This is my system.

n+1

Member
Jan 4, 2023
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This is my system. There are many like it. But this one is mine...

I know I don't have the best system in the world, but I love what I have built. I didn't build it alone. I am indebted to the knowledge, expertise, passion and generosity of the few people I have been fortunate enough to meet and call friends and who helped me figure out how to build a system that's right for me. Like a lot of people my age, 57, I heard a friend's Dad's McIntosh/Klipsch system back in the 70s and was blown away. I had no idea that the thing I already loved - music - could make me love it even more. I was hooked. Specifically I was hooked on that big, immersive, dynamic, warm, human sound. But back then I'd probably just say that it was so loud and so killer. Experiences like that don't leave you. I can't discount the fact that what drives my current system is in part driven by trying to do the impossible - that is, re-capture that overwhelming love of music that I first felt back in the day.

My system is about energy and emotional engagement. It's purely subjective criteria.

DavidDB48D7B7-BBB1-4B68-B12B-19FC5569C89F.jpegFAA4686E-0BA5-4112-B7A0-429D7D06D473.jpegA4C0EFAC-C4B3-4A68-B938-8A017F870288.jpegF3B5071C-5478-410C-852E-5E220E8BBB12.jpegEF4522B4-2ECC-40D3-AACC-A903C9BB819D.jpeg03E31134-F238-4B1D-A2AB-BA3FA82DF466.jpegC2204D21-3F27-4C8D-AD01-A6333C217DA8.jpeg
 
This is my system. There are many like it. But this one is mine...

I know I don't have the best system in the world, but I love what I have built. I didn't build it alone. I am indebted to the knowledge, expertise, passion and generosity of the few people I have been fortunate enough to meet and call friends and who helped me figure out how to build a system that's right for me. Like a lot of people my age, 57, I heard a friend's Dad's McIntosh/Klipsch system back in the 70s and was blown away. I had no idea that the thing I already loved - music - could make me love it even more. I was hooked. Specifically I was hooked on that big, immersive, dynamic, warm, human sound. But back then I'd probably just say that it was so loud and so killer. Experiences like that don't leave you. I can't discount the fact that what drives my current system is in part driven by trying to do the impossible - that is, re-capture that overwhelming love of music that I first felt back in the day.

My system is about energy and emotional engagement. It's purely subjective criteria.

DavidView attachment 103470View attachment 103465View attachment 103466View attachment 103467View attachment 103468View attachment 103469View attachment 103472
Very cool pared back setup and also like your design philosophy… nice!! Congratulations n+1
 
Hello David,

Welcome to WBF!

Energy and emotional engagement are fantastic subjective criteria! Congratulations!
 
This is my system. There are many like it. But this one is mine...

I know I don't have the best system in the world, but I love what I have built. I didn't build it alone. I am indebted to the knowledge, expertise, passion and generosity of the few people I have been fortunate enough to meet and call friends and who helped me figure out how to build a system that's right for me. Like a lot of people my age, 57, I heard a friend's Dad's McIntosh/Klipsch system back in the 70s and was blown away. I had no idea that the thing I already loved - music - could make me love it even more. I was hooked. Specifically I was hooked on that big, immersive, dynamic, warm, human sound. But back then I'd probably just say that it was so loud and so killer. Experiences like that don't leave you. I can't discount the fact that what drives my current system is in part driven by trying to do the impossible - that is, re-capture that overwhelming love of music that I first felt back in the day.

My system is about energy and emotional engagement. It's purely subjective criteria.

DavidView attachment 103470View attachment 103465View attachment 103466View attachment 103467View attachment 103468View attachment 103469View attachment 103472


Nice, n+1. So you have Altec woofers in an Onken cab with 288s and MK horns, and TAD 2001 tweeter. Did you build this yourself? Is it all passive crossover?

I see that you additionally have a smaller set of MK horns which are on the floor, which would have the same dispersion as your 1505. Is there any reason you did not prefer them and they are on the floor?
 
You're too modest. Welcome to WBF and congratulations on your accomplishment.
 
Nice, n+1. So you have Altec woofers in an Onken cab with 288s and MK horns, and TAD 2001 tweeter. Did you build this yourself? Is it all passive crossover?

I see that you additionally have a smaller set of MK horns which are on the floor, which would have the same dispersion as your 1505. Is there any reason you did not prefer them and they are on the floor?
Hi bonzo75. Thank for the questions and comments. The woofers are Altec replicas from Great Plains Audio. They are mounted in Onken Grande cabinets. I used the plans that Jean Hiraga wrote: http://www.planet10-hifi.com/downloads/Hiraga-Onkens-English.pdf. I worked with a local woodworker. We followed the plans as closely as we possibly could. The crossover is a passive series design. I made two sets of crossovers with modest but respectable parts - one parallel and the other series. I prefer the series. I have two Dave Slagle speakerformers for each crossover. One on the MK1505 and the other on the tweeter/HF. They really help with dialing in a smooth integration of drivers. As for the smaller set of multicell horns, per Markus Klug's recommendation, he suggested using them on the TAD2001 for high frequencies, it was too much treble energy. It just sprays it everywhere in my room. They're only on the floor because, well, I just haven't picked them up off the floor yet.
 
This is my system. There are many like it. But this one is mine...

I know I don't have the best system in the world, but I love what I have built. I didn't build it alone. I am indebted to the knowledge, expertise, passion and generosity of the few people I have been fortunate enough to meet and call friends and who helped me figure out how to build a system that's right for me. Like a lot of people my age, 57, I heard a friend's Dad's McIntosh/Klipsch system back in the 70s and was blown away. I had no idea that the thing I already loved - music - could make me love it even more. I was hooked. Specifically I was hooked on that big, immersive, dynamic, warm, human sound. But back then I'd probably just say that it was so loud and so killer. Experiences like that don't leave you. I can't discount the fact that what drives my current system is in part driven by trying to do the impossible - that is, re-capture that overwhelming love of music that I first felt back in the day.

My system is about energy and emotional engagement. It's purely subjective criteria.

DavidView attachment 103470View attachment 103465View attachment 103466View attachment 103467View attachment 103468View attachment 103469View attachment 103472
Very nice system do you have a list of items in the system
 
Very nice system do you have a list of items in the system
Thank you Lee. Here's the list:

Sources: I have two turntables for a total of 3 arms. Turntable No. 1 started out as a Verdier. I kept the platter and sub-platter assembly and bearing. I liked what J Weiss at OMA was doing with massive slate plinths and armboards. He made me a 120 lb slate plinth with a set of slate armboards. This turntable is around 165 lbs of caveman mass sitting on four Fabreeka pneumatic isolators. I retained the original Verdier motor. I like it. This turntable has two arms. The first is an Analog Magik re-built FR-66s. Mounted to it is a Koetsu Jade Platinum. The second tonearm is a Dynavector DV507II. Mounted to it is a Myajima Infinity Mono. Turntable No. 2 is a Foundation Turntable by Azzolina Audio. You can see in the picture that it pays homage to the granite plinth of the Verdier Granito. I have a Kuzma Stogi 313 Reference mounted on this TT with a Dynavector XV-1s.

Preamplifers: TW Acustic RPS & RLS 100.

SUT: Consolidated Audio Monster Can

Amplifiers: GM70 monos, designed and built by Matt Kamna.

Wire: Triode Wire Labs

Loudspeakers: Onken cabinets with GPA 416-8b woofers. MK 1505 horns with GPA 288 compression drivers. Custom 3D printed JMLC horns with TAD2001 compression drivers.

Custom series crossovers using Slagle speakerformers, Jantzen and Mundorf inductors, and Duelund copper cast capacitors.

Rack: DIY - A 350 lb slab of Oregon Black Walnut mounted to a massive workbench.
 
Thank you Lee. Here's the list:

Sources: I have two turntables for a total of 3 arms. Turntable No. 1 started out as a Verdier. I kept the platter and sub-platter assembly and bearing. I liked what J Weiss at OMA was doing with massive slate plinths and armboards. He made me a 120 lb slate plinth with a set of slate armboards. This turntable is around 165 lbs of caveman mass sitting on four Fabreeka pneumatic isolators. I retained the original Verdier motor. I like it. This turntable has two arms. The first is an Analog Magik re-built FR-66s. Mounted to it is a Koetsu Jade Platinum. The second tonearm is a Dynavector DV507II. Mounted to it is a Myajima Infinity Mono. Turntable No. 2 is a Foundation Turntable by Azzolina Audio. You can see in the picture that it pays homage to the granite plinth of the Verdier Granito. I have a Kuzma Stogi 313 Reference mounted on this TT with a Dynavector XV-1s.

Preamplifers: TW Acustic RPS & RLS 100.

SUT: Consolidated Audio Monster Can

Amplifiers: GM70 monos, designed and built by Matt Kamna.

Wire: Triode Wire Labs

Loudspeakers: Onken cabinets with GPA 416-8b woofers. MK 1505 horns with GPA 288 compression drivers. Custom 3D printed JMLC horns with TAD2001 compression drivers.

Custom series crossovers using Slagle speakerformers, Jantzen and Mundorf inductors, and Duelund copper cast capacitors.

Rack: DIY - A 350 lb slab of Oregon Black Walnut mounted to a massive workbench.
Thanks for the update that’s an impressive set up you have
 
This is my system. There are many like it. But this one is mine...

I know I don't have the best system in the world, but I love what I have built. I didn't build it alone. I am indebted to the knowledge, expertise, passion and generosity of the few people I have been fortunate enough to meet and call friends and who helped me figure out how to build a system that's right for me. Like a lot of people my age, 57, I heard a friend's Dad's McIntosh/Klipsch system back in the 70s and was blown away. I had no idea that the thing I already loved - music - could make me love it even more. I was hooked. Specifically I was hooked on that big, immersive, dynamic, warm, human sound. But back then I'd probably just say that it was so loud and so killer. Experiences like that don't leave you. I can't discount the fact that what drives my current system is in part driven by trying to do the impossible - that is, re-capture that overwhelming love of music that I first felt back in the day.

My system is about energy and emotional engagement. It's purely subjective criteria.

DavidView attachment 103470View attachment 103465View attachment 103466View attachment 103467View attachment 103468View attachment 103469View attachment 103472
More photos
This is my system. There are many like it. But this one is mine...

I know I don't have the best system in the world, but I love what I have built. I didn't build it alone. I am indebted to the knowledge, expertise, passion and generosity of the few people I have been fortunate enough to meet and call friends and who helped me figure out how to build a system that's right for me. Like a lot of people my age, 57, I heard a friend's Dad's McIntosh/Klipsch system back in the 70s and was blown away. I had no idea that the thing I already loved - music - could make me love it even more. I was hooked. Specifically I was hooked on that big, immersive, dynamic, warm, human sound. But back then I'd probably just say that it was so loud and so killer. Experiences like that don't leave you. I can't discount the fact that what drives my current system is in part driven by trying to do the impossible - that is, re-capture that overwhelming love of music that I first felt back in the day.

My system is about energy and emotional engagement. It's purely subjective criteria.

DavidView attachment 103470View attachment 103465View attachment 103466View attachment 103467View attachment 103468View attachment 103469View attachment 103472
In color…44A5B74F-3E52-47F6-B57A-D68B6670C5F3.jpeg05026908-B133-4D96-8851-D9BD6B704043.jpeg6559BBFA-1850-4320-AFD3-7EA96798C304.jpegE1D17268-CA3E-470B-8AF8-7ED8AB5C36DD.jpegF5C158E2-BDD0-4D45-92F6-8D8EFFBBF470.jpegD102987B-1527-4017-8F54-3DDABBBAE70C.jpeg90AD8067-C6A3-492A-BE4F-02C322B19DEC.jpegC5189941-B50F-4AE8-A953-90AFAF98DF42.jpegEDC1AC6C-132F-462E-98D1-1A9E97BEF6BC.jpeg
 
Hi n+1, this forum has a lot of Altec videos playing classical, jazz, and rock. Feel free to contribute, most are recorded by just pointing an iphone and uploading to youtube. You also have some excellent amps, TW 300b and GM70, would love to hear compare videos on classical.

You will see this thread https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/zero-distortion-altec-assault-redux-orchestra-and-rock.35975/






 
Hi David,

Nice to meet a fellow Klughoener owner.

Russ
 

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