I bought these Snells with my first job out of college. iv had them now for 17 years wow time flies! i have very slowly upgraded along the way but i have other hobbies also. i just recently rewired this sme 3009 that came with this thorens 125. sounded so good i put it in a cherry plinth now it looks good too! i keep thinking about going totally upscale but the music sounds great! the Snells have kept up with each upgrade but i may in the future replace them. the thorens is about as much as i want and i don't think i can get significantly more from digital without trading in my harley. Simple amp and preamp, fantastic tt, cool music server (great sound, just not vinyl) . that's it. if you have suggestions or comments totally cool!
SME 3009/bronze bearing/cardas cyro tone arm wire from headshell direct to preamp/custom cherry plinth/mapleshade heavy footers/ cherry wood armboard damped with dynamat
Denon dl 103
Ebony body
VTL TL-2.5
This 2.5 is totally tricked out with NOS mullards (platinum grade from upscale). the 12au s are brimar or siemans depending on how i feel. all the tubes are locked down with herbies RX dampers except the phonostage. those have the old mapleshade tube anchors (really nothing better - but they are a hassle!!)
Mapleshade ic & speaker cable
Mapleshade wires all around except the tonearm cable. found huge improvements when i replaced my kimber silver! sold the kimber soon after. the one upgrade i actually made money from (not really but you know what i mean)!
VTL ST-85
ST-85 clean and simple -NOS mullards/SEDs cyrod - herbies tube dampers all around.
Do or die bed-stuy, I like your system not to many vinyl heads left. I'd love to hear your system. Lets get together theres a few of us left out here. Billj 917-450-2191
glenfihi - you may be right! and thanks lou yeah man, i strongly suggest trying out a vintage thorens, micro seiki, systemdeck, etc before pouring money into a new table to me they sound better and save money. but keep in mind the best new table i ever had was at the $2000 price point. (my old tweaked out thorens 166 sounded much better - warmer, organic, with no loss of detail). i think i loved it so much i made video of it - maybe ill post that on my next blog post...
ps - i may put the FM3 up for sale - i love the sound, but i don't get a chance to use it much these days
pss - was good times listening with jetrex! any one in nyc metropolitan wanna join the club?
Phduncanson and I spent a few hours listening at his home and I found his system to be very musical and involving. Great vinyl rig. We talked about changing speakers, amps etc, but once we started listening to the music all talk of "upgrading" was forgotten. Although I did comment how good I thought the AN-e would work in his room. Probably an ideal sized room for the E's and two lonely corners :)
beautiful system, am strongly considering a Thorens myself when it's time to upgrade as I've had a Rega for years and want to try something different. The FM3 is an awesome tuner too, had one of those puppies for a long time as well.
Thanks Glen - it is nice sometimes i wonder if i must get new speakers - other times i think yes. I have slowly designed this entire system around these mid 90's snells. was having a listen session with jextrex last week and the thought came up that if i get new speakers, i may have to start the process over again sounds so good some times but then again we are looking for that last stop!
Do you live in Brooklyn? Your Zu speakers look cool. Before buying my Audio Note I wanted to hear Zu, but never found the opportunity. Bet they sound nice.
I remember listening to those Snells in a high end shop in Champaign, IL in the mid 90s. Thought they were wonderful. Not surprised they're still making music today. You're system looks excellent and the room looks inviting. Have you considered some room treatments? I bet they would make it even better.
Hi Emailists, glad to know you are in NYC! Agreed with Phduncanson, nice space /system indeed! your system page looks like you are in one of those large Harlem co-ops. Some of then have living rooms like 33x15.
I saw a few individuals in Bed-Stuy on bicycles wearing prison t-shirts with pride (or didn't they have any other T-s to wear?) 7 years ago somewhere close to Knickerbocker Av? I guess it's changed so is N. Williamsburg which I really liked. I always liked Park Slope, DUMBO and Cobill Hill.
hey Jetrex the legend still lingers, Bed-Stuy Do or Die! ;) but for real, Czarivey, it's a great place, some of the best food, great Bars, Coffee shops, Yoga, concerts in the park, green markets - just like other metropolitan cities.
