Once upon a time in a parallel universe I decided to replace my Panasonic midi system with these things I had heard called separates They were said to be the dogs danglies. I poured over several Richer Sounds catalogues and ended up chosing a Marantz cdp, Marantz amp and some Wharfedale Delta something or other. Cost me about £350 in 1989.
The heady days of discovering life changing bands ensued and it was very exciting even though the equipment was pretty crappy. Kept it eight years until I bought my first Naim stuff in 1997. Still got the Naim CD3.5 but it sounds nothing like it did.
I often wonder if I could find those first separates and have a listen today.
First serious hifi
- karatestu
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- karatestu
- Posts: 5992
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- karatestu
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- CN211276
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Re: First serious hifi
In 1979 I went to my local McConomy (part of Comet I think) discount warehouse and bough a Pioneer PL 14 TT, Ortofon cartridge, Armstrong 625 tuner amplifier and Celestion Ditton 15XLR speakers. A Sansui cassette deck followed a few months later. It completely blew away my Sharp music centre and I was a very happy bunny.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
- karatestu
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Re: First serious hifi
Celestial Ditton are all the rage these days aren't they (on lesser forums) ?
DIY FREE ZONE
- Fretless
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Re: First serious hifi
For my 16th birthday my parents got me a Pioneer PL514X turntable, Pioneer SA506 amp and a pair of Pioneer speakers. This was the basis for my first adventures into vinyl in the days of Punk and New Wave (and the rest).
This served me well until I started earning my own wages some 5 years later.
Downhill all the way into Hifi geekdom after that.
This served me well until I started earning my own wages some 5 years later.
Downhill all the way into Hifi geekdom after that.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a {x2)
Little Bear MC2 + AQ NightHawk
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 & PSU - BMUAiyima A07 MAX + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- CN211276
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Re: First serious hifi
I replaced them with Harbeth HB 1s in 1983. They sounded a lot better and remained in the system for 18 years.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
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Re: First serious hifi
Nad 3020i
Technics sl-ps50
Gale mini monitors.
I then changed to a nad c340 amp and some linn index 2 speakers that i inherited, same cd player.
Then a musical fidelity a3 amp and x ray cd player, linn lp12, and some kef q55s i inherited.
Then changed the speakers to some quad 11l speakers.
Since then there is too much stuff to go through.
Some highlights have been a yamaha pf800, a lovely lovely rotel ra211 amp, only 10 wpc but so sweet, the benedict audio hothead phono stage which i still have now, and my jbe dd. I don't count the stuff ive made.
That first system was a cracker, the mf system was nice enough with the quads but not worth being in hock for.
Currently, the amplification is all nelson pass and will stay until it blows up. The tts get swapped out all the time because im constantly faffing for the fun of doing so, the cd is the delta 170.3 transport and topping e30 which i am very happy with so they will stay until they blow up. The speakers will also stay until they blow up.
The r2r is also there for the fun of it. I like to bugger about with analogue.
I might be one of the only people who is actually happy with their lot
Technics sl-ps50
Gale mini monitors.
I then changed to a nad c340 amp and some linn index 2 speakers that i inherited, same cd player.
Then a musical fidelity a3 amp and x ray cd player, linn lp12, and some kef q55s i inherited.
Then changed the speakers to some quad 11l speakers.
Since then there is too much stuff to go through.
Some highlights have been a yamaha pf800, a lovely lovely rotel ra211 amp, only 10 wpc but so sweet, the benedict audio hothead phono stage which i still have now, and my jbe dd. I don't count the stuff ive made.
That first system was a cracker, the mf system was nice enough with the quads but not worth being in hock for.
Currently, the amplification is all nelson pass and will stay until it blows up. The tts get swapped out all the time because im constantly faffing for the fun of doing so, the cd is the delta 170.3 transport and topping e30 which i am very happy with so they will stay until they blow up. The speakers will also stay until they blow up.
The r2r is also there for the fun of it. I like to bugger about with analogue.
I might be one of the only people who is actually happy with their lot
Analogue: oracle delphi sme 309, jbe series 3 cx unipivot dv20x2l, roksan xerxes tabriz vm750, jvc ql-y5f rigb at440, jvc ql-y3f vm750, lenco 75, technics sl150
Phono stages: cole lcr, benedict audio hothead
Digital: cyrus cd7, wiim mini x2, topping e30, jds labs el dac 2+
Amplification: nelson pass b1, nelson pass f5
Speakers: 15" fane aperiodic wardrobes
Cans: myryad z40, hifiman sundara + deva, fostex t50rp, sennheiser momentum on ear +over ear, b&w p5 and p7
Phono stages: cole lcr, benedict audio hothead
Digital: cyrus cd7, wiim mini x2, topping e30, jds labs el dac 2+
Amplification: nelson pass b1, nelson pass f5
Speakers: 15" fane aperiodic wardrobes
Cans: myryad z40, hifiman sundara + deva, fostex t50rp, sennheiser momentum on ear +over ear, b&w p5 and p7
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Re: First serious hifi
My memory has gone a bit misty with time, I can remember getting a Pioneer PL112D tt and it being replaced by a Dual 704 . Can't remember my first amp, but the 2nd one was a A & R A60, speakers Celestion Ditton 33's.
When I left home, I purchased a Thorens 160, Sansui 217 and Mission speakers, that wasn't a bad little system, only to be replaced by a Linn LP12, Claymore amp and Epos ES14's.
When I left home, I purchased a Thorens 160, Sansui 217 and Mission speakers, that wasn't a bad little system, only to be replaced by a Linn LP12, Claymore amp and Epos ES14's.
- slinger
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Re: First serious hifi
My first "proper" hifi was a Sansui A-40 amp, speakers built by Richer Sounds ( I kid you not, they used a length of PVC pipe for the front-firing "port." and a foam front cover that was fastened with Velcro) a tape deck, the make and model of which eludes me, - it might have been a Fisher - and an SP25, which must have been a MKII.
Amps - NVA P50, AP30, A40, Stanislav Palo Tube Headphone Amp BB 85
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X
Speakers - Monitor Audio Silver RX2
Cables - NVA LS1+LS3, SSC, Gotham S/PDIF, IBRA Optical
Digital - NAD C516BEE, SONY ST-SDB900 DAB TUNER, TEAC UD-H01 DAC
Analogue - Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB, Graham Slee Gram Amp 2 Phono
Cans - Grado SR80, ATH-M50X