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Sweet Spot - Sansui, Dual, Dynaco

Ackermann

Ackermann

New Member
Currently in my happy place.

Surely, most like me get sucked in and fiddle and fiddle and seek perfection (within financial means) - but then reach that moment, where everything is correct, and there is nothing more to do.
And the music sounds the way it should, for the moment.

Sansui 4000, Dual 1219 (Pickering V15), Dyanco A25.

Cheers.
 
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Very nice setup. I owned a Sansui 4000 and it is a very nice sounding receiver and a great match for the A25 speakers.

My current stereo is similar: Dual 1229, Dynaco A25 and early 70's Sony integrated amp.

I've owned some more expensive gear, but at the moment, I prefer the sound of these early 70's middle-tier systems.

Cheers,

Snade
 
Snade said:
Very nice setup. I owned a Sansui 4000 and it is a very nice sounding receiver and a great match for the A25 speakers.

My current stereo is similar: Dual 1229, Dynaco A25 and early 70's Sony integrated amp.

I've owned some more expensive gear, but at the moment, I prefer the sound of these early 70's middle-tier systems.

Cheers,

Snade
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To friends, I’ve compared audio components to vehicles: some like a brand new Ford truck or corvette - but some like the old beater truck or vintage corvette. Its not just about driving or listening, but the hobby of it all. Makes you feel more apart of the experience.

Feel I really hit the mark with my current setup...all the parts compliment one another. I’ve really become more of a Sansui fan than Marantz, and like the idler over DD and belt drive.
 
Yes. That 'sweet spot' is a great goal.

I spent a lot of years chasing better sound - upgrading some part of my system every couple of years - spending time in audio stores listening to new components - reading product reviews - listening to new things my friends got.

At some point, I noticed that one friend had gotten off the merry-go-round. His system was the same. I asked him why. I thought maybe the wife put her foot down or he was having money trouble.

He said something profound - "it is actually possible to reach the point where you stop listening to the equipment". Your mind isn't always criticizing some aspect of your system. "The drums in that song don't sound right" "Those strings are too harsh" and on and on.

When you get to that 'sweet spot' you find that you simply relax and listen to the music!
 
xmo said:
Yes. That 'sweet spot' is a great goal.

I spent a lot of years chasing better sound - upgrading some part of my system every couple of years - spending time in audio stores listening to new components - reading product reviews - listening to new things my friends got.

At some point, I noticed that one friend had gotten off the merry-go-round. His system was the same. I asked him why. I thought maybe the wife put her foot down or he was having money trouble.

He said something profound - "it is actually possible to reach the point where you stop listening to the equipment". Your mind isn't always criticizing some aspect of your system. "The drums in that song don't sound right" "Those strings are too harsh" and on and on.

When you get to that 'sweet spot' you find that you simply relax and listen to the music!
Click to expand...

Exactly!
 
xmo said:
Yes. That 'sweet spot' is a great goal.
<snip>
He said something profound - "it is actually possible to reach the point where you stop listening to the equipment". Your mind isn't always criticizing some aspect of your system. "The drums in that song don't sound right" "Those strings are too harsh" and on and on.

When you get to that 'sweet spot' you find that you simply relax and listen to the music!
Click to expand...

I like that definition of "sweet spot". Well done. I have been in that sweet spot with my current vintage setup for a few months.

But there is an inherent tendency in this hobby to "tinker". A better word is "experiment".

I'm happy with my vintage setup, but recently I have the itch to experiment with a new, budget headphone stack. There's always something. (smile)

Cheers,

Snade
 
I also have to confess that I have done some 'tinkering'

That upgrade itch still comes up every few years so I have scratched it with new equipment rack, new dedicated AC circuits, new power conditioners, new power sequencing, a new McIntosh CD player, and a new McIntosh pre-amp.

Not all those things at the same time Just a occasional upgrade yet all the while staying with the same speakers and monoblock amplifiers, the same listening room, the same layout.

Once you get great sound - it can be transcendental.
 
Well I think that I've gotten to my personal sweet spot for equipment. But now I notice that I really dislike the sound from some recordings. I just need to worry about it as much.
 
Bigbeard said:
That's a well-chosen setup :thumbsup: Solid and if it sounds right there's really no need to change it, ever.

I'd be interested to hear how you arrived at it, go through many stages?

With my own gear I'm at a stage where if I change anything, it usually feels like it's a step down in sound quality. That's probably a cue to be happy but I'm an inveterate tinkerer, so it's hard to stop.
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I started with an 80s Sanyo receiver technics belt drive and hand me down Kenwood speakers. Then a natural sound Yamaha. Then vintage Pioneer - SX 5*** model, CS 88s and a Pioneer PL table. I found it lacking and took a chance at a Dual 1019 and love the way an idler sounds. Then got a Marantz 4270 and found it nice, but just too much, want to keep things simple. Got a Marantz 2238 and liked that and then started tinkering with speakers. Rectilinears first, wrecked those, then some advent loudspeakers. Felt I was getting closer and jumped on a Sansui 4000 at a reasonable price. It sounded good with the Dual but the Advents were too boomy, I wanted something more direct. I got some KLH 6s that needed a complete overhaul and started on them...but, found a great deal on Ebay I couldn’t pass up. Drove down to Toledo and picked some Dynaco A25s and a Dual 1219 for $300 out the door. I had to oil the motor in the 1219 but once I did, the Sansui, Dual 1219, Dynaco A25 setup produced the sound I was looking for. I have the Marantz 2238, Dual 1019, and KLH 6s in the beasement and they sound good. Currently have a pair of EPI M150s I am working on. It has been a journey...
 
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I swear about a year ago I had the TT set up just right. Aligned with the right styli and the right SUT with the just right pre/amp/speaker combo. I was in pure bliss.

AND THEN!!! I went tinkering.

Damit... now I am chasing my own set up and for the life of me can't remember what that was!! I rolled tubes and swapped amps... was it this pre or this styli or these speakers... I flashed by my "sweet spot" so fast I forgot what the damn thing was!! Anyway, Watch out for tinkering, or take great notes.

And by the way, that is a nice synergy of gear you have. No wonder you stopped.
 
HBTim said:
I swear about a year ago I had the TT set up just right. Aligned with the right styli and the right SUT with the just right pre/amp/speaker combo. I was in pure bliss.

AND THEN!!! I went tinkering.

Damit... now I am chasing my own set up and for the life of me can't remember what that was!! I rolled tubes and swapped amps... was it this pre or this styli or these speakers... I flashed by my "sweet spot" so fast I forgot what the damn thing was!! Anyway, Watch out for tinkering, or take great notes.

And by the way, that is a nice synergy of gear you have. No wonder you stopped.
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Guilty of this for sure...I ripped apart a KLH 6 in anger because I couldn't get it to sound correct. It was a loose connection to a binding post.
 
I've chased the sound pretty much my whole life too. I've sold stuff that has made my friends mad even. For the past three years I have been locking in a solid system that just seems to sound right together in my listening room. Digital glare or harshness on certain albums has still been a bug a boo for me though. Recently I took the time to just redo my speaker wire ends and clean all the connections up and was actually surprised at how much impact it had on making the high end sound better. No matter what I swap in, I guess I can't forget the basics.

Bill
 
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