What did you do to your stereo rig today?
Comments
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Busted.
The deck wasn't playin' yet when I took the photo -- note also the VU meters are at zero. This particular CT-F1000 sort of works... it plays, but FF/REW is very sluggish. It needs TLC CLA (and then some!) -- which it aint a-gonna get from me, so it is goin' to a new home later this week. I was (am) giving it a shake down so as to give an accurate report of its condition to its next caretaker (who is more than capable of rehabbing it).
DSC_8724 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
This is what the innards of a CT-F1000 look like, FWIW. This is the other one here.
As in interesting (well... to me, at any rate) aside -- that elderly, dump-find Yamaha receiver has a "AUX" position on the function selector... but danged if I can find AUX inputs anywhere on it!
The cassette deck is actually hooked to the "TAPE1/DAT" loop, which isn't a bad place for it, I would opine.
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Drama Queen enjoying some tunes after chasing them pesky rabbits.
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Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
Was just the TV stand. The bottom shelf is too small for regular sized equipment like a HTR. I think its a Ikea piece. Pretty light weight. But we have had it like 8 years. -
Just for you @Clipdat -- look, I even pushed the right source button
Playin' a dump-find Steely Dan EDIT Neil Diamond Hot August Night (someone's dub) tape, on a Maxell UD-XLII (nice tape) on the CT-F1000 that's movin' on later this week to a new caretaker. I dug up a few tapes to send along with it. This is a terrible photo (taken with flash) to blow out the faceplate of the Yamaha enough to show that the correct button's pushed today! Also
note that there are units of volume bein' displayed on the Volume Units (VU) meters.
DSC_0408 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
It's next owner (can one own this stuff?
) will be rehabbing it and -- knowing him -- probably modifying the electronics substantially while he's at it. 
Some folks see something like rehabbing a cassette deck as a challenge -- I see it as torture. Every time I've ever tried working on one, tiny but cleverly spring-loaded parts suddenly launch themselves out of the transport with enough energy to achieve escape velocity and thus free themselves of Earth's gravitational field... as they begin their journey to the stars. Or at least... I can't find 'em.
PS Here's a better photo taken moments before the one above.
DSC_0409 (2) by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
but I digress...
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Sexy VU meters!
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Sexy VU meters!
oh, yahhh... hubba-hubba!
Pioneer did good things with meters BITD.
Heck, there were a couple of Pioneer decks over the years that had three meters - not that I really have any idea why.
Pioneer CT-F700
Pioneer CT-3000
(note the Special Guest Meter hidin' in the housing of the left level meter)
This is pure Spinal Tap, at least from my perspective.
(I paraphrase)Well... it's one more, innit?
I will admit, I do, in my rasher moments, think it would be kinda cool to have either one (or, of course, both) of the above-mentioned decks.
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The 3rd meter is probably for mic input.Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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2 things:
1) Swapped out the right angle 10ft long, 18AWG power cable that came with the Martin Logan Dynamo Subwoofer for a Monoprice one that is only 6ft long and is 14AWG. What a huge difference! The amp must've been stifled. More bass articulation and resolution. Much more enjoyable. The Monoprice PC was something like $3. What is wrong with these manufacturers???
2) Swapped out my iFi Mercury 0.5m USB cable for a 0.5m Pangea Premier SE. I'm disappointed so far but what a difference!! How anybody can say that USB cables can't possibly make a difference must have tin ears and a poorly resolving system. I will not give up on the Pangea's and will give them some break in time but it is plainly obvious that the Pangea is more restrained and warm while the iFi is fast, dynamic and bright. I don't know how that can't be better in anybodies book. The Pangea must be holding something back. I bought this because my buddy Steve brought a 1m long one and we both thought it sounded better overall although my opinion was that the highs weren't quite as good, whereas the bass was more resolving. Well I'm confused because unless breakin can make a huge difference I'm not caring for this brand new, shorter one.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Now...explain to me in a way I might understand why the same principle shouldn’t apply to speaker cable and/or internal wiring? I realize we will have exceptions.Gardenstater wrote: »...Swapped out the right angle 10ft long, 18AWG power cable that came with the Martin Logan Dynamo Subwoofer for a Monoprice one that is only 6ft long and is 14AWG. What a huge difference! The amp must've been stifled. More bass articulation and resolution. Much more enjoyable. The Monoprice PC was something like $3. What is wrong with these manufacturers???
Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
I believe what I observed and others are observing with these large gauge power cables is that it is all about transient response and not about ampacity. That 18awg power cord has an ampacity of 10 amps and I only have a 200W amplifier in that Martin Logan Sub. 200W/120V = 1.75amps ! The 14awg pc has an ampacity of 18amps which some would cry OVERKILL OVERKILL! I've even heard people here say that 20amp runs from the breaker box are overkill for audio. I don't believe that's the case.
https://www.stayonline.com/product-resources/reference-circuit-ampacity.aspGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Now...explain to me in a way I might understand why the same principle shouldn’t apply to speaker cable and/or internal wiring? I realize we will have exceptions.Gardenstater wrote: »...Swapped out the right angle 10ft long, 18AWG power cable that came with the Martin Logan Dynamo Subwoofer for a Monoprice one that is only 6ft long and is 14AWG. What a huge difference! The amp must've been stifled. More bass articulation and resolution. Much more enjoyable. The Monoprice PC was something like $3. What is wrong with these manufacturers???
I know you know you're preaching to the choir Gauge in speaker cables is very important in my book, especially for good bass. There's always diminishing returns at some point however. I have only tried 13awg 6ft and 14awg 5ft in my system and I haven't tried anything with lower DCR yet.
PS: I do have future plans to fabricate another pair of 14awg 4N Ribbon Cables and parallel them right on the same binding posts on the speaker and amp and see what 11awg sounds like on my system. So many planned upgrades. It never ends but that's OK.Post edited by Gardenstater onGeorge / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
The 3rd meter is probably for mic input.
Actually -- it's apparently a dual-function meter, used to set the recording bias and also as some sort of dynamic range optimizer.
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/pioneer-ct-f700-dynamic-recording-meter-issue.822667/
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I turned my surround sound system on and everything still sounds frikin awesome!
Polk RT3000P fronts, CS1000P center and 2 high powered Klipsch 12" subs ROCK.
As always...I used the beginning of Lord of the Rings / The Fellowship of the Ring for my test scene. When Sauron's cut-off finger/s with the ring on it hits the ground...I
!!!
It can't get much better than this. With out me ever hearing an SVS or HSU or more expensive sub, I don't know what I'm missing yet. But for now...... I'm glad all the amps are still working.
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
I've got to say -- having just finished the speaker swap & returned them to their owner -- those GR Research Paradox 1s amazed me with their articulation, neutrality and seamlessness. I know that the "GR Research" guy (Danny Richie) is something of a polarizing figure... but I did very much like what I heard.
Too bad that the tweeter that this particular model used is NLA.
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A couple of months ago,I set up a small streaming only system in our breezeway. Well, I got a little carried away and moved that system to our finished basement/ family room/ HT room,with a few changes. It now consists of a pair of Monarchy Audio sm70mkII’s,Graham Chartwell LS3/5’s,Promitheus Audio TVC,a Node 2,and a Beresford Bushmaster DAC,and a very inexpensive sub. To my ears,very satisfying sound. The room is pretty well insulated,so I am able to keep the volume just a little bit higher without bothering the mrs.See my profile for list of gear.
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One GREAT pic is worth a thousand words! My “priceless” experience most any time I boot up a blu ray😊
Samsung 60" UN60ES6100 LED, Outlaw Audio 976 Pre/Pro, Samsung BDP, Amazon Firestick, Phillips CD Changer
Canare 14 ga - LCR tweeters inside*; Ctr Ch outside
BJC 10 ga - LCR mids “Foamed & Plugged**”, inside* & out
8 ga Powerline: LR woofers, inside* & out
*soldered **Rob the Man (Xschop)
LR: Tri-amped RTi A7 w/Rotels*. Woofers - 980BX; Tweets & Mids - RB981*
Ctr Ch: Rotel RB981* -> Bi-amped CSi A6
Surrounds: Rotel 981* -> AR 12 ga -> RTi A3
*all connected w/Premiere ICs
5 Subs: Sunfire True SW Signature -> LFE & Ctr Ch; 4 Audio Pro Evidence @ the “Corners”
Power Conditioning & Distribution:
4 dedicated 20A feeds; APC H15; 5 Furman Miniport 20s -
I see your signature equipment list.
You definitely have your own "Home Theater" for sure.
I also have those Polk RTi12's in the back room, but I need to get those tweeters going again. But these RT3000Ps have impressed me from the first time I heard one. The concrete floor vibrated under my feet. Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
Does turning it on count?
The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD
“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
I would say yes. I turned mine on this morning to warm it up for tonight. First time I will listen to it in a week. Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Been on vacation for 7 days. Can’t wait to get back and watch The Boys on Prime turned up!
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Joe, where on vacation? Hearing about a vacation would be good for the mind in 2020. Haven't had the courage to go anywhere."Sometimes you have to look to the past to understand where you are going in the future"
Harry / Marietta GA -
I moved my system to my main floor and tied in my Maggies. It had the opposite effect of what I was looking for; the soundstage shrunk!2-channelBelles 22A Pre, Emotiva XPA-2 Gen 2, Marantz SA8005, Pro-Ject RPM-10 Turntable, Pro-Ject Phono Box DS3B, Polk Audio Legend L800's, AudioQuest Cable throughout.
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BlueBirdMusic wrote: »Joe, where on vacation? Hearing about a vacation would be good for the mind in 2020. Haven't had the courage to go anywhere.
We had a great time in Kiawah SC
Beautiful weather and some great beach/boat time. -
Working on dialing in some Rossos!
Got a pair of Certaldo in the system and I think they'll be here for quite awhile.
Analog: MoFi MasterTracker > MoFi UltraDeck > Sutherland 20/20
Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Hifiman EF600 > Hifiman Arya Stealth
Discogs -
Tell us more since I know they are already burned in Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156 -
^^^What he said! I’m considering trying a pair of Elba 2 this winter.
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Like you don't already know, lol.Tell us more since I know they are already burned in
@maxward I can tell you right now the Elba 2 is going to have more slam than these. These dig plenty deep, but don't have that same level of impact. But they certainly dig deeper and fill in the bottom end where the Usher T515 couldn't reach. And they do so without any signs of becoming bloated or one note like my JBL Studio 580s would be, especially in a smaller room. At some point I might try some solid state power if I feel like these need a little more oomf, but right now I'm loving the balance in my 15 x 13(ish) room.^^^What he said! I’m considering trying a pair of Elba 2 this winter.
The imaging and general smoothness of the top end is the biggest immediate difference. These really bring a new level of focus to the imaging that I haven't had before at home. And no particular part of the frequency range jumps out at me, which is a positive in my mind. Everything just transitions nicely as it should.
I do think I still need to play with placement a little, but I expect these to be here for awhile. Probably focusing on sources and cables next. But no rush on any of that. I'm going to enjoy the system as is for awhile and let my wallet recover. Analog: MoFi MasterTracker > MoFi UltraDeck > Sutherland 20/20
Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Hifiman EF600 > Hifiman Arya Stealth
Discogs -
Damn this tube 🐇 hole.....
😉 -
@pitdogg2 what tube amp is that?Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
Puritan PSM156
