. And then maybe find a second-hand McIntosh D100 DAC. I'd also like to get a small computer and external HDD to keep my audio files on/surf the internet while on my listening couch.
But for now, I'm very happy with what I've got! Also, I'd like to buy a house sooner than later so I'll probably not be spending too much on audio for a while.
The audio timeline basically goes:
- Sold my Sony ES setup to a fellow AK-er.
- Sold my Mirage M5-si speakers and Music Hall Marimba speakers on ebay.
- The Focal Daline 3 speakers I decided to keep were murdered by the cat.
- I got some Boston HD5's free from another AKer but they needed foam. The friend I asked to refoam them still hasn't gotten to them, lol.
- At that point I just said 'meh' and packed up all my audio stuff and was content to listen on the computer with my AudioEngine D1 and Audio Technica headphones.
Then I got my new job and decided it was time to rebuild. I started by picking up a set of Focal 705V's on closeout:
They sound great, but can't quite match the bass response of the transmission-line Dalines, and are a bit undersized for my space. Turning the loudness knob up on my amp a little bit helps. They'll do for now.
Then I picked up my first DAC and first tube anything, a Musical Paradise MPD1 mk2:
Also pictured - cheap TEAC CD player and iPod full of ALAC files, some Amazon special power conditioner, some BJC cables, and my prized $2.25 Onkyo cassette deck.
Then I pulled my Technics SL-1500 (with SL-1200mk2 feet and dust cover) out of mothballs:
And last weekend, I got the last piece of the puzzle, from AK-er silversport:
My first McIntosh, an MA6200! I pestered him about this thing for ages, but eventually we were able to meet up and get the transaction done. It really does sound fantastic. It's got an older workover from Audio Classics, and apart from a couple of bad bulbs, it's in great shape. I've probably heard a couple of dozen integrateds over the years, and this is the first one to knock my former Onkyo Integra A8087 off it's pedestal as my favorite.
Eventual plans are to move up the Focal line for speakers, maybe to a set of Aria 906's or something. And then maybe find a second-hand McIntosh D100 DAC. I'd also like to get a small computer and external HDD to keep my audio files on/surf the internet while on my listening couch.
But for now, I'm very happy with what I've got! Also, I'd like to buy a house sooner than later so I'll probably not be spending too much on audio for a while.