Removed Sansui 1000A (preamp and tuner) out of this system and replaced it with the CJ PV-10A. I am getting ready to add a Cinemag SUT and mount my Denon 103R to the SP-25. I also am getting ready to replace my original Altec crossovers with Markwardt crossovers. I am hoping this will be all I find necessary for a while.
I recently purchased this preamp and so far it is a major improvement over my previous Sansui 1000A.
Altec Lansing Model 17 (604-8G) factory 620A cabs
I bought these about 6 months ago at a church yard sale. $150 for the pair. 100db/watt/meter. I tried these with SS and I much prefer the tubes.
Marantz CC-65 se
Found this unit at a local HiFi shop. THey had taken it in on trade. It is in great condition and I needed a CD player in my system. $20, but it is missing the remote.
Technics SP-25
Found at yardsale with factory base and AT-1501 MK2 arm.
Audio Technica ATP-12T
Nice old arm for the money. High mass with adjustable VTA. Good value
Denon 103R
My first foray with LOMC. Will be adding a Cinemag SUT in the next couple of days.
System edited: I needed to add a CD player to my system. Found a very nice Marantz CC65SE at a local Audio Store that they had taken in on trade. $20 fit my budget and it looks and works excellent, only problem is it didn't have the remote. Steve
Rob, thank you for the compliment. I just looked at your system, and WOW, it looks awesome. I bet it sounds as good as it looks. I have always wanted to hear some of the BIG Tannoys. Wanna trade? LOL I wish!! THanks again, Steve
Hard work pays usually pays off eventually *(see humorous footnote below), as you've so clearly demonstrated. Hopefully, we (audiophile types) all realize that just throwing money at a system without giving it sufficient thought is a ridiculously stupid thing to do, and likely to lead more to frustration than to satisfaction. The land of "audiophilia" is an apt proving ground for the following aphorism: "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is liking what you get." I congratulate you on having achieved both.
Bill
Humorous footnote:
The despair.com website is a great place to indulge in during one's more wryly cynical moments. The following saying from that site was absolutely hilarious, at least to me: "Hard work often pays off after time, but laziness always pays off now."
Mdhoover, thank you for your kind words. I would have to say that patience and alot of luck were involved. I have spent alot of time on various audio sites (7 years) reading, dreaming and trying to learn a few things, but knowing that I would never have much money to invest in an audio system, my system is a dream come true for me. I would love to try a different preamp and a better TT, so I continue to look around. But until then, I enjoy sitting and enjoying the music I have been blessed with.
All I can say is that I am EXTREMELY impressed with what you've put together on a budget. You OBVIOUSLY have some real smarts and wisdom to work with and have used them to wonderful effect in assembling your system. Smarts and wisdom cannot be bought and sold: They're PRICELESS! You are an audiophile in the truest and finest sense of the word, in my opinion. Thank you for sharing your bang for the buck TOUR DE FORCE!
Steve, looking at what you assembled for no more money than you've stated, you put things in proper perspective. You spent your hard earned money on music.
I started collecting records when I was 13, most were ruined by my carelessness by the time I was a teen and I deeply regretted that. I spent the rest of my life caring for my records and today I can pull out some of those VERY old LP's (originally played on a Thorens with Ortofon arm) and they are still quiet and sound great. Have fun with it.
Frankly I would rather visit your home and have 6 thousand records to choose from and tube electronics, than some "super" hi fi rig where the owner has 50 audiophile titles (all boring) and no fun listening.
I am familiar with your turntable, arm and amps but not the Sansui or the speakers. So, I am really not qualified to advise you about an upgrade. You have done well so far, trust your own judgement and play all your music when making a decision. That's one of my main goals when working on my system. Make it as good as possible but I must be able to play everything I own and it sound good.
Lugnut (bless his soul) laughed out loud at my system because I would slap any title on the table and let it rip. The gang bought a $2.98 "Men at Work" LP and I played it without even cleaning it.
He thought that was great, and the funny thing is, it sounded very good.
Hi ALbert. I would gladly show you my collection and my system if I had a digital camera. I got serious about vinyl in 1993 and went pursued it for the first few years like a junkie looking for his next fix. I would estimate my collection is about 6,000 lp's. Mostly mid 60's- mid 70's rock, about 400 blues, and about 5-600 jazz titles, along with probably 500 other genre. I still look and buy used vinyl, but not like I used to.
When I first got online looking around and began registering at online sites, I decided to use the records moniker. No affiliation with anything other than my software interest.
If you have any feedback or comments on my system and ways I could improve it cheaply, I would love to hear your input.
Any suggestions on cheap cables would be appreciated. I have never used anything other than RS 14 gauge wire and some Monster RCA connectors. Am I missing something? I would appreciate some feedback and help. I have read one camp say don't waste your money on IC's and others say it is a huge upgrade. Hmmmmm!!!
