How many use Vintage Hi-Fi systems?


I was wondering, how many here use a Vintage Hi-Fi as their main stereo? Please give details as to your equipment. I use Citation 17 preamp, Citation 16A amplifier, Sony TC-755 reel to reel, Dual 1229 (with Grace 747 tonearm), Nakamichi OMS4 CD player Advent 201A cassette and Definitive Technologies BP10 speakers. I have many audiophile friends who trade up constantly. I bought a system that I enjoy and have kept it. Oh, and I still love it! Friends are floored by how musical it is. Your thoughts please.
Norman
normansizemore

Showing 1 response by lewm

How do you define "vintage"?  The hi-fi era is now arguably 65 years old, if you date the onset to around 1950.  So, vintage could be something from the 50s, but also arguably something from the 80s. Something conceived and marketed in 1985 is now 30 years old.  Anyway, a few years ago I acquired a pair of Beveridge 2SW speakers just out of a longstanding curiosity.  These are unconventional ESLs (they are in a closed 7-foot vertical cabinet to absorb the back wave and the sound output is focused by a vertical lens in front; the panels are not biased with high DC voltage, so the direct-drive amp applies signal to the screen as well as to the stators).  My pair was built in 1979. The "SW" stands for sub-woofer, so you need an external woofer to supply bass below 100Hz.  Once I got the Bevs so they would produce sound, I decided to go vintage with the rest of the system.  The subwoofers are very large transmission line cabinets using the old KEF B139 woofer; I built these myself in 1970.  They don't go super low in frequency, but they are fast enough to mate seamlessly with the Beveridges. The woofer amplifier is a 50W Threshold built in the late 80s (maybe not vintage??). The crossover for the woofers is a Dahlquist DLPQ (or something like that).  The preamp is either a Klyne 6LX (w/phono) or an early full function Quicksilver built in 1986.  I can add or subtract a Silvaweld SWH550 phono stage. The turntable is a much modified Lenco L75 with a Dynavector DV505 tonearm, currently bearing either a Grace Ruby or Acutex LPM320 cartridge.  This secondary system resides in our basement where it is not a bother to my dear wife, even at 2 AM playing LOUD.