What did you change this year?

BobMcG

I don't know but this could be interesting (or overwhelming for some).

I know the year isn't over yet and that some people change pieces of eqiupment as often as their underwear but what did you get tired of and have to change?

For me:

This year has been a refreshing year of changes to my main 2ch rig after undergoing a long period of the same old thing.

The 2.3s were given a new set of tweeters and I upgraded the crossovers.

The AA-DLC was replaced by a new DODD MLP tube preamp.
And I finally got down to deadening the case properly and moving it to the top shelf position so if I want to roll some tubes for it I can easily. The MLP came with a nice set of SOVTEK 12AX7LPSs which are popular tubes with good reviews and are just fine for now but I'll be experimenting in the future.

The CAL-ALPHA just received a new pair of JAN/Sylvania 5814A tubes thanks to Mark (Doro). They replace the SOVTEK 12AX7WXT tubes I've had in it for years.

The AA-DTI-2.0 and the PS-2 are now at home as upgrades on the upstairs 2ch rig along with the DLC.

I did pick up a pair of the original Carver Amazing loudspeakers this summer (thanks Mark) that exchange places with the 2.3s once in a while. I took the liberty of upgrading the binding posts on these to the same top of the line posts from "Vampire Wire" that reside on my 2.3s.

I also picked up a new "demo" amp from Harry at HCM. It's a beautiful Counterpoint Solid-2. This thing is really built. (65lbs if I remember right.) It's capable of 170 amps peak to peak power with 200w RMS into 8 ohms / 400w RMS into 4 ohms / 500w RMS into 2 ohms. This was an upgrade to my HT and is currently running the fronts but I plan on hooking it up to my main 2ch rig to really check it out.

It's been a welcome thing, this recent flurry of changes to the system, as it was getting stale around here. I know I must be all done now....

TroyD

Yep, it was a year of change here as well......

The Shane Mann Memorial auditorium bade farewell to the Carver Amazings and brought in the SDA SRS 2.3tls mated up with the CJ PV-7 pre / MV-75A1 amp (new this year) using a Music Hall MMF5 (new this year) and the Jolida JD100 as sources.

The Living Room rig saw the Amazings come and eventually go. The ALIII's are there being fed by a new front end of Sunfire Tube pre and Classe Model 25 amp (a MOTHER of a SS amp).

Who knows what's in store for next year?

On the short list is a new turntable (looking to spend some cabbage on this next year) and a pair of Amazing Platinums.

BDBania

audiobliss

Well, I manged to take my first step into the real world of audio and the world of tubes with the same transaction when I got my ASL Wave-8 monoblocks. And I couldn't be happier (unless of course I had a tube pre...and CDP...and..)

My list is significantly shorter than yours!!

ND13

Like Troy, it has been a year of change here as well.

I started the year out with a pair of RTA 8TLs being driven by an Optimist(Pioneer) Pro Series receiver, 135 x 5. Source was an old Pioneer cd changer.

Next, Scomp's SDA 2Bs made a short trip from Chi-town to my house. Went out that same weekend and bought a new HK 3380 receiver to drive them, which it did admirably til I bought a used AMC 2100 ss amp from Warlock(Jeff). I used the HK as a pre til I picked up Cliff's Dodd ELP, which transformed my system. That little ELP was the single biggest improvement to my system up to that point. During that time frame, I also upgraded my source to a modded AMC CD8b.

Then came P Fest where I had planned on selling a few pieces of gear, but ended up taking more stuff home with me than I left home with :rolleyes: .
I picked up my SDA SRS2s and some ASL AV20 mono blocks from Doro. Both were very smart purchases, imo. For a while I ran the SRS 2s off the ELP/AMC combo, but out of nowhere, Hoosier21 offered me a deal on his Dodd MLP that I couldn't refuse, so now I've got it on them, as well as a Parasound HCA 1200 II that I picked up from George Daniels.

The 2nd rig consists of Dodd ELP into ASL AV20 monos driving Monitor 7As with Peerless tweeters. Sounds real sweet, too.

The 3rd rig consists of the HK 3380 driving the SDA 2Bs and RTA 8TLs with a JBL E150P sub that I use for tv and movies. State of the art 2.1 baby!!!

Future upgrades, hopefully this year, will be an all tube amp for the SRS 2s and a tube cdp( Jolida or Ah!) .

Yeah, it's been a busy audio related year for me to say the least.

BobMcG

Troy,
Man, have you got some kickass equipment!

Audio,
I'd say you're getting off on the right foot for sure!

BobMcG

ND,
Now that was growth in major leaps and bounds. Superb!

TroyD

BobMcG wrote:

Troy,
Man, have you got some kickass equipment!

Thanks Bob, guys like you, George, Chuck, Mike (and a host of others) that put the ideas in my head and gave me the high water mark to aim for....it's been a LOT of fun.

Looking fwd to you getting down to this neck of the woods at some point.

BDT

gidrah

I went from a 36" to a 17" to a 55" (Mitsu HD) TV.
Connected the Altecs to the AVA tubed pre and ST70 amp.
DQ-10s and a Pioneer SX-1010 in the bedroom.
Started getting the basement ready for the LaScala/Sansui combo.
Added a PSW-650 and rear speakers (4.1) to the Altec HT/HS rig.

Getting ready to get rid of some stuff soon too. Who knows where the $ will go.

BIZILL

htib with (5) 3.5" satellites and 20 wpc to current setup.
150 watt sony 12" sub to current svs.
progressive scan component dvd player to oppo up-converter
hand-me-down sofa and love seat to 5 leather power recliner theater seating
5.1 to 7.1

BobMcG

TroyD wrote:

Looking fwd to you getting down to this neck of the woods at some point.

That would be excellent!

BobMcG

gidrah,

Just upgrading equipment isn't enough? You gotta go and upgrade the digs too?

Hey BIZILL,

Sounds like you've got a nice HT under way!

gidrah

The digs was a downgrade but the lifestyle is an upgrade.

nadams

Went from Monitor 10's to SDA2's

Went from some crappy Teac CDP to the Denon in my sig

Added the XRt12

ohskigod

went from SDA 1B's, to Vandersteen 2C's, to the Carver Platinum Amazing Mk IV that resides in the rig presently. I also picked up a Jolida JD100 CD player. I went tubular in the preamp dept with initially a Radii mnp01 to a Dodd ELP. picked up Goertz 1M silver interconnects, as well as 2 new power cords from Zero (homemade, and built like tanks) A flurry of changes that preceeded the purchase of my house, so the pace will diminish significantly

dkg999

It's been a year of a lot of changes in the 2 ch. and HT systems for me. Thanks to the internet auctions and forums I finally started selling off my 30 yr. stash of audio equipment that had been accumulating at my shop at the farm. Almost all of it was in excellent cosmetic condition, however my technician should at least send me a christmas card because I have spent close to $3k having things repaired. Well worth it as the return has been pretty good!

My 2 ch. system at my place in IL started off the year with a Yamaha AX-900U integrated driving SDA-2A's with the upgraded tweeters, sourced with an Onkyo Integra CD changer. I ended up the year with Magnepan 1.6QR's being bi-amped vertically with Parasound HCA-1500A's, a Parasound P/HP-850 pre, and a Cambridge Audio Azure 640C CDP, Signal Cable Analog Two IC's and Signal Cable Ultra Double Run speaker cables. Added a Parasound T-DQ-1600 tuner and a Godar antenna so I could pickup WXRT in Chicago. I have a Parasound New Classic P2000 pre on order and Audio Advisor says it should ship around Thanksgiving! I plan to add a Jolida 100 CDP as my Christmas present! I also picked up a mint set of Monitor 10B's that I have upgraded the tweeters in to use when I want to rock out!

I added a nice bedroom 2 ch. system consisting of a NAD C720BEE receiver, NAD C521BEE CDP, and a pair of the simply amazing EPOS ELS-3 mini-monitors.

The HT added a second CSi40 front center channel speaker, a NAD T532 DVD player picked up at an auction so the kids leave my Denon 910 alone, a pair of FXi5's for side surrounds, and 3 additional Outlaw M200 mono-blocks to power the side surrounds and second front center channel. I plan to add an Outlaw ICBM to play with bass management and the dual subs.

The 2 ch. system at my farm in IA saw my ancient Bogen tube mono-blocks finally sold to someone who has wanted them and my Electro-Voice Voice of the Theater speakers for about a decade. I'm glad they are enjoying them! I had a Conrad Johnson PV-10 pre rebuilt and re-tubed and picked up a set of Dynaco inspired tube mono-blocks from a friend who had built them years ago. These are paired with my Onkyo Integra CDP changer and a pair of restored ESS AMT-1B speakers. I am in the process of rebuilding a single set of SDA SRS's from the 3 pair I have that were all insurance recovery's from the infamous Des Moines IA flood of 1993.

I think I need to slow down in the coming year! I will be buying a place in IL and will need to concentrate on getting everything down to make that move.

George Grand

I went from briefs to boxers, and in retrospect should've done it years ago.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

janmike

Let's see now. Added the following:

- RTi38's
- RTi6's
- CSi5
- Yamaha RX-V1500 AVR
- Rotel RB-1080 AMP
- Added dampening material to Marantz CPD & Panasonic DVD


- Signal Cables:
- Analog Twos – With Bullet Termination for:
- Yamaha RX-V1500 to Rotel RB-1080
- Yamaha RX-V1500 to Marantz 67SE

- Ultra (Double Run) Single Wire for:
- Polk Audio RTi100
- Polk Audio CSi5

- MagicPower Digital/Video Power Cord (Yamaha RX-V1500)
- MagicPower Power Cord (Rotel RB-1080)


- REL Strata I subwoofer

I wonder what 2006 will bring. HO HO HO!

VR3

Let me think..

1) DT Center
2) B&W DM303 (Sold)
3) Onix XCD 88
4) Signal Cables

Been a small year eh?

Shizelbs

This is what I've done so far:
Boxed up the R series HT
Drove to Oregon for a killer deal on my SDA SRS 2s.
Bought a used Dodd ELP
Bought a used Sunfire amp
Bought new cables and power cords from signal cable
Added surround sound to the computer
Starting buying a lot more music
Bought the Parasound DAC off Russ
Installed 2 20amp circuits to the new house.

What do I have left for the year?
Buy an SVS
Thinking about buying some used RTi Polks for the new house
Buy a decent CDP for the 2 channel system
Gonna add a phono stage into the 2 channel rig for the hundreds of classical albums I got for free earlier this year.
Might get a Musical Fidelity Xcan3 for the cans, and might up those to the Sennheiser HD600s.

Its been a great year now that I look at it.

audiobliss

Shizelbs - You sure got a lot left for this year! You better get busy!

billbillw

Geeze, big changes for me this past year.

In the past 13 months, I've upgraded to an HDTV, switched to DirecTV, (I've tried 3 different STBs with them and finally settled on the HD Tivo)
My old Pioneer DVD died, so I picked up a Denon DVD-2900. Upgraded my Energy Take 5.2 system to the current Polk system I have now. Added a second Energy 8" sub, but quickly decided to sell both and go to an SVS PC+ (no regrets). Finally, I sold the Denon 2802 and moved up to a Denon 4802. Oh, and I picked up some Mission M71 for the bedroom and a Sony ES tape deck for $10 bucks too I'm probably forgetting something.

BobMcG

Super! It's neat to see the evolutions!

BTW: G'man, Didn't the briefs give you a tighter bottom end though?

dpowell

BobMcG wrote:

Super! It's neat to see the evolutions!

BTW: G'man, Didn't the briefs give you a tighter bottom end though?

IT may have been a tighter bottom end but the boxers go lower...

BobMcG

dpowell wrote:

IT may have been a tighter bottom end but the boxers go lower...

LOL! Good one. Didn't think of that aspect!

dpowell

THIS YEAR:

RT2000P ---> RT3000P
CS400 ---> CS1000
ls/fx ---> FX1000

Total cost after selling old speakers: $1,100

$100 Panasonic DVD player ---> Denon DVD-3800

On the map for Christmas:
PSW300 ---> SVS PB12-Plus/2

steveinaz

This year I bought:

1. Benchmark DAC1
2. Energy Connoisseur C-9's (had Athena AS-F2's)
3. Switched to Kimber PBJ's and Kimber 8TC (had AQ copperhead/Granite)

audiobliss

man...you've been busy...

madmax

So far this year...

Mostly my turntable setup went high class. Swapped out the Goldring 1042 cartridge for a Benz Ruby 3. Changed phono preamps from my AI internal pre to a JoLida tubed pre then finally to an Acoustech pre. I also added about 2000 records to my collection. I changed my LP cleaning routine and have much better performance now.

Sold off many amplifiers and have a McAlister pre and amp on order to try next.

Finally got some decent speaker cables, the MIT Shotgun S-2 biwires.

Changed to the upgraded tweeters in all the SDA's. About 50 tweets all together.

Tried the Teac and SI chip amplifiers.

Much tube rolling.

Got some super high efficiency drivers but never built a box for them.

Added the free XM XRt-12 tuner to the system.

Started enjoying video on the 50" plasma. Much better than watching the old PC monitor!

I'm sure there is more but that is all I can think of off hand.

madmax

markmarc

After 17 years with my HK 870 amp, 825 preamp, 915 tuner, and Celestion SL6si speakers I decided it was time for a change. I eBayed/Audiogon my way into creating both a 2 channel audio and HT:
HT system:
HK AVR75
Polk RTi-35
Celestion center (Hoping to move up to a Polk CS 245 or CS 400)

2 Channel rig:
Adcom GFA 535
HK AVR75 (used as a preamp)
HK FL 8450
Infinity Kappa 200
Still to add:
iPod 60gig, with all my music recorded at full file size
Adcom GTP 450-500 preamp, or Conrad Johnson (if I am patient for a year or so).

The Kappa 200's are a sweet speaker that had no more than 20 hours on them when I got them. However, the wife can't stand the danish modern design as it clashes with the more traditional living room furniture. There is a good chance I'm going to have to part with them as when I made that room my listening room she agreed under the condition that whatever I brought in wouldn't clash (The rest of the equipment is set up in the family room, 12 gauge speaker wire run under the floor boards connects the speakers). If this does happen, I will be focused on one of 3 speakers, the LSi9's, Paradigm Studio 40's, or the Totem Rainmakers.

aaharvel

went from 5.1 to 7.1
Quite satisfied.

danger boy

I moved some stuff out and added some things too. It's been a blast this year getting some gear out and replacing it with something else. ALL USED.

First off this past spring I added some original SRS's and began building a simple 2 ch rig around those. This was all new to me... I didn't have a decent 2 ch rig in the house before.. just a HT one.

So I added a NAD amp for the SRS.. then was using a Dynaco Pat4 or 5, i can't even remember.. ha ha ha. Replaced that with a Kenwood Basic C2 pre amp. Began buying used NAD CD players... purchased three different ones.. till just last week found the one that sounded the best to me.

Now i'm playing with different IC's. Found the ones i like... and i'm in the process of replacing most of my Signal Cable 2's with another brand. It'll take some time, as they are a little more $ then the SC2's. But it's all for the better. Nothing at all wrong with the SC2's, i just needed a little more oomph, and the new cables give me what i'm looking for.

So to wrap it up.. i moved out the RT800i's and SVS 20-39PCi to be able to afford the SRS's. Good move there.. very happy.

So i'm currently subless :eek: so that will be something to add in 2006, and I need some new front mains for the HT rig. Currently using my Monitor 7B's. Nice bass output on those 7's. I just got rid of the last of the Monster video cables in the HT rig.. hee hee hee. New component video cables looks schweet!

Wish list for 2006...

1. replace tweeters in SRS's (this will prob be X-Mas present to self)
2. tube pre
3. SVS
4. more damn cables