What Did Your System Look Like 20 Years Ago???

[spiritofmusic]

Milan, you know the photos we REALLY want to see, comprendez-vous?

 

[timztunz]

View attachment 87351

Sony SCD-1
Primare Pre 30 pre-pro
McCormack DNA-2 Rev A amp
Aerial Acoustic Model 10t speakers
Audience Au24 interconnects and speaker cables
Foundation Research line conditioners
My first racking system prototype

SCD-1, the one piece of gear I regret most letting get away.

 

[dcathro]

This was my mastering studio in London. Closed in 2006 when I decided to return to Australia.

The room was done by Recording Architecture and to this day, I have never heard a finer room.

Highly modified Alon Phalanx and Poseidon speakers
XTC Pow 1 main amp
Boulder 500s on the Poseidon subs
XTC pre3
XTC Dac and Transport
Van Den Hul Cables
Mana racks
Various studio gear including AD converters EQs, compressors and tape machines.

I still have some of the gear, but I made the mistake of selling the tape machines before the home market took off.

 

[LL21]

My system, 2001-
View attachment 87402View attachment 87403View attachment 87404View attachment 87405

Smokes, there are many reference systems shown here...but this system system could pass for a brand new reference system today, no?

 

[sbnx]

Late 90's early 2000's were the Levinson/wadia years for me. in 2002 my system was

B&W N802, Levinson 333, 380s, 31.5, (35 or Wadia 27) with Tara labs the ONE cables. A lot of swirling around since then. Is my sound better today...yes. But I don't think it is necessarily because of the gear. A dedicated room and much more attention to setup is probably most of it. It would be interesting to have the same stuff setup in my room today to see how it really compares with what I have now.

 

[LL21]

Late 90's early 2000's were the Levinson/wadia years for me. in 2002 my system was

B&W N802, Levinson 333, 380s, 31.5, (35 or Wadia 27) with Tara labs the ONE cables. A lot of swirling around since then. Is my sound better today...yes. But I don't think it is necessarily because of the gear. A dedicated room and much more attention to setup is probably most of it. It would be interesting to have the same stuff setup in my room today to see how it really compares with what I have now.

Looking at both systems (both great)...I suspect what you would find in the same room is BOTH are super-satisfying. Maybe (due to their being assembled by the same set of ears)...sharing some 'DNA'. But I have to think your current system wins by a country mile with the resolution, ability to give you that [enticing] last ounce of detail, decay, natural finish, etc. Not to mention its SCALE with Vivids, Stern/Mephisto and some very, VERY serious dual subs.

I have to say, I think if you could take your old system and plop it into your room...you would reminisce, you would love it...but you would ALSO be very, very glad you also have moved forward with the system you now have. Those so called minor changes add up to a LOT when you do get the change to go back and hear what it used to sound like. Enjoy!

 

[BruceD]

Ah yes the Halcyon days and damn the Torpedoes!

Snell AIII's BiAmped--
2 X Electro Research A75 Amps
Rowland Mono Blocks
JC Symmetry ACS-1 X over
Theta Transport/ Dac
ARC SP-6B Pre
Randall Research Cabling

BruceD

 

[Hifi man]

Ah yes the Halcyon days and damn the Torpedoes!

Snell AIII's BiAmped--
2 X Electro Research A75 Amps
Rowland Mono Blocks
JC Symmetry ACS-1 X over
Theta Transport/ Dac
ARC SP-6B Pre
Randall Research Cabling

BruceD
View attachment 87424

Nice vintage system.

 

[stehno]

An interesting Q, maybe the most important one, is were we REALLY unhappy w our systems back in 1/1/02? Why did we all move on? Maybe an associated thread.
How many people happy at the time wasted no opportunities in pushing on?

Oh I don't know how important this is, but doesn't it seem we're always happy with wherever we're at today? That is until we hear something better somewhere else and then we ain't so happy no more?

Look how happy you are with your current playback system. Yet, as I recall, according to some of your posts there's hardly a recording out there that plays to your ear's satisfaction on your system, right?

IOW, it seems to me we all are most always in a happy place with our system's current state. Just ask me.

 

[bonzo75]

Nice vintage system.

Did you just change your user id? Are you Addicted to hifi?

 

[Hifi man]

Did you just change your user id? Are you Addicted to hifi?

Hello
no that’s not me.

 

[DasguteOhr]

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View attachment 87418

This was my mastering studio in London. Closed in 2006 when I decided to return to Australia.

The room was done by Recording Architecture and to this day, I have never heard a finer room.

Highly modified Alon Phalanx and Poseidon speakers
XTC Pow 1 main amp
Boulder 500s on the Poseidon subs
XTC pre3
XTC Dac and Transport
Van Den Hul Cables
Mana racks
Various studio gear including AD converters EQs, compressors and tape machines.

I still have some of the gear, but I made the mistake of selling the tape machines before the home market took off.

One little question,Is this same company that made this speaker? or just random equality in the name.

 

[dcathro]

One little question,Is this same company that made this speaker? or just random equality in the name.


View attachment 87425

Yes, same company.

That in the model 4, which had a 12" bass driver, a 5" open baffle cobalt midrange, and a 1" aluminum tweeter.

I had the Phalanx which had a 10" bass, 5 x 5" open baffle mid bass, 5" open baffle tweeter, and a 1" aluminum/magnesium open baffle tweeter, all drivers AlNiCo. The Subs had 4 x 12" AlNiCo bass drivers per side.

These were all loosely based on the Dahlquist series of speakers.

 

[Scott Naylor]

One little question,Is this same company that made this speaker? or just random equality in the name.


View attachment 87425

One even smaller question: Are those HAMSTERS behind the midrange drivers?!

 

[spiritofmusic]

Looks more like the owner's underwear in a laundry basket.

 

[gian60]

Ah yes the Halcyon days and damn the Torpedoes!

Snell AIII's BiAmped--
2 X Electro Research A75 Amps
Rowland Mono Blocks
JC Symmetry ACS-1 X over
Theta Transport/ Dac
ARC SP-6B Pre
Randall Research Cabling

BruceD
View attachment 87424

Always dreamed Electro Research 35/40 years ago,but never listen and never saw in Italy
Can you descibe more or less their sound?
I had ARC,Jadis and ML,but always dreamed E. Research

 

[BruceD]

Always dreamed Electro Research 35/40 years ago,but never listen and never saw in Italy
Can you descibe more or less their sound?
I had ARC,Jadis and ML,but always dreamed E. Research

Yes in it's day it probably garnered more intrigue,inuendo, and discussion that it merited. With DC coupling plus insane gobs of feedback it surprised the pundits how good it sounded.whether one liked/agreed with its flawed designer the Amp was a benchmark .

Sonically it was open, detailed but not overly etched with superb Midrange ( hard to establish at the time with MR more the doyen of Tubes)
Bass output and control unmatched, add the ability for it to drive any speaker load as the designer stated "even a Short" -but naturally no music will appear !
So if I appear biased todayI'm firm-in my opinion one of the superior classic SS Amps ever produced. Handmade of course by Jon I himself I've only heard of one other customer that privately owned a matched pair.

RIP Jon I!

Thank you Gian for the interest and luv your system!.

BruceD

 

[dcathro]

Ah yes the Halcyon days and damn the Torpedoes!

Snell AIII's BiAmped--
2 X Electro Research A75 Amps
Rowland Mono Blocks
JC Symmetry ACS-1 X over
Theta Transport/ Dac
ARC SP-6B Pre
Randall Research Cabling

BruceD
View attachment 87424

Bruce, this system looks a bit more than 20 years old, did you keep this gear for a while?

 

[BruceD]

Bruce, this system looks a bit more than 20 years old, did you keep this gear for a while?

Yes indeed!
BD

 

[dcathro]

Yes indeed!
BD

Sensible Man!