70's Vintage Audio

by mactubehead on Ever Evolving
View of vintage gear
Nice Rack
Vandersteen Model 2B left channel
Listennig position, nice seat
View from behind listening postiton

Description

I have made a few changes to this system since its original posting on Audiogon a couple of years ago. It was listed in the Secondary Rig section since it was not my primary system at the time. My primary rig had been my Home Theater system, which I have yet to post on here. Now, my secondary rig has become my primary rig and it has evolved over the past year. I have always loved vintage gear and most of the components in this rig I have had for many years. A couple of components belonged to my dad, and some I purchased in the early 80 s and some were given to me as gifts. There is something to be said about the way that vinyl reproduces music. As a result, I have set out to put together a vintage system reminiscent of the 70’s era. To achieve this, I have purchased additional components to complete my set up; and I have repaired some of the components that I already owned. Listed below are the components that make up my primary rig as it stands now. I will be making a few more changes over time so stay tuned. Note: This system evolved from my system originally called "Mac Tube Heaven" listed under Getting Started.
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Components Toggle details

    • Akai GX-4000D
    I purchased this at a Flea Market years ago for $120.00. I took it to a local audio shop and they repaired the audio level dials and the headphone audio output, and they cleaned all the dials, knob and switches. I have not used this deck yet but it does help with the 70’s look I am looking for. My plan is to record my favorite music on there for hours of musical enjoyment….. great for parties too.
    • Grado Green 1
    I upgraded the Empire 2000 cartridge on this turntable with this Grado Green cartridge. What a vast improvement this cartridge has made to my listening experience.
    • Marantz 6300
    I purchased this turntable about eighteen years ago at a thrift store for $12.00. It needed some minor repairs, which I did and I purchased an inexpensive cartridge (Empire2000) for it. At the time, I was not aware of the difference that a quality cartridge would make. I learned that lesson within recent years from my good friend, (who loaned me the Advent speakers and gave me the Phono Stage, the Monster interconnects, and the Monster speaker cable). Last year I picked up a new Grado Green 1 cartridge at a great price. I am very pleased with the way the turntable and the cartridge sound. I plan on upgrading the inter-connects and replacing the plastic feet on the turntable with audio spikes, which I know will further improve the sound quality.
    • Audio-Technica USA 71ELC
    I replace the generic no-name cartridge with this Audio Cartridge. This cartridge has greatly improved my listening experience.
    • Marantz 6100
    I was tipped of by my good friend about this turntable. This turntable was for sale in a thrift store last year and I picked it up for $15.00. It came with a no-name cartridge, which I immediately replaced with an Audio Technica AT71ELC. I plan on upgrading the inter-connects as well and replacing the plastic feet with audio spikes.
    • Akai CS 702D II
    This unit belonged to my dad. I don’t play many cassettes on it but it does help with the 70’s look and it reminds me of him. I will have to fly him up from Florida to see my music room when it’s all finished and listen to some records with him.
    • Project Phono Box II
    This phono stage was a gift from my good friend, (yes…the one who gives me and lends me great audio stuff). This unit has dramatically improved the sound quality of my turntables.
    • Sansui 9090db
    I purchased this unit on ebay a couple of years ago for $240.00. YES!!! That’s right……$240.00! As most of you know, this beast sells for a lot more money online and off. I had this unit serviced by a local repair shop. They replaced the Function Select switch with a part I cannibalized from another Sansui receiver I have. I had them clean all the knobs, switches, buttons and dials as well. This receiver is power house and sounds great with the volume turned up some as the Vandersteens need a little juice.
    • Vandersteen 2b
    I purchased these beautiful speakers from a fine Audiogon member for an unbelievable price. I had the woofers in both speakers refoamed and my good friend and I installed them and connected them to my receiver for a listen. For those of you that have a pair of Vandersteens, or who have listened to a pair then you already know. As for those who don’t own a pair, or haven’t listened to a pair, then you owe it to yourself to give them a listen. All I can say is that theses speakers reproduce music in its truest form. I have never heard speakers reproduce music the way these speakers do, certainly not for this price. I could go on and on about the sound of these speakers, but suffice to say it’s the next best thing to being there, in the studio or live at a venue with you favorite artist. Hey, instead of talking about it, I am going to put this laptop down and go put on a record…. perhaps some Miles or Coltrane.
    • Monster M Series M.75
    Monster M Series M.75 speaker cable, a gift from my friend and fellow audiophile.
    • Bello AT-2567
    I purchased this rack at a high end audio shop for a quarter of the list price as they were closing one of their stores.

Comments 2

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Owner
Yup, I am loving life now...not that I did'nt before. But I am loving the way that my music sounds in the room. The Vandersteens are great as you stated and they make all the difference. They have such an open sound and the sound stage is very much three dimentional as you well know. I have never ever heard music sound so good in my own home.

The Sansui receiver is a transistor model, made in the mid to late 70's. It has a lot of power which is great for the Vandys. I am in the process of making one more change to this system and this is to switch out the Sansui receiver with a pair of Macintosh 40w tube mono block amps. That should add some interesting dynamics to the sound in the room.

The additional turntable is neat. As you stated I can keep the tunes rolling. I set up the turntables with two different cartridges, which as you already know can have some noticable differences in the sound reproduced from these turntables. But for the most part, I try to keep the 6300 and the Grado set up to play my vintage mint or my new 180 grm reissue records. I use the other set up to play records that are not as perfect.

I still have not used the reel to reel yet. I do like the way it looks and I am in the process of getting some 7" reel for it so that I can record my favortie music on it. Plus, the 7" reels give the unit a more professional look just like in the recording studios from back in the day.

I really appreciate your comments and thanks for the reply. Bernard.

mactubehead

Very nice! I used to sell the Vandersteen 2bs. They are great speakers. They have a very open sound. I bet they sound great in your room. Is the Sansui a tubed reciever? A friend used to own one, and it had an unbelievable sound.
Good luck with the vinyl. I see you own 2 turtables now. That should keep the tunes rolling!
The room looks very good. How does the reel to real sound?
Do you find yourself using it much. There is something about the look of one of those things sitting on your rack that says, I've hit the big time!
Again nice job, and have fun listening.
If you don't have a Sansui tubed unit, and you ever see one in working condition purchase it. I'd be surprised if you didn't love it!

sgr

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