I wanted to start a new thread showing only my 2 channel main systems from my first setup to what I have progressed to today.
My first adventure into hifi consisted of a recapped Yamaha CR-400 integrated, SAE TWO EQ10 equalizer, Pioneer CT-W830R cassette deck, Hitachi HT-350 turntable, and a pair of Acoustic Research AR-2A speakers that I restored. Funny story on those speakers, I picked them up from a buddy's pawn shop for free because they were vinyl painted white by what looked to be by a 5 year old. They were missing the grills but the cabs and speakers were in great shape with loads of dust on them. After taking them home, I pulled all the speakers and stripped the cabs which revealed a very nice, solid, pine cabinet. I decided to stain them a nice darker cherry color and clear coat them. After cleaning up the speakers, cleaning the tone pots on the rear, and re-sealing the speakers to the cabs, me and the wife created some as-close-to-factory grills which turned out as good as you can get. Here's a pic. If you interested in reading the restore thread I created on the AR's, here is the link: http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=6718&hl=ar2a
Me and the family then moved to a much bigger place which gave me room to expand. My version 2.0 consisted of a recapped Pioneer SX-636 integrated, Dual 621 turntable, Onkyo TA-W200 cassette deck, Heath AD-2530 CD player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, Acoustic Research Classic 5's, Monster HTS 1650 power conditioner, Definitive Technology Supercube Reference subwoofer, Monster THX-1000 speaker cable, and AudioQuest and MIT AVt 3 interconnects.
Version 3.0 included a DBX BX-3 MKII power amp, ADCOM GTP-500II preamp, Kenwood KD-2077 turntable, Yamaha EQ-500 equalizer, Technics RS-631 cassette deck, Akai GX-365D r2r player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 4.0 consisted of a Pioneer SX-636, Ariston RD-80 SL with an Audio-Technica AT13EA cartridge, Technics RS-631 cassette deck, Akai GX-365D r2r player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 5.0 happened around Christmas time and required some slimming down to work with the big Christmas tree. This setup consisted of the Pioneer SX-636, Ariston RD-80 SL with a Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, Technics RS-631, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 6.0 ventures into the world of tubes. It consisted of a Magnavox 185 tube amp, Sir.Byrd passive preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Akai GX-365D, Technics RS-631, and the Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 7.0 consisted of a pair of rebuilt and modded Dynaco MK III monoblock tube amps, Sir.Byrd passive preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Akai GX-365D, Technics RS-631, and a pair of SoundLab Dynastat speakers.
Version 8.0 consisted of a pair of Dynaco MK III monoblock tube amps with Sir.Byrd custom made mahogany trim, Tomcat Merlita tube preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Music Hall MMF Phono Pack, Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11, SoundLab Dynastats, and Nordost Blue Heaven bi-wire cables.
Version 9.0 consisted of a monster Parasound HCA-2205A power amplifier, Yamaha CA-810 pulling preamp duty, Ariston RD-80 SL, Yaqin MS-22B tube phono preamp, Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11, and SoundLab Dynastats.
Version 10.0 consisted of the Parasound HCA-2205A power amp, Parasound AVC-2500 preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Yaqin MS-22B tube phono preamp, Monarchy NM24 tube DAC, Sonos Connect, Belkin PF-60 power conditioner, SoundLab Dynastats and some Linn K400 bi-wire speaker cable.
My first adventure into hifi consisted of a recapped Yamaha CR-400 integrated, SAE TWO EQ10 equalizer, Pioneer CT-W830R cassette deck, Hitachi HT-350 turntable, and a pair of Acoustic Research AR-2A speakers that I restored. Funny story on those speakers, I picked them up from a buddy's pawn shop for free because they were vinyl painted white by what looked to be by a 5 year old. They were missing the grills but the cabs and speakers were in great shape with loads of dust on them. After taking them home, I pulled all the speakers and stripped the cabs which revealed a very nice, solid, pine cabinet. I decided to stain them a nice darker cherry color and clear coat them. After cleaning up the speakers, cleaning the tone pots on the rear, and re-sealing the speakers to the cabs, me and the wife created some as-close-to-factory grills which turned out as good as you can get. Here's a pic. If you interested in reading the restore thread I created on the AR's, here is the link: http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=6718&hl=ar2a
Me and the family then moved to a much bigger place which gave me room to expand. My version 2.0 consisted of a recapped Pioneer SX-636 integrated, Dual 621 turntable, Onkyo TA-W200 cassette deck, Heath AD-2530 CD player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, Acoustic Research Classic 5's, Monster HTS 1650 power conditioner, Definitive Technology Supercube Reference subwoofer, Monster THX-1000 speaker cable, and AudioQuest and MIT AVt 3 interconnects.
Version 3.0 included a DBX BX-3 MKII power amp, ADCOM GTP-500II preamp, Kenwood KD-2077 turntable, Yamaha EQ-500 equalizer, Technics RS-631 cassette deck, Akai GX-365D r2r player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 4.0 consisted of a Pioneer SX-636, Ariston RD-80 SL with an Audio-Technica AT13EA cartridge, Technics RS-631 cassette deck, Akai GX-365D r2r player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 5.0 happened around Christmas time and required some slimming down to work with the big Christmas tree. This setup consisted of the Pioneer SX-636, Ariston RD-80 SL with a Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, Technics RS-631, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 6.0 ventures into the world of tubes. It consisted of a Magnavox 185 tube amp, Sir.Byrd passive preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Akai GX-365D, Technics RS-631, and the Klipsch Cornwall II's.
Version 7.0 consisted of a pair of rebuilt and modded Dynaco MK III monoblock tube amps, Sir.Byrd passive preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Akai GX-365D, Technics RS-631, and a pair of SoundLab Dynastat speakers.
Version 8.0 consisted of a pair of Dynaco MK III monoblock tube amps with Sir.Byrd custom made mahogany trim, Tomcat Merlita tube preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Music Hall MMF Phono Pack, Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11, SoundLab Dynastats, and Nordost Blue Heaven bi-wire cables.
Version 9.0 consisted of a monster Parasound HCA-2205A power amplifier, Yamaha CA-810 pulling preamp duty, Ariston RD-80 SL, Yaqin MS-22B tube phono preamp, Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11, and SoundLab Dynastats.
Version 10.0 consisted of the Parasound HCA-2205A power amp, Parasound AVC-2500 preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Yaqin MS-22B tube phono preamp, Monarchy NM24 tube DAC, Sonos Connect, Belkin PF-60 power conditioner, SoundLab Dynastats and some Linn K400 bi-wire speaker cable.
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