What did you do to your stereo rig today?

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  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    tonyb wrote: »
    That would chap my hide, considering the cost of the Cary.

    BTW....hows that VTL holding up in comparison ? I know the 2 have a different sound sig., but that VTL is no slouch either in throwing out some musical tunes.

    Love the VTL! I remember when I first got the VTL (my first tube pre) and swapped out the Rotel RC-1580 (now back in the box), wow! The improvement was profound! Everything was better. Bass and high extension, detail, but the sound stage expansion was huge!

    Now the Cary comes in, although not quite as profound, but significant improvement for sure! Bass extension most notably, a bit more detail as well overall, but the sound stage grew even more over the VTL.

    Missing the Cary, but as you said the VTL is no slouch. I never once thought about breaking the Rotel out during this time! :)
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    @verb - that VTL 2.5 is the nicest tube pre I've ever owned. May be a step below the Cary but she's a darn fine lady. Enjoy her while you're working out the kinks with the Cary.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,667
    Tried watching football until the Pioneer failed completely... my entire rig is down AGAIN until I replace that pos.
    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
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    halo wrote: »
    @verb - that VTL 2.5 is the nicest tube pre I've ever owned. May be a step below the Cary but she's a darn fine lady. Enjoy her while you're working out the kinks with the Cary.

    Agree Vic! She's my first, ya know! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • WagnerRC
    WagnerRC Posts: 2,184
    Thanks for the update.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,667
    edited September 2019
    Picked up a new Pioneer Elite SC-LX701.... closeout at Best Buy for a silly price, so I jumped on it.
    011w3xxi7b0f.jpg
    kh8vvplvlnn1.jpg
    Post edited by nooshinjohn on
    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
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,476
    edited September 2019
    6y2xqr2ysmzk.png

    so elegantly simple.

    ;)

  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,476
    edited September 2019
    In all (well... some) seriousness. Is that a modern thing?
    They still have composite video inputs/outputs... in 2019?
    Why?


    I mean, I am a little surprised to see component video jacks, but it sure looks like I see two yellow composite video jacks too.

    I mean, I'd use 'em, but then again I'd be running an RCA CTC-16 21 inch round CRT all vacuum tube color TV if I (still) had one.

    There is a GE PortaColor in the basement, but, while it lights up and has sweep, it won't display recognizable video, and I haven't ever had the gumption to try to troubleshoot it. :p


  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,667
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    In all (well... some) seriousness. Is that a modern thing?
    They still have composite video inputs/outputs... in 2019?
    Why?

    Legacy components like laser-disc...
    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
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,403
    Wow John gonna biamp with that one :D
    Nice
  • mhardy6647 wrote: »
    In all (well... some) seriousness. Is that a modern thing?
    They still have composite video inputs/outputs... in 2019?
    Why?

    May be some of the old cable boxes. I remember when we were in CA, the Comcast had HD cable box with RCA out.
  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,062
    Picked up a new Pioneer Elite SC-LX701.... closeout at Best Buy for a silly price, so I jumped on it.
    011w3xxi7b0f.jpg
    kh8vvplvlnn1.jpg

    I’d like to hear your impressions of the SC-LX701. Compared to earlier iteration especially but also the newer features.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,667
    Found a new use for the old RM-7500’s... Atmos Speakers for the big SDA’s! I haven’t heard them yet in this role, but I thought why not give it a try.

    7bihottcu57p.jpg
    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
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Found a new use for the old RM-7500’s... Atmos Speakers for the big SDA’s! I haven’t heard them yet in this role, but I thought why not give it a try.

    7bihottcu57p.jpg

    Hey don't scratch my TL's! :)
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,476
    edited October 2019
    "do to" is right :)

    I did this to my poor stereo last night...

    atyhox5pf9hx.jpg

    ec4lx4mjc8x6.jpg

    kdzkdl6b3dmj.png
    source: http://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/html/1981/h026.html

    Radio Shack Monitor 7 wannabees :) -- with white-coned woofers!!! :#

    They actually ain't bad. :)
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,403
    Back in the day Tandy corp. didn't make 1/2 bad stuff.....
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,476
    edited October 2019
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Back in the day Tandy corp. didn't make 1/2 bad stuff.....

    No, most of it - at least in hifi - was about 7/8 bad.

    B)

    Not a fan of virtually any R/S speakers -- the ones above are actually not bad.
    Not half bad, in fact! :)

    Found 'em at the dump, years ago.
    They've been tucked away here since the move, but I needed their space, so I tried to sell 'em at NEARC last week. I had a good day sellin' junk, but these did not sell.

    They're just too nice to have left on the freebie table there, so I brought 'em back home.
    I'll try again next NEARC.
    I really, truly would take pretty much any nonzero offer.

    :|

    While the Nova-10 does have a little bit of the typical R/S midbass hump, it's not as bad as their 'better' speakers (ahem Mach One ahem), and that ridiculous little cone tweeter (with metal dustcap!) is actually pretty sweet sounding, if a little bit bright. Overall, they're very listenable little loudspeakers.

    It is kind of disconcerting to pick one up, though -- they're quite light. I'll weigh one at some point, just for shoots and googles (as I like to say).
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,403
    If it wan't for Radio Shack I would have never got into audio. For most of us poor suckers it was the BEST we could afford at the time.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,476
    edited October 2019
    I hear you on that.

    The upside of R/S was that they were everywhere.
    The downside was that, except when on sale, their hifi components were very high priced for what they were.

    In B-more, we had "Stereo Discounters" who sold slightly better stuff (Pioneer, Kenwood, Marantz, etc. -- the usual suspects) at substantially lower prices, watt for watt (which was pretty much all we cared about in those days).

    Fortunately, we also places like Soundscape who sold good stuff at all price points.

    I still have every component I bought from Soundscape for my first 'real' stereo hifi in the 1970s, it all still works well -- and -- it all still sounds very good.

    But I digress.
  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
    edited October 2019
    Found a new use for the old RM-7500’s... Atmos Speakers for the big SDA’s! I haven’t heard them yet in this role, but I thought why not give it a try.

    7bihottcu57p.jpg

    Nice, should work fine. I like my RM 7500. Such a versatile decent sounding speaker. And they look great. I have mine for rear surround and front height. I have a tall room and disconnected my Yamaha in ceiling Atmos speakers and went back to the Polks for front height. Really opens the front of the room up.

    p8rq4pq8yy07.jpg


    I've actually had these RM7500 with the center longer than any other speaker I've owned. Cent just sits in the closet.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,667
    I like the center for use with the SDA. Really a nice blend.
    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
  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
    I like the center for use with the SDA. Really a nice blend.

    I upgraded to the lsim 704c.
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,667
    I don’t have the space for it, but I am looking at a Sunfire CRM center....
    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
  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,118
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    I really, truly would take pretty much any nonzero offer.

    I find that line hilarious 😆… I’m just weird that way 🧐
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,667
    I ran MCCAC Pro today and got everything trimmed out for HT. I am impressed with the Atmos feature, and pleased these old Polks seem to be well suited for the task. I watched a bit of Avengers-Endgame tonight and the sound was amazing.
    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
  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
    I ran MCCAC Pro today and got everything trimmed out for HT. I am impressed with the Atmos feature, and pleased these old Polks seem to be well suited for the task. I watched a bit of Avengers-Endgame tonight and the sound was amazing.

    I kind of wish I had stuck with Pioneer And MCCAC. I like my Yamaha but feel the YPOA is not as good as the MCCAC. Glad you are enjoying it!
  • sbb2112
    sbb2112 Posts: 134
    kdld3w6fuwcu.jpg
    Main System
    Marantz AV8802A PrePro
    Marantz MM7025 Amp rear surrounds
    McIntosh MC7205 Amp center, ceiling and mid surrounds
    McIntosh MC300 Amp front mains
    Oppo 203 Bluray
    Polk SDA-SRS with VR3 monastery crossovers
    Polk FX1000 Mid surrounds
    Klipsch RP-440C Center channel
    Klipsch RP-15M Rear surrounds
    SVS prime elevation ceiling surrounds
    Rythmik F15HP sub
    Samsung 8500 curved screen 65" LED 4K
    Mac Mini Server

    Office System
    Musical Fidelity M6s dac/preamp
    Oppo 103D Bluray
    Polk SDA-SRS 2
    Parasound HCA-1500A
    Polk PSW 650 sub
    Microrendu
    Roku Ultra
    Mac Mini Server
  • sbb2112
    sbb2112 Posts: 134
    fo55ku6d4w3q.jpg
    Main System
    Marantz AV8802A PrePro
    Marantz MM7025 Amp rear surrounds
    McIntosh MC7205 Amp center, ceiling and mid surrounds
    McIntosh MC300 Amp front mains
    Oppo 203 Bluray
    Polk SDA-SRS with VR3 monastery crossovers
    Polk FX1000 Mid surrounds
    Klipsch RP-440C Center channel
    Klipsch RP-15M Rear surrounds
    SVS prime elevation ceiling surrounds
    Rythmik F15HP sub
    Samsung 8500 curved screen 65" LED 4K
    Mac Mini Server

    Office System
    Musical Fidelity M6s dac/preamp
    Oppo 103D Bluray
    Polk SDA-SRS 2
    Parasound HCA-1500A
    Polk PSW 650 sub
    Microrendu
    Roku Ultra
    Mac Mini Server
  • displayname
    displayname Posts: 1,195
    sbb2112 wrote: »
    fo55ku6d4w3q.jpg
    Quit teasing!
    Analog: Hana ML > MoFi UltraDeck > Bob's Devices Sky 20-S > Sutherland 20/20 w/LPS
    Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
    MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Hifiman EF600 > Hifiman Arya Stealth
    Discogs
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,403
    sbb2112 wrote: »
    fo55ku6d4w3q.jpg
    Quit teasing!

    He's not that is the newest carbon infused sound disorber cloth.