What Vintage Piece of Electronic Gear Did You Wish You Never Sold

[MylesBAstor]

My ARC SP 10MKII I got in the mid 80s. I used it for a couple of years but worried about the cost of re-tubing (I think 12-15 tubes) so I traded it in for an ARC SP 14 which had only 1 tube. A silly decision which I regret.

You and a lot of other people

 

[VernNeal]

My dads AR Turntable, K Horns(space/WF thing) old McIntosh tube reciever

 

[microstrip]

My ARC SP 10MKII I got in the mid 80s. I used it for a couple of years but worried about the cost of re-tubing (I think 12-15 tubes) so I traded it in for an ARC SP 14 which had only 1 tube. A silly decision which I regret.

Oops - this was really bad! At less I went to the SP15 - only 3 tubes. But I really missed the SP10!

Sometime ago, after many years searching, I had the opportunity of buying an SP10 again. But after I listened to it I did not buy it - it was not better the equipment I owned.

Another piece I miss is the Forsell Air transport CD. Putting a CD in the air platform and closing the large heavy and solid top sustained by the hydraulic lift was an experience!

 

[MylesBAstor]

Oops - this was really bad! At less I went to the SP15 - only 3 tubes. But I really missed the SP10!

Sometime ago, after many years searching, I had the opportunity of buying an SP10 again. But after I listened to it I did not buy it - it was not better the equipment I owned.

Another piece I miss is the Forsell Air transport CD. Putting a CD in the air platform and closing the large heavy and solid top sustained by the hydraulic lift was an experience!

Ha, some of those Forsell equipment brings back memories Like when my friends Forsell table starting squirting water out of the arm's air bearing
What a rush!!! Wasn't so funny for my friend. 'Course that was before Peter realized he needed a filter in the air line to collect the condensed water caused by pump high flow rate (something Bruce Thigpen knew and accounted for in his arm's design).

 

[jadis]

There were a few Forsells here back then, CD Transports and TTs. Sometimes the transport needed a lot of open/close ritual for the laser to read the disc. But other than that it played quite nicely. The TT was a dream TT of mine. Air everthing. Well, the only thing that is not floating in air would be the motor. LOL. Sounded real smooth, low noise floor. And the best rendition (in a system) of Sheffield's James Newton Howard and Friends I've ever heard. At very loud volume levels, the sound was never shrill or ear-piercing.

 

[microstrip]

There were a few Forsells here back then, CD Transports and TTs. Sometimes the transport needed a lot of open/close ritual for the laser to read the disc. But other than that it played quite nicely. The TT was a dream TT of mine. Air everthing. Well, the only thing that is not floating in air would be the motor. LOL. Sounded real smooth, low noise floor. And the best rendition (in a system) of Sheffield's James Newton Howard and Friends I've ever heard. At very loud volume levels, the sound was never shrill or ear-piercing.

Although I sold the CD transport I now own a Forsell Air Force One turntable - but even the motor is floating in air as it has an air bearing flywheel directly coupled to the DC motor! I have no experience with the >50K turntables, but the best vinyl sound I have heard was using this turntable.

 

[jadis]

Although I sold the CD transport I now own a Forsell Air Force One turntable - but even the motor is floating in air as it has an air bearing flywheel directly coupled to the DC motor! I have no experience with the >50K turntables, but the best vinyl sound I have heard was using this turntable.

Oh!, thanks for the heads-up. I never realized that even the motor was floating in air! Wow again.

 

[American Audiophile]

In a weak moment sold this one of 6 made Threshold NS 10 prototype preamp. Live and learn still miss this one.

 

[MC352]

I sold a Yamaha CR620 Receiver years ago and always regretted it.
I also sold a few Zenith Table top radios, I refurbished I wish I never sold.
Lastly, I sold my old Tube Shortwave radio, and wish I never did.

 

[flez007]

My Marantz 7C/Model 2 mono - .. Yes!.... i am an idiot!

 

[JackD201]

Ouch!!!!!!!!

 

[tdh888]

I miss my JBL L 65 Jubals. Traded it to get my Snell Type A 2. I also miss my Harbeth LS3/5a.Sold it ot a friend to buy my ARC CL150 monoblocks. The Harbeth LS3/5a is the best among the 3 pairs that I bought and sold.

tdh888

 

[jadis]

Oops - this was really bad! At less I went to the SP15 - only 3 tubes. But I really missed the SP10!

Sometime ago, after many years searching, I had the opportunity of buying an SP10 again. But after I listened to it I did not buy it - it was not better the equipment I owned.

Well, it would be interesting to find out how the SP10MKII will sound like if they were re-tubed today with NOS Telefunken CCa's, Amperex USN-CEP 7308's or Mullard CV2492's.

 

[jadis]

I miss my JBL L 65 Jubals. Traded it to get my Snell Type A 2. I also miss my Harbeth LS3/5a.Sold it ot a friend to buy my ARC CL150 monoblocks. The Harbeth LS3/5a is the best among the 3 pairs that I bought and sold.

tdh888

Talking about JBLs, I do miss my 4311 Studio Monitors. I was very much into pop music in those days and I must say the synergy was fantastic.

 

[Steve williams]

Darn, there's that word synergy again

 

[mep]

Using the word synergy on this forum is to invite an ass-whooping.

 

[tdh888]

Well, it would be interesting to find out how the SP10MKII will sound like if they were re-tubed today with NOS Telefunken CCa's, Amperex USN-CEP 7308's or Mullard CV2492's.

I was able to try NOS Telefunken 6DJ8's in the Phonostage(8 of these ) of my SP10 MK2. The result was not good. My preamp turned to a virtual microphone ,it was noisy also. A friend of mine also tried the same tube in his CAT SL1 and he had similar results as mine.I however have a pair of NOS Amperex 6922 w/ gold pins and NOS Mullards 6922. The Amperex was use for the input stage of my D250mk2 Servo and the Mullards for the Phase inverters and they sound fantastic.Regarding the Telefunkens my favorable experience w/ them was when I was able to buy 2 pairs of 12ax7's and this were inserted to the input stage of both of my D79B's. They sound very good also.

mondial

 

[jadis]

I was able to try NOS Telefunken 6DJ8's in the Phonostage(8 of these ) of my SP10 MK2. The result was not good. My preamp turned to a virtual microphone ,it was noisy also. A friend of mine also tried the same tube in his CAT SL1 and he had similar results as mine.I however have a pair of NOS Amperex 6922 w/ gold pins and NOS Mullards 6922. The Amperex was use for the input stage of my D250mk2 Servo and the Mullards for the Phase inverters and they sound fantastic.Regarding the Telefunkens my favorable experience w/ them was when I was able to buy 2 pairs of 12ax7's and this were inserted to the input stage of both of my D79B's. They sound very good also.

mondial

Thanks for sharing, Mondial. The Telefunken 6DJ8s I can imagine to sound that way. In my experience, it should improve as one moves up the ladder to it's military gold pin variants.

 

[Mobiusman]

My McIntosh MR 71, which I just sold a month ago after 40 years of ownership, but then I miss going to Playland at the Beach in SF as a kid.

 

[tdh888]

Thanks for sharing, Mondial. The Telefunken 6DJ8s I can imagine to sound that way. In my experience, it should improve as one moves up the ladder to it's military gold pin variants.

Hi Jadis,

It seems in my SP10mk2 the only tubes that work are the EH6922 Low Noise that I buy from ARC ( FYI in the factory until now the SP10MK2 is use as a test mule for testing they're low noise 6DJ8/6922).Its dry sounding but at least its quiet and they last long.I try to compensate for their being on the dry side by tube rolling in the input of my tube amps or the interconnect and speaker cable changes or adjusting the VTA and of course using a lush sounding cartridge eg.Koetsu ,some Benz Micro models.

tdh888

tdh888