[SET Man]

Hey!

I went over a stack of old photos in my closet and I found a picture of my first stereo system.



That's me in 1991. I was 14 back then. The system consisted of JVC reciver I think is 50wch and cost almost $200, JVC cdp $150, JVC tape deck $(?), Technic tape deck $(?)... but I'm pretty sure they are not more than $200 each... Turntable forgot what brand but I picked this up at a junk shop in China town for $3 with some cleaning and new lower end Ortofon cart $30, speaker are Advent Baby II $200, and some low end Monsters cables. Man! I still remember the time I bought those Advent speaker... there were Ohm and of cause Bose, but I just like the sound the Advent and so went home with them. They were my first pair of speaker. I even built those stand for them.... I guess I have been a DIYer since I was a kid!

I was very young but thanks to my uncle who introduced me to the world of hi-fi.... well with the mass market level at that point but it was a start.  He is also a musician and that guitar belong to him.

To get those stuffs I had to save alot of money of which I didn't have much.... I saved alot from my allowance and instead of brithday gifts my family would give me money so I could go buy something I really want... that was a good thing so I didn't have to be stuck with many things I don't like. I was different then other kids in my school including my friends... instead of spending money on comic books and video games I would save money for stereo system and CDs I still have some of those CDs today.

Anyway, I sold that system to my high school friend couple of years later and went through a few chnages then.

That's was 15 years ago in 1991 and this is now, 2006...



Well, things change alot 15 years later... don't you think? More $$$ for sure I went through a few changes.... for power, 50wch reciver now I'm down to 18wch SET (250wch SS was the highest at one point)  Oh! and you know the funny thing about this is that my first pair speaker the Advent Baby II used 6.5" woofer... well guess what I'm back with 6.5" (6"?) now this time a pair of Fostex FE167E in TQWT cab that I built myself. 

Well, looking back now sure bring back lots of memories. But thanks my father and mother of whom got me into the joy of music and my uncle that introduced me to the world of hi-fi... sadly he past away from motocycle accident in the early '90s. But I'm sure he will like my system now if he is still here today

It was a fun journey. And I'm very very happy with my current system. Once the system set up right I rarely thinking about the system when the music is on now. Ain't perfect but I love it. And to prove that I love my  system......



 

Take care,
Buddy

[Zero]

Great homage to your journey, SETMan.  I love the cat and your love for the speakers.. hehe

[Bemopti123]

Buddy, when I look at your system, it brings me back memories of what I had as a system in my college days....At around the same time you had a snapshot of your system, I had a pair of JBL 20t3, which btw, I still possess, as well as a Carver M 4.0t (one of the crappiest amps that are still traded for more than 50% of retail), as well as a C-2 Carver preamp, my good preamp the Sumo Athena was at my mom's, deemed too valuable for college duties, I also had a technics CDP, thanks to my roomie, and a Sony 3 head tapedeck (which crapped out, giving me different speeds on tapes, as they were being played...)
For sure we had the loudest sounding system in that wing of my college dorm...

I am glad that I was delivered from all that stack of junk, as soon as I got a serious job as an adult...

In terms of funds, I remember that eventhough we had this type of stereo back in 1992, my friends and I used to put together dimes and nickels to buy taco bell tacos up somewhere in Upstate NY. 

I like your story about your uncle....According to my mom, my uncle, who passed away back in 1999, was also into stereos, having a stack of 1960s Pioneer with tuner and turntable, back in the late 1960s. 

Congrats on a life well lived, as well as breaking away from the mediocrity of Mid fi, while many people older than you still claim that their Bose stacks ROCK. 



and to make you cat company, a picture of my beloved listening partners....

[launche]

Carver M 4.0t (one of the crappiest amps that are still traded for more than 50% of retail)

The Carver was my first amp, I still have it to remind me how far I've come  Gonna give it to me little brother so he can have some appreciation for better gear later on.  Good to know I can still get something for it.

[Mag]

   It chokes me up and brings a tear to my eye to see such love. Kind of like watching the  movie 'Love Story'
   And if I didn't know that was a speaker, I'd a thought you were a tree hugger.

[Bemopti123]

Carver M 4.0t (one of the crappiest amps that are still traded for more than 50% of retail)

Gonna give it to me little brother so he can have some appreciation for better gear later on. 

Make sure that you have your bro sign a release of liability form, should he destroy his speakers with this overrated amp!  According to some, even some less than 100 watt amplifiers could out brow all the hyped up Carver products from the Era.  Was I the only fool who feel for "Transfer function" and ungodly amounts of watts on the cheap, and let me not forget, those cheap leds going up and down.  Hehehehe.   

[Mike B.]

Jeez, I don't think I want to do a before and now look. My first stereo was a Magnavox suitcase style record player with a take off second speaker. A girl at a party I had during college spilled a slo gin and seven on the turntable and talk about wow and flutter! The first album I bought after getting that setup was Peter, Paul and Mary. Yeah, I am that old

[Sonny]

Great Post!!!
My first system, Sony STR 9000 or something of the like.  Kliscphs 3.2s bought at Magnolia, Sony cdp and lots of Seattle grundge music!   Back in the late 80s early 90s...
Now its all tubes after a stint with the Odyssey Mono Extremes...

[SET Man]

Buddy,

....Congrats on a life well lived, as well as breaking away from the mediocrity of Mid fi, while many people older than you still claim that their Bose stacks ROCK. 

Bemopti123, thanks man! Just can't believe it that I still have that picture! You know I wish I still have those Advent Baby II just for the fun of it.

As for my uncle.... he not only introduced me to hi-fi but more importantly he got me into DIY. I remember going to junk shop in Chinatown looking for something like a broken amp so he could use gut out the tranny for his own DIY amp. I would watch him take in apart and then he would swing that sodering iron and a few days later he would have a working amp in some old chassis! And that was how I first learned how to solder. Btw he also got im into photography too

It was a fun journey. Compare to some other people my was not a long one or very expensive one

 I see that you have an audiophile in the making right now I'm sure that your son will grow up to have a appriciation of music. Hey! you could past on some of the stuff you have now But I think you should protect his hearing by not turn it too loud when he is in the room

Jeez, I don't think I want to do a before and now look. My first stereo was a Magnavox suitcase style record player with a take off second speaker. A girl at a party I had during college spilled a slo gin and seven on the turntable and talk about wow and flutter! The first album I bought after getting that setup was Peter, Paul and Mary. Yeah, I am that old

Mike B, I think I get the idea. That was long before I was born.

Great Post!!!
My first system, Sony STR 9000 or something of the like.  Kliscphs 3.2s bought at Magnolia, Sony cdp and lots of Seattle grundge music!   Back in the late 80s early 90s...
Now its all tubes after a stint with the Odyssey Mono Extremes...

Thanks Sonny. Kliscphs and Seattle grundge music? Sound like a good loud combo there

Great homage to your journey, SETMan.  I love the cat and your love for the speakers.. hehe

   It chokes me up and brings a tear to my eye to see such love. Kind of like watching the  movie 'Love Story'
   And if I didn't know that was a speaker, I'd a thought you were a tree hugger.

Guys! that's funny. But really I really do love my speaker. They started out 4 years ago as a side project just to see what Single Driver is all about and were not ment to be a replacment for Manepan 1.5 that were in my system at the time. But! They turn out waaaaaaaay better than I expected and 4 years later they are still in my system. (btw I still have Maggies... have not use them in years but they seem to make great sound panel in the back corner )The look crappy though since I'm not a carpenter for have wood workshop. They ain't perfect... there are other speakers out there that do certain things better but not everything

Hey! C'mon have you ever see someone hug thier speaker? If you love and enjoy your speaker so much than go ahead! Give them a hug


Anyway, thanks for the responds guys!

Take care,
Buddy

[Sesha]

Hi Buddy,

I just saw your very sweet post.  You know, compared to what I had at 14, you had a pretty good rig, especially with Baby Advents.  Your present system now is very impressive, PS Audio power plants and all.  Nice stack of vinyl you got, too.

I'll let you into a secret; now and then I, too, stroke and kiss my speakers, which happen to be on the front end B&W 805s (with AH! LS noisekiller tails behind), partnered with a Sunfire Truesub Junior. They've given me great pleasure, so why not show them some appreciation, huh?

Sorry to hear about the uncle who introduced you to good sound.  I'm sure he's enjoying good music wherever he is.

Thanks for sharing, buddy.

Sesha

[SET Man]

Hi Buddy,

I just saw your very sweet post.  You know, compared to what I had at 14, you had a pretty good rig, especially with Baby Advents.  Your present system now is very impressive, PS Audio power plants and all.  Nice stack of vinyl you got, too.

I'll let you into a secret; now and then I, too, stroke and kiss my speakers, which happen to be on the front end B&W 805s (with AH! LS noisekiller tails behind), partnered with a Sunfire Truesub Junior. They've given me great pleasure, so why not show them some appreciation, huh?

Sorry to hear about the uncle who introduced you to good sound.  I'm sure he's enjoying good music wherever he is.

Thanks for sharing, buddy.

Sesha

Hey!

 Thanks Sesha Somtime is good to look back and see how far you have come, how much have been accomplished and more importantly how much more can be accomplished in the future. And I'm very grateful of what I have right now

 Yes those Advent Baby II were nice. That was back then when Advent still make good "acoustic suspension" speaker. Right now I wish I stil have them. Hmmm... maybe I will pick up a used pair and hook them up with my SET amps just for the fun of it.

Anyway, I'm glade to know that I'm not the only one that like to touch speaker sometime. I'm sure that your B&W have an excellent finish on them.

The bottom line here is enjoying music and not the gears. So, have fun and enjoy the music!

Take care,
Buddy

[Sesha]

Good advice, Buddy.