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RE: Remembering some past systems

My first system was purchased in 1979 in Lafayette, LA:
JVC 35 wpc receiver with equalizer
Cizek Model 1 speakers
that was it - not even a turntable!


Within just a few weeks I took advantage of the store's upgrade policy and traded up to:
Kenwood 50 wpc integrated amp
Sanyo Plus Series TT with Ortofon cartridge
JBL L50 speakers


A year later, after moving back to Florida, I sold the amp and turntable and upgraded to:
Phase Linear 8000 tangent tracking TT
Kenwood 80 wpc integrated amp
Onkyo T-4090 tuner

Shortly thereafter, I swapped my JBLs for a Ibanez Artist electric guitar, and purchased a pair of computer-bass controlled KLH-3 speakers (small but great speakers for the money). Incremental changes included an AIWA tape deck, an Onkyo receiver with DIGITAL preset (big deal at the time), and a Bang and Olufsen Beogram 8000 tangent tracking turntable. A few years later, Mirage SM-1 speakers replaced the KLHs. No noteworthy changes for several years until I finally got a "real job" and..enter 1991:


Conrad-Johnson PV11 preamp
Adcom 545 amp
Nad preamp tuner
Acoustat Spectra-1100 electrostat speakers
Sonogram CD player

1995:
Purchased a Muse Model 160 amp


2000:
Replaced the PV11 with a CJ PFR solid state preamp
Added a pair of NHT 2.9 speakers and paired with the Adcom amp and NAD preamp tuner


2001:
Sold the Acoustats to a fellow in Spain (who paid over 800.00 for shipping). Then went through several pairs of speakers within the next year, including:
Soundlab Dynastat
Gershman Avant Garde RX-20
Triangle Zays
Merlin TSM monitors with Osiris stands
Reynaud Evolution 3


Along with the speakers above, I purchased JPS Labs Superconductor speaker cables and tried several amp solutions, including:

Magnum Dynalab receiver (loved it)
Rogue 99 Magnum preamp with Model 88 amp
Simaudio I-5 integrated
Bel Canto EVO 200.2 amp
LFD Mistral integrated


After moving to a new home in 2002, of course I need to try a few more components...starting with:

Electrocompaniet ECI-3 integrated
Merlin VSM-SE
Heart tubed CD player


Cayin A265 Class A integrated
Joseph Audio RM-25 XL
Electrocompaniet ECD1 DAC


2003:

Coda Continuum Unison 3 integrated
Tyler Acoustics Taylo monitors (followed sequentially by the Linbrook monitors, Model 3 two-piece system, and Linbrook Signatures)


2004:
Unison Research Unico
Reynaud Trente speakers
Cambridge Audio CD player
PS Audio speaker cables


2005:
BAT 300x-SE integrated
Merlin VSM-M speakers
Magnum Dynalab MD-102 tuner
Naim CD-5


2006:
Ayre Ax-7e integrated
YBA Passion 100 integrated
Accuphase E-305 integrated
Belles 150 A Reference
Bel Canto SEP-1 preamp
Merlin VSM-MXe speakers (still own)
McCormack UDP-1 DVD/CD player (still own)


2008:
Added Audience AU-24 cabling all around (interconnects and speaker cable) and upgraded to the Merlin Master BAM.

2010:
Primare I-30 integrated amp

2014 (current system):
Bel Canto 2.5 DAC
Merlin VSM-MXe
Upgraded Audience AU-24 cables to SE versions
Neodio NR600 Signature integrated (best SS integrated I've heard)
Grace internet tuner
McCormack UDP-1 DVD/CD player







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  • RE: Remembering some past systems - DKL 07/19/1621:01:10 07/19/16 (0)

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