Lendorien
New Member
Oddly enough, when I was growing up, we didn't really listen to music. I didn't actually pay attention to music til college in the 90s when an aunt gifted me an all in one stereo lp/radio/tape deck "rack" system that she'd inherited from an uncle. I discovered LPs and enjoyed them until the thing broke.
I got rid of the deck, but kept the speakers, a pair of floor standing Realistic 1010s from 1988. I gather that audio snobs think radio shack stuff is just ok, but I always thought they sounded great, and as I've gotten better equipment, I've kept them and have never regretted it. They have held up well too and honestly still look practically brand new, hardware included.
My main listening unit was, until a few years ago, a Yamaha rx-v363, the first receiver I ever bought. I currently have a Denon AVR-1912 hooked up to my main tv with a set of Polk Audio TL2600s. A nice set up that gets daily use for the tv and my occasional radio use.
My real music setup is in the basement. As a vintage video game collector, I have a reciever hooked up to a giant 32 inch Sony Triniton CRT tv and about 8 game systems shuttled through a game switch. I only use a 2 speaker setup for the kit.
Given that vintage systems require older available inputs, I kept a lookout for older AVRs that had them (S-Video especially). I eventually found a Yamaha Rx-V992 at Goodwill that served well enough for half a year. I got the remote for it on eBay. Good grief that thing is a huge remote. It looks like Andre the Giant next to all the others I have! I think the reciever needs some servicing though, because I always thought that the various sound fields seemed a bit off when used. It also needs a new lamp. The old one is terribly dim.
Recently, it was replaced by a beautiful condition Sony DA90ESG from 1997 (also a goodwill find that managed to retain the manual and remote) that has blown my mind with how great it sounds, even with my old Realistic speakers. Given that it originally retailed at $1600, I'm guessing it's really well built. Honestly, hearing vintage game music piped through it has been a thrill. Who could have thought that NES music could sound so good?
Wisely, I kept my favorite LPs for years, but had nothing to play them on for years until I got an Ion usb turntable in a closeout sale. It was cheap in more ways than one, but recently, I got an update in the form of a rescue from the curb, a Technics SL-Q6 direct drive unit that was in surprisingly good shape. I had to polish the acrylic cover due to scratches but a replacement stylus later, it's in regular use. For a curbside pickup, I'm amazed that everything on it works, from the optical sensor to the programmable functions. It sounds good too.
I don't do cassettes or 8-tracks yet, but I do have another Goodwill find, a Yamaha cdc-655 5-disc changer from 1995 that's also in great shape which gets regular use for my giant pile of random rock and indy music CDs.
I literally have tiny amounts of money to spend on audio equipment, and I've only recently caught the audio bug after finding my turntable. Sadly, thrifting is the only way I'll find my equipment and that sort of thing is very hit or miss. Good stuff rarely sits out for long.
I've been lurking here and slowly learning. I have some technical ability, so belts and even replacing capacitors are within my realm of capabilities (I've done a little vintage radio repair and love vintage electronics. Goes hand in hand with vintage video games, right?)
I'm no expert in equipment though, so this board has been my go-to place when looking at equipment at thrift stores. I'm also not sure I have much of an ear, except to say I much prefer the vinyl versions of my Steely Dan Albums to the CDs. And that I definitely could tell that the Sony AVR was better than the old Yamaha. But I will never be at the level of the True Audiophiles.
Anyway, that's my story. Thanks for all the great info here! You guys are great!
And now for photos.
I got rid of the deck, but kept the speakers, a pair of floor standing Realistic 1010s from 1988. I gather that audio snobs think radio shack stuff is just ok, but I always thought they sounded great, and as I've gotten better equipment, I've kept them and have never regretted it. They have held up well too and honestly still look practically brand new, hardware included.
My main listening unit was, until a few years ago, a Yamaha rx-v363, the first receiver I ever bought. I currently have a Denon AVR-1912 hooked up to my main tv with a set of Polk Audio TL2600s. A nice set up that gets daily use for the tv and my occasional radio use.
My real music setup is in the basement. As a vintage video game collector, I have a reciever hooked up to a giant 32 inch Sony Triniton CRT tv and about 8 game systems shuttled through a game switch. I only use a 2 speaker setup for the kit.
Given that vintage systems require older available inputs, I kept a lookout for older AVRs that had them (S-Video especially). I eventually found a Yamaha Rx-V992 at Goodwill that served well enough for half a year. I got the remote for it on eBay. Good grief that thing is a huge remote. It looks like Andre the Giant next to all the others I have! I think the reciever needs some servicing though, because I always thought that the various sound fields seemed a bit off when used. It also needs a new lamp. The old one is terribly dim.
Recently, it was replaced by a beautiful condition Sony DA90ESG from 1997 (also a goodwill find that managed to retain the manual and remote) that has blown my mind with how great it sounds, even with my old Realistic speakers. Given that it originally retailed at $1600, I'm guessing it's really well built. Honestly, hearing vintage game music piped through it has been a thrill. Who could have thought that NES music could sound so good?
Wisely, I kept my favorite LPs for years, but had nothing to play them on for years until I got an Ion usb turntable in a closeout sale. It was cheap in more ways than one, but recently, I got an update in the form of a rescue from the curb, a Technics SL-Q6 direct drive unit that was in surprisingly good shape. I had to polish the acrylic cover due to scratches but a replacement stylus later, it's in regular use. For a curbside pickup, I'm amazed that everything on it works, from the optical sensor to the programmable functions. It sounds good too.
I don't do cassettes or 8-tracks yet, but I do have another Goodwill find, a Yamaha cdc-655 5-disc changer from 1995 that's also in great shape which gets regular use for my giant pile of random rock and indy music CDs.
I literally have tiny amounts of money to spend on audio equipment, and I've only recently caught the audio bug after finding my turntable. Sadly, thrifting is the only way I'll find my equipment and that sort of thing is very hit or miss. Good stuff rarely sits out for long.
I've been lurking here and slowly learning. I have some technical ability, so belts and even replacing capacitors are within my realm of capabilities (I've done a little vintage radio repair and love vintage electronics. Goes hand in hand with vintage video games, right?)
I'm no expert in equipment though, so this board has been my go-to place when looking at equipment at thrift stores. I'm also not sure I have much of an ear, except to say I much prefer the vinyl versions of my Steely Dan Albums to the CDs. And that I definitely could tell that the Sony AVR was better than the old Yamaha. But I will never be at the level of the True Audiophiles.
Anyway, that's my story. Thanks for all the great info here! You guys are great!
And now for photos.
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