6/19/2023
My first decent system I put together was in late 1967. Prior to that around 1965 to 1966, I built my own speaker cabinets with found drivers, wood planks I cut to size and paired those with father's old radios we both played with to keep working. Sound quality was questionable but, certainly nothing speak of. By mid1967, I built a Dynaco PAS-3X pre-amp, Dynaco ST-35 tube amp as kits with a Garrard Lab 40B turntable, Shure M3D cartridge. Speakers were (AR-3 size) empty bass reflex cabinets, I installed two12 inch Jensen woofer's (I took from my Fender Bassman amp and then replaced with two 15 inch Ovations and still use today) in each cabinet, along with two 7 inch exponential horns as tweeters that I purchased on "Cortlandt St., AKA "Radio-Row" in Manhattan, NYC. That place became a regular hang-out area for me almost every other weekend.
Building my amplifiers and speakers was great fun back then and that first system taught me so much and enabled me to become a strong and continuing lover of music.
I had just graduated high school when I did the above and presently, still have this primitive system though now it's in pieces and not playing.
Presently, I enjoy four stacked AR-LST's with double Phase Linear PL-700 Series 2, SAE 1800 Parametric EQ, double Technics SL-120, a Thorens TD125, all tables have mint SME 3009 Pre-Improved arms, cartridges are the Benz-Micro Gull-Wing, Lyra Delos, Lyra Kleos, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, A.T. 9 cartridges, Denon AU-340 SUT, over 7000 vinyl disks, ultra-sonic system for vinyl cleaning and some room treatment.
System number 2 (not shown) is AR-9 speakers with a single PL-700 Series 2 amplifier, (I tried double PL-400's in 'bi-amp' configuration but, I prefer the single PL-700 Series 2), SAE 1800 Parametric EQ, double Technics SL-1100, two Dynavector 505 tonearms, Benz-Micro ACE-S, Ortofon Rondo Blue, Denon DL-301 II cartridges, Denon AU-320 SUT. Twelve gauge stranded OFC with lugs on both systems along with Straight-Wire Symphony interconnects for both systems. I forgot to mention, I have Marantz CD players in both systems but, they're only used when playing background music as vinyl is my medium of choice. The
vinyl ritual is my
high of choice. I've been handling vinyl most of my life (started with my older sister's 78's in the mid to late 1950's), that is, when I was allowed and with adult supervision. In use those old steel-needles were crazy though. I even have over 40 of my dearly departed father's Caruso shellacs from the 1930's and a couple of those old radios in Bakelite cabinets, they don't work but, I can't bring myself to discard them, why should I. My folks came to the USA in the late 1920's and I was taught to value every last crumb. They did not receive any hand-outs either.
When I entertain guests, everyone is mesmerized by the sound quality which is so transparent, revealing and natural and, always
BIG sounding.
I find it amusing how some novices out there speak like they have all manner of Hi-Fi knowledge as if they have a degree when in actuality they've relatively only just begun and are parroting. So, in that case be open minded and grow by learning how to be a
critical listener, read as many test reports one can, go to any high-end store in your area or travel to them. Learning how and what to listen for can be terrific fun and ultimately will lead to a better understanding of how a better sounding system sounds like and therefore will render more personal enjoyment.
In regards to new, esoteric high-end components, I could do that also as I try to stay abreast in my reading of major reviews in many publications both in print and online however, the earlier equipment from the end of the "Golden-Era" of Hi-Fi offers more attraction for me since I basically started out with-in that period between the early-mid 1960's up to the early 1980's. It was pretty much a golden time for those lucky enough to have been around then.
FM
FM
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