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Thread: Prog/Fusion/And the AudioPhile..Just wondering?

  1. #1
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    Prog/Fusion/And the AudioPhile..Just wondering?

    As I sit listening to my "system", it made me wonder how many of you PE fans here are Audio Gear enthusiasts, like the music, the gear can be an addiction in and of itself. A great system can really bring out the very best in an artists creation, some in fact go to great lengths to produce audio perfection.

    I have been collecting gear for years, and have to remain within my budget(3 college age kids). So I am more attracted to vintage stuff. And always have an eye out for deals and upgrades.

    Is there a thread for this subject, my search did not reveal anything. I know for many, looking at audio equipment is kind of a thrill. My curiosity is if prog/fusion fans being the discriminating music fans that they are, is are they as picky about their sound system as well?

    What are you using for your listening experience?

    PC system: which is configured through my computer with HQ output.
    ADS - M12 speakers
    67910_thumb_a7793e37c80ee4b36555804f0b7da015.jpg
    ADS - L620 speakers
    82952_thumb_2dc60b7e311aae50b675750d85e230cf.jpg
    NAD - 3150 Int. Amp
    good cables help a lot too.
    Just love that ADS/Braun sound, hard to beat, for the vintage collector.
    This just in, my speaker fetish just led me to buy some mint condition ads - L 880 tonight. They are said to be one of the most perfectly designed and sounding 3 way
    Upstairs:
    Philips - R542 - Motional Feedback Loudspeakers
    Philips22RH532Chassis.jpg
    Philips22RH532Front.jpg

    JBL - L 100
    jbl_l100_a-1.jpg

    Garage: Yes a system in the garage is essential.

    Infinity rsb
    JBL - L46
    Yamaha AX 570 integrated
    Magnavox cd
    SAE Parametric
    Vandersteen 2c

    Sadly an old pair of Jantzen electrostatics that are in dire need of an overhaul.
    A Yamaha CR-2040 that needs a little love.
    Last edited by MJBrady; 09-13-2013 at 10:40 PM.

  2. #2
    Member rapidfirerob's Avatar
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    If I had extra money and a larger house, I'd have nicer audio gear, for sure. I'm still using my JBL-L40s, which
    I love. The surrounds have been redone a few times. I have an Onkyo amp, CD player and tape deck (which isn't used anymore really). My old direct drive Panasonic turntable is still spinning as well. All this is in our bedroom, which is where I listen to music and practice on my acoustic bass guitar (Michael Kelly).

  3. #3
    I am a proud audiophile. I say 'proud' because the term audiophile seems to have a derogatory meaning recently.

    What this means to me is that listening to music is important enough to me to invest in good equipment. The equipment is a means to an end, not an end itself.



    My system lets me forget (most of the time) about the equipment altogether, and just listen to the music. The speakers disappear and leave an audio image that is deep, wide, pinpoint and 3D. On some recordings I get the feeling that I could actually walk around inside the reproduce soundstage.

    My equipment is a mix of vintage and new gear.

    Speakers - Usher CP-6381

    Designed by Joseph D'Apolito. 1.25" tweet, 7" mid, 8" woof. They barely need a subwoofer, but I have one just for 50hz and below.


    usher2.jpg


    Amplifiers - vintage Kenwood L-O7M (modified).

    150 watts/chan mono amplifies that were part of Kenwood's high end line in the late 70's. These can be found for less than $300 each and they rival modern amps at many time the price.


    Attachment 2462


    Preamp - Vintage Luxman C-120 (modified)

    Has a great phono section and built in active subwoofer x-over. They show up in eBay for about $200. They sound as good as many preamps at over $2000.


    Attachment 2463


    Opera Consonance 2.2 CD player.


    Attachment 2464


    Teac TN-410 turntable (one of the best DD turntables ever made) on custom plinth with a Linn tonearm and high output moving coil cartridge.


    Attachment 2465



    (not sure why those last 4 images don't display?)
    Last edited by simon moon; 09-13-2013 at 02:31 PM.
    And if there were a god, I think it very unlikely that he would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence - Russell

  4. #4
    Where can I find a pair of JBL - L100 speakers, love the old vintage stuff. I once knew someone who had the JBL Paragon Loudspeaker, Fuckin awesome!

  5. #5
    Was invited last year to someone's house to listen to a pair of these. Quite impressive for $125,000 a pair.

    NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID PEOPLE IN LARGE GROUPS!

  6. #6
    So what the heck are they

  7. #7
    Member R_burke's Avatar
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    stereo system 4-21-12.jpgOB5s.jpg

    Tube based stereo:

    Manley Mahi monoblocks
    Woo Audio WA2 preamp/headphone amp
    Shanling CD T100 - RAM modified

    Speakers:
    GR Research OB5s
    Last edited by R_burke; 09-13-2013 at 08:40 PM. Reason: additions

  8. #8
    Member LASERCD's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by trurl View Post
    So what the heck are they
    An old pair of Wilson Audio WAMMs

  9. #9
    I had to go somewhat mid-fi, but it sounds pretty decent the way it's set up.
    Pioneer VSX-1019AH
    Panasonic DMP-BD85 Blu-Ray
    Oppo 981-HD (SACD & DVD-Audio compatible and decent CD player as well)
    Fronts: Polk Monitor 70s
    Center Polk Monitor CS-2
    Rears: Polk Monitor 30s on stands
    Subs (2) Polk PSW-505

    I also have sometimes substitutea pair of of Electro-Voice 300SX pro speakers to really crank the sound- sometimes for home theater.

  10. #10
    Insect Overlord Progatron's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
    Quite impressive for $125,000 a pair.
    They're impressive for $125,000 a pair? I should hope so!
    Interviewer of reprobate ne'er-do-well musicians of the long-haired rock n' roll persuasion at: www.velvetthunder.co.uk and former scribe at Classic Rock Society. Only vaguely aware of anything other than music.

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  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Progatron View Post
    They're impressive for $125,000 a pair? I should hope so!
    You should have seen what he had running them.
    NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID PEOPLE IN LARGE GROUPS!

  12. #12
    Outraged bystander markwoll's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
    You should have seen what he had running them.
    For 125K he could have had the band there, or orchestra as the case may be.
    "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
    -- Aristotle
    Nostalgia, you know, ain't what it used to be. Furthermore, they tells me, it never was.
    “A Man Who Does Not Read Has No Appreciable Advantage Over the Man Who Cannot Read” - Mark Twain

  13. #13
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markwoll View Post
    For 125K he could have had the band there, or orchestra as the case may be.
    Indeed. At some point the bleeding edge becomes sucker bait.

  14. #14
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    I'm pretty pleased with my system. Next upgrade will be a new cartridge. Here's what I've got now:

    VPI Classic turntable
    Denon DL 103R
    Dynavector P75 Phonostage
    Aragon Soundstage Preamp
    Aragon 8008BB Power Amp
    Oppo BDP 105 Universal CD/DVD Player
    JM Labs 1007BE Speakers
    SOTA Record Cleaning Machine (though technically not part of my sound system, too important not to mention)

    (Unfortunately, I'm having trouble uploading pics)

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by rcarlberg View Post
    Indeed. At some point the bleeding edge becomes sucker bait.
    The fact that you cannot afford it doesn't make it "sucker bait" to someone who can.

  16. #16
    Member Zeuhlmate's Avatar
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    Wilson audio is the absolute top, but requires amps and input in a similar quality (and price range) - the speakers will tell you which part you should change!

    My gear is old now put works perfectly:

    Speakers Snell A-2 (reach 33hz bottom clear, no booming, I hate that)
    Power-Amp: Parasound HCA 2200II (200w in 8 ohm)
    Pre-amp: Exposure 17
    CDplayer: Marantz CD 16-KI imp.
    Turntable: Voyd Valdi, Helius arm, Grado signature pickup
    FM-Tuner: Parasound Ztuner v2
    Speaker cables: Monster
    Interconnects: Audio note (silver), Temporal continuum interconnect

    I have never regretted the money I have spent on good sound. I have tried a lot before I ended up with this combination, the idea was to match the A2 speakers. I like to hear everthing clear and detailed, and to some degree analytical, but without compromising the mood or the soul.

  17. #17
    Member Jerjo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
    Was invited last year to someone's house to listen to a pair of these. Quite impressive for $125,000 a pair.

    Ed, what did you listen to on that system to audition it?
    I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means 'put down.'- Bob Newhart

  18. #18
    Member LASERCD's Avatar
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    My current set up:

    15'x8'x 23' dedicated room built specifically for this purpose. Acoustic tuning by Michael Chafee, Michael Chafee Associates, Sarasota, FL.

    Silent Running Audio Scuttle2 rack

    Digital

    Sources:
    MSB Technologies UMT Transport
    Customized Mac Mini with Red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery power supply
    Audirvana and Amarra software
    Synergistic Research Tranquility Base
    Synergistic Research Transporter
    Synergistic Research Active SE USB cable

    DAC:
    Bricasti M1 with Hi Fi Tuning Supreme fuses

    Analogue

    TW Acustic AC Anniversary turntable
    TW Acustic 10.5 tonearm
    Lyra Atlas cartridge
    Custom Silent Running Audio Ohio XL platform


    Electronics


    ASR Basis Exclusiv phono preamplifier
    Rives Audio PARC
    Boulder 1010 preamplifier
    Boulder 2060 preamplifer

    All cabling and power cords Transparent Audio Reference XL

    All line level electronics are star grounding via Nordost QBase connected to 3 8ft copper ground rods.

    Speakers

    Rockport Technologies Aquila

    I probably forgot something. I'm in the process of tweaking the system with Stillpoints Ultra SS. At the moment I have the only TW Acustic AC Anniversary turntable in the country. It was a significant upgrade from their Raven One.

  19. #19
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    Impressive setup, Ken. I might have to make a trip to Voorhees, NJ someday.

  20. #20
    Member LASERCD's Avatar
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    Any time

  21. #21
    Quote Originally Posted by Jerjo View Post
    Ed, what did you listen to on that system to audition it?
    We played all kinds of stuff from classical to Tony Bennett with Amy Winehouse. It was amazing listening to the title track from Gran Torino. You hear things you will never hear anywhere else. All this shits nice but you can never move the speakers unless you have an engineer come back and calibrate everything again, and none of it fits in your coffin.
    Last edited by Shadow; 09-15-2013 at 05:05 PM.
    NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID PEOPLE IN LARGE GROUPS!

  22. #22
    Member rapidfirerob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by KIPMEISTER View Post
    Where can I find a pair of JBL - L100 speakers, love the old vintage stuff. I once knew someone who had the JBL Paragon Loudspeaker, Fuckin awesome!
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/jbl-L100-spe...item43bfb0daf9
    Original grills and badges can be purchased in the ad underneath this on on Ebay.

  23. #23
    Quote Originally Posted by rapidfirerob View Post
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/jbl-L100-spe...item43bfb0daf9
    Original grills and badges can be purchased in the ad underneath this on on Ebay.
    What a bizarre price.
    NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF STUPID PEOPLE IN LARGE GROUPS!

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    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc

    And if I were, then I'd get a tube based system. I remember seeing & hearing a McIntosh system over 20 years ago at a friend's house & thinking wow!

  25. #25
    Member BobM's Avatar
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    Nice setup Ken. Some very well reviewed equipment there.

    Here's my setup ...
    VPI Industries Aries clone turntable
    Transfiguration Temper Cartridge
    Moerch DP6 tonearm
    DIY Seismic Sink equipmenty Racks
    Hagerman Trumpet phono stage
    Mark Kelly Speed Controller Synchrotron AC-1 Turntable
    Hagerman` Piccolo MC Step Up Preamplifier
    Ayre CX7e-MP CD player
    AudioPrism Mantissa tubed preamp
    McCormack DNA 500 amp
    Apogee Acoustics Duetta Signature speakers
    REL Acoustics Strata mkIII Subwoofer
    Sennheiser 600 headphones
    Peter Millet Mini Max headphone amp
    Analysis Plus Solid Crystal Oval Interconnects Interconnect
    Triode Wire Labs Bi-Wire Speaker Cable Speaker cable
    Triode Wire Labs Power Cords
    Kaplan Copper Power Cords
    JRPC (DIY) Jon Risch design AC filter

    1343298444.jpg

    1343298635.jpg

    1343298636.jpg

    1301672486.jpg
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