Description

You might say this is in my blood... I started as a kid with a MAC-1700 and the Stereotech 3 speakers. By college, I'd added a Toshiba TT and a Nakamichi cassette deck. After a lot of miles, a move or two, marriage and college, the 1700 has been retired in favor of a 4100, and the Toshiba has morphed into Mr. Mc's old Thorens. Those clunker old Stereotechs kept going and going, but it was time for a change. Hence the XR-250s - the first two examples off the production line, in fact.

I finally finished the cabinet that holds it all, including a slideout for the turntable.

The shiny silver box is a dual core Athlon64X2 running Xubuntu linux.  The computer primarily provides web access in the living room for watching online videos and playing games.

[edit]I'd resisted for the longest time getting a BluRay player, since the upconverting Oppo 981 was brilliant, but its power supply ate itself. So I took the plunge and snagged an Oppo 103 BluRay player.

The BluRay player has finally come into its own since the Sony bit the dust and was replaced with an absolutely stellar Vizio 65" 4k LCD TV. Couldn't be happier with the new video setup.
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Components Toggle details

    • McIntosh MAC-4100 receiver
    75wpc, 5band eq, plenty of line inputs... Working sooo slowly on replacing questionable caps and flaky RCA jacks.
    • McIntosh XR-250
    3way - 2x10" LD/HP woofers, 5" midrange, 1-1/4" tweeter
    • Sony CDP-X303es
    Heavy chassis, solid mechanism, very nice analog output
    • Thorens TD-125
    So one day my uncle shows up on my doorstep out of a clear blue sky and hands me my granddad's TD-125. Unfortunately the dust cover is badly damaged.
    • SME 3009
    • Audio-Technica USA Signet TK-9e
    Fast-talked it out of my brother; he just moved to a Shelter MC and wasn't using the Signet any more.
    • Vizio M65-C1
    M-series 65" 4k LCD TV
    • Oppo 103
    BluRay player
    • Homebrew Dual core PC running MythTV
    Athlon64 X2 running Xubuntu for web, gaming and music library service. Machine has a dual digital TV tuner and a fairly high-end sound card. Needs to move from dual-core to quad-core at some point.
    • Nintendo Wii
    My one concession to gaming; the kids love it :)

Comments 12

Showing all comments by mjcmt.

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Thanks for your response.

I like the black look of the other Mac receivers but the silver 4100 would match my cdp better. It is a different Mac look, but still very attractive.

Thanks for your advice about Mac receivers. I do have 4 ohm speakers so I should consider the 4100 or 4200 receiver. I'm glad you commented on the FM portion of the receivers. This is very important to me, maybe even more than CDs.

I made an error, you probably realized. I called the silver piece or gear on the bottom shelf a stereo tech. Anyway, you figured it out. I think your idea of isolating the TT is a great idea.

Very cool system.

mjcmt

Nice looking system.

I used to own the TD125 w/ SME are in the early seventies. It brings back memories.

I'm looking for a cheap Mac receiver. Tell me about your 4100 and how it compares to other Mac receivers you have heard. I want it to do dual duty for movies and music like you are.

You know what would look cool. Put a shelf in each cubby and put the Stereotech on the L shelf, the TD 125 on the center shelf, and the 4100 on the R shelf. Then put all the other gear on the bottom. It would really show off the nice gear.

mjcmt