my $686 stereo system, laugh if you want...


I have just finished establishing my $686 stereo system. Laugh if you want, but I am enjoying my tunes on my vintage system. Audio Research D-100A amp, Audio Research SP-4A pre-amp(very cool stuff) both $50 at yard sale, Mistral CD player $84 at pawn shop, ADS L710 speakers(garage sale $10) rebuilt for $200, Luxman 110 tuner, $10 at thrift shop, Mirage PS-12-180 sub woofer $300 on Audiogon, radio shack Fusion IC $12 Ebay, and Monster Cable speaker wire $20 at Best Buy. Sounds good. Sarah Brightman, Bonnie Raitt, Sarah McLaclin all sounding good.
bottomsup
A/D/S speakers have an excellent reputation. The VP for R&D was Michael Kelly who later on formed his own company Aerial Acoustics. Great setup. 
Recently cobbled together a second system with left over equipment.

Included a Pioneer PL 600 turntable (the original weighing 26 lbs and with a real suspension) collecting dust in my sister's garage.  Broke the bank and bought a $475 Hana EL cartridge on it and now it sounds great!

Spending a lot not necessary IMO ...
No one laughs at having a nice stereo to jam tunes to.

  My very first stereo was an 8-track player, set in a red velvet foot of the bed system, with two roll out seats on wheels.
a nice velvet deep red color, would play my 4-5 8 tracks all might long while I slept.
1 every night, continuously

billy loel 42 nd st. Styx paradise theatre and grand illusion
judas Priest sin after sin
kiss destroyer
ac/dc high voltage (USA version)

Santa brought me a Bitchin Panasonic Rx-c45 w matching sl-n25 servo turntable  about 80 or 81.

 First few cassettes were merciful fate, raven, venom, crossfire, Motörhead, etc.

 no one laughs at anyone for their stereo!

   If you enjoy the music, play it, enjoy it, “hear” it.

 Cheers!

Bottomsup, I agree!!!  You did a GREAT job, similar to but better than I started out years ago.  Congrats. 
In regard to women....girlfriends, wives, etc. I have an attraction to (and the ability in my younger days) and for many years, with respect, been a devotee of beautiful women.  I think the Bobfather shares my devotion per our conversation at CF18. Unlike audio where you can just stop, my Carver 350s are my last amp, I will buy nothing else, ever,  for my primary system. (maybe a 275 for the bedroom)  With women (and I, like Bob are monogamistic with that person, Bob's wife is beautiful inside and out)  trust me you never stop paying!   I've been with my SO  (significant other) J for a long time, she did a lot of  big time modeling in the 80s-90s, some of you met her at CF18.  Yet looking at my monthly cc bills they continue to sometimes amaze and surprise me.  While we have been together quite a while, we don't live together (she's Italian, I hope that's not racist and it's not meant to be. I really don't know anymore )  and it works for us.  I've never auditioned another amp since we've committed to each other.  No need to upgrade, but you still pay, and that's ok.  Call it maintenance, check ups, oil changes, whatever.  So it only matters what it sounds like to you and it only matters what it feels like when she kisses you.  If both are what you are looking for........you'll be a happy man.  If you hear what you want to hear and see and feel what you want to see and feel what more can you ask for.  Life is short (trust me, I know) so enjoy the music and the love life, play it loud, play it soft. (BC)