After sweating for over a year in the sands of the Mid East, I decide to treat myself to a new(used)high-end audio and video system upon returning to my home base. I realize that a lot of this gear is dated (1980-2000), and some manufacturers are out of business or have ceased production on the models, but I consider it an excellent system to upgrade as newer gear becomes affordable. I can upgrade as the new stuff of today becomes the dated stuff of tomorrow.
What more do I need? Where is/are my weakness(s)? I may update speakers to B&W N801 or 800 as soon as price drops for used ones.
Real nice transport and now reasonably priced used.
Levinson No-360s
What can I say? Awesome DAC...my proudest componnet in my sytem!
Levinson No-380s
An outstanding preamp.
Levinson No-336
Just one of my Mark Levinson amps..two more for home theater.
Levinson No-334
A ML amp for L/R surround speakers which are B&W SCM 8s, and 805 Matrix for rears
Levinson No-434
A mono center channel amp which is B&W Matrix 800 HTM, I use Transparent Ultra XL RCA cable to it.
Sony VPH-D50HTU CRT projector
Incredible picture! Colors rival any new sanely priced CRT! Great value for money too!
Runco SC-4200
Line doubler--quadroupler. Just a lot for the money--makes DVDs much more vivid and black is BLACK!!
Kimber Cable RGBHV DV30
30' of exceptional cable from Runco SC-4200 to Sony projector
Transparent SVS Premium
An exceptional cable from Proceed PMDT to Runco SC-4200.
Stewart 100 inch Four Way Masking
An expensive screen but WORTH EVERY PENNY!
Proceed PMDT
An incredible DVD transport--too bad the line has been discontinued. A steal at used price.
dCS Purcell
Upsampler for those 16 bit CDs that need something...this unit does it--British high-end at its best! Looking for a dCS Elgar
Krell B&W 800 BAF
Bass alignment filter...after market high end equalizer for B&W Matrix 800 series speakers...two for balanced operation.
HeadRoom Corp Blockhead
Why I bought this? Just imagine listening to Pink FLoyd Dark Side of the Moon in fanatastic sound, prescence, dynamics, everything! One listen and you will see why I paid an insanely amount for a headphone amp.
Lexicon MC-1
I bought this used, however new in box--never used with a s/n of one of the last one made...Exceptional, but will replace with MC-12!
Magnum Dynalab MD-102
An incredile tuner! Has remote, silver wiring, and now it needs a Slueth...looking for one!
B&W Matrix 801 s2
My first high-end speakers--Still have them after almost 15 years...anyone have another pair for sale within the New England states?
B&W SCM-8
My surround speakers...incredible sound and match the 801s perfect, also I have B&W 805s as rears, and HTM 800 as center.
B&W 800-ASW
A real nice sub. I may add another for stereo.
Variuos Kimber, Acoustic Zen, Transparent,
I use a lot of different cables...Acoustic Zen Matrix Ref II, Silver Ref II, Harmonic Technology Magic RCA and XLR, Kimber Orchard, Transparent Ultra XL, NBS master AES/EBU
NBS, Shunyata, Virtual Dynamics Black Mamba II, Nite, AC-10, NBS
I use Shunya Black Mamba VII for digial, VD Nite for amps, NBS for general componnets, and Harmonic Technology AC-10 for video
Symposium, Aurios, Cardas, Ultra, 1.2s, RCA AND XLR caps
I use a lot of tweaks: Symposium Ultra platforms, Roller blocks2+, Cable stands, Orchard Bay cones, Sound Anchor amps stands,Cardas caps, Cardas headphone cable, Kontact cleaner, Polycrystal amp stand and Ref IS0-3 cones
Tice Audio, BPT --Solo A/V, 3.5 Sig series
3C HP Sig series, Solo video for projector, and Balanced Power technology 3.5 Sig. for front end, and nothing for amps, yet.
Sony SCD777ES
I bought this used from a doctor who rarely used it. Outstanding SACD player.
Nakamichi Dragon cass
The only item leftover from my Nakamichi system of the 80s. Still in perfect shape, but rarely gets used.
Alesis ML9600
I use this for making compilation Cds. A great recorder, but not the best for a transport/CD player.
Acoustic Zen, Kimber, Audioquest Hologram II Biwire, 8TC, Volcano
I use Acoustic Zen Hologram Ref II to main speakers or Audioquest Volcano, and Kimber 8TC goes to surround speakers.
I agree with the above responces. You deserve great rewards from your time in the field. Enjoy. You have some of the best stuff available, and it will not easily be equaled 10 years from now.
After a year of poppin' caps I hope that you still have the hearing to really enjoy it - I know that my hearing's not what it was before my military time. Thanks for your service! Whatever you've been paid it was not enought to express our appreciation. Enjoy! Craig
I mean, christ. What the hell are they paying military now? I know back between 1996-and 2000 it wasnt crap.
I remember my first decent system, comprised of a pair of $400 pioneers and a Technics SA-TX50 reciever that i bought from the BX, i had the nicest damn stereo in the barracks!
Even if some of this is dated 20 years old, hell, ...
You selling secrets to the chinese to get that rig? hahahahahahaha
Nice system. I suggest that you video tape all of it and get it added to your insurance policy. I have heard of too many instances of our military personnel arriving home to find empty living rooms!
I don't fully inderstand why/how this occurs, but it could be because of the public nature of your scheduled movement. In a military community, everyone knows when you are out of town!
I wish you the best, and enjoy. But be very cautious too....
Yes this system cost me a lot of money but I can only do this once...it will take me 10 years to save to upgrade some of it.
How I saved money...H'mmm...Just think of a desert...no Walmart, strip malls, fast food eateries, movie theaters and nightclubs, and theme parks...very limited number of eligible or desirable women, no rent (live in tents)or utilites bills, grocery bills (eat MRES and T rations 3 times a day), no car exepenses, no phone bill, no beer or alcohol tab, no summer vacatiion, no fees for fitness center, solarium (sun was freee, all 18 hours of it) or gym fees (sweat 20 pounds off walking), and finally no enjoyment in life! Just a searing, wind swept, sandy &#@!^ desert!
Received tax free income, hardship pay, iminent danger pay, and basic pay and allowances. Single with no wife, girlfriend,, kids, dogs, cats, fish or any other pet.... do not smoke, drink, gamble or indulge in any other habits.
Were do put all this stuff? When I did my two year hitch I had a Sears all in one record player, tuner, amp, combo. You would have been annointed with God like status in my day with your gear (or a nut, depending on who you ask).
The speaker update would be a good improvement, but you might also consider saveing that long green for a house after your out, or for an investment now.
Very glad your back and doing well by the way, my brother in law went over as well, he's in an outfit that snuck in before the shooting started to recon the bad guys. They almost didn't make it back, long story.
Jeez, how much are we paying you guys? I think anyone would be happy with your equipment. Dated or not! It appears you have excellent system. Good luck in the future.
