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Classic High-End Gear

I was one of those guys in the PX over seas, everything was grand as can be. I bought a Kenwood Super Eleven, used it for 30 years until it died and am now rocking another as well as an Eleven G. I love where this has gone.
 
The px in Frankfurt was a place of drool.
They had a room with Phase Linear 500’s driving some Infinity IRS speakers…..
Holy flippin doodle good buddy was that incredible!

Germany was where I purchased all my original Phase Linear Series II gear.

Recently I looked at audio products on the military bases and seems to me the prices aren’t any better than what one can purchase out in the economy.
What a shame.
 
One of the benefits back in the day, nice gear and deals to be had. Okinawa in the mid eighties I grabbed end of the year deals and paid about 20 percent of retail. I still have most of it, lol. Big stack of Pioneer built around an SX-V90 receiver, rocked it for many years! In a box now, had a photo , but cant locate it now.

EDIT: Found a picture, but missing my PL-L800 & 2 CT-90R Cassette Decks. All flawless jus t a bit dirty from sitting, lol.
 

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I remember on West Pac 1978 going through the Navy Exchange Catalog picking out what we wanted to demo once we made it into PI. There was fancy **** back then, Phase Liner, Harmon Kardon, all the GOLD series of Marantz. Or cou rse all the best of Pioneer, Sansui, Kenwood, Akai, Awia Technics, Off brands like ROTAL, Nicamatchi or something...LOL. It was teenage Sailor Heaven. I will try and dig up a picture.
 
Blue Shadow said:
You could easily buy McIntosh with the proceeds from selling off a pile of receivers and upgrade your system significantly.
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Yup. 8000 USD put into Pioneer sx 1980. And what sx 1980 receiver is doing in High end classic Gear? Does it have high end build quality? No it doesnt. Pioneer separates like Elite, spec, Exclusive are high end. All in one Receivers are below it in terms of sound quality and build quality

Ill take my Pioneer c90/m90a over sx 1980 anytime. Elite is far better sounding and built gear


My God 8000 USD put in a receiver....
 
Pioneer.user said:
Yup. 8000 USD put into Pioneer sx 1980. And what sx 1980 receiver is doing in High end classic Gear? Does it have high end build quality? No it doesnt. Pioneer separates like Elite, spec, Exclusive are high end. All in one Receivers are below it in terms of sound quality and build quality

Ill take my Pioneer c90/m90a over sx 1980 anytime. Elite is far better sounding and built gear


My God 8000 USD put in a receiver....
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Nearly every post of yours is somehow centered around promoting the gear that you use and saying that it is superior to the gear that someone else uses.
 
z-adamson said:
Nearly every post of yours is somehow centered around promoting the gear that you use and saying that it is superior to the gear that someone else uses.
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Elite is underrated on this forum, instead receivers/oversized radios are promoted. So yeah im trying to straighten things out here. But im not selling anything
 
Get over yourself. I just share what I like and why I like it. I don't think anything I have is "BETTER" than anything others have. I am just happy to share what I have with others. If you have an inferiority complex that's your issue. STOP projecting your mental health issues on to others. Everyone should be proud of the vintage audio collection they have amassed. Everyone picks those vintage pieces that mean a lot or have special value and impact on them for WHATEVER reason! You are just a troll who gets off by finding imaginary flaws that let you spew your poisons at others. See your psychiatrist and take your medication. Maybe then you will learn how to read and comprehend like a normal human being!
 
Pioneer.user said:
Elite is underrated on this forum, instead receivers/oversized radios are promoted. So yeah im trying to straighten things out here. But im not selling anything
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I couldn’t disagree more. There’s a wide array of enthusiasts here that like a variety of different gear. So what have you got that is so superior, or “elite,” as you’ve labeled it?

I have a Conrad Johnson power amp, as well as a Pioneer SX 5590, and a whole lot in between. Do I need straitening out?
 
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Pretty sure it was Pioneer that labeled that range of components 'elite' and I'm pretty sure it was advertised , and priced at a higher level than their previous ranges, integrated amps, and especially their all in one receivers. Enthusiast or not, seems pretty daft to me to argue over something which the manufacturer of the products has clearly defined.
 
Yes, the Pioneer Elite stuff is better than the general gear from them.
That doesn't mean that someone can't be happy with driving the space shuttle of owning a big receiver and not caring for the separates. To each his own.
Wolf has made it clear he is happy with what he has chosen to collect and that all good for him. He is not chasing the last iota of sound quality, preferring to spend those bucks on rebuilds of his receiver collection.

I have a friend that likes to listen to music as he remembers it from listening to the radio at the beach. On a decent rig is sounds so strong it tires me in 10 minutes of listening. Phono-45-Compress-Eq (only the one above 1k and the one below 1k one up one down a few notches) another compressor and out to a nice pair of early 70s 12" woofered speakers. Too much sound energy, aural overload for me. but he Likes it and I will do what I can to let him enjoy that sound...at his place. I don't have any compressors. but he did drag over some gear after I recapped a set of monkey coffins for him to show me what he liked. I'm glad he enjoys the hobby. He and I will not be competing for the same CL offering.
 
Blue Shadow said:
Yes, the Pioneer Elite stuff is better than the general gear from them.
That doesn't mean that someone can't be happy with driving the space shuttle of owning a big receiver and not caring for the separates. To each his own.
Wolf has made it clear he is happy with what he has chosen to collect and that all good for him. He is not chasing the last iota of sound quality, preferring to spend those bucks on rebuilds of his receiver collection.

I have a friend that likes to listen to music as he remembers it from listening to the radio at the beach. On a decent rig is sounds so strong it tires me in 10 minutes of listening. Phono-45-Compress-Eq (only the one above 1k and the one below 1k one up one down a few notches) another compressor and out to a nice pair of early 70s 12" woofered speakers. Too much sound energy, aural overload for me. but he Likes it and I will do what I can to let him enjoy that sound...at his place. I don't have any compressors. but he did drag over some gear after I recapped a set of monkey coffins for him to show me what he liked. I'm glad he enjoys the hobby. He and I will not be competing for the same CL offering.
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He flamed and slunk off like a thief in the night. I understand brand/model loyalty, but no matter what you have, there is something better and I personally don’t deal in absolutes. But what do I know…
 
carcrazy said:
How about:

Stax Quattro II cdp (one of the best original cd players - I have two and I prefer the sound of them over my Oppo BDP 95)

Faroudja DV1000 dvd player (one of the best early dvd players with excellent audio, I have 2)

Acoustat 2+2 speakers (one of the first full range electrostatics that can compete with todays new ones)

Pioneer LD-S2 laserdisc player (best laserdisc picture and audio, it's built like a tank and looks great. I still use mine for concert videos as the audio is better than on dvd's)

Ray Lumley M-100 tube mono Blocks (on my Acoustats they bested Bedini BA-803, Bedini 100/100 1 meg class A, Threshold 400a, Jeff Rowland model 5, Beard P-100 tube amp. These are all very good amps, the Ray Lumley's are just better.)
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Is that the Beard amp with a dozen 6BQ5 peanut pentodes on it?
 
My favourite high end vintage gear in no particular order would be..

- Coda Model 11 amp
- Threshold SA-1 mono's
- Audio Research Reference 3 pre
- Audio Research Reference 40th Anniversary pre
- Boulder 1060 amp
- Reimyo CDP-777 cdp
- Accuphase DP-90/DC-91 transport/dac
- Onkyo integra T-9090II tuner
- Onkyo TA-2090 cassette deck
- Nakamichi ZX-9 with Dragon capstan motor upgrade
- Tandberg 3014A cassette deck
- Infinity IRS-Sigma speakers
- Infinity IRS-Omega " "
- Infinity IRS-V " "
- Apogee Full Range and Duetta Signature
- Rix Rax Hoodoo audio racks

A dream setup for me back in the late 90's would have been a pair of IRS-Sigma's with Threshold SA-1 mono's, an ARC Reference 3 pre with matched 6H30DR's, Accuphase DP-90/DC-91 transport/dac (which I'd have later upgraded to a Reimyo CDP-777), Onkyo T-9090II tuner, Onkyo TA-2090 cassette deck + a nice Rix Rax vintage rack to finish my system off.
 
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