chicks' Goodwill Systems

[chicks]

I love checking in on this thread from time to time, not just to see your amazing finds but for your beautiful photography!

You've probably mentioned this elsewhere but what camera do you use?

Thanks, Vaughn; your shots of the DIY tube amp are superb.

I use a humble refurbished Olympus E-P2 u4/3rds body, usually with the Panasonic/Leica Summilux 25mm f/1.4, always on a tripod, generally @ f/11 or thereabouts.

 

[chicks]

Life. Simplified.

Class D power amp, DAC, MOG, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Cloud client, etc, all in one. Best controller around via the 'droid tablet. 55wpc into 8 ohms, 127 into 4, drives the QUAD ESL-63s with ease and clarity.

Comes out of standby and auto-switches to analog input when it detects a signal from the Sony PS-X65. Goes back to sleep a few minutes after the signal stops.

Sets up its own wi-fi network to the zone player in the other room, from which I can play CDs, FM, LPs, etc from whatever vintage amp / receiver is connected that day.

With MOG and the other music services, this really does redefine HiFi. And lets me continue to enjoy "outdated" gear and media.

 

[Lee Harvey]

Class D power amp, DAC, MOG, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Cloud client, etc, all in one. Best controller around via the 'droid tablet. 55wpc into 8 ohms, 127 into 4, drives the QUAD ESL-63s with ease and clarity.

Comes out of standby and auto-switches to analog input when it detects a signal from the Sony PS-X65. Goes back to sleep a few minutes after the signal stops.

Sets up its own wi-fi network to the zone player in the other room, from which I can play CDs, FM, LPs, etc from whatever vintage amp / receiver is connected that day.

With MOG and the other music services, this really does redefine HiFi. And lets me continue to enjoy "outdated" gear and media.

That's pretty cool that the Sonos has enough power to drive those Quads. Congrats on the new toy.

 

[chicks]

That's pretty cool that the Sonos has enough power to drive those Quads.

QUAD recommends 50-100wpc, which the Sonos delivers with ease. The '63s drop to 4 ohms on the high frequencies, and the Sonos doubles down on the power at 4 ohms, so works out well. JA of Stereophile gave it a "highly recommended", and it made their recommended list in 2010.

Sonos started out catering to the audiophile market, but are quickly heading more toward the mass market. Fine by me, will keep prices in line.

With Logitech giving up on streaming, Sonos surely has gained former Logitech customers. I considered waiting for the Olive One, but Olive's firmware has a pretty bad reputation, and the One certainly won't have enough power output for the QUADs. I've seen photos of the guts of the Olive One and the Sonos ZP-120 / Connect:amp. No comparison, the power section of the Sonos is far more robust.

 

[chicks]

This thread has veered way OT - not a single thing in the main system came from the GW. Paid for with GW finds, though.

So, back OT, here's a little system, 100% from the GW. The Onk was dead, just needed a fuse. Someone had liberated the knob, so a parts-box replacement takes its place. The correct remote for the Onk was found at a different GW a week later. I've had the GW B&W's for some time.

Still fun finding this stuff, getting it working, and piecing it all together. There's just something cool about a motorized volume control!

 

[chicks]

Rotated the Empire back into the main system. It doesn't compete with the Sony sonically, but it does have a certain je ne sais quoi, yes?

 

[elcoholic]

Agree, she's a looker for sure.

 

[Big Jim 007]

I used to do the GW and a few others several years back and scored a lot of decent gear, including a nice pair of PSB's, a pair of Energy Reference 22 Connoisseur's, a Marantz 2270 and the like and never paid over $125.00 for any one piece...the PSB's were $15.00 and then half of that for being with a red sticker.

I must have cobbled together 10 decent and better stereos for my friends and none cost over $250.00 each. Sure, some needed a little cleaning up and servicing to get in tip top shape...the best was an old homemade console stuffed with tube gear and a Garrard TT for $75.00. It had a Marantz 8 amp, a Dynaco Pas pre and a Fisher Tuner along with the TT...no speakers.

Should have kept pictures of it and some of the other goodies....

The best pickin time was the first couple of weeks after Christmas. Now it is slim pickin's as most send the good stuff to auction.

Jim

 

[Big Jim 007]

My interest was piqued, so I hit my local GW and scored an Onkyo DX-C390 6 CD Carousel changer in excellent condition for $13.50. No remote, it was probably there somewhere...still a nice deal.

Jim

 

[JohnVF]

I'm surprised the Quads are working well with a Class-D amp. Mine sounded atrocious on my Pioneer SC-27, which had a B&O ICEpower Class-D amp section, which had always sounded good on conventional speakers. On the Quads it just sounded grainy and 2-dimensional...everything good about the speakers and the amp separately was lost when they were matched.

Good that it does...simplicity is nice to have. My Quad setup doesn't even have analog because of that. Digital pre/dac and amp...and that's about it.

 

[Big Jim 007]

Contrary to some people's opinions about me, I truly have tried to like Class D, but it just sounds sterile and the highs shrill even the ones with topologies that are aimed at softening them up.

Then there is the usually less than adequate power supplies unless you spend silly money.

That all said, they're nice for bass management.

Jim

 

[chicks]

I've been reading Douglas Self's latest book on power amp design. He's all about minimizing distortion; his "Blameless" design can do 0.0001% THD or thereabouts at 1kHz. He's very negative about Class D, basically says they're for sub amps and HT use. Bruno Putzeys might disagree with him.

I may have to build one of his "Trimodal" amps, than can operate in Class A, AB or B modes, just to see whether I can hear a difference through the QUADs.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/trimodal_amp_e.html

 

[jsisk]

Probably the most entertaining thread I have read. Looks like quite a lot of fun you're having.

 

[Big Jim 007]

Well my foray back into the delves of GW pickin may be short lived as the Onkyo has a bad celluloid and the transport is kaput.

Jim

 

[JohnVF]

The Quads place different demands on an amp than a conventional dynamic speaker. What applies to them and the amps powering them doesn't necessarily apply to other speakers.

 

[chicks]

Looks like quite a lot of fun you're having.

Yep, the whole point of a hobby is to have fun. Sharing with AK makes it even "funner"!

I never let it get to the point of obsession, though - don't allow myself to have more than 3 turntables at a time.

 

[bd1886]

Rotated the Empire back into the main system. It doesn't compete with the Sony sonically, but it does have a certain je ne sais quoi, yes?

Sonic comparisons aside chic.....that turntable style has always been a cornerstone in many eyes. (I've seen two around on cl but those dang logistics.....)

 

[jsisk]

Yep, the whole point of a hobby is to have fun. Sharing with AK makes it even "funner"!

I never let it get to the point of obsession, though - don't allow myself to have more than 3 turntables at a time.

Last year before joining AK, I had one turntable and about 300 records.
Now I have over 1,000 records and my 4th turntable being shipped tomorrow.

 

[Big Jim 007]

Returned the Onkyo and then found a Denon DRA-37 2 Channel receiver with XM Radio, iPod docking and other nice features for $32.50. I might try it with my University Medallions...

Jim

 

[obi8]

Best thread I have read so far here on AK! The equipment, photos, discussions, etc., great stuff on every page.