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The Vintage High End Separates Thread

ehoove

ehoove

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This a thread about Vintage High End Components produced by those companies specializing in that type of gear. These would include Mark Levinson, Audio Research etc, and only the tube separates from Fisher, Marantz, Sherwood, Fairchild and others. Let's see who has knowledge of or experiance with these highly desirable units.

Regards,
Jim
 
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Wow, this would be a great name for a forum here on AK. Specific as to what should be discussed. We have Turntables for discussion of all turntables, speakers for all speakers and so on. No where is there a place to discuss High End Separates without all the other stuff that would fill up a forum such as those items above and the receivers and lesser items.

I've had opportunity to try a few of the more mainstream units. The Luxman LRS gear was our go to at the Hi-Fi House when I was there. I don't have any of it but used it for 2+ years, easy. I have the Luxman tube amps and sure would like to hear comments about how these compare to the geriatric standards the Marantz 8b and McIntosh MC30 if someone has more than one of these three amps to compare.

Great thread, Jim. Thanks,
 
While these are some great units, not sure they fit the high end definition. I will let other members weigh in on them though.

Regards,
Jim
 
Blue Shadow said:
Wow, this would be a great name for a forum here on AK. Specific as to what should be discussed. We have Turntables for discussion of all turntables, speakers for all speakers and so on. No where is there a place to discuss High End Separates without all the other stuff that would fill up a forum such as those items above and the receivers and lesser items.

I've had opportunity to try a few of the more mainstream units. The Luxman LRS gear was our go to at the Hi-Fi House when I was there. I don't have any of it but used it for 2+ years, easy. I have the Luxman tube amps and sure would like to hear comments about how these compare to the geriatric standards the Marantz 8b and McIntosh MC30 if someone has more than one of these three amps to compare.

Great thread, Jim. Thanks,
Click to expand...

I have the Marantz 8B and Mac 30 amps just about set up. Speakers are Rogers LS3/5a and JBL 4430.

Just finishing up the speaker cables.
 
Ive posted my gear in the "totl vintage 50'/60' tube gear thread but as this thread is more to the point of seperates ill repost my systems.
!st tube system...1955 Fisher 50A monoblocks with 1962 Fisher 400c preamp,64'Fisher FM100c FM tuner {speakers used original late 50's Stephens Tru-sonic totl 3-ways}

2nd tube system...1963 HHscott LK-150 amplifier with matching HHscott LC-21 preamp and HHscott LT-110 tuner {speakers used 1965 Braun L-1000 Studio monitors}
All seperates have been totally recapped and maintained and perform flawlessly.

hunter
 
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This is a long list. I've been at this a long time so here goes:

Pre-amps:

Marantz 7C
Marantz 3300
Crown IC-150
Radford ZD-22
Stax SRA-12S
Apt Holman
Precision Fidelity C-7
Lazarus Cascade Deluxe
Audio Research LS-2B MKII
Audio Research LS-26
Audio Research LS-27
Counterpoint SA-2000
Klyne SK-5A
Modwright LS-26.5

Power amps:

CM Labs 35D
Marantz Model 32
Marantz 250
Phase Linear 400
BGW 500R
Threshold CAS-2
Quintessence Group Power Amp II
Lazarus H1A
Audio Research VTM-120s
Krell KSA-50
Pass Labs XA 30.5
Ayre V5XE
Coda S-100

There is some High end Vintage goodness in that list!
Regards,
Jim
 
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I like this idea.

Only thing I have that would remotely qualify, and probably not at all, would be an Aragon18k preamp.
 
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My MC60s would qualify. The C22 is a CE version (mid 90s as I understand it). While its 20 some odd years old , I think that's borderline vintage (depending on your definition).
 
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Both qualify! Nice gear BTW
Regards,
Jim
 
It's all I have and have ever had.

Krell ksa 100
cj premeir 4
audio research sp8

used this combo for 15 years. Prior to that, Audio research d76a and d120. Bought the 120 and sp8 new. Traded the d76 for the Krell & then went and bought the CJ.

used an oracle turntable for 30 years before a lightning strike took it out. been using a vpi the last 5 years.

Son's system I got him is similar.

Audio Research d76 for mids. the old audio research d120 for bass I had. Interestingly, that's all that amp has ever done in its lifetime is bass.

Audio Research ls1 pre-amp.This system uses a cd player, so the older audio research preamps with their phono stages wasn't a requirement.
 
I guess i can add a few things here;

Fairchild 260(2),275 amplifier
Fairchild 248 preamplfier
Fairchild 240 preamplfier

Theres a few fairchild amplfier owners here on ak and some have the fairchild 240 mono preamps and even the mono 245 preamps but i think im the only one with the stereo preamp. Ive used the fairchild setup on many different speakers including altec 19's,radford s90 transmissionlines,and bozak symphonys and they mated up very well with whatever speakers i used.
 
I'm not familiar with the Fairchild pieces. They appear well made. What happened to them as a company?
PS Jim, Thanks for the compliment , having firsthand .oggling of your basement system (and hearing it too).I know you've been through some gear!
 
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The Fairchild pieces have a ardent following for a reason, I would love to hear some!
Regards,
Jim
 
Who else has some candidates?
Regards,
Jim
 
I think the Audible Illusions pre's would fit here. As would a whole slew of the vintage Luxman tube amps and pre's
 
I have a few components that might fit this category, depending on what year marks the cut-off for "vintage":

Forte Model 2 pre-amp
Forte Model 3 amps (I have two of them)
Forte Model 4 amp
Forte Model 6 amp
California Audio Labs Delta transport
California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC
VPI HW-19 Mk III 'table
 
I just came into possession of a completely restored (and upgraded by Mike Bettinger) Gas Thaedra preamp. A little under the radar but I feel its qualifies on both counts
 
Hi to all,

I have the following :
audio research SP11 MK 2 Preamp

audio research SP 10 MK 2 Preamp

audio research D79B power amp w/ 6550's

audio research D79B power amp w/ KT88's

audio research D250 MK2 Servo power amp

audio research Classic 150 Monoblocks power amp

audio research EC21 electronic X over ( all tube )
 
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