Description

My rig was built on a strict budget. (it's called the "wife budget") It consists of the aforementioned gear, with some pieces being bought new and others used. IMHO, it brings me many hours of enjoyment after a long day at work. I look forward to coming home and sitting down and just enjoying the music. By the way, I do consider this set-up modest when compared to others on these pages and elsewhere. I have been fortunate enough to buy pieces, use them and if they didn't meet my expectations to sell them and recoup some of my money. In turn, I go out and get that other piece that I "think" will bring me to sonic nirvana.

So far with this set-up, I am VERY happy. The piano sounds just like I remember it while taking all of those forced lessons when I was a kid, it sounds REAL.

And lets face it, that is what we audiophiles are looking for, a real life performance in our very own home.
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Components Toggle details

    • Music Hall MMF CD-25
    I bought a modified Music Hall CD player from Underwood Hifi. I am very happy with it's overall sound and the mods done to it by Parts Connection of Canada.
    • Rogue Audio 99 Magnum
    Very well made and excellent sounding tube based preamp. I have Sylvania "chrome domes" coming to swap out for the stock chinese tubes.
    • Musical Fidelity A308cr
    250 watt a channel amp. Mates very well to my English speakers. Plenty of power and very quiet.
    • Spendor S8e
    Newly introduced 2 way speakers with new mid range/midbass drivers (being built by Spendor) and crossovers.
    • Signal Cable and Kimber Kable Hero's, PBJ's.
    Very modestly priced cables from one well known manufacturer and a new kid on the block.
    • Signal Cable Ultra Shotgun Bi Wire
    Very well priced bi wired speaker cable.
    • Balanced Power Technologies L-9's
    Again, well priced and well made power cable.
    • Marantz ST-6000
    Rarely used, decent sounding piece.
    • Monster Power HTS 2600
    10 outlet video and audio line conditioner.
    • Salamander Synergy 40
    6 shelf audio system rack in cherry finish.
    • Marantz SD-4050
    Low priced dual cassette deck.
    • Musical Fidelity XCan v3
    Excellent sounding tube based headphone amp. This is a carryover from my previous rig. This is a better sounding option than the headphone output on the rear of my Magnum 99 preamp.

Comments 23

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Car and hifi nuts - i have to say something. I have been a car nut too since i was knee high. All my grad student money has gone to my stereo lately so I am still driving my 33 year old BMW Bavaria 3.0 but it is such a nice car, even by mondern standards, that I am happy enough. I also have a 1926 Ford Model T roadster which runs great although it needs body work. I used to drive a 1983 Maserati Quattroporte and then a 1972 Porsche 911T. I named my two cats Aston and Martin for the love of that marque! One day I will have a 1989 V8 Vantage.

I have been very interested in the Spendor S8e although I have never heard them. I guess I just like everything I have read and the Spendors I have heard in the past delivered my style of sound.

One of my audio buddies setup his new stereo in a corner and I had him move it to the wall because I felt his soundstage was screwed up by the corner. He had what seemed like a midrange suckout (but actually I think it was too much reinforcement outside of the speakers). Anyway, he moved it to the wall and the soundstage is greatly improved. It sounded good before but with familiar music, I could tell it wasn't right.

Great system though! I would love to hear it. Where are you? I am in Blacksburg VA.

aball