Basic all analog system - Everything is gelling quite nicely. I listen to almost anything, but mostly rock and jazz. Recently upgrade cart to Denon DL-304, otherwise I'm done for now. As you can see I pump more my funds into the collection over the hardware. For now.
Plenty of I/O that I actually use, e.g. 2x Tape I/O - one for computer (iMac / M-Audio used to record vinyl and play back internet radio) and the other for the R2R.
Rotel RB-1070
Plenty of power for my needs.
Tascam BR-20T
$4000 deck virtually untouched bought on ebay for 350 bucks. The way this thing handles tape is just lovely. Weighs a ton, with balanced and unbalanced I/O.
Denon DL-304
Upgraded from a DL-160, retains all the fun of that cart, but adds a silky smoothness to everything that's just sublime. Acoustic guitar in particular is just breathtaking with the right recording. No one talks about this cartridge, I don't know why because it's killer!
Rega Planar-25
Great looking classic Rega with a few upgrades (sorry Roy!): Groovetracer Subplatter (Reference) Groovetracer Counterweight Groovetracer Acrylic Platter Cardas Rewire on tonearm TTWeights Record Weight
Lehmann Audio Black Cube
Nice upgrade from the internal stage in the Rotel Pre, hooked up with Transparent Audio (Music Link) cables, sounds lively with good solid bass in my system.
B&W 685
Great little monitor, can handle whatever I throw at it with ease.
B&W ASW608
Got two of these, work extremely well with the 685s, they keep up even on fast passages. Fun with movies too!
Music Hall Cruse Control 2.0
Accurate speed control for my P25 for 300 bucks. Bargain!
APC AV H15
Power conditioner from APC, can't comment on any major sound differences, but in a recent storm it did a wonderful job of regulating fluctuating voltage and keeping everything running just fine.
Sure, its the ikea broder shelving system, dirt cheap and works great for vinyl. The wooden shelves are about 11" wide and i cut the lengh of each one to about 2.5', apart from the one for the turntable which is about 15" wide.....both stock ikea shelves, but you could use anything really
Yes adding 2nd sub tightened the bass up a lot, it seems that most authorities on the subject say 2 smaller subs are usually better than 1 larger.... I have them at a fairly low volume setting with a crossover setting a bit lower than b&w suggest, going on their specs for the 685s..... Adding the 2nd just allowed the overall sound between the subs and the main speakers to integrate a lot better, you dont notice they are even there unless you turn them off. I suspect the smaller 8" drivers in the subs are better suited to the 685s than simething bigger.
what a neat setup you have! I love your LP racks, and the equipment tucked into the rack makes for a really unique look.
Regarding your subs... did you experience tighter bass when you added the 2nd sub? I have older 600 series speakers myself, and have been considering adding a sub, but I'm afraid that a sub will muddy things up a bit.
would you be able to comment a bit more on the changes when adding the subs?
The Tascam's a beast, it's one of the last R2R decks ever made and build quality is just stunning. Like I say the way it handles tape is just unbelievable - gentle but yet always in complete control - Any one who's used a studer knows what I'm talking about, this deck behaves like that but with a price tag I could afford! In edit mode you can turn each reel in either direction and the microprocessor determines the right amount of power to the reels perfectly to feed the tape in either direction without spooling off. Hours of fun to be had just doing that! It is I believe direct drive, which saves on belts wearing out too. There's quite a lot of these still out there, and servicing is pretty easy too (I use a repair shop in NJ).
Mine's the 'T' model which includes SMPTE synch capabilities, I dabble a bit as a musician too and one project I've never quite finished is getting this thing synched up to my protools rig - I have a standalone synchronizer/controller that requires some pretty unique cabling made up to make it all work....one day.... witnessing an analog R2R "chasing" a digital system is one of life's pleasures most do not get to experience...
The vinyl rack is good old ikea - the BRODER system. The setup I got goes floor to ceiling (and I have 10.5ft ceilings,) the shelfs I cut myself. All shelves are 12" deep except the one for the turntable.
I started of with the 685s and one ASW608, it made more sense for me to add another sub, and to be honest - I like having the sound adjustments the subs offer to tune them nicely for the room - living in an apartment my listening room is my dining room, living room, and office at times! Point being, it's easier to get the bass response right via the subs as I don't have the luxury to place my speakers in the ideal spots. Also the ability to turn the lower bass off late at night etc. is an unfortunate necessity living in NYC....
Nice simple setup but how come you didn't take the money for 2x 685's and 2x ASW608's and get a nice tower, maybe like the 683's or a used pair of N804's?
Nice record collection! I always promissed myself that I would have more money in my record collection than my system. Something about quality hifi and mid century....
Tell us more about the Tascam and the record rack.
Thanks! I love mid century modern furniture (Eames in particular) - and it all matches well with the TT and R2R. So the Denon: The DL-160 have served me very well, I'm just interested in seeing what extra there is to be had by moving up their range. The DL-304 doesn't get much press, but those that have heard it seem to love it. The DL-160 tracks perfectly, is pretty forgiving and just seems to have a darn good time digging through the grooves. If I could say anything bad about it, it can be a bit "shouty" at times, hopefully the DL-304 will calm things down a bit but still keep the fun factor there.
