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Can't get rid of my open reel decks!
Reader Robert Baum writes that he bought a new KA-7002 Kenwood amp in 1973, and though he's upgraded several times since then, "it's been living under our bed (yes, it's still alive!) for at least a dozen years.
A Dual 701 turntable (still works), A Nakamichi 610 preamp (still in use), and a Nakamichi 550 portable cassette deck (ceased functioning properly in the last year, I am debating whether or not to get it fixed), an Ampex Micro 52 cassette deck that was given to me (I rescued it from a pile of stuff going to the dump), a Pioneer TX9500 tuner and more
How about a bunch of Dynaco stuff: MkIII's, Stereo 70, PAS-3, Pat-4(heavily modified). The Dynaco factory was located only a few blocks from my house. Talk about walk-in service. I hold on to everything. I'm not going to mention the closet full of Japanese mass-market stuf I have socked away.
I have an old Quad 405-2. Recently, I took it to a hi-fi retailer for direct comparison with the new Arcam P85. Before that, I had been told by some people pretending to be hi-fi specialists that the Quad was very good amp, even compared with the very good ones of today. I have to say that this is definetly NOT true. The Arcam, wich is not considered to be the cream of contemporary hi-fi, sounded considerably better than the Quad in every possible way. There should be no place for "nostalgia" or other sentiments when dealing with hi-fi. Some gear simply sounds better than other and I see no point in listenning to something that sounds worse just because of some sympathy. I don't feel the same about music, though.
I have a 1977 Pioneer SX-950 receiver. It was next to the top of line and cost me about $650 (on sale!) back then ($1900 in today's dollars). Recently, I saw a couple of them on ebay and they were going for about $400.00 So I got mine out and had it serviced thinking that I could sell it. When I got that monster home ( it weighs 45 lbs and is huge), I naturally had to check it out. I was STUNNED at how good it sounded. I can't believe that I have spent thousands in the intervening time since it was retired on "upgrades." I'm not saying it sounds as good as my newer system, I'm saying that I can't believe that I've spent so much money for so little improvement in sound quality. I'm keeping it!
I have had three stereo systems since 1959. Mine are a McIntosh C-20 pre-amp, 240 amp, Fisher 101R tuner & an Ampex 960 tape recorder from my 1st stereo. Then a Spatial Coherance pre-amp, a Threshold 400A amp, a B & O 4002 turntable, and a Pioneer CT1250 cassette deck. Also, a set of Wharfedale SFB3 speakers and Bozak outdoor speakers. And they all work! System #3 is my present one. Quite a museum.
Hello,
I wondering if you would be willing to sell your wharfedale sfb3's...please let me know if you are or not,,thank you!...Andy
In the sixties, my dad had a Stromberg-Carlson integrated tube amp. He gave it to me in the mid seventies when he upgraded (?) to Pioneer solid-state. I've had it in for repairs several time, but the last couple of times it's come back with the same problem, so I gave up on it, but it's still in storage in the attic. Also, I bought OHM Fs in 1980. I still have them and they still sound good. At work I have a Fisher integrated tube ampan X-100-Afrom the 60s that I bought from a record store I worked in. It's still providing good music.
I've either given away or worn out and thrown out my oringinal system that I bought for $700.00 while a sophmore in high school, in 1970. AR 2ax speakers wore out, along with a Dual turntable, And I gave a Pioneer integrated amp and tunner to a friend, who is still using them.