HiFi Collector

Can Microphone Headsets Provide Quality Sound?

2012-02-02T12:51:00.001-08:00

About as far-field of a vintage audio post as I could get, but hey - time to branch out just a little, don't you agree?

I needed a USB microphone headset for work that doubled as headphones for music listening. After mediocre success researching "good-sounding headset microphones" and similar querries, I headed to Fry's Electronics in Fountain Valley to see what they had in stock.

Research had narrowed my choices to four brands and six models and Fry's stock had further narrowed my search to just two on the shelf. Both were in blister packs, so I had no way of listening before purchase. My solution? Buy them both and return the one I didn't like.

Between the Logitech H390 and the Plantronic 655 DSP, the Plantronics were the clear winner.

The 655 DSP is very comfortable, has great bass response, and good clarity overall. It won't replace my home stereo headphones, but was a pleasant surprise and well worth the $49 price tag.

Do you have any experience with decent-sounding headsets?

Update - Tube Integrated Amplifier - Yaqin MC-10L EL34

2012-01-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

This is a follow-up to my review of the Yaqin MC-10L tube amplifier that I wrote eight months ago. This review continues to draw quite a bit of traffic to HiFiCollector.com, so I know people are reading the initial review, and the emails and posted comments indicate it was helpful.

I'm pleased to report that this amplifier continues to perform very well. So well, in fact, that I'm removing my McIntosh MC 2105, C32, and MR 78 components from the office and am going to use the Yaqin amplifier exclusively for that music system. Both systems were hooked up through the same pair of KEF Reference Two speakers, but space issues are forcing me to remove one set of components, so the McIntosh gear is going into another room.

Not that the Yaqin sounds better than the McIntosh, but the Yaqin fits well on my desk and its simplicity makes it ideal for that environment. As to which system sounds better - between the McIntosh and the Yaqin, I'd have to say that the McIntosh wins for long-term listening enjoyment, but it's only after months of switching between the two that I have confidence in that conclusion. The two systems sound slightly different, but both are very good.

I've got Spotify and Pandora subscriptions, and am still using the Theta DAC off of my computer's digital coax output to deliver analog signals to the Yaqin. Between these streaming services and my mp3/FLAC library, I never have to look for for a particular tune. The Yaqin sounds great across all musical genres and file types, and although I don't play music at high volume levels in that space, the few times I have cranked it, the amp retains its clarity and provides a decent punch.

The Yaqin was a good deal when I purchased it, and now, being fully burned-in after many months of 3X/week use, I consider it even a better value and an impressive addition to my collection.

Please chime in if you've purchased a Yaqin as a result of this or my previous post. I'm curious to hear all of your stories - good or bad.

Portable Turntable - Braun TP1

2012-01-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

No, I've not yet owned a Braun TP1, and, unless someone gives it to me or I find one on a bus bench, I probably never will.

I've had an ongoing search for these on eBay for nine months now, and this (photos from auction) is the first actual unit I've seen for sale. I'll follow this auction and see where it goes, but I'm not bidding. :)

Any experience with the Braun TP1? Chime on in and tell us your story.

Watch an awesome speaker being built

2011-12-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

If you can get past the soundtrack.. :) Pretty darn cool.

Extreme Audio - Turkey (Video)

2011-11-27T13:12:00.001-08:00

Enjoy!

Communnity Photos - ADC and Klipsch

2011-11-20T15:37:00.001-08:00

Klipsch - Stock photo

HiFi Collector community member, Jesse emailed me a couple of photos and this short write-up of his Klipsch and ADC. Thanks Jesse!

If you have photos and something to say about them, send 'em on in! hificollecto88@gmail.com

*** *** ***

The KG 1.2 were initially disappointing. They were boomy and distorted. These speakers have super deep cabs for their size and capable of some surprising sub-bass. Some serious bass reduction EQ seriously let's them shine.

The EQ is a ADC Sound Designer One MKII. It's seems similar to your ADC with just 7 bands. It's quiet and has always worked like an accurate champ.

Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2011

2011-10-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Roving reporter, John went to the Rocky Mountain Audiofest 2011 in Denver a couple of weeks ago and sent back some photos he snapped with his phone. You can see the pics below, and for a comprehensive review of the fest, check out Enjoythemusic.com.

For some reason, the official RMAF Web site is showing a "This site may harm your computer" warning splashscreen when I attempted to get the link for you this morning. Your results may vary, but proceed there with caution.

Ever attend an audio show? What was your impression? Leave comments below.

Enjoy!

Ahhh... McIntosh... :)

CEDIA Expo - Indianapolis, Indiana

2011-09-10T12:38:00.000-07:00

My friend, and recently-recruited roving reporter, John, is sending us photos from the road. This week he was in Indianapolis at the CEDIA Expo - Every Overlapping Technology of the Integrated Home. Enjoy these photos - more to come.

If you have any comments on the manufacturers being shown here or stories about your experiences with these products, chime on in.

And... if you visit an audio show and take photos - send them on it with a little write-up on the show, itself. I'll publish it and give you credit! Send photos and show details to: hificollector88 [at] gmail.com

Thanks!

B&W Vs KEF - And the Winner Is?

2011-09-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

I wish it were that simple. I'll tell you this much, when pitting the B&W CDM 9NT against the KEF 105.2, I was forced to make a tough decision and admit some uncomfortable truths. First of all, if anyone of you has been following the KEF 105.2 sale on Audiogon, you may have noticed that I've raised the price to $1,500 for the pair. I've also pulled them from CraigsList. Why? Good question. It all came down to some critical listening tests I've done over the past few days.

The fist speaker comparison I performed was between the B&W CDM 9NT and my KEF Reference Two speakers that have been my, well, 'reference' for mid-priced quality loudspeakers for over two years. The result here was that, in almost every way, the B&W beat the KEF Reference Twos. Bass extension, midrange and treble clarity... the list goes on. Not that there was a "night and day" difference. That's why the comparison needed over a month to complete. Had this been a slam dunk, you would have been reading about it in early August. The result? I sold one of my pairs of KEF Reference Twos last night. Still have another pair, in rosewood, that's in my office. I'm keeping these for the time-being, but if you REALLY must have a pair in excellent condition - shoot me a line.

Now, on to the KEF 105.2 story. Posting these great speakers for sale was not an easy choice, but I simply needed the room. The addition of the B&W 801 S2 pair and the CDM 9NT was creating a clutter condition more akin to hording than collecting. After the KEF Reference Two had gone up against the CDM 9NT, I felt it only fair to give the 105.2 one last chance at saving itself. Turns out that the CDM 9NT got a run for its money.

The KEF 105.2 proved equal in the bass - both extension and overall "punch," and much more natural and more mellow in the mids and highs than the B&Ws. Where the Reference Two was lacking clarity in these two critical tonal areas, the 105.2 held onto clarity and brought a true-to-instrument naturalness that I had forgotten they possess. I'm so glad I took the time to listen carefully to these speakers again. After only an hour or so, I pulled the CL sales advert and adjusted the price up to "extreme gear enthusiast" level on Audiogon. If someone wants these for $1,500 - we'll talk, but it's gonna take that kinda scratch for me to consider letting them go.

How did the CDM 9NT compare to the 105.2? Pretty darn well, actually. The one characteristic that takes getting used to on the CDM 9NT is the forwardness (read: brightness) of the midrange. That 6.5" surround-less midrange driver packs a serious punch, and throws vocals right through your eardrums. This is fine for most purposes, and I suppose desirable for movie soundtracks where vocals often are lost, but for casual listening? Notsomuch.

I tested several vocal tracks, but kept coming back to Sade's Diamond Life album. "Your Love is King" sounded cool and natural on the KEF 105.2, but Sade's voice plowed right through me on the CDM 9NT. It actually was quite grating. Switching back to the 105.2, I realized that these KEF speakers offered the kind of "all-day-listening" that most people seek in quality loudspeakers. Listener fatigue can be caused by many things - muddy or sloppy bass is one I've experienced recently, but brightness in the mids and highs is another. Everyone is different though. Upon hearing the same Sade song on the B&W, a friend noted that the detail was amazing. His take was that the KEF's, although plenty good, sounded muted in comparison.

As I've noted before, when it comes to comparing speakers, it all comes down to personal taste. Specs mean nothing once you get past the Best Buy listening room speaker stock and on to more vintage or higher-end, specialty speakers. Whenever possible, take time to listen and compare speakers prior to making a purchasing decision. This is rarely an option, and I've bought plenty of speakers with only hearing a selected track or two, so I'm asking you to do as I say, not as I always do.

You can get speaker recommendations from a friend, an online blog (hello!), or someone who claims to have a golden ear, but the only ears that you have to satisfy are your own. If nothing else, remember this from this post: If a vocal or musical passage seems grating to your ears or even slightly unpleasant, regardless of how the speakers shine in other areas - beware! Remember that these speakers may, eventually, end up in a primary listening space, and all-day listening comfort will become a concern.

So now what? As soon as I hit "publish," I'm going back up to the loft to move the KEF 105.2 back into position and pump some tunes through them, enjoying every single natural, sweet note.

More High-End Speakers

2011-09-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

Enjoy The Music's "Lust" page has several exotic speakers. Get ready to cash in your kids' college funds though; these are uber-expensive.

Any of you own a pair of exotic speakers? Chime in.

Receiver Shootout - Vintage Vs Modern

2011-09-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

Check this out - A blind test between vintage and modern-day receivers. Who do you think will win? Find out HERE.

Community Photos - Vandersteen Model 1C

2011-08-25T05:22:00.001-07:00

Vandersteen 1C - Skinned

Vandersteen 1C after 7-hour re-fabric

Cats a class to any shot. Thanks again for the photos, Harrell!

HifiCollector.com community member, Harrell sent this short story in along with a photo of his "skinned" Vandersteen 1C speakers. Thanks Harrell!

Here's a short story.. They was a garage sale in my town and I found these that a cat made a scratching posts out of. I got them for $10.00. I removed the fabric and there in perfect condition. I'm making the fabric/socks for them. They sound excellent somewhat like Maggies but, don't compare to my Thiels. Hey..$10.00 dude!

Have any photos and/or stories to share? Send them on in to hificollector88 [at] gmail.com

Thanks!

Super Duper Speaker Photos

2011-08-12T16:55:00.000-07:00

Have a Facebook account? Go HERE. Amazing-looking speakers. Enjoy!

Ever listened to any of these? If so - please share.

Speakers - Bowers & Wilkins CDM 9NT

2011-07-30T05:57:00.000-07:00

That's the KEF Reference Two on the right

Just got pair of B&W CDM 9NT last night, so it's a bit early to do a proper review. The deal was simply too sweet to pass up - more than half-off Audiogon Blue Book price. I'll get around to doing a proper write-up on these soon, and I'm also doing a head-to-head with my KEF Reference Two, which, so far, is proving quite interesting. Stay tuned!

Speakers - Bowers & Wilkins 801 Matrix Series 2

2011-07-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

While scouring the Web for reviews of the B&W Matrix 801 Series 2 loudspeakers, I came upon one comprehensive review, by Stereophile, and a few forum posts, but nothing else substantial. That's surprising, as this speaker model is heralded as being one of the most popular high-end speakers produced in the past 25 years. Hopefully this review will encourage other 801 owners to chime in and leave comments, so that this speaker can get its fair share of attention.

The Purchase

I've waited for a pair of 801 S2 or S3 (series two or three) speakers to pop up for local purchase for a few years now. The few times I've seen them, I hadn't the available cash, or they were plucked up by another buyer. This time I got lucky. Found this pair on CraigsList in a nearby town, and communicated with the seller a few times throughout the day, finally arranging to meet him for a listen that same evening. As soon as I walked into the room, I knew I'd be leaving with these speakers. There were a couple of finish options for the 801s, and the all black ash was the one I'd been waiting for. Not that big black speakers look great in my family room, but the wood veneer options for these with the brown Fibercrete head units were, in my opinion, atrocious. Of course the sound mattered as well, so my son and I did a test-listen with an acoustic guitar CD, jazz, and some rock. The speakers passed muster on all counts. They were as good as I had hoped.

With the help of the seller, my son and I were able to load these beasts into our van. Once home, it took considerable effort to tilt them out of the rear compartment and onto a skateboard which I used as an improvised dolly. From there, it was only about ten feet of travel into the garage, but each inch was a test of balance, strength, and nerves. These are 110 pounds each, 39" high, 23" deep, and absolutely no handles of any kind. Yes, there's a bass port, but that's a hole, not a handle.

The Move Inside

They sat in my garage for four days until the family left on a Saturday. I needed an empty house with plenty of echo room for cursing and grunting that I predicted would accompany the transfer of these speakers into our den. I was right. The three steps from our garage into our kitchen were agonizing. At one point, with neither any room behind or in front of me to rest the speaker on a flat surface, I felt a shock of pain in my lower back. I steadied myself, and then slowly pushed the speaker onto its side and slid it past the threshold into the kitchen.

Once in the family room, I drove to my local hardware store and bought eight 2.5" casters and installed them on the speakers. I'm pretty certain these didn't bring the speakers to their optimal listening height, but, since I can't find that info online anywhere, I'll live with this setup until information comes my way. People have suggested using the original Sound Anchor stands built for these speakers, but at $300/pair, I couldn't get myself to pay for something that I think I can eventually improvise with commonly-found building materials. More on that in another post.

The Setup

Once in the den, I disconnected the right Vandersteen 3A Signature and bi-wired the 801 in its place. From the preamp, I was now able to use the balance control to switch back and forth between the other Vandersteen and the new 801. I had prepared for this listening test by transferring several dozen lossless audio files onto my iPod Nano. For this family room system, I use a Keyspan TuneView iPod dock connected to my Sony STRDA555ES receiver that I use as a preamplifier. The Sony is connected to my Aragon 8008 power amplifier.

The Sound

My first impression while listening to both channels was just how apparent the sonic differences are in the Vandersteens and the B&Ws. Where the Vandersteens were laid-back, neutral, and forgiving, the 801s were forward, analytical, precise, and aggressive. Not all of these terms can be immediately likened to sonic fidelity, but they immediately come to mind when i think about the characteristics of these speakers. Speaker reviews are often criticized for using language that's too esoteric, but often, using concrete terms to transpose an emotional, aural experience is a wasted effort. When I write about the 801s being analytical, I'm referring to their honest, uncolored reproduction of sound - all sounds, true to the original recording. There's a wandering bass line in the Beatles Golden Slumbers that snaps to the front of the soundstage on the 801s where it gets lost somewhere in the lower mid-bass on the Vandersteens. The Vandersteens produce silky-smooth mids and highs, but Paul's voice sounded like he was in the room with me on the B&Ws. Some of the vocal realism is also due to the fact that the 801's midrange and tweeter sit at ear-level for my prime listening location. These drivers on the Vandersteens were nearly a foot above my ears. Adjusting my head height a bit revealed more realistic mids and highs on the Vandersteens, but I'd have to sit on two pillows to get that height from my couch. That's not going to happen, and no, tilting the 90 lb 48" tall Vandersteens downward to adopt a more precise driver angle isn't going to happen.

I disconnected the other Vandersteen after several minutes of listening to both brands. Once the other 801 was connected, I sat back for some serious fun. The close-mic'd vocals of Julianna Raye sounded amazing. Her sensitive, but not overly-breathy "Dominoes" brought me right into the studio with her, and "White Bicycle" was equally as hypnotic. Karen Carpenters vocals sounded a bit more harsh on the 801s, but then I realized that her vocals are so clean and clear that, again, I felt part of the studio session instead of listening in a home environment. I heard Richard Carpenter move on his piano bench, and the hammer mechanisms inside the piano. Sounds were being revealed that I'd never heard before. The subtle wavering in Karen's well-controlled vocals, the violin bow hair doing an initial, gentle bounce off the strings before moving along them, so many musical discoveries that force me to want to listen to more and music to rediscover sounds I'd not heard before.

UPDATE: I switched out the Sony ES receiver for my McIntosh C31V preamplifier/audio controller. I made this change because I didn't need the complicated sound fields and Dolby intrusions on the Sony, and was interested only in two-channel sound, even for my home theater in that room. With the McIntosh, I also have the benefit of a five band EQ broken into frequency steps of 30, 150, 500, 1,500, and 10,000 Hz boost or cut at 12dB. This gives me a great range to tweak the sound, when needed, for various recordings, but especially for movies, where, without the use of a center speaker, vocals can get lost. NOTE: I use the Playstation 3 as our Blu-ray, and have HDMI coming out of it for our TV. I use the PS3 Multi-out analog RCAs for audio. As the McIntosh C31V is an all-analog unit, I'm not using the digital optical from the PS3, but might consider getting a decent DAC and going that route someday.

B&W 800 Series Bass Alignment Filter

So far, in my Web searches, there's been more written about the B&W Matrix 800 Series Variable Bass Alignment Filter & Equalizer than the speakers, themselves. I've got an eBay search going for one, and will probably purchase one if I can get it for around $150 or less. Seems like a reasonable experiment, in any case, and can always resell it if I end up not using it. I won't go into details on how this bass alignment filter works, suffice to say it changes the 4th order crossover in the 801s to a 6th order Butterworth crossover, allowing an extra 1/2 octave of deep bass. The nice thing about the McIntosh C31V is that I can eek out quite a bit of bass between the variable loudness and the 30 Hz EQ boost, so this little filter may not make much, if any difference. True, the McIntosh won't let me hear what isn't already reproduce-able, but at that low of a frequency, it's gonna be hard to tell without listening to isolated test tones.

Conclusion

I am so very pleased with these speakers. After a hit-and-miss affair with B&W speakers over the years - LOVE the DM640, lukewarm on the 602 and DM100i, like the DM12, did NOT like the 802 Series 80, the fact that these met every one of my expectations speaks volumes and is quite a relief. I've flipped my fair share of speakers, but always hang on to the ones I consider "keepers." I'm glad to say these fall into that category. Full range speakers like the B&W 801 S2 have to step to the plate with a lot to offer. Although one could always throw in a subwoofer to round out the low-end, the idea with these is that you shouldn't have to do that. If I find that a full-range speaker isn't living up to its name, I'll sell it. The 801s are going to stay with me for a very long time.

Two Channel Vinyl System - Family Room

2011-06-11T08:54:00.001-07:00

Thought I'd put the Denon DP-1200 turntable back to use. Set up a two channel system in the corner of our family room early this morning before the wife woke up. Had to displace a few of her precious vintage collectibles, so I'm waiting for the right moment to put on an ELO album (one of her favorites) and introduce her to our new "listening station."

Set the Denon PMA-900V integrated amplifier on its side (out of shot in the shadows), and am using the capable B&W DM12 speakers I reviewed a few weeks ago HERE.

Ahhh...love the snap, crackle, and pop of vinyl in the morning.

Tube Integrated Amplifier - Yaqin MC-10L EL34 Class A

2011-06-06T18:38:00.000-07:00

Most of the photos above are from the Primeamp eBay auction page for this amp. I took the second one down, showing the glowing tubes; the rest are theirs. I mention this because the photos from Primeamp demonstrate attention to detail. This type of detail helped my decision to go with Primeamp as my first choice of Chinese reseller on my inaugural tube amp purchase. I'll touch on this again a little later.

I've avoided purchasing tube gear, mostly out of a stubbornness to experiment with a technology that seemed mired a particular "camp" of highly-biased, fanatical opinions. The typical tube gear evangelist wants little to do with solid state components, and enjoys proselytizing to those who have yet to see the light, literally. I've always rebelled against zealots, and this is no exception. I can also blame my ignorance of tube technology. I've held the ill-founded belief that tube gear is more temperamental and less reliable than solid state. I'm learning the error of my ways.

This Yaqin amplifier arrived last Tuesday via UPS, and yes, it sounds quite wonderful. Never heard of Yaqin? Neither had I until a couple of weeks ago when I started researching tube gear. Take a look at eBay's list of integrated tube amps and you'll see a preponderance of Chinese-made amps in the $200 - $1,200 range. Sounds pretty low for tube gear, right? No wonder we're afraid to gamble on purchasing these amps. At least in the US, we're conditioned to equate cost with quality, and look upon extreme discounts with suspicion. Then there's the whole "Made in China" stigma; until we remember that the majority of our home electronics are made in China, from the LCD television in our family room, to the keyboard I'm using right now to type this. But Yaqin isn't an established brand name, so our weariness is well-founded; especially when one is dropping $500 or more on something that may cost half that to ship back if it fails to perform or arrives damaged.

So yes, it's a gamble. However, the few audio forum posts I read on Chinese-made amps and Yaqin, in particular, were encouraging. Plus, the eBay seller I chose for my purchase has a feedback rating of 99.4% with 2,846 sales. The customer feedback was also very encouraging, touting excellent packing, quick shipment, and product quality that exceeded expectations.

Primeamp has a wide selection of tube gear from various manufacturers that you probably haven't heard of. I'm not certain if some of these are uniquely-branded but sourced from the same factory, and frankly, that doesn't really matter to me as long as they are quality products. You'll see names like Yaqin, Mini, Music Angel, Mr Liang, Music Curve, and others. I chose the Yaqin because of what I was able to read in the forums on this brand, but would consider experimenting with another brand in the future.

I chose the MC-10L mainly based on price-point. I didn't want to spend more than $500, including shipping, on my first tube amp, and this one came to $480 with air mail shipment. I could have saved $80, half my shipping costs, and waited seven weeks instead of five business days, but I chose to shell-out the cash to get this to my door quicker.

Purchasing high-dollar items on eBay is always an adventure. There's a distinct pang emotional instability when clicking on the "Confirm Purchase" button. This momentary loss of fortitude is usually replaced with relief as I get the confirmation email from eBay or the seller. In this case, the email I received in my gmail account was undecipherable. It was filled with question marks with only a few recognizable words. This caused me to immediately send an email to back to Primeamp. They responded in an hour or so with another email, again filled with question marks. This time, I sent them a message from within my eBay account. The next morning I received an email into my gmail account from Primeamp with a sincere, polite apology, stating that there is a bug in Gmail that causes their auto-responder emails to get garbled. They said that they received my PayPal payment and they would ship my amp the following day; which they did.

The next day I received an email with several, high resolution photos of my package, including the shipping papers, and a UPS tracking code. The photos are a nice touch, again, showing concern for quality and attention to detail. The photos also help protect them as visual evidence that the unit was packaged well and looked intact as it left their shipping dock. I was getting the feeling that this purchase may work out fine, after all.

The amp arrived in five business days in excellent condition. It was packed in heavy-gage cardboard with thick molded foam packing that prevents any movement within the container.

The package arrived virtually identical to how it left the
Chinese shipping dock.

The manual is written in English and well-done.

Very well-packaged

I inserted the tubes, carried the amp to my office, and hooked it up to my new Creative Labs X-Fi HD USB Sound Card. I powered on the amp and all the tubes glowed nicely - good sign. I chose a tune from Paul Anka's newest album, Rock Swings, from iTunes on my computer and crossed my fingers.

The music that came through my KEF Reference Two speakers wasn't at all what I had hoped for. It sounded anemic and lacked definition, bass. I waited a few minutes for the tubes to warm up, and tried again. The sound was better, but still disappointing. Unfortunately, that night's experimenting had to end as it was getting late. The next few nights went by quickly as I had to work late, so the next test would have to wait until the weekend.

Finally, a few days later I had time to play with the amp some more. I traced the sound quality problem to reversed polarity on both speakers. Plugging the speakers into the amp in the correct manner (4 ohm taps for these KEFs) made all the difference. The music came alive and was vibrant, defined, and wonderful. I have a McIntosh MC 2105 hooked up to these speakers as well and am using a McIntosh C32 preamp and a Theta DSP Pro DAC to convert the digital audio coming from my computer.

I've wired the Yaqin and the McIntosh amp so that I can switch between the two via a speaker switchbox. Just wired the switchbox in reverse so that the amplifiers feed into the speaker output and the amp input goes to the KEFs. As long as I don't have both amps powered on at the same time, there's no feedback or problems. Also, I'm using a "Y" splitter out of the Theta DAC to allow both the Yaqin and the McIntosh to receive the same, quality digital conversion. The Creative Labs DAC is a fine external sound card, but I wanted to get more of an apples-to-apples comparison of amp quality by using as many common components as necessary. Again, as long as I'm only powering up one system at a time, the splitter coming out of the Theta DAC works fine for both units.

It's true - tube sound is different. Compared to the McIntosh system, the Yaqin presents a much more laid-back sound. Vocals aren't quite as "breathy," and some wind instruments, like the oboe solo in Ennio Morricone's "Gabriel's Oboe" don't "pop" to the front of the sound stage like they do on the McIntosh, but there's a sweetness to the blending of the instruments that the solid state gear doesn't possess. When I chose Paul Anka again for the Yaqin, the brass and drums were lively and well-defined. Paul's voice was warm, neutral, and commanding without being forward.

Ask anyone tube-enthusiast (note, I no longer refer to them as fanatics), and they'll tell you the more you listen to a tube amp, the less you'll listen to your solid state gear. I'm not sure if this will be the case with me. I'm still a rebel; still stubborn, but, at least I'm no longer childish in this regard. Herbert Spencer said something 150 years ago that I wish I'd learn to heed more often: There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is a proof against all argument, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance – that principle is condemnation before investigation. Amen.

Kevin Deal - tube seminar THE Show - Newport Beach

2011-06-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

view full image

"Kevin Deal - tube seminar"

Keven Deal hosted a Tube Q & A today at THE Show. I asked his opinion on Chinese tube amps. Keven thought, in general, they can be an excellent deal. He's seen an heard some that were manufactured very well and sounded nice. His concerns are with quality control and manufacturing consistent quality products. He alluded to the fact that it's a gamble, but if you find a good manufacturer and company to work with, Chinese-made tube amps are worth trying out.

It was an encouraging and informative talk, especially considering I just bought my first Chinese-made tube amp.

OPTE - The Statement loudspeakers - THE Show, Newport Beach 2011

2011-06-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

view full image

"OPTE - The Statement - $44,000/pair"

Very LARGE, dynamic speakers with a "live" sound that you can only get from speakers the size of a refrigerator. Wonderful bass, clear and satisfying all the way up the spectrum.

If you think $44,000 can't buy a decent pair of loudspeakers, then you haven't heard these. :)

Vienna Acoustics "Kiss" loudspeakers. $15,000/pair - THE Show, Newport Beach 2011

2011-06-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

view full image

"Vienna Acoustics Kiss loudspeakers. $15,000/pair"

Features a flat midrange/tweeter. Sounded wonderful.

Kevin Deal - tube seminar THE Show - Newport Beach

2011-06-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

view full image

"Kevin Deal - tube seminar"

Keven Deal hosted a Tube Q & A today at THE Show. I asked his opinion on Chinese tube amps. Keven thought, in general, they can be an excellent deal. He's seen an heard some that were manufactured very well and sounded nice. His concerns are with quality control and manufacturing consistent quality products. He alluded to the fact that it's a gamble, but if you find a good manufacturer and company to work with, Chinese-made tube amps are worth trying out.

It was an encouraging and informative talk, especially considering I just bought my first Chinese-made tube amp.

Tannoy - $18,000/pair - THE Show, Newport Beach 2011

2011-06-04T14:29:00.000-07:00

view full image

"Tannoy"

I love everything about Tannoy's except the persistent metallic high-end. Titanium concentric tweeters inside the main driver unit produce time-aligned presentation. By far, the most beautiful loudspeakers, in my opinion, but...I'm old school when it comes to speaker aesthetics.

Speakers Head-to-Head - KEF Cresta 2 VS KEF 103.2

2011-05-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

Just picked up this beautiful pair of KEF Cresta 2 speakers off Craigslist here in the LA area and boy...are they sweet.

McIntosh Audio System - YouTube

2011-05-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

If you haven't checked out the "Audio Classics" Facebook page, please do so. Just posted today - this killer McIntosh audio system.

Thanks Vladimir!

Rega RP-1 Turntable - Seeking advice

2011-05-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

Need some advice from the HiFiCollector community.

I'm thinking of selling my Denon DP 1200 turntable and getting a new Rega RP-1. The Denon has served me very well, but the Rega will outlast the Denon in the long-run and probably outperform it in the short-run.

Your thoughts?

Here's a link to the Rega for a good price (no affiliation to vendor).

Thanks!

Technics Audio Gear

2011-04-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

Technics SE-A3 - Photo courtesy of Adrian-Kingston.com

My brother shot me a link to a site that a Technics collector put together to highlight some of his favorite Technics gear as well as all of his own Technics collection. Love big VU meters? You'll find plenty of them on some of these power amplifiers.

I also found this site on, what looks like, the complete Technics collection!

Have any experiences with Technics audio components? Want to share a link to another brand-specific site you've found?

Monster Receivers

2011-04-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of THIS site.

I'm pleased that HiFiCollector.com holds some of the top-ranking Google results for "Monster Receivers," but am always interested in seeing what other people have created for these dinosaurs of the vintage audio world. Found this site that doesn't have much to say, but has some pretty pics.

If you have any more sites for monster receivers to share, please chime in!

Finding Vintage Gear Online

2011-04-21T05:34:00.000-07:00

I often get duped into exploring a Web site that turns out to be just another eBay auction aggregator. Still, I think these sites do have some merit. I stumbled upon one of these this morning while researching vintage headphones, and it turned out to be somewhat helpful in locating relevant auctions. Vintage Headphones also picks up bicycle "headsets" and several other random items with "head" in the title. Oh well...

One of my usual haunts though - one I hit every Saturday morning, is Used McIntosh Audio. With only a few random miscalculations in its results, this one neatly lays out nearly all of eBay's McIntosh items and even categorizes them by component type. Bookmark this one!

How do you search for gear on eBay? Do you use the eBay search engine, or rely on sites like these to display your search results for you?

Forum is Up and Running!

2011-04-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that the HiFiCollector Forum is now back up and running. I've spent the past week deleting spam posts, but you may still find a few lurking about.

In an effort to dissuade spammers, I've added an extra step in the registration process. All registrations must be approved by me. This means that, once you register, you may have to wait a few days before your registration is approved. I'm setting aside some time on Saturday mornings to approve registration requests.

Please visit the forum, poke around and then register if you'd like. I think you'll find the community to be very friendly and helpful.

If any of you would like to be a moderator, please send me an email and tell me a little about yourself and your interest in vintage gear.

Thanks!

Where do you buy your vintage audio?

2011-04-18T19:06:00.000-07:00

I cannot vouch for this site, as I've never bought anything from them, but as I'm always on the lookout for eBay alternatives, I thought I'd share with y'all. SoundsClassic.com

Oak Tree Enterprises has a huge selection of vintage gear and parts as well as restoration guides and general information on vintage stereo equipment.

I have had experience with Audiogon, and I can highly recommend them.

Where do you buy your vintage audio?

Sony 55ES, E2000ESD, 730ES, C8ESD - Loft System #2

2011-04-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Picked up this Sony ES system several months back and it's really starting to grow on me. It consists of the Sony 55ES Power Amplifier, 730ES Tuner, C8ESD CD changer, and E2000ESD Preamplifier. All units are from the early 1990's, and are solidly-built - typical of the quality of all Sony's elevated line of ES (Elite) components.

The E2000ESD has some pretty funky EQ controls that I've yet to fully understand. Lots of presets, but setting the EQ manually is tedious, at best. Still, I find for the loft environment, the DISCO setting seems to work pretty well. Sound quality is excellent, and, as with the other two components, the rosewood side panels add that gentile, old-world elegance vintage gear lovers appreciate. BTW, found one for sale HERE. I'm not responsible for this sales listing, quality or merchandise, etc. etc. Just stumbled upon it :)

The 730ES tuner is exceptional! I wasn't expecting a "digital" tuner from the 1980s to be so well designed or sound so good. The tuning flywheel is smooth and has that confident heft of well-built vintage tuners. Even though I live in the greater LA metropolitan area, radio reception near me isn't great. This tuner brings in stations every bit as good as the McIntosh 4200 receiver you see sandwiched between it and the preamp in the full system photo above.

The Sony 55ES power amp is no monster, by any means, but have seen specs that rate it at 110 wpc at 8 ohms, which isn't bad at all. The sound is perfectly adequate. Haven't A/B'd it with any other amps, and you know by know my take on amplifier sound... Any amplifier with high input impedance, low output impedance, flat frequency response, low distortion, and low noise sounds the same. After all that's all the human ear can hear.

The CD player in the system is the Sony C8ESD. Just had the drive belt replaced on that unit and it sound terrific.

Have any experience with Sony ES components? Chime in!

What's Your Favorite Integrated Amplifier?

2011-04-15T19:07:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of On a Higher Note

What a beautiful integrated!

Found a photo of a Luxman the other day and I thought it was vintage. Turned out it's only a few years old. This site - On a Higher Note, has some great stereos as well as a nice history of Luxman components.

Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but this is a 20 wpc integrated amp for $4,800? It's beautiful, but... really? It's for sale HERE.

What's your favorite integrated amplifier?

Do you like it for looks, sound, or both?

High End Audio - You Into It?

2011-04-14T19:59:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Highendpalace.com

I'm getting excited about the high end audio show I'm going to in early June. It started me thinking about my views on classic audio vs modern high end audio gear. It would be easy for me to scoff modern audio, especially brands and components that I can't afford, but when it really comes down to it, I LOVE good sound, and as much as it pains me to admit it, I'm not so sure a 34-year-old Marantz 2325 would sound better than a brand new Marantz SR7005. Which would I rather have on display in my den? The 2325, of course. But if we're talking about sound quality...it's pretty much a draw in my book.

The issue of vintage vs new high end speakers forces an even more embarrassing admission from this vintage enthusiast. Many old speakers have wonderful sound, but speaker design has advanced over the decades, and there's no denying that modern technology can produce some very fine loudspeakers.

Taking a look back, I'm not sure there will ever be a greater value than the $149.00/pair Advent Loudspeaker of the early 1970s. Dollar-for-dollar, this may still be the finest loudspeaker ever made. Today's budget loudspeakers are mass-produced and constructed mostly of plastic. They are built to a price point that satisfies consumer needs for .mp3 player extension speakers or for inexpensive home theater setups.

On the opposite end of the price spectrum, high end loudspeakers cater to audio enthusiasts and audiophiles with with deeper pockets and a greater appreciation for component and speaker design and sonic performance.

Which bucket do you place yourself in? I'd like to hear a contemporary high end audio lover with experience in vintage audio chime in and say a little about the differences he or she hears between these two realms.

I'd also like to hear from you die-hard vintage audio lovers who resist all gear manufactured after 1980.

And here's an unsoloicited plug for a high end audio place I stumbled upon. High-End Palace.

Vintage Audio Photos - Retro Vintage Modern Hi-Fi

2011-04-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Retro Vintage Modern Hi-Fi Blog

Found another site with some great vintage audio photos. Retro Vintage Modern Hi-Fi.

In addition to some great vintage stereo photos, Retro Vintage Modern Hi-Fi has scans of photo facts, brochures, and manuals. Enjoy!

Can you recommend any sites with vintage audio gear photos? Chime on in!

Vintage Audio Photos - The Old Stereo Guy

2011-04-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of The Old Stereo Guy

I stumbled across another great site for vintage stereo photos and information. The Old Stereo Guy has some wonderful stereo pics. He and his wife also own an eBay store where you can purchase some terrific gear.

Have any links to some sites with cool vintage audio photos? Chime on in! :)

Speakers Head-to-Head - Bowers & Wilkins B&W DM12 VS KEF 103.2

2011-04-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd use this new loft stereo system as a comparison bed for bookshelf speakers. First up - B&W vs KEF.

I love these little B&W Dm12 speakers. Love them so much, in fact, that I hated to pit them against the KEF 103.2 because I knew they would inevitably pale by comparison. I was [sigh] right.

Once again, the openness of the KEF 103.2 soundstage exceeds any other small speaker I've listened to, including these. In the case of the B&W DM12, however, the difference is not night and day.

In fact, while most music I played sounded better on the KEFs, Karen Carpenter's close-miked vocals of "Close to You" sounded too brilliant and harsh on the KEFs, but much more controlled and mellow on the B&Ws. "Infinite Arms" from Band of Horses revealed fewer differences between these two speakers. Both reproduced the sounds with similar sonic characteristics. Still, the fact is, when I closed my eyes, the B&W still sounded "boxy," and with the KEFs, the box disappeared, to leave only the vocals and instruments.

In all fairness, the B&W DM12 and KEF 103.2 are not the same size, and, of course, the cabinet size has impact on the sonic qualities of all speakers.

That being considered, the B&W DM12 is an excellent mid-sized bookshelf speaker and fully-worthy of consideration if you ever get the chance to purchase a pair.

Have any experience with either of these speakers? Chime on in :)

Vintage Audio in the Loft

2011-04-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Watch on YouTube to see full-screen.

Photos: Vintage Audio Equipment Collection

2011-04-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

About ten photos of some great (and huge) speakers and vintage gear. Click HERE to view.

Unfortunately, the "Click here for more" link is broken at the moment.

If you find any more sites with great vintage audio gear - please leave a comment or send me an email and I'll post them.

Audio Classics on Facebook

2011-04-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hey! I have that preamp! Philips AH 572

From Audio Classics on Facebook

If you have a Facebook account, check into the Audio Classics FB page HERE. Hundreds of wonderful photos of vintage audio gear! Drool!

Vintage Audio Art

2011-04-09T16:21:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Dan McPharlin

My wife picked up a pair of pajamas for our seven-year-old at Target today and I just had to share. It also started me thinking.

The prevalence of vintage audio and nostalgic technology indicates a longing for simpler, non-digital times. For me, surrounding myself with some of the familiar technology of my youth - vinyl and record players, rotary dial phones, standard table radios, cassette and reel-to-reel tape decks, helps me to stay connected to my past and therefore appreciate where I am now. Our house if filled with nostalgic items, of which my HiFi collection is just a sampling.

Dan McPharlin creates vintage audio miniatures out of cardboard. You can check out his collection on Flickr HERE.

What other ways has vintage audio entered our modern culture?

Power Amplifier - McIntosh MC2105

2011-04-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

Ever since I bought my MC2050, I've wanted an MC2105. Yesterday was my lucky day. A gentleman in Torrance, CA was selling one on CraigsList for a good price, and this meant local pick-up, which is what I was waiting for.

This is a beautifully-designed amplifier. Functionally, it's nearly the same as the MC2100, but where the 2100 is the "industrial" model - just the chassis and cage designed to hold the components and I/Os, the 2105 is what many people imagine when they think of a McIntosh power amplifier. Blue-green VU meters, simple yet elegant knobs and transparent lettering allowing the light to shine through the front panel glass.... ahhhh. Sorry - geeking out for a moment.

This particular unit sounds terrific as well. The left channel VU seems to be a little more sensitive than the right - not sure which one is correct, but I can get these calibrated if and when I decide to do so. A couple small scratches on the chrome, a little bubbling around the headphone jack, small abrasions on the cabinet - all very well-within my acceptance criteria. This one is a late serial number model, manufactured in 1976. It also came with all the provenance - the owners manual, service guide, brochure, and original McIntosh warranty card. Very cool. Yes, I'm pleased with myself. Please allow me to gloat. Okay - done.

High-Res Photos HERE.

Have any experiences with a McIntosh MC2105 you'd like to share? Any photos? Please send 'em on in.

HiFiCollector.com Audio Accessory Store on Amazon.com

2011-03-12T05:06:00.000-08:00

A HiFiCollector.Com community member just wrote in asking me if there was any way to hook up his Pioneer SA-1050 to an iPod. HECK YEAH there is :) http://astore.amazon.com/dreamcalendar-20

The HiFiCollector.com Audio Accessory Store has dozens of connection solutions to help you bring your vintage gear into this century. Hooking up your MP3 player isn't just possible with most old integrated amps, preamps, and receivers, it's a blast! And it provides a new lease on life to older gear that may be going unused.

Check out the store - let me know if there are things missing too. I'll be happy to add whatever Amazon has in stock.

Thank you!

Home-Brewed Alternative to Dolby

2011-02-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

HiFiCollector Community Member, Tony sent in this very creative way to create home-made noise reduction in vintage systems. Thanks Tony!

*** *** ***

I read your piece on the AKAI integrated amp and tuner (2650 & 2450), and it reminded me of my first ever hi-fi cassette deck, the AKAI GXC-36D, which didn't have Dolby. I have attached a scan I found online, showing this deck, and it's more expensive and Dolby-equipped relative (which I couldn't afford at the time!). The GXC-36D had a very satisfying solid feel to it - you know, the way that any good piece of kit has a good, well-made action with no "play" in the controls, in this case the keys and the lid of the cassette tray.

However without Dolby, it was quite hissy, but I found a way around it.

I used to have a basic Wharfedale Linton system (re-branded Garrard turntable, Wharfedale receiver and speakers) and the receiver had a pair of bridging plugs between the pre-and power-amp sections, at the rear along with all the usual connections. So by disconnecting these, I could use a couple of spare leads to connect the tape deck to the output of the pre-amp, then the output of the tape to the power-amp input.

This meant I could boost the treble of the recording with the pre-amp controls, then turn it back down on playback. Instant customized Dolby! I had to be careful not to saturate the treble frequencies, but it worked well. As the sound went via the tape deck it was easy to monitor too. Of course, I caught upgrade-itis and the system was replaced piece by piece, and the bridged amp eventually went. I wonder how tapes produced by this method would sound like to my more experienced and therefore more critical ears if I could do it again now, with the same gear?

I suspect that the roll-off with the treble control might be different to a dedicated and calibrated Dolby circuit, and the overall quality might not be as good.

One last important item: In order to play the tape back, I had to re-bridge the amp and connect the tape deck to the tape input as usual - otherwise, the tape output would go directly to the power amp section and would have NO volume control.......so if you, or any other HiFi Collectors get the chance to try this technique, please remember this for the sake of your speakers - not to mention your nerves.........!

KEF 105.2 - Bass Unit (woofer) Replacement - The Full Story

2011-01-29T06:13:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: You can purchase the recommended replacement woofer for the B300b discussed below HERE.

HiFiCollector Community member, Tony sent me some detailed, very well-written information on how he is replacing his KEF 105.2 bass units. I know this info will be very helpful to all of us who own these fine speakers. Enjoy!

The KEF 105.2 Bass Unit Replacement.

My Kef 105.2's suffered a damaged bass unit, which was also showing signs of a buzzing in the bass, which happens when the support of the heavy Bextrene cone sags over time, and is a known problem. Also the concave shape of the outer rubber ring was flattening and stretching. These 12" B300b KEF-built units are rare, but occasionally turn up on ebay, where they are either overpriced, or are in poor condition, judging by the accompanying pictures.

After a web search, I found Audio Components here in the UK, and asked if a repair was possible. They promptly replied, and confirmed the source of the problem;

"What you describe – the flattening of the rubber surround is caused by the collapse of the inner suspension (the spider) which supports the voice-coil end of the cone. Once this weakens it sinks into the frame and pulls the cone downwards, stretching (flattening) the rubber surround – this makes the driver unusable. Even if you find secondhand replacements on eBay, it will only be a matter of time before these go the same way.These drivers can be re-coned but the cost of doing thisproperly (and with the correct cone and voice-coil assembly) can be as costly as replacing the driver – also the re-coned driver will behave differently to the driver in the other channel (which has an old cone and suspension). The most economic solution (and the one which will perform best) is to replace both the bass drivers with new drivers that match the original specification and closely as possible."

"The key parameters of the B300 are: Fs=23Hz; Qts = 0.46; BL = 12; Znom = 8; Sens = 90dB; EBP =50. It is important to find a driver that is a close match to these – the majority of 12 inch woofers manufactured today do not. The closest driver we have found is the Peerless SLS315: Fs 28Hz; Qts = 0.47; BL = 12.2; Znom = 8: Sens = 91dB; EBP = 60. That’s as close as makes little difference. Maybe some tuning of the damping material will be required. This unit has a different physical frame size and fixing arrangement so some cabinet work is required."

These units were £70 each, a very reasonable price. They also offered to fit the units for me, and to measure the speakers under anechoic conditions to achieve proper tuning. However, this would have cost another £300, which is approaching what the speakers are worth anyway, so I decided to do the work myself and tune by ear. I measured up the cabinets first, of course, and found that the new drivers would fit into the existing cut-outs. The extra cabinet work referred to simply means drilling some holes, as the new units have an eight-hole fixing arrangement, compared to the three-point fixing of the originals. The cones are coated paper, the coating appears to be rubber, latex or similar. It looks and feels lighter than the B300b cone, so I would anticipate no sagging problems with these units.

I have had the Peerless units on stand-by for a while until I can find the time to do a proper job of it. Simply putting one of the speaker cabinets on its back and sitting the new units in place shows that the new screw positions will be close to the edge of the circular cut-out of the cabinet, but with a little care the actual placement should be fine. This could be done with conventional wood screws, but something to consider is that KEF used a special screw fitting for their original units, in conjunction with a foam gasket at the back of the driver. As this was an integral part of the design, I don't want to just put the new units in and assume it will be ok. I think I'll try cavity-wall screws; the expanding wings would mean that the drive unit will be bolted through rather than having screws biting into the wooden cabinet.

I want to double-check everything, reinforce the cabinet around the cut-outs if necessary, and have a supply of gaskets of various materials (soft foam, hard foam, rubber) on hand so I can fit the units and audition as I go to get the best results. The cavity wall screws will also enable me to remove and replace the units several times without damaging the cabinet, to change gaskets. I think the first step will be to simply fit them with any set of gaskets, connect to the amp, and run the units in before testing alternative materials.

Of course, an interesting project would be to build new cabinets, as the originals are not particularly sturdy by today's standards; a tap with the knuckles here and there shows several resonant spots. I gather that they were built to a particular price, otherwise the 105.2's would have been so expensive that KEF wouldn't have sold any. For now, I'll be content to get these wonderful speakers up and running again, and just sit back to enjoy the music.

So when refurbishing any speaker, you'll need the appropriate parameters to source replacement units. I freely admit to not knowing what all the above symbols or abbreviations mean, although free resonance (Fs) and nominal impedance (Zs) are familiar. I suspect Qts is the natural damping factor of the driver.

Replacing some units might be tricky - for example to replace the mid or treble units in the 105.2's, they each have to fit into a moulded rebate. Fortunately, I think these units will last a lifetime, but it's something to bear in mind if revitalising a cherished speaker.

If there's anyone else out there in the UK who needs any speaker repairs, here's the web address;

http://www.audio-components.co.uk/

I think there are similar suppliers in the USA who will doubtless be able to advise as well. I think Peerless are well-known across the pond.

I've attached a technical diagram and a picture, so you can see the more conventional appearance compared to the B300b.

So that's the KEF story so far - please feel free to edit the above if you think it necessary.

Of course, I now have one original B300b in good working order - so if one of your units shows signs of wear, then I have a spare!

Receivers - Fisher Studio Standard RS-1022

2011-01-23T06:47:00.000-08:00

I had this receiver for about a year, and used it as part of a small garage system. It sounded fine, but I never pushed it hard. I liked the styling, but wasn't a fan of the grey buttons or plastic knobs. Pioneer, during the same era, used metal knobs on most receivers, and there's a quality difference you can feel. That subtle tactile difference between often-used controls makes a difference in the long run.

Wasn't able to pull up too much info on this receiver online. Looks like it was made between 1977 and 1983, although the exact production dates are buried in the deep Web. Feel free to add any info you'd like in the comment section below or email me hificollector88 [at] gmail.com. Thanks!

KEF 105.2 Re-Cap - Second Speaker - Photos

2011-01-15T06:50:00.000-08:00

Finished this recap of my KEF 105.2 speakers in about 90 minutes. Here's some photos:

The one on the right is the one I recapped this morning.

Did the other one about a year ago. Read about that HERE.

With the woofer and foam pad removed, you can see the

massive KEF 105.2 crossover.

Another shot from the top of the KEF 105.2 looking

into the cabinet. Foam piece removed.

Turned the 105.2 crossover on edge to access the wires

I had to disconnect. Don't let this scare you. If I can do

this ANYONE can :) I'm not an electronics wizard by any definition.

Empty KEF 105.2 cabinet. See? Not too many

connectors to keep track of.

Diving in! Cheap soldering pencil, needle nose pliers,

solder, and the caps - listed HERE.

Listening to the newly recapped speaker as I write this - sounds wonderful!

Feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have any questions about this procedure. Have fun!

KEF 105.2 Re-Cap - Second Speaker

2011-01-15T05:06:00.000-08:00

Time to recap the 2nd KEF 105.2 (after about a year since the last one). I'll post more photos of this as I get underway. I expect to have this finished this weekend. Time to roll up my sleeves and dive in. Now...to figure out which one of these is the one I need to recap...50/50 chance, I guess. Where's my screwdriver?

Here's the capacitors and values for the KEF 105 Series 2 (105.2) speakers:

QTY PartNumber Product Price Ext. Price
4 027-328 3.3uF 100V Non-Polarized Capacitor $0.42 $1.68
4 027-336 6.8uF 100V Non-Polarized Capacitor $0.53 $2.12
4 027-340 10uF 100V Non-Polarized Capacitor $0.58 $2.32
4 027-358 80uF 100V Non-Polarized Capacitor $1.92 $7.68
8
027-362 125uF 100V Non-Polarized Capacitor $1.70 $17.00
2 027-436 Dayton DMPC-20 20uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor $5.77 $11.54
2 027-444 Dayton DMPC-60 60uF 250V Polypropylene Capacitor $15.17 $30.34

I bought a few extras in case I broke the leads off of any while soldering. Except in the case of the 60uF at $15.17 each! Just got what I needed on those.

My speaker SNs: 1858 and 1859 so they use the first model of the crossover.

Crossover Schematic photos http://www.hifiloudspeakers.info/Anatom ... Index.html

Where to Sell Your Gear

2011-01-09T16:17:00.000-08:00

I received this comment today from a HiFiCollector.com community member, Shane, and I thought the information might be useful to y'all. I realize this info is already posted on the site, but it's buried in the McIntosh 4200 post, so here it is for easy reference:

Shane said....

Thanks for all this great info on the MAC 4200. I have one in mint condition that I was looking to sell, where might you suggest I look to put this guy up?

Take care and have a great evening!

January 9, 2011 3:10 PM

Step To The Beat Podcast said...

Hi Shane - When it comes to selling gear, you basically have three main choices: eBay, CraigsList, and Audiogon. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. If you don't want to worry about shipping, CraigsList might be your best choice. Expect to get a little less though than you would from the broader audience and competitive bidding action that eBay provides. If you don't have the original boxes this came in, you'll want to get it double-boxed and professionally packed by the UPS Store or your mailing house of choice. I've sold a couple of items on Audiogon.com as well and had a good experience from them. You might get upwards of $800 for a McIntosh 4200 in good condition on eBay or Audiogon. If you try selling on CraigsList, be prepared for people to try to talk you down in price. Hope this helps! Best of luck selling the unit. --Tom

January 9, 2011 4:10 PM

Integrated Amplifier and Tuner - Akai AM-2650 and AT-2450

2011-01-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

I love silver-faced stereo components. There...I admitted it. Yes, even Akai made some nice gear at one point. This set wasn't only beautifully-designed, but sounded great. Check out that recessed ring around the volume knob - nice detail! Had it for a few months, then traded for some speakers. Still regret that decision. I want to say it's 80 watts per channel, but feel free to chime in and correct me.

The tuner sensitivity was just okay - not great, but I didn't hook a scope up to it, so it could have been the weather.

Have any experiences with Akai AM 2650 or AT 2450 or that brand of gear, in general? Send in your stories by posting a comment, visiting the HiFiCollector Facebook page, or shooting me an email at hificollector88 [at] gmail.com Thanks!

Turntable - Dual 1237

2010-11-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

Judging turntable sound can be tricky. There are many variables within the turntable itself as well as up the audio stream to factor in. With this Dual 1237, I found the sound with the included cartridge and stylus to be weak, anemic. There was an audible rumble as well that I couldn't isolate. I'm certain that, in its day, this TT was a strong performer. As a thrift store purchase, without any history of use or abuse, it was worth the $25, but not what I'd consider a legacy piece - something I'd keep and pass down to my kids.

Have any experience with Dual turntables or the 1237, in particular? Leave a comment or send in photos. Be sure to post some of your gear photos on the HiFiCollector Facebook page too - thanks.

Step To The Beat - Please...I gotta share this!

2010-11-13T07:45:00.000-08:00

This has NOTHING to do with HiFi Gear, but it's my site, so - I can post what I want :) If you're into working out and want some FREE workout music, please check out my new podcast and Web site at Step To The Beat - www.StepToTheBeat.com. If you're not a runner or walker, maybe you know someone who is and who would appreciate free workout music. Thanks for sharing and putting up with this self-promotion.

Speaking of promotion - Check out the Step To The Beat Promo HERE.

--Tom

200th Post! This one is a real brain teaser!

2010-11-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of the McGurk effect? Watch the video and chime in if you think this might have anything to do with critical listening to an audio system.

What biases act on you judgement when listening to audio gear? Like with the McGurk effect, does our brain bias us into choosing a better-sounding set of speakers based on price or the salesman's opinion? What happens when we close our eyes while listening? Does this level the playing field? Might be worth a shot.

What do you think?

HiFiCollector.com Audio Accessory Store on Amazon.com

2010-10-31T04:26:00.000-07:00

Still standing in the Radio Shack checkout line behind the guy getting an education on wire gauge??

Save yourself the hassle and purchase your basic audio accessories from the HiFiCollector Audio Accessory Store on Amazon.com. ...Unless of course you WANT to learn about wire gauge. :) Shop HERE

Quick Tip Tutorial - How to Find the Value of Your Audio Gear

2010-10-30T05:48:00.000-07:00

Find the value of items using eBay's Advanced Search function.

Have any other tips? Leave a comment and we'll post it.

Quick Tip Tutorial - How to Find Your Vintage Audio Gear Fast and Easy

2010-10-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hope this helps. If you have any other tips, tricks, or suggestions, please leave a comment. Thanks!

INFO CHALLENGE - Integrated Amplifier - Yamaha AVX-1000 DSP

2010-10-17T06:09:00.000-07:00

This is a HiFiCollector.com CHALLENGE!

I'm challenging this fine, HiFiCollector Community to come up with some information on my Yamaha AVX 1000 DSP Integrated Amplifier. I've had this for about three years now, and my search for information - even the basics-watts per channel - has come up empty.

This is a terrific amp, and very stylish. I believe it's an Asia-only model, so this may help in your search.

First person to leave a comment with a useful link or information wins! ...the recognition of a job well-done! :)

Thanks!

Stereo Audio Making a Comeback?

2010-10-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

This article from CE Pro was interesting to me on two levels. One - I agree that stereo analog audio, along with vinyl will be the wave of the near future, and Two - only a true audiophile would allow a quaint reading nook to be cluttered with outlandish stereo gear. Wife Acceptance Factor = 0.3.

The Theremin

2010-09-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

I realize this isn't exactly the type of thing you find on HiFiCollector.com, but it's so cool that I had to share it. Ever heard of the Theremin? It's an electronic musical instrument that you play without making contact with it. Two antennae sense the position of the "players' hands and then interpret position into frequency oscillation (pitch) and amplitude (volume).

Wikipedia does a much better job explaining it than I do, so check out the entry HERE.

Here's a schematic it you want to build your own:

Ever try one? Seen one? Chime in and tell us your story.

Don't forget the HiFiCollector Facebook community page HERE. It's a great place to show off your gear photos!

Community Photos - 1960s Zenith Console

2010-09-11T20:35:00.001-07:00

HiFiCollector.com community member, Zach sent in a photo of a 1960s console that came from his grandparent's house. It's not currently working, and he's looking for recommendations for a repair shop in the New York City area. If anyone knows of a reputable shop, please leave a comment on this post.

Thanks for the photos Zach!

If you'd like to send in your vintage gear photos, please send them to hificollector [at] gmail.com. You can also visit our Facebook community page and post them there.

Best Thrift Store Finds of All Time! #5 - Teledyne Acoustic Research AR 11 - $25

2010-07-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

I bought these and one of the surrounds ended up being rotten and a tweeter was blown. I ended up saving the caged mids - very unusual with HUGE magnets. These are the successors to the AR3's, but other than that I don't know much about them. Any info is appreciated and will be posted :) Thanks.

Have any thrift store finds you'd like to show off? Email me hificollector88 [at] gmail.com

Best Thrift Store Finds of All Time! #4 - Wharfedale Achromatic - $35

2010-07-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

I didn't buy these, just took the photos. Too many BIG speakers in my inventory forced me to turn down some that would have been fun to try out.

The Achromatic Series, according to THIS AudioKarma post included several models and were produced in the late 1960s to early 1970s. I didn't see a model designation on these. Dig those purple tweeters and cobalt midrange dustcap! Groovy!

Send in your Best Thrift Store Finds to hificollector88 [at] gmail.com and I'll post 'em for ya.

Best Thrift Store Finds of All Time! #3 - Pioneer CLD-91 $30

2010-07-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, bought this for $30 this past Winter and eventually traded it for some JBL bookshelf speakers. It seems to me that it didn't read CD/R disks, so was essentially useless to me. No remote either, but hey - for that price, who cares?

Send in your photos and stories of your Best Thrift Store Finds to hificollector [at] gmail.com

Best Thrift Store Finds of All Time! #2 - Technics SA-5760 Receiver -$30

2010-07-07T05:46:00.000-07:00

Whaaaa? A "working" Technics SA-5760 receiver for $30? Yeah. . .I'll take it! The knobs alone are worth $40! 165 watts per channel, classic 70s styling. The cabinet was a little dingy, but that's why God invented Simple Green :) Sounded great!

Send in your Best Thrift Store Finds to hificollector88 [at] gmail.com

Best Thrift Store Finds of All Time! #1 - Altec 836A Lido - $55.00

2010-07-06T17:42:00.000-07:00

Send in photos of your Best Thrift Store Finds to hificollector [at] gmail.com

Interesting Vintage Gear on FB Fan Page

2010-06-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

HiFi Collector community member, Ed left two cool videos of some vintage gear on our HiFiCollector.com FB fan page. Check them out and leave a comment if you feel so inclined.

Also - Post your own photos and videos - It's a great way to show off your gear!

Antique Radio Reproductions - Does "Real" Matter?

2010-05-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

Crosley has made a name for itself in preserving vintage radio, juke box, phone, and record player designs, while updating the electronics to contemporary technology. I've got a Crosley portable record player that's in a very nice leather covered latching case. It works fine and sounds as good as any portable record player I remember from my youth.

This radio sits in our living room on top of a bookcase and is one of the few reproduction units we own. It's very stylish and true to the period for which it represents. The main problem I have with Crosley is that they pay much more attention to design than to sound reproduction. With the exception of my record player, all of their radios and clock radios sound tinny and anemic to me. Still, if you want a great-looking radio for a vintage-themed room or nook, Crosley may be a good way to go. No worries about old tube units burning up or costly refurbishment.

The question then is: Do I consider my Crosley reproduction pieces as true "vintage" collectibles. For me, the answer is "no," simply by the fact that they are mass-manufactured in modern factories. They lack the intrinsic nostalgic value that I identify with authentic pieces. To put this in a different perspective, imagine you're traveling through Ireland and come upon a hill with three castles on it. Two of the castles were built in the 12th Century and one was built in 1980, but has all the architectural elements of its neighbors to the point where all the castles look the same from your vantage point. Do you consider the 1980 "reproduction" a true classic castle? Do you pay the same to take the tour? What's your feeling when strolling through it? To extend the metaphor, does a visit to the Hollywood Wax Museum satisfy your desire to see movie stars up close? Why or why not?

Noise and Stuff

2010-05-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted for a while, but I found an interesting New York Times article on noise that I thought I'd share.

A few weeks ago I shipped my KLH Model Eight table radio off to Ohio to be fixed and it came back in tip-top shape. The guy replaced one tube and several capacitors as well as a general cleaning and getting rid of volume knob static. It sounds as good as new and should be good to go for another 40 years or so.

Not exactly vintage audio-related, but I picked up a full-sized Aero Fighters arcade game from Salvation Army yesterday. You can see a video of it here.

I've got my eyes on a vintage Toshiba receiver, so I'll post that if I decide to get it. Otherwise - send in your photos, stories, and links to videos.

Don't forget you can post your gear photos on the HiFiCollector.com Facebook fan page HERE. We're over 100 strong now!

Also - Our new blog, The Nostalgia Lounge, has several vintage and strange items from around our house.

Last but not least, the HiFi Collector Forum continues to grow and is a great place to get vintage stereo pricing info, gear suggestions, technical tips, and much more. Join or just browse - have fun!

Speakers - Yamaha SB-X50

2010-04-08T05:09:00.000-07:00

Had this pair of Yamaha SB-X50 speakers for only about one week. Sometimes I like to purchase speakers just to give them a fair shake - especially speakers for which I hold hope for sounding decent. The SB-X50 retailed for $499.00 in 1979 and had mixed reviews, but boy do they look cool.

How did they sound? Just okay. Bass was somewhat weak,and this could be due to the age of the driver or crossover components, or simply following suit for most Japanese speakers I've heard. I listened to some George Winston piano pieces and these sounded fine, if not a bit too forward in the upper register. Jazz and Rock sounded alright, but the speakers had a compressed, boxy tonality to them that was distracting. When I closed my eyes I heard music coming from boxes, not floating in front of me.

Have any experiences with Yamaha SB-X50 speakers? Chime in!

Community Photos - Dynaco System

2010-04-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

HiFiCollector.com community member, Gary sent in this photo of his Dynaco system. Thanks Gary!

Here's the system description in Gary's own words:

My second system is dynaco. It starts with the Speakers. These are classic A-25s and they required quite a bit of work to get the cabinets looking good. There was some damage to the corners, as you might expect, but the drivers were in good shape so most of the work was cabinet repair, new grill cloth and locating replica logo plates for the front. They are a 10" two way design with a single cap in the crossover. They have more punch and solid bottom end than one would expect from their size - very easy on the ears.

The Amp is a dynaco ST-120 solid state 60Wpc that has been fully reconditioned. That is matched with a reconditioned PAT-4 preamp and an FM-5 tuner. The tuner still needs a little work to stabilize the tuning but other than that everything sounds great.

Community Photos - 1970s Advent Stereo System

2010-04-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

I love it when people email in photos of their gear and systems. Gary sent in the following info on his Advent gear. Thanks for the photo and information, Gary!

Just ran into your site and thought you might like to add a photo of a couple of my restored (pre-1980) systems. I concentrate on systems as opposed to components and focus on the affordable not the super high end. I purchased the components in these two systems from various sources found on eBay and Craig's list. The intent was to put together vintage systems with equipment you could purchase new in or around about the 1970s. I also wanted to match the components such that they made up a system that was representative of the period. Single components are cool but really - they need to be in a system or they are like really nice wheels sitting on the garage floor.

The first system is an Advent based setup. This includes a completely restored Advent 300 receiver. An underestimated little box that has both a cheap and expensive feel at the same time. Cheap when you flip a switch and expensive when you dial-in the FM station. The only option was to match the receiver to some Advent speaker and I got lucky and found a local guy that had a pair he bought new long ago. These are the Advent Newer speakers and they have had the Woofs refoamed and crossover recaped. They sound as good as they look.

Garage System # 5

2010-03-28T08:03:00.001-07:00

Denon DRA-755 receiver and, the star of the show, the new (old) KEF 103.2. . .outstanding!

The Loudness War

2010-03-22T18:46:00.000-07:00

We've all heard about the compression technology that makes .mp3 files as small as they are, but there's another kind of music compression that doesn't get talked about as much. It's dynamic compression and some music enthusiast claim that, for the past decade or so, it's been ruining popular musical recordings.

What are your thoughts on dynamic compression? Chime in and let us know.

Video - Garage System # 4

2010-03-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

With the venerable McIntosh MAC 4200 still at center stage, this time it's flanked by a pair of Klipsch Synergy B2 speakers and a pair of KEF Q1 speakers.

Few similarities exist between these two pairs of bookshelfs as they both have their distinct sounds, and the KEFs seem more natural and much less "nasal" than the Klipsch. Still, on their own, the Klipsch present surprising bass response for such a small woofer and would be fine for a bedroom system.

Wish List: Joey Roth Ceramic Speakers

2010-03-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

Boy, how I'd like this to be a review instead of a "wish list" entry. I've been eyeing these desktop speakers for about a month and keep trying to justify spending $500 on them.

Check them out HERE.

Anyone out there own a pair? Chime in and let us know what you think.

In the meantime, I'll continue trying to figure out how to sneak some cash out of the kids' college fund. Stay tuned.

HiFi Collector Swag - Proudly Show Off Your Hobby

2010-03-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

Visit the HiFi Collector Store HERE

Love collecting audio gear? Consider yourself an audiophile, audioholic, or are you still in denial and use the term "audio enthusiast?" :)

In any case, why should your wife be the only one who knows of your obsession?!?

Show off your hobby proudly with some HiFi Collector gear - Caps, mugs, shirts, hoodies. . . We're stackin' 'em deep and sellin' 'em cheap!

Infinity Scientific Listening Program

2010-03-10T20:00:00.001-08:00

Just discovered this youtube clip and wanted to share it. Has anyone ever heard of this software by Infinity? Anyone know where to download a copy? Sounds interesting. Thanks!

Video - Garage System # 3

2010-03-07T06:25:00.000-08:00

Brought the JBL 4312 control monitors down from the shelf and plugged them into the McIntosh 4200.

Speakers - Technics SB-G910

2010-03-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

I've seen a lot of things done with woofers in my day; many of which shouldn't even be legal! But I've never seen a woofer with a clear plastic dust cap. Pretty neat, actually.

These Technics SB-G910 monsters had a LOT of bass, but that's about all I can say for them. Lightweight cabinets shook and rattled when the volume was cranked, but that's what classic house speakers are supposed to do - right?

Notice the latex-gloved hand? Yes, we always wear latex gloves when handling Technics speakers. Don't you?!?

Have any experiences with Technics house speakers from the 80's? Chime on in.

Video - McIntosh MAC 4200

2010-02-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

Receiver - McIntosh MAC 4200

2010-02-24T05:20:00.001-08:00

My McIntosh addiction continues to rage out of control. I found this MAC 4200 on eBay two days ago and thought it would complement my collection well. . .plus it was a local pick-up so I'd save on shipping. See all the excuses I come up with?!?

The MAC 4200 is a mean-lookin' motha. The menacingly-dark faceplate, black pushbuttons, and large red LED tuner window give this unit a real Darth Vadar feel. This is in stark contrast to the white and silver purity of the MAC 4100. This is what the 1980's did to gear design, and even McIntosh decided to follow suit with their receivers. It's okay by me - I love this look.

But this isn't what you wanted to know, now is it? How does it sound?

It sounds every bit as good as any other good-sounding receiver I own. To me, the real strength with McIntosh gear lies in its retention of value, build-quality (MTBF), brand prestige, and industrial design (in the eye of the beholder). Sure, the specs tell me that this puppy will put out cleaner sound (lower distortion) at much higher volume levels than comparable receivers, and this is a good thing, but it's not how I listen to music. Don't get me wrong - I love the idea that, if needed, I could crank this puppy up to near-clipping and it will still output clean sound, it's just that I doubt I ever will. That's what the bigger McIntosh amps in my collection are for :)

I do love the five band EQ and the variable loudness control. Typical loudness controls apply a fixed amount of compensation for listening at low volume. McIntosh employs a separate volume circuit that applies loudness proportionally. Between this and the five band EQ you can cater the sound to your listening volume and environment very effectively.

Here's the data sheet from Berners.

Have any stories or photos of your McIntosh receivers? Leave a comment or shoot me an email - thanks.

Receiver - McIntosh MAC 4100

2010-02-19T19:32:00.001-08:00

Just picked up this very clean McIntosh MAC 4100 receiver off of CraigsList. The FM tuner section isn't working, but I'm going to remove the cover tomorrow and do a little poking around under the hood. If that doesn't do the trick then I'll take it to Brooks Berdan in Monrovia for a check-up from the feet-up.

It sounds terrific using my Sony HD radio through the Aux inputs. Dial lights are all good, the cabinet is beautiful. Strange - looks like McIntosh skimped on the cab- vinyl veneer? Will check more thoroughly manana.

Any stories about your McIntosh receivers? Comment below or shoot me an email. Or chime in on the forum!

Speakers - B&W DM100i

2010-02-10T05:28:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned how much I like collecting great little bookshelf speakers. My goal is to one day have a home large enough to use them all in "mini" systems in several rooms throughout.

In the meantime, I'll keep snagging the ones I want and enjoy them in my garage system, rotating them out every month or so.

Picked up these B&W DM100i at a thrift store for a song! Work great, and sound quite nice. I haven't put them through their paces with acoustic or jazz yet, but they sound terrific with rock and pop.

I'll post a follow-up after I have more time for critical listening.

Any experiences with B&W bookshelf speakers? Chime in!

The Audiophile Club of Athens

2010-02-07T07:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice Ken Barne's documentary on the Audiophile Club of Athens.

What are your thoughts on spending this amount of money on equipment?

Is it any different than spending money on classic cars, boats, or any other luxury hobby?

When does a hobby become an obsession?

The Dangers of Over-Driving Vintage Speakers

2010-01-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

Mystery Speaker Challenge

2010-01-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

The "Weird Speaker of the Month Award" goes to: Yamaha N8-15 Speaker. Could be a Japanese-only model. Hard to get the scale by the photos, but these are approximately 22" high by 6" deep by 14" wide.

Chime in if you've ever seen one of these.

How does it sound? Bass unit Mylar was loose on both speakers and produced very little bass. Tweeter sounded okay.

Stack 'em Deep and Sell 'em Cheap!

2010-01-17T06:40:00.001-08:00

Although a convenient way to purchase and assemble a home stereo, the matched "stacks" of gear usually were sub-par in sound quality. Radio Shack may have been the first to package their components as suggested sets, but when the 80s hit and consumer, mass-market audio diverged from the audiophile market, most big players realized their demographic didn't get a buzz from piecing together the "perfect" sound system. Thus the "Stack 'em deep and sell 'em cheap" mantra was born.

Ever try tapping on the cabinet of one of the speakers that came bundled with these? Sounds like a toy drum

Receiver - Sansui 7900-Z

2010-01-16T11:50:00.001-08:00

Sansui gear has always fascinated me. They made some outstanding amps and receivers and some real clunkers - depending on the decade, usually, but this one falls outside the pattern. This 1981 little gem sounds quite good to me - both the tuner and the amp section hooked to a CD source. What it lacks in punch it makes up for in. . .well, not much compensation there, but it's perfect for a small room system. Quite an attractive dial and front panel as well.

This is not mine - had the opportunity to buy it from a pawn shop, but decided against it. They wanted $100 for it, and I think it's worth about $75. Took some pics though to share :)

Any of you have any experiences with the Sansui 7900Z? Chime in through comments or email. Thanks.

What's it worth?

In very good condition: $75 - $100

Facebook Fan Page - Vintage Stereo Ads Galore!

2010-01-14T19:10:00.001-08:00

Each day I'm posting a vintage stereo advertisement on the HiFiCollector Fan Page on Facebook.

Join in, leave comments, post photos of your gear. . .it's a great way to share with our growing community of collectors!

Receiver - Sony STR 6055

2010-01-07T19:22:00.001-08:00

Took this Sony STR-6055 out of storage this past weekend and still need to do a faceplate cleaning. Can't get the left channel to work either, but I'll open it up on Sunday and poke around inside.

From what I remember, this little early 70s gem sounded really nice when it worked a couple years ago. I'll check it out and give you an update soon.

Have any stories about your Sony STR-6055 receiver? Leave a comment or shoot me an email. Thanks!

What's it worth? In this condition (without optional wood cabinet) and not working well: $25. In excellent condition with wood cabinet - $65 or whatever a collector is willing to pay.

What's My Gear Worth? >> Part Deux

2010-01-04T18:18:00.000-08:00

I'm getting quite a few requests for gear quotes, which is great!

I want all these requests to be arranged for easy retrieval - not only by the people who requested the quotes, but also by future visitors as well.

So. . . From now on, please submit all your gear quote requests on the HiFiCollector.com forum.

You'll see the "What's it Worth?!?" topic, so just create a new post under that topic and I'll answer it ASAP.

Thanks folks!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

2009-12-25T06:11:00.001-08:00

Community Photos - Tube Radio and Heathkit

2009-12-25T05:54:00.000-08:00

This photo is from Mike in Las Vegas. Here's his description:

Attached is a picture of my favorite piece I bought in bad condition at the Rose Bowl swap meet for $10. On top of it is a Heathkit AJ-31. Both operate superbly.

-Mike in Las Vegas

Thanks Mike! I also spy a Zenith Trans-Oceanic in there as well - cool. . .

If you have a photo or two you'd like to have posted - send 'em on in with a description. hificollector88 [at] gmail.com

Thanks folks!

Speakers - Vandersteen 3A

2009-12-20T05:34:00.000-08:00

See the cat's tail in the second photo from the bottom? Yup - that's the reason you're seeing these Vandy's in their birthday suit. Picked these up off local (LA) CraigsList for a song and the socks were in good shape. My cat, Satchmo would have, sooner or later, discovered these wonderful scratching posts and tore the socks, possibly even the rear woofer, to shreds.

With all the best intentions, I decided to set forth and remove the socks, taking care to keep them intact so that I may put them back on in the future should a resale opportunity arise.

Ever removed socks from Vandersteens? There are no less than 100 industrial staples per speaker holding these super-tough socks in place. The first sock removal took over an hour, and the second speaker went a little faster at about 45 minutes. Of course had I realized what a chore it was going to be I would have photographed and documented it for this site. As it stands, if you need any advice on removing the socks from Vandersteen speakers, go ahead and email me or post a comment and I'll be happy to answer specific questions.

So, the good news is that I really like the way the look without the socks! No, this isn't sour grapes, you see I've recently discovered the societal sub-culture of steampunk, and these skinned Vandys reflect the design influence of steampunk perfectly! Love the over-built structure and commanding lines of these speakers. The mat-black sprayed finish and the khaki stapled felt pad accents.

So, how do they sound? Wonderful. I've got a pair of Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers downstairs in the family room, but we use these mostly for gaming and home theater. HORRORS! I know, but they will be around for decades, and will eventually find their way into a dedicated listening room. In the meantime, don't fret - Call of Duty on the PS3 sounds absolutely phenomenal on these puppies. They are NOT going to waste.

I can't tell any difference between the 3A and the 3A signature, sound-wise, but then again, I don't have them set up side-by-side in an A/B test configuration. One is on tile in a very large room with hard surfaces, and these 3As are in my smallish loft with lots of soft surfaces and heavily-padded carpet. There's no way I could say which one sounds better under these conditions.

My recommendation: Look for any Vandersteens after the 2C model as they will have rubber surrounds on the drivers. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the 2C and prior models all had foam surrounds. You can usually find 2CE and above for $500 or so. Try to buy local as shipping these is expensive. If you can find a pair - grab 'em. You might even consider removing the socks as I did. With the socks on they are monolithic and draw no attention to themselves. Without the socks they make a bold statement - either good or bad, depending on your taste and that of your spouse :)

Have anything to add? Please leave a comment or shoot me an email - hificollector88 [at] gmail.com

Video - Garage System # 2

2009-12-17T05:32:00.001-08:00

Here's a short video highlighting my new (used) Luxman R-1040 receiver from ~ 1982.

What's My Gear Worth? HiFiCollector Is Here to Help!

2009-12-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to announce a new feature for HiFiCollector.com - What's it Worth?

With years of buying and selling, collection, pricing, and trading experience behind me (and hopefully in front of me as well), I've acquired the skills to confidently quote prices on vintage audio gear. In addition to personal experience with brands and current market conditions, I'll also use eBay completed auction listings and, to a lesser extent, the Orion Blue Book for audio. Orion is still catching up with the downturn of the economy, so their prices seem a little high from my observations.

All posts from this point on will feature a What's it Worth? section which will provide my best guess as to the value of an item similar to the one I'm describing in the post.

Disclaimer - Pricing vintage gear is always a best-guess scenario. I'll provide my estimate based on what I believe would be fair market value and a good place to put a reserve price if I were to try to sell on eBay. Please use my price quotes as a guide and not a point of dispute with a potential buyer. Your experience has probably taught you the same things I've learned when it comes to appraising audio gear - it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay. Collectors with deep pockets will pay whatever they can to win an auction, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the value of that piece of gear has risen.

Of course many variables exist - whether the item would be sold internationally or just within the US, whether the price is meant for eBay (with a huge potential buyer base) or CraigsList (where that base is much smaller), etc. I'll address each one of these on a quote-by-quote basis.

As time allows I'll also go back through the 150 plus posts I've written so far and add the What's it Worth? section to them as well.

Thanks for making HiFiCollector.com such an informative and fun site! Keep the comments and suggestions coming and Happy Listening!

Happy Holidays too!

UPDATE

I'm getting quite a few requests for gear quotes, which is great!

I want all these requests to be arranged for easy retrieval - not only by the people who requested the quotes, but also by future visitors as well.

So. . . From now on, please submit all your gear quote requests on the HiFiCollector.com forum.

You'll see the "What's it Worth?!?" topic, so just create a new post under that topic and I'll answer it ASAP.

Thanks folks!

Video - Garage Stereo System #1

2009-12-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

One minute video on my current garage system, including the new (used) pair of B&W DM12 bookshelf speakers and a well-used Pioneer SX-3700 receiver.

Speakers - Champman Sound Company SCJ-1

2009-12-04T05:28:00.000-08:00

I didn't buy these, just had an opportunity to audition a pair that a guy was trying to unload in a massive gear trade. These were high-end speakers in their day (1978 - 1983), retailing for $1,000/pair. Today's value on a pair would be strictly governed by condition and these needed new surrounds on the woofers and mids.

That yellowish, paper-like material around the cones isn't foam and it isn't quite rubber. It's really more like rice paper and very thin. I'm sure it's some sort of latex, but I've never seen it before on speaker surrounds.

Running my index finger around the edges almost resulted in a puncture. Then again, perhaps this was the way they were designed? Dunno, and without knowing at the time, I passed on the offer.

How did they sound? They sounded quite good. Commanding bass, nice mids and highs. Similar in overall tone to JBL Centuries.

Do you know anything about these speakers? Have any more info on the surround material and whether I shouldn't have passed them up? Send in an email or leave a comment - thanks.

What's it worth?
Good: $200/pair
Fair: $125
As is in photo: $75 if they did need new surrounds.

Speakers - Coral BX-1200

2009-12-02T20:19:00.000-08:00

Can you say Kabuki without smiling? These Coral BX-1200 speakers from the late 70's are 5-way, 6-driver speakers with that classic Sansui look and sound.

I especially like the labels on each driver so you know what you're listening to. Of course the question inevitably arises: "Just how many drivers can we pack into a cabinet?" And the answer? As many as you think you need to sell speakers to people who believe in "the more, the better" philosophy. Confused? Me too - it's late and I still have to help clean up the kids' room.

I had these speakers for about a week then traded them and a six pack of domestic beer for a single Boston bookshelf speaker. I think I got the better end of that deal.

Have any experience that's more helpful than mine with Coral speakers? Shouldn't be too hard :) Please shoot me an email or leave a comment.

Thanks!

What's it worth?
Good: $100/pair
Fair: $75
As is in photo: $85

McIntosh System # 3 Video

2009-12-01T05:38:00.000-08:00

Here's McIntosh System # 3

Facebook Fan Page = Fun!

2009-11-23T18:47:00.000-08:00

The Facebook Fan page is Rockin'!

Post your gear photos.

Join in on discussions.

Let the community hear your gear stories!