Hey everyone!
As you can see from my history... -Long-time lurker here, but happy to finally share something...
I have always had a love affair with Technics gear since living in Singapore for a couple of years in the mid-80's.
I used to haunt this one particular Hi-Fi store and take one of every brochure, then race home and memorize everything about the models. They had all the high-end stuff and the tech just was so cool for the time! (Knowing what some of those brochures go for now, I wish I had kept them all!)
Fast forward to 1990, and my first system that I bought all myself was (you guessed it!) Technics from top to bottom. I couldn't afford the top-end stuff being just out of high school, but I did alright: SA-GX 303 Reciever, SL-PD 687 CD changer and an RS-BR 465 Tape Deck. That was my core 2-ch system through the 90's until the last few years.
Now that I'm older, a little bit wiser and a bit more financially stable, I wanted to put together a good 2-ch system again. The more I looked at new gear vs. Vintage, the more I thought it would make sense (especially for vinyl playback) to try to piece together a system of former-heavy-hitters from those days of dreaming.
No offence to current offerings, but in my view, Technics was at their absolute technical and quality peak in the decade between 1975 and 1985. (I also feel like this is the best era for current cost vs. Playback quality with turntables... - Regardless of brand.)
With that plan in mind, here is what I've put together so far:
SU-9070 Preamp
SE-A5 Power Amp
SP-15 Turntable w/Audio Technica ATP-12T Arm and Custom Plinth
SL-P1200 CD Player
RS-BR465 Tape Deck
SH-8055 Graphic EQ
SB-5000A Speakers (Also JMLab Chorus 725's that are actually my main speakers... - I know, I'm cheating! - At least until I get some SB-10's...)
All-In, this system has run me approximately $5k Canadian, but I would put it up against many modern set-ups costing $20k or more.
I really feel like you can hit it out of the park with this era of gear if you know what to look for and get a bit lucky...
Anyways, sorry for the long post, but I thought some background might help explain the 'mania' a bit better.
-Jungles
And now, pics!