Vintage 2-channel rig…

tratliff

Not the first time I’ve gone down this path but I have really been wanting to assemble a 2-channel system like my dad had back in the day.

So, I have been on the search for late 70’s Pioneer silver faced equipment.

I picked up the TX-9800 tuner a couple of months ago. And then ran into a mint SA-9800 integrated and PL-630 turntable in the last two weeks.

So these are my latest additions towards putting a vintage system together.

My next search will be speakers. They need to be reasonable in size. Nothing in the large floor standers category. Although I would love to have some SDA’s or Kappa’s but smaller will go over much better with the better half. And this will be more her system then mine.

Here is a pic of the latest additions.

F1nut

Gotta stick a remote controlled motorized volume pot in that thing.

Nightfall

What about Kappa bookies?

mhardy6647

A pair of Pioneer HPM-1100s would be both period-correct and a pretty respectable match for those components, FWIW.
There's a pair in the basement, just takin' up space.
Where do you live?

HPM1100 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr


EDIT: oops, sorry, missed the "no large floorstanders" in the OP
Were it me/mine -- I'd probably go with something like a pair of ads L-710. Smaller ads would be OK, too. That's a big, beefy amplifier -- and it would reward empathetically chosen loudspeakers (old or new).

P1020547 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

BlueBirdMusic

@tratliff a great project and idea.

Gardenstater

I would've bought the ADS L-810's but I was on a budget (as a young college kid) and couldn't afford them and *settled* for the Polk 7B's. I had an acquaintance back then who had the ADS's and they were pretty incredible. Seems like they held their value quite well (neglecting inflation lol).

tratliff

Nightfall wrote: »

What about Kappa bookies?

I would really consider those. I have a feeling it will be more about what I run across at the time I am ready to purchase.

mhardy6647

I like the 710 better than the 810, FWIW -- 710 is smaller, too.
Heck, the "small" ads loudspeakers were legendary, and not without reason. L200, 300, 400, 500... all great loudspeakers IMO.

Pick your vintage ads/Braun and enjoy eminently listenable and easy-to-drive loudspeakers.
Some of the later/larger ads loudspeakers are a bit too much for my taste (again, FWIW).

Oh, in full disclosure (and not unrelated to the actual topic of this thread!) I have been listening lately quite a bit to a pair of slightly rehabilitated, roadside-find AR4x loudspeakers! Apostasy!



https://hifihaven.org/index.php?threads/out-of-the-closet-i-seem-to-be-an-ar4x-fan.7605/
N.B. I'd have posted this tale at these fora, but since it totally doesn't involve a Polk product, past or present, it seemed a little too far afield

tratliff

mhardy6647 wrote: »

A pair of Pioneer HPM-1100s would be both period-correct and a pretty respectable match for those components, FWIW.
There's a pair in the basement, just takin' up space.
Where do you live?

HPM1100 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr


EDIT: oops, sorry, missed the "no large floorstanders" in the OP
Were it me/mine -- I'd probably go with something like a pair of ads L-710. Smaller ads would be OK, too. That's a big, beefy amplifier -- and it would reward empathetically chosen loudspeakers (old or new).

P1020547 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Doc, I don't think it would be cost effective for the HPM-1100 to make it my way. I'm in Fort Worth. I have not ever heard the HPM line. I may have run across them in the past but can't remember sitting down and listening to any.

Now you may be onto something with the ADS. I have fond memories of sitting at Hillcrest Hi-Fi dreaming of a pair. I settled on a pair of Boston T-1030's back then.

Thanks for the ideas!

Gardenstater

I never heard the ADS L710s but (FWIW) the extra 5Hz of bass extension on the 810's made it non-negotiable for me at the time. They are a tiny bit larger than the 7B's; 1-1/2" taller. WAF considerations may make the 710s with a subwoofer a good choice.

Edit- you might consider the L730 over the L710 and may not need a subwoofer. -3dB point of 30Hz (10Hz better than L710).

pitdogg2

Very nice Todd!!

mhardy6647

There's a heaviness to the 810's sound that I don't care for -- they're certainly good loudspeakers, but, you know, de gustibus non est disputandum.
Sort of like comparing the Polk 10 to the 7 (again, for me).

I'd have bought ads loudspeakers in the '70s if I could've afforded them -- but I couldn't. The Polk
7As I did buy were, dollar for dollar, the best thing available in 1978 that I could afford (especially since I snagged a demo pair from Soundscape for a great price!).

PS @tratliff you could have the HPM-1100s if you really wanted 'em -- but, yeah, shipping (or even driving up and back) would not be inexpensive... and they're not small.
I found them much more "audiophile" good sounding than the HPM-100s, FWIW.

pitdogg2

I liked the HPM back in the day. Today next to my high performance 2.3tl's they'd probably sound like nails on a chalkboard.


Then again I might just be surprised!

tratliff

mhardy6647 wrote: »

There's a heaviness to the 810's sound that I don't care for -- they're certainly good loudspeakers, but, you know, de gustibus non est disputandum.
Sort of like comparing the Polk 10 to the 7 (again, for me).

I'd have bought ads loudspeakers in the '70s if I could've afforded them -- but I couldn't. The Polk
7As I did buy were, dollar for dollar, the best thing available in 1978 that I could afford (especially since I snagged a demo pair from Soundscape for a great price!).

PS @tratliff you could have the HPM-1100s if you really wanted 'em -- but, yeah, shipping (or even driving up and back) would not be inexpensive... and they're not small.
I found them much more "audiophile" good sounding than the HPM-100s, FWIW.

Thanks for the offer. If for some reason I decide I would like them I’ll let you know.

Thanks again.

Gardenstater

Yep no accounting for taste, but again, I never had the luxury of hearing anything but the L810. Perhaps I would prefer the smaller less bass heavy L710 as well. If the bass is muddy in the larger model......no good. This was actually the first introduction to a mid fi stereo setup that I had ever heard so perhaps I am romanticizing it.

soundfreak1

At 100LB
S each and "towers" I fell for a pair of ADS L1590's, will never sell them! Also had the L810's and sold them to get the 1590's.

tratliff

soundfreak1 wrote: »

Very nice. Would love to give those a listen.

soundfreak1

They are remarkable. Each speaker is housed inside separate cabinets inside the main cabinets. But I dont recomend hearing a pair if there not yours as it will drive you nuts trying to find a pair.

tratliff

Thought I would update the group on my progress. You may have seen I bought the PSB Imagine T2's from Steve. I thought about vintage speakers and was talking with Dskip about a pair of RTA-15tl's he has but I decided that the PSB's would be more cost effective. Clipdat graciously offered to send a Cambridge Dacmagic, for nothing, if I purchased the PSB's and that sealed the deal as a DAC was not even in the plans.

I got everything setup in my office and on the 3rd day the Pioneer SA-9800 decided to take a ****. The power supply needed a bit of maintenance. Finally got it back from my tech and everything is working as expected. Its not setup for pure 2-channel as its in my office and I just don't have the space to properly place the speakers. But it does sound much better than what I had before.

I have not been able to setup the turntable since I don't have a rack. I am currently looking to pick one up and then bring the turntable in the system.