If you were lucky enough to be into HiFi in 1962 your "all out assault" system would look something like this (aside from the power conditioner and transporter).
I prefer the sound of vintage gear and found this combination to be just right. I didn't really plan it that way but it's just the way it worked out. This is an example of what a system from the "golden age of HiFi" can look and sound like. Check it out and let me know what you think.
I can tell you that my vintage gear doesn't appeal to me the same way the new stuff does. I do a bit of mix and match and probably truly mismatch. The older table and cartridge that I use a 70s Hitachi top of their line at the time with a special Pickering MM Cart, VS my simple VPI Scout and Dynevector 20X HO. the level of detail a frequency extension in the new gear simply is much greater than what the vintage system can deliver. I have circa 1960 JBL speakers and a couple of tube components from that era as well. It's fun but in truth the new stuff just sounds better to me. One area where the older gear/parts are much better than new has been with tubes. Even there, there has been remarkable progress, the better new tubes really are better. That may sound silly but we are told this break through or that one is going to a vast improvement and in the end it isn't. The new output tubes are getting to be as good as the tubes they were named after.
Mark's last response was 12-08. I hope all is well. Whenever I hear the term vintage, I picture stuff up to this era. Total coolness factor!! A nice Tuner would top it off.
Very cool, though you should have a Shure M75E cartridge. You could get a better Jico SAS stylus for it.
I'm heading down that road too in our spare room. I just purchased a '66 McIntosh MA5100 integrated amp, that is off to Terry DeWick for repair and upgrading. Prior to buying the Mac, the same day in fact, I sold a Dual 1019 w/ Shure M75E that I wish I didn't sell, but I didn't know I was going to find the Mac locally. I do have a 70s TT to use. Now I need to find appropriate speakers with good detail and dynamics to compliment the Mac
WOW! Mark, you this is by far the coolest system I have seen on the web. And you sir are one cool audiophile. You have brought the entire hobby up several notches single handed. I have been so tired of "all out assaults" based on what a person can spend. It is refreshing to see someone with a concept and a plan.
Great system. You are correct about the AA-11. A ref. preamp. Sam Kim rebuilt mine and it is on equal footing with the Wyetech Opal. Are you a member of the Bozak group? http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Bozak_speakers/
WOW I need to set up my system the way you set up yours.However I have only three components: 1964 McIntosh MA 230, 1968 Fairchild 412-1a t/table with Empire 98 tonearm and Pickering cartridge, and a pair of 1964 Bozak 302b speakers. The Fairchild is very musical, however I prefer my Sota Sapphire with Shure V 15 MR cartridge more.
I love what you've done here, without reading all the correspondence, how much did you already have before putting this system together? I recently put together some 35 year old Tannoys with custom cabs and crossovers, and couldn't love the sound more. They sure would sound good with your vintage tube gear.............!
I have the same speakers still in very nice condition and looking at these gears you have neatly set up, just finalized it all.But one thing i'm really yearning to have these speakers on is " space and that carpeting" Hmmmm Just yummmy smooth sounding Bozak.A toast !
It's Great to see some one else loves this stuff . I Have 2 pairs of JBL sinature series C36 and a pair of C38 with the 030 package original drivers These speakers are so sensitive that they measure much higher than my 104 Db Klipsch La Scalas. More power to you I am jealous.
