The good old days...

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 9557 times.

Guy 13

The good old days...
« on: 25 Sep 2012, 01:37 pm »

Hi all Audio Circle members.

I am 64 years young or old…

In 1967 I was 19 years old and I was working for an electronic store in Montreal, Canada by the name of Cité Electronique (City Electronic) in the shipping department, but also as a counter salesman/clerk when some staffs were sick.

At that time the store was selling Dual turntable, Electro-voice, RSC (Radio Speaker of Canada) Empire speakers, Sound Audio tube amplifiers, Sony reel to reel tape deck and much more…
For me, that was the good old days.

Since that time, many hi-fi systems were purchased and re-sold…
Tube and solid state…
Entry level and hi ends…

I now own a tube amplifier from Niteshade Audio NS-10,
a Rega P-3 turntable,
a Rega Apollo CD player 
and one V-1, two V-2 and one N3TL all from GR Research speakers, with which I am happy,
but with those items, I don’t have the look of the vintage equipment of my youth.

Lately I have been browsing on the Internet and found many individuals that specialize in re-conditioning vintage equipment.

According to them, the build of those items as nothing to do with the mass produced consumers, so called hi end equipment.

When I get back to Canada next year,
my intention is to buy the following items:

Dual 1019 turntable.
I have a brand new Benz Micro Gold that I will mate with that turntable.

Fisher 500C receiver or Fisher X202B tube integrated amplifier.
(Have you seen the power and output transformers on those units, they are huge, nothing in common with today’s stuff…)

McIntosh MR-71 Stereo FM tube tuner.

A Sony or TEAC or Akai reel to reel tape deck with 10.5” reel.

For the speakers, I am not sure yet, but maybe the Electro-voice EV-6 or the Fisher XP-10, if I cannot find the Electro-voice or the Fisher speakers, I might make a compromise and buy the Tekton Lore 10” speakers.

Of course I will keep my 10 years old Sennheiser HD-570
or I might up-grade them for the HD-650 if they are sonically much better.

In the vintage system I want to buy, sound quality will be vintage sound quality, but that counts for 50%,
the other 50% is the look of the equipment,
for me it’s very important as it reminds me of the good old days.

That’s vintage system will be my last stereo hi-fi system that I will bring with me in my grave…

Yes, I will travel back in time.
Those past days were the best days of my life, but at that time, I did not realize it.

Guy 13

 

 
 


SteveFord

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 6464
  • The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #1 on: 25 Sep 2012, 10:06 pm »
I think that you've put together a good plan for yourself.
You may have nailed it on the head with 50% for reliving your misspent youth and the other 50% for the sound.
There's magic in that old stuff, for sure.

I was thinking of your post as I was taking the dog for a walk and you just can not touch the sound of a good tape on a good reel to reel deck.  It's a huge pain in the butt to use and source material is kind of scarce on the ground but it's worth it.
It might be time to get my old deck going again.
« Last Edit: 25 Sep 2012, 11:50 pm by SteveFord »

timind

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 3862
  • permanent vacation
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #2 on: 26 Sep 2012, 12:20 am »
Can you really capture the "good old day" feeling without some weed?

pumpkinman

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 13998
  • A Kind Word Is an Easy Gift To Give
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #3 on: 26 Sep 2012, 12:25 am »
Can you really capture the "good old day" feeling without some weed?

 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

SteveFord

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 6464
  • The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #4 on: 26 Sep 2012, 12:43 am »
It probably couldn't hurt matters any.
Talk about the good old days: right now I'm listening to a Harman/kardon F500x tuner with Stax Sigma headphones run off of a NAD 3020B integrated and 10cc just came on.  I saw them live back in 1976 at Radio City in New York and they were just tremendous.
We may have been in a giant cloud of smoke, come to think of it.
Those really were the good old days.  Now it's just work and pretend to be a grown up, ugh.

Guy 13

Re: The good old days...
« Reply #5 on: 26 Sep 2012, 09:57 am »
Hi all Audio Circle members.

I am 64 years young or old…

In 1967 I was 19 years old and I was working for an electronic store in Montreal, Canada by the name of Cité Electronique (City Electronic) in the shipping department, but also as a counter salesman/clerk when some staffs were sick.

At that time the store was selling Dual turntable, Electro-voice, RSC (Radio Speaker of Canada) Empire speakers, Sound Audio tube amplifiers, Sony reel to reel tape deck and much more…
For me, that was the good old days.

Since that time, many hi-fi systems were purchased and re-sold…
Tube and solid state…
Entry level and hi ends…

I now own a tube amplifier from Niteshade Audio NS-10,
a Rega P-3 turntable,
a Rega Apollo CD player 
and one V-1, two V-2 and one N3TL all from GR Research speakers, with which I am happy,
but with those items, I don’t have the look of the vintage equipment of my youth.

Lately I have been browsing on the Internet and found many individuals that specialize in re-conditioning vintage equipment.

According to them, the build of those items as nothing to do with the mass produced consumers, so called hi end equipment.

When I get back to Canada next year,
my intention is to buy the following items:

Dual 1019 turntable.
I have a brand new Benz Micro Gold that I will mate with that turntable.

Fisher 500C receiver or Fisher X202B tube integrated amplifier.
(Have you seen the power and output transformers on those units, they are huge, nothing in common with today’s stuff…)

McIntosh MR-71 Stereo FM tube tuner.

A Sony or TEAC or Akai reel to reel tape deck with 10.5” reel.

For the speakers, I am not sure yet, but maybe the Electro-voice EV-6 or the Fisher XP-10, if I cannot find the Electro-voice or the Fisher speakers, I might make a compromise and buy the Tekton Lore 10” speakers.

Of course I will keep my 10 years old Sennheiser HD-570
or I might up-grade them for the HD-650 if they are sonically much better.

In the vintage system I want to buy, sound quality will be vintage sound quality, but that counts for 50%,
the other 50% is the look of the equipment,
for me it’s very important as it reminds me of the good old days.

That’s vintage system will be my last stereo hi-fi system that I will bring with me in my grave…

Yes, I will travel back in time.
Those past days were the best days of my life, but at that time, I did not realize it.

Guy 13

 

Hi all Audio Circle members.
More comments on my choice of equipment.

When I get back to Canada next year,
my intention is to buy the following items:

Dual 1019 turntable.

The 1019 is built like a German tank.
7pounds platter.
However, the spinning wheel driving the platter is not the best way to spin a platter,
I was thinking about the Empire turntable, but when I have owned the 1019 I was satisfied and at 450 USD (Fully recondition) that’s a good deal and a long lasting investment.   

Fisher 500C receiver or Fisher X202B tube integrated amplifier.

(Have you seen the power and output transformers on those units,
they are huge…)
Those items are also well built and repairable for many years to come and Fisher Doctor can rebuilt them to almost new status.

McIntosh MR-71 Stereo FM tube tuner.

This is the item I like the most, my dream is to listen to FM music in a room with dim lighting and look at the illuminated dial of the MR-71 with all the meters glowing, etc…
Pretty romantic and relaxing don’t you think so ?
However, the Fisher 500C also have the same, but not on the same level of excitement and at a cheaper price.

A Sony or TEAC or Akai reel to reel tape deck with 10.5” reel.

A tape deck is a complicated machine inside,
with many parts that can fail.
But, it’s such a beautiful machine, I will try to find a model
and a make that is durable and that can be repaired easily.

For the speakers,

I am not sure yet, but maybe the Electro-voice EV-6 or the Fisher XP-10, if I cannot find the Electro-voice or the Fisher speakers, I might make a compromise and buy the Tekton Lore 10” speakers.
The Tekton are smaller but plain/dull looking, however, finding a pair of vintage speakers might not be easy.

Of course I will keep my 10 years old Sennheiser HD-570

or I might up-grade them for the HD-650 if they are sonically much better.
I also might buy a Schiit Valhalla headphone amplifier, because the Fisher 500C might not be able to drive my 60 Ohms plus headphones.

Living in a small apartment, I will never be able to play music at the level I want; therefore, a good pair of headphone is very important.
 
I might buy an OPPO DSP105 top of the line Bluray plauer to play my CDs and watch good movies with great stereo sound.
No 5.1 or 7.1 surround system for me, I am happy with a stereo two channel unit.

That’s all folks.

Guy 13

 
 

Scott F.

Re: The good old days...
« Reply #6 on: 26 Sep 2012, 02:12 pm »
I think that you've put together a good plan for yourself.
You may have nailed it on the head with 50% for reliving your misspent youth and the other 50% for the sound.
There's magic in that old stuff, for sure.



Steve, you're right. Vintage gear can be an absolute blast to listen to. This last weekend we had an audio gathering at my house. I've always got some sort of vintage system set up just for fun. This time one of the guys brought by a second pair of large Advents so we could stack them.


 


Holy crap were these fun  :rock:  So much so that I'm now on the hunt for a second pair so I can do this full time (mine are the ones on the bottom). In case you were wondering, the integrated is a HH Scott 299 and the turntable is a Dual 1219 with an old Shure M-something mounted to it. Lots of zip cord, tons of crappy interconnects and a simple power conditioner to kill any power spikes (so it doesn't take out the gear).


On the audiophile scale she ranks about a 6 or 7. On the fun scale, this one goes to 11 :thumb: 

SteveFord

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 6464
  • The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #7 on: 26 Sep 2012, 08:49 pm »
I had the Large Advents when I was in High School.
I also had a black Labrador who thought they were wee wee posts.
It's been so long since I've heard a set of them maybe I should track down a pair for the fun of it.

timind

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 3862
  • permanent vacation
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #8 on: 26 Sep 2012, 11:11 pm »
I wanted a pair of those large Advents soooo bad back in the 70s. When I saved a bit of cash for speakers I went and listened to them but couldn't afford them. Settled on a pair of Polk Audio 7Bs, couldn't afford the larger 10Bs which were just a bit cheaper than the Advents. Love the strolls down memory lane.
Here ya go Steve, http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/listing/Speakers-Stand-Mounted/Advent/Loudspeaker/70894

I'll race ya to Knoxville :wink:

Delta Wave

Re: The good old days...
« Reply #9 on: 26 Sep 2012, 11:25 pm »
A mint set of Magnepan SMGs just fell into my lap... they're both ugly and beautiful at the same time. For as old as they are they completely trump the B&Ws I was running. Bass is lacking but I have good subs and have everything dialed in as perfect as it can get.

SteveFord

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 6464
  • The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #10 on: 26 Sep 2012, 11:31 pm »
I know somebody in Tennesee, hmmm...

I recall them sounding pretty good but I can't remember why I sold them - I think I caught the JBL bug or something like that.
For Guy 13, I did have a Dual turntable with that set up - a 701 with a Stanton 881S cartridge.
I still have the Discwasher brush with fluid bottle, brush and cardboard case, too. 
I also bought a very early 70s Gibson SG standard for $200 right around that time as well.  That was one of the best guitars I've ever owned. 
Those really were the good old days.

Congrats on the SMGs!!!

Elizabeth

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 2737
  • So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #11 on: 26 Sep 2012, 11:35 pm »
I am 63. Back in 1965 i aquired my first real stereo.
Fisher, Garrard Lab80, JB Lansing speakers.
I have no interest in any good old days at all.
So my totally modern stuff is Bryston, Magnepan. With Rega, Kuzma, TT, Sony CD.
The only sort of stuff i have from back in the 1950's 1960s are piles of LPs.  :dance:

My memories are enough... i don't need stuff to bring them back.

SteveFord

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 6464
  • The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #12 on: 26 Sep 2012, 11:40 pm »
Progress have certainly been made but there's still a lot to be said for the older gear.
If you listen to FM you'll hard pressed to better a recently serviced Sherwood, for instance.
If you like analog, reel to reel can make your jaw drop.
If nothing else, vintage gear can help you develop a very colorful vocabulary when it craps out!

Delta Wave

Re: The good old days...
« Reply #13 on: 26 Sep 2012, 11:45 pm »

If nothing else, vintage gear can help you develop a very colorful vocabulary when it craps out!

It does indeed... Just the phrase 'Apt Holman' gives me the willies ever time I hear it...  :green:

Delta Wave

Re: The good old days...
« Reply #14 on: 27 Sep 2012, 12:05 am »
I really don't believe that much has changed. Sure you have better materials for caps and such but have the circuit designs really changed that much? I had an old Marantz 2285b for eons and I enjoyed the music from that just as much as I do from my current set up. It had a superb phono section as well... IMO.

Quiet Earth

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1788
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #15 on: 27 Sep 2012, 12:15 am »
My memories are enough... i don't need stuff to bring them back.

I totally get this but maybe for a different reason. If I built a second system it would be all vintage of course, and my vintage. But it would eventually just sit there and take up space because the main system constantly calls to me, "play me,,, play me", and then I would feel guilty for having stuff I don't use, and the responsibility gene would kick in making me downsize the toys, and clean up the shop,,,, blah, blah, blah......

And that is the main reason why I love this vintage circle. It satisfies my desire to rebuild my past. I can live vicariously through you guys!

For now anyway.  :o

SteveFord

  • Facilitator
  • Posts: 6464
  • The poodle bites, the poodle chews it.
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #16 on: 27 Sep 2012, 01:05 am »
Perhaps you could justify a headphone system based around vintage components?
That would give you a different listening experience and you could save on the cost of speakers at the very least.

Quiet Earth

  • Full Member
  • Posts: 1788
Re: The good old days...
« Reply #17 on: 27 Sep 2012, 03:01 am »
Hey, that's a good idea! I could get back into FM late at night and not bother the family. Hmmmmm .......

Guy 13

Re: The good old days...
« Reply #18 on: 27 Sep 2012, 08:29 am »
I know somebody in Tennesee, hmmm...

I recall them sounding pretty good but I can't remember why I sold them - I think I caught the JBL bug or something like that.
For Guy 13, I did have a Dual turntable with that set up - a 701 with a Stanton 881S cartridge.
I still have the Discwasher brush with fluid bottle, brush and cardboard case, too. 
I also bought a very early 70s Gibson SG standard for $200 right around that time as well.  That was one of the best guitars I've ever owned. 
Those really were the good old days.

Congrats on the SMGs!!!

Hi Steve and all Audio Circle members.

I remember that my Dual 1019 was fitted with an Ortophon cartridge

(Sorry, forgot the model)

that was so heavy that the counterweight had to be at the very end
of the arm shaft and probably it was still not far enough.

I am sure that the weight on the stylus was probably
around 2.5 or 3 grams.

Not too good for the LPs.

During that period,

I also remember that I bought a Fender guitar and a Fender tube amplifiier.

My friend who was a musicien tried to teach me how to play,
but it was hopeless.

A few weeks later I sold the Fender combo.

You can get a made in Vietnam electric guitar or bass for 35 USD.

No guitar amplifier Made in Vietnam, they are all imported, mainly Peavey.

Guy 13 

Guy 13

Re: The good old days...
« Reply #19 on: 27 Sep 2012, 08:33 am »
Hi all Audio Circle members.

If you have any vintage stuff, dont sell it, keep it
and put it somewhere in your house.

Who knows, maybe one day, you will want to get back at vinyl and/or tube listening.

I now regret selling some, bit not all, my audio stuff I`ve bought when I was
younger or during the good old days.

Guy 13