Everything else in the system, including the speaker wires and jumpers, has changed several times, but those remain where they are. I am sure that better speakers have come along since then, but I still enjoy these and they aren’t exactly easy to sell, so there they stay.
Creek Audio integrated amps… first a 5350SE, purchased based on a Stereophile review (I bought Monitor Audio Silver RS6 speakers based on the same review), then upgraded to a 1st-gen Creek Destiny integrated which is still in daily use.
I have had my Garrard 301 and SME 3012 for the past 25 years. I have also been using Ikeda cartridges for close to 20 years. My first Nagra IV-S recorder was bought 20 years ago, and I bought the T Audio about 10 years ago. I don't think I will "upgrade" these components unless they die.
Roger Modjeski at Music Reference produced some of the best sounding and musical tube amplifiers ever. I used the RM-200 with my Quad 63 US Monitors, a speaker I have owned for nearly 20 years and will likely never sell, even though I am sporting Von Schweikert Ultra 7 speakers powered by WestminsterLab REI amplifiers these days. Please message me if anyone has a clean RM-200 they no longer want.
The successor is still a damn good loudspeaker SL 600 love it.with MF david amp.View attachment 137981
Thorens Td 124 over 30years, like a vw bettle runs forever
Ortofon vero cartridge ,audio technica- art 1 first titaniumbody cartridge over 30years
Raphael audio kit tube amps over 20years ..a masterpiece
Laurin speaker cables i never sell away soo good
I owned SL600s and then SL600si, one of my all-time faves. I was also fond of the SL700 and SE vers. that came later. I recall a particular demo Ralph Karsten's dealer in San Diego did, this must have been the late '80s. They demoed SL700s driven by MA1s, the source was analog and it was Arne Domerus' Antiphone Blues, maybe the first cut. The listening room walls melted away and the stage height and width were way beyond the speaker positions--very life-like. The SL600/700s played big too.
1. Quad ESL 57: my pair is 50+ years old, works perfectly, listening to it now. Perfect for morning music with my cappuccino. Like the still cool Bauhaus design.
I'll always have a pair of 57s, on my 6th ones now. I keep three around so Im never without. My daily drivers are Kent McCullom rebuilds with the 3 micron diaphragms, which represents another leap forward for the old girl. My back up pair are rebuilds by Manfred at Musikwiedergabe in Germany, another treasure I can't part with.
Apogee Diva + Apogee DAX1 since 2000. Divas were fully restored by Henk van der Hoeven (2021)
Krell KSA250 (1998) and Krell MDA500 (2001) and Krell KRC-HR (2001)
All the gears have been serviced by Power Electronics in 2021 whilst Henk was restoring the Divas
Vinyl: Michel Gyrodec, SME 309, Shure V15VxMR (since 1999, new stylus in 2010)
Phono-preamp: Rane PS1 (since 2002, stuffed away behind preamp, hence no pic)
MiniDisc: Tascam MD 801R (since 2001)
Why do I own these since more than 20 years? Simply because of "if it ain't broke, don't replace it".
These are the equipment that I kept to today:
2006-2023 EAR Acute CD player (just sold after 15 years of continuous use)
1980s-Fisher 400c and 500c tube receivers (saved for investment)
1983-Nakamichi ZX-7 cassette deck (main system)
1983-Tandberg 9000x RtoR (back-up now)
1989-Brooks Berdan highly modified SME IV tonearm (main system)
1992-VPI 19-1 (now 19-4/78 rpm only) turntable (main system 78s)
1992-VPI 16 (upgraded) brush cleaning machine (main system used with Kirmuss)
1998-Grover Huffman monoblock tube voltage regulated 125w amps based on a
Altec 1569A chassis & transformers (back-up)
2000-Kenwood KT 500 tuner (2nd system)
2000-Grover Huffman full phono/pre-amp voltage regulated (back-up)
2001-Alexis Masterlink ML9600 (now own two of them main system/back-up)
2002-Legacy Signature IIIs (2nd system)
2005-Pair of McIntosh MC30s for $75 (saved for investment)
2006-8 pieces of equipment (EAR 864/324/890, only 324 used others back-up)
2006-VPI TNT 6/heavy platter/VPI power regulation box (main system)
2006-Townshend Seismic Sink (main system)
2006-Talisman
2006-Dynaco ST70 amp Grover Huffman voltage regulated design and full input/output & detached IEC upgrade (2nd system).
Changed speakers, amps, DAC, transport, ultrasonic LP cleaner and upgraded cabling as well in 2024 in main system.
