Caught the audio bug from my surrogate big brother, who came back from Vietnam with Dynaco, Garrard, Teac RtoR, and honkin' Pioneer (15" woofer!) speakers, not to mention a ton of classic rock. When your friends are listening to The Archies and you're trying to introduce them to The Doors, it can make for some interesting dynamics. Saved money from summer jobs and in HS bought my first real system: Kenwood KA6006 integrated, BIC 960 turntable with Stanton 681EEE cartridge, Pioneer CTF2121 cassette deck, and Electro-Voice ETR-18 speakers. By then the friends had discarded The Archies and I have great memories of many nights of listening to classic rock, progressive rock, blues, and a bit of fusion. The joy of listening hasn't diminished over the years...
Who remembers audio from the time when ...
... I recall hurrying home with the newest vinyl, placing it on the rek-o-kut belt turntable (arm and cartridge beyond recall) then turning on the HeathKit preamp (with all sorts of equalizing circuits) and amp, then watching the tubes warm up. The anticipation of hearing the new music through a decent system built up with the warming rube glow from orange to red and dimming into the infra red. Gently grasping the arm and rotating it to place the needle’s crystal perfectly into the first cut. The Heathkit 2way speaker was placed forward from center wall to mimic a mono transducer at center stage. Switching the turntable motor on while gradually increasing gain at the preamp required a soft touch. Then stereo, Reel to Reel. The Dolby cassette deck, tubeless amps and preamps. Digital ...
i continue to be amazed at the continuing tidal wave of efforts directed to achieve more accurate sound reproduction and more pleasing perception utilizing our incredible ability to hear sound in the spectrum of musical experience. The sounds of nature: A drip of water on the wet surface of a broadleaf in the rainforest. The startling gasping wheeze of the change in air flow through the mountain pass. The sizzle of receding waves through the pebbles on shore. And the sounds made by humans.
Old timer’s reminiscences of early audiophile recollections are welcome.
i continue to be amazed at the continuing tidal wave of efforts directed to achieve more accurate sound reproduction and more pleasing perception utilizing our incredible ability to hear sound in the spectrum of musical experience. The sounds of nature: A drip of water on the wet surface of a broadleaf in the rainforest. The startling gasping wheeze of the change in air flow through the mountain pass. The sizzle of receding waves through the pebbles on shore. And the sounds made by humans.
Old timer’s reminiscences of early audiophile recollections are welcome.