|
|
Post by ChrisB on Jul 25, 2014 18:33:04 GMT
When you got your first proper system together, like most of us, you probably only imagined that it would be the first stopping point on the road to some final, perfect system that you had created in your mind. I'm wondering what those systems might have been?
I started off with a Garrard SP25 and speakers and amp whose model names utterly escape me now, some little (almost cubic) Wharfedales and a Sony amp.
The place I was heading in my mind was based on the memory of a system owned by a friend of the family which I'd seen and heard years before, thinking at the time that it was one of the most incredible pieces of technology ever created. A Goldring G99 with SME 3009, Eico valve pre and power amps and Acoustic Research AR3 speakers.
Alongside my main system, the G99, I managed to acquire and I have a pair of AR2ax, not the same but not that far off, but I know that there's hardly any chance of getting hold of the Eicos. Still you never know!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave on Jul 25, 2014 19:13:14 GMT
Were the speakers Wharefdale Chevin's by any chance Chris? If so I've owned a pair meself 
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 19:17:57 GMT
The first proper system I heard was that of a friend at the Beeb. Sp25/G800 (of course) Rogers Ravensbourne and Maxims. Sounded great. I saved hard and got an Alba amp, kefkit 1 and I think it was a PL12D. I thought it was the bees knees and then I heard another friends system. Quad33/303, Garrard 401/SME and Wharfdale Dovedales. It was therefore necessary to start saving again.  |
|
|
|
Post by pre65 on Jul 25, 2014 21:01:07 GMT
My first system was a Garrard AP-76, an Amstrad Integra IC-2000 and a pair of Celestion County speakers.
The County's were replaced by Kef Kit-3 in a chipboard carcass, my first DIY project. The Amstrad was replaced by an Armstrong audio 625 receiver which I still think was a stylish piece of kit. The AP-76 was replaced by a Pioneer PL-12d with an SME headshell.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Jul 25, 2014 21:03:00 GMT
But I wonder, when you had that first system, what did you have in mind as your dream set-up - the ultimate?
|
|
|
|
Post by pre65 on Jul 25, 2014 21:12:41 GMT
But I wonder, when you had that first system, what did you have in mind as your dream set-up - the ultimate? To be honest I did not have a dream system at that age (mid teens). Not sure I have now.  I think the 833a valve monoblocks will be my crowning glory when I get round to the rebuild. Most of the bits are here now, just need a big dose of enthusiasm.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 5:04:44 GMT
No dream system other than those I had heard. Each time a better system was listened to the bar just moved a notch or two higher. I had no other reference at the time, no magazines or forums to entice me. Once I did get into the mags, my dream system was the Krell/Wilson set up I listened to at Absolute Sounds. Another dream shattered Back to real music with the Quad57s/Leak Stereo20/Garrard 301. |
|
|
|
Post by John on Jul 26, 2014 5:30:11 GMT
When I bought my first system I knew nothing about HIFI and thought I would keep it for 10 years like I did with my previous component system. I was so naive
The system was
AE109 Speakers Some Mryiad T40 amp I think a Pioneer CD player (cannot remember the model) It was a pretty boring system mainly due to the amp. To be honest at the time I preferred my old Trio component system which was a lot more fun. To say I was disappointed would be a understatement. I bought it from shop in Harrow that been closed down for years now and the customer service was awful
|
|
|
|
Post by pre65 on Jul 26, 2014 7:36:59 GMT
One amp I can remember lusting about was the Denon POA-6600 monoblocks, must admit I've never heard them in action , or their smaller brothers , but for years they fascinated me.
My first DIY amp project was an 832a push pull valve amp. One subsequent mod was a CCS under the dual cathode. That ensures it only works in class A. I still use it on occasions.
|
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Jul 26, 2014 7:45:16 GMT
Sorry Dave, I missed your question. No they weren't Chevins - they were a bit bigger and with 3 drivers in the conventional configuration.
|
|
Barry
Rank: Trio
Posts: 195 
|
Post by Barry on Jul 26, 2014 11:00:31 GMT
My first system was put together some 45 years ago; consisting of a Garrard SP25 Mk. II, Shure M3D cartridge, home-built Mullard 5-10 amplifier and a home-built Wharfedale speaker design using their 8" RS8/DD 'Super' drive unit in a ~1.2 cu ft (I think?) distributed-port enclosure. At first it was a mono-only system but with the building of a second 5-10 and another, identical, Wharfedale speaker it became stereo!
My dream system? Well it was the 'state of the art' choice back in 1969/70: Thorens TD124/II deck with SME 3009/II and Shure V15 II cartridge, Quad 33/303/FM3 electronics and Quad electrostatic speakers. Four years later I achieved that dream; though the Shure V15 II (Improved) and the later V15 III cartridges, were soon abandoned in favour of Ortofon MCs and ADC MMs.
These days I still use the Thorens TT, SME arm and the Quad '57s. The Quad 33/303/FM3 are kept in reserve as a back up.
|
|
|
|
Post by pinkie on Jul 26, 2014 12:54:36 GMT
First system was Dad's , but I muscled in. GL75 G800E, Armstrong 525 receiver and Home assembled Kef Concordes. Lots since, but I too am pretty close to a reference system now. Had to put the Ventricals back in for the stepson to house-sit cos I fried an ESL63 this morning (hopefully only resistors - but open circuit atm). I could see the Mrs twisting my arm to reinstate them. But once the speaker issue is decided, and the TT mods are finished, I think the rest is pretty much there - So PT, FXR, DVxx2ii, Pip2, Quad 405 ESL63's or Ventricals for the dream system  |
|
shane
Rank: Duo
Posts: 56
|
Post by shane on Jul 27, 2014 9:53:18 GMT
First system was one of these  on the left channel, and one of these  on the right. Not exactly balanced, but I had dreams... Rooting around in the shed the other day I found an old exercise book from my A-levels in 1971. In the back were some doodlings and a list underneath a load of rubbish notes on the poet Dryden. I must have been daydreaming. The list reads as follows: B&W / IMF/ QUAD ELS? Sugden / Lux / Quad? Thorens TD125 / Transcriptors Hydraulic? SME 3009? Shure V15 II imp? After that I must have arrived at a conclusion and done a bit of research, because there's another list as follows: B&W DM70 £139/0/0 Sugden £110/0/0 (C51/P51 presumably, at that price). Transcriptors £98/0/0 Shure £42/0/0 I have no recollection of writing this list, but its 43 years ago, so I suppose it's not that surprising. Considering that the total cost of that lot is £389 and that my first job the following year paid £8/week, I must have been living in cloud cuckoo land. Nothing new there then.... |
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Jul 27, 2014 10:18:34 GMT
Excellent, that kind of thing is precisely what I had in mind for this thread!
The Bush record player is just like the one I shared with my sisters - I can still hear in my head the precise sequence of noises that it made when cuing up the next one in a stack of singles!
|
|
shane
Rank: Duo
Posts: 56
|
Post by shane on Jul 27, 2014 11:41:18 GMT
Mi SRP31 would have made a slightly different noise as it had a Garrard Autoslim turntable instead of the BSR Monarch, but like yourself I can still hear that sequence of rattles, clicks and thuds. Couldn't find a picture of that one.
The Grundig was a fabulous thing that I inherited from my late grandfather, who had bought it when he retired from a life in India and set up home in Tunbridge Wells. It sounded wonderful, but I suspect it profoundly disapproved of having it's diet changed from a regular supply of the BBC Home Service to being force-fed Led Zeppelin at high-volume!
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Jul 30, 2014 12:07:37 GMT
The first system I could call my own (rather than the parents' Dansette) was pretty much DIY built:
- Connoisseur BD1 turntable in my own plinth with SME3009-II arm, Goldring G800 cartridge and Micro Seiki feet
- Linsley-Hood 75 amplifier (built and modified from a kit from the Wireless World articles)
- Cambridge R40 carcasses from liquidated stock, completed with KEF drivers, Wilmslow crossover and lambswool
I loved that system, which served me well through Sixth Form and University.
|
|
