Linn LP12 / Alphason HR-100S
Nakamichi 480
Adcom GFT-1 tuner
Belles 1 amp
Belles 1 preamp
Mondial Acurus P10 phono stage
Thiel 03a
What did your system look like 30 years ago?
As best as I can recall, this is what I had
Magnepan MG1.4 speakers; Rega Planar 3 turntable with a Linn K9 cartridge; CAL Icon CD player; Adcom GTP500 II tuner/preamp; Adcom GFA545 amp
I still have my Zerostat which I bought in the 80's-
Magnepan MG1.4 speakers; Rega Planar 3 turntable with a Linn K9 cartridge; CAL Icon CD player; Adcom GTP500 II tuner/preamp; Adcom GFA545 amp
I still have my Zerostat which I bought in the 80's-
124 responses Add your response
Down to zilch.... Was traveling the country and Canada in a new 34' motorhome for 8 months at age 39 with spouse and Grace the Wonder Cat. Only thing kept was a Niles Audio CPM-31 switchbox, because I correctly thought I'd never see anything like it again. Still have it....still works. *S* Better than me, age-wise...;) |
Allison Ones, Audible Illusions 2D, Kenwood KD-500 TT, Grace G-707 arm, Dynavector MR 23 Ruby, Premier head amp, oak plywood rack, Monster cable SC, Audiquest Ruby ICs, Mod Squad 405 amp, Dual C-901 cassette. The analog setup was used for 13 years minus the cartridge, and the amp was used for about 13 years on its was to 28. Speakers for about 13 years also. All bought new--Victor's Stereo on Erie in Chicago, Paul Heath Audio on Clark in Chicago, Quintessence in Naperville, And the TT/arm was bought from a couple of mail order warehouses in California. Bob |
Circa 1991, and the only system in my house at that time: Harman Kardon HK795i receiver Technics SL-230 turntable Stanton 500 cartridge Sony CDP-110 CD player Harman Kardon TD212 cassette deck EPI 1200 loudspeakers Most of the current audio equipment that I listen to these days is vintage, with the exception of my DAC’s. The electronics are vintage vacuum tube. The speakers are AR, KLH, and EPI. Almost all my current equipment is older than the system listed above from 30 years ago I still have the HK 795i receiver, TD212 cassette deck, and Technics turntable. I am just now trying to sell the HK795i. The TD212 is still around in case I want to listen to old cassettes, but that is a very rare occurrence. The SL-230 turntable is still very much in use and is now mated to an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge. It is one of a number of turntables hooked up in my basement audio systems. |
Interesting thread. Back then I had Duntech Princess loudspeakers, Audio Research Classic 150 amps, an Audio Research SP11 Mk II preamp, a Vendetta Research phono stage, a Basis Ovation turntable (had just gotten it, still own it) with a Graham 1.5T arm and a Transfiguration cartridge, and a Krell MD 1/64SBX (not sure of the model designation, it was then their best DAC) DAC combination. Cables were a hodgepodge, but I did have very short Siltech speaker cables. I think I may have replaced the ARC preamp with a Jadis JPL line stage in the summer of that year--the start of my descent into all tube electronics. |
@mapman I remember the Harvey store on 17 quite well. It was on the northbound side and was pretty close where there’s now a Tesla dealer. I used to work in Hackensack so I passed Harvey 2X a day. Bought stuff from them over the years too! There also used to be a Leonard Radio on 17, and Rt 4 had a Tech HIFI. There was another place on Rt4- Stereo Warehouse. Not far, in Ridgewood, was the Sounding Board. Englewood had Stewart’s. Funny that these days when I pass locations that were former hifi shops I always think of what was there. I’m a bit north- in Rockland. We had one place in Nanuet. It was a good place until the owner retired and then the son took over. What a gannif/thief! He ran it into the ground. These days, the hifi shops in reasonable proximity to me are in white plains, mount kisco, and Cornwall. All three are quite different. In order of preference- mount kisco, Cornwall, then white plains. If I get ambitious, and I’ve done it, under 3 hrs and I’m in Binghamton/Vestal |
Same as it does now except the Lux CL-32 pre is replaced (FINALLY) with an Audio Research SP-6B. Newly acquired Audio Research EC-21 will move the Hafler 500 (I assembled it in 1975 at my desk at my shop) to the bottom end--should be enough to drive the Tympani I-C's bass panels. Looking to purchase a used Audio Research tube amp of 100+ for the top. Shoulda kept my demo system from the shop--Audio Research D-150. Heck of an amp! Cheers! |
Harvey’s Rt. 17 Paramus? That’s where I believe I bought a Tandberg TR2080 new a couple years after that picture to upgrade from the Hitachi. Beauty! Sold it to a collector in Norway a few years back as it was getting a bit old in the tooth but always a top notch sounding receiver. The Hitachi was my college receiver, the Tandberg grad school. |
ejr1953 I actively use my Tandberg 2080 for my garage/shop/speakers tossed out the window to back yard for picnics. Loaded with features, excellent FM, adjust phono sensitivity to match Phono 1 to Phono 2, Got it at Harvey’s, used shelf, another piece my friend Steve told me was coming out Those B&O systems were so beautiful they made me drool. |
mapman
Are those Grolsch bottles? They look darker than the Green ones, did they make a dark beer I wasn't aware of? Grolsch was my 'celebration' beer, couldn't afford it regularly. |
What fun to remember Speakers: JSE Infinite Slope, Model II. The only speakers I heard at audio shows I liked as much as the ones I had and use now. They were/are the most accurate speakers I ever owned. Preamp and Amp: McIntosh SS C28; McIntosh SS MC2250. TT, none, solidly in the ’cd’s perfect forever’ world. (Thorens TD124/SMe on a shelf downstairs). CD: Onyko, dual matched burr brown processors Cassette: Onkyo, their high end dual deck. Prior to CD I made lots of recordings from LP’s, now played them and made Cassettes to give away from CDs 8 Track. Just kept it, it was a gift from Columbia House, I had designed their offices. R2R: vintage 2 Track Stereo with 2 Track Stereo Tapes (no 4 track yet) Equipment Rack: Same one I have now Locations: Then: Plants only on top of the Rack (I promised Donna she could have the top for plants when we bought the rack). All equipment on 2 shelves below, a bit inconvenient, but Speakers in the same corners as now. On 4 wheels as per OEM design. Easy to adjust, push back when big party. Changed to 3 wheels, more weight per wheel. Current speakers, even heavier, 3 wheels, hard to move even on wheels. Location Now: to keep my word, but get 4 pieces stacked on the top shelf, I bought some trays, put felt on the bottom, put them on top of equipment, I still do that. Gotta trust her. I keep one tray of plants on top of cassette that doesn’t move, and one tray that stays/moves from the TT when current 4 track R2R in use, moves to R2R when TT in use. New deep glass shelf for JVC big plinth. How many of you would trust the wifey to water plants on your equipment? Plants can be seen here https://www.ebay.com/itm/133612076659 |
In 1990, the system I have now was the system I had then: Nakamichi 410 preamp, Quad 405 power amp, NAD CD player (currently on my 3rd NAD CD), Thorens 166 mk2 table but married to a Denon 103 cartridge instead of the Sumiko blue point #2 I have now. Speakers? The venerable ADS 1230s, still going strong since 1983. |
Kenwood 8100 integrated amp (the nice silver one) Kenwood tuner (matched the amp) Kenwood cassette deck (matched the amp) Thorens 145 turntable with Stanton 681E cartridge Bose 301 speakers (version 1 which I bought the day they first went on sale. The amp/tuner/deck just got sold two years ago, still in perfect working condition (but had long ceased to be my primary kit) The turntable I still use but it was refurbished and sports a Grado Prestige Gold now. After coming to my senses, the Bose speakers had been relegated to garage use and Infinite Slope .6’s took their place. PS I also still have my Zerostat, Dustbuster, Watts Dust Bug and other assorted vinyl gear which gets used too! Good times! |
My Infinity IRS Betas looked identical to how they do today.....like new. My Linn Sondek ...same...like new 30 yrs ago and today My Mark Levinson 23's as well....like new. Only piece not the same....went up one number ....Audio Research 6B replaced by a Klyne 7. Wow. Time goes by fast. This has turned into my wife's set-up as I have been relocated to the basement....with much sweeter system but with much lower WAF. |
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I'm not that old, I was 10 30 years ago. But 20 years ago.. McIntosh C34v. Preamp Mcintosh mc7300 x2 (bridged) Mcintosh Mcd7005 cd playerYamaha NS-2000 Yamaha NS-1000 I still use the amps to this day and have gone back to the Yamahas every few months. But I still have every piece of this setup, with the boxes and crates. |
@oregonpapaNaw. I gave away the record player to a buddy who had an old midfi system. And the Rectilinears were thrown out after the drivers started failing. But I’ve kept the electronics in storage. |
Optonica RP3636 turntable with Signet 5 cartridge NAD 3020 Polk Monitor7b Discwasher brush and Zerostat I still have the 45lb Optonica in its original box. The pseudo granite plinth has survived a lot of moves. Polks were in storage also until last month when they were gifted to a budding music lover. Bought the entire system new in ‘78 |
VPI HW-19 Mklll, don't recall the low price MC cartridge ARC SP 9 Mk. lll ARC Classic 60 Thiel CS-3.5 Same system today, though I upgraded Audioquest and FMS wire to MIT 330 interconnects and MH 750 speaker wire. Also added a Grado Sonata MI cartridge Why mess with a great synergy? Thanks to Steve Bauman wherever you are! |
