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Post by 405x5 on Jul 6, 2020 9:01:59 GMT -5
This thread came to mind after reading what another person here has gone thru, as a result of mail ordering loudspeakers instead of being WOWED by a showroom demonstration.
I miss the “old days” and two things in particular. One was some really killer speakers set up to draw in anyone with a keen sense of what constitutes great sound, And secondly, a salesperson who was off the deep end nuts 🥜 about what he was doing.
That combination set me on a path that has lasted 43 years to date and continues to please.
No such thing as a perfect loudspeaker system, but when you arrive at something that is fundamentally close, (as many here have,) you can live with it and embellish that foundation any way you like.
Bill
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Post by tropicallutefisk on Jul 6, 2020 9:53:26 GMT -5
I still remember the first "high end" demo I heard. It was an integrated Conrad Johnson amp with a Krell CD transport and separate DAC. The speakers were a pair Snells. Totally blew me away. Sadly, there are not many places to get "Wowed" at any more.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 6, 2020 11:03:09 GMT -5
I had a similar experience in 1977, spending hours comparing systems over several days at a local hifi shop, bringing in my own LPs to test, and ended up taking home a set of ESS AMT1b and Phase Linear electronics. I do miss those days.
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Post by 405x5 on Jul 6, 2020 15:31:41 GMT -5
I had a similar experience in 1977, spending hours comparing systems over several days at a local hifi shop, bringing in my own LPs to test, and ended up taking home a set of ESS AMT1b and Phase Linear electronics. I do miss those days. 1977 was also my year for stepping up to high powered amplification, preamp and tuner. All Phase Linear: 400 Amp. 2000 Preamp and within the year, the 5000 Series Tuner. The tuner is still in the closet....The rest have met their maker. Despite the reputation Phase had for blowing up, my 400 gave me 11 years, and I beat the snot out of it the whole time, so I was happy enough about that. |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 6, 2020 15:53:40 GMT -5
I had a similar experience in 1977, spending hours comparing systems over several days at a local hifi shop, bringing in my own LPs to test, and ended up taking home a set of ESS AMT1b and Phase Linear electronics. I do miss those days. 1977 was also my year for stepping up to high powered amplification, preamp and tuner. All Phase Linear: 400 Amp. 2000 Preamp and within the year, the 5000 Series Tuner. The tuner is still in the closet....The rest have met their maker. Despite the reputation Phase had for blowing up, my 400 gave me 11 years, and I beat the snot out of it the whole time, so I was happy enough about that. I also had the 400 and beat it up for about 20 years. You could fry eggs on that thing after a few hours of cranked rock and roll.  My pre was a McIntosh C28 and my tuner was from Pioneer. Garard TT and Shure cart. |
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Post by 405x5 on Jul 6, 2020 16:05:48 GMT -5
1977 was also my year for stepping up to high powered amplification, preamp and tuner. All Phase Linear: 400 Amp. 2000 Preamp and within the year, the 5000 Series Tuner. The tuner is still in the closet....The rest have met their maker. Despite the reputation Phase had for blowing up, my 400 gave me 11 years, and I beat the snot out of it the whole time, so I was happy enough about that. I also had the 400 and beat it up for about 20 years. You could fry eggs on that thing after a few hours of cranked rock and roll. My pre was a McIntosh C28 and my tuner was from Pioneer. Garard TT and Shure cart. Congratulations! I never heard of a 400 going that long without going south. |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 6, 2020 16:17:22 GMT -5
I also had the 400 and beat it up for about 20 years. You could fry eggs on that thing after a few hours of cranked rock and roll. My pre was a McIntosh C28 and my tuner was from Pioneer. Garard TT and Shure cart. Congratulations! I never heard of a 400 going that long without going south. I did re-cap the power supply about half way through that period... |
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Post by 405x5 on Jul 6, 2020 16:36:14 GMT -5
Congratulations! I never heard of a 400 going that long without going south. I did re-cap the power supply about half way through that period... I see..... I’ve stayed with Bob Carver from then until now. A pair of Carver 1.ot’s bridged and an Adcom GFP 555 II filled the bill until. I transitioned everything into an integrated high end system for both music and film. (2001) That’s when Sunfire became the next Carver Amp. upgrade. |
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Post by 405x5 on Jul 6, 2020 16:50:02 GMT -5
So, this is where hooked forever comes into play (regarding the loudspeaker sound.)
The sound of those Allison Acoustics tweeters and midrange drivers had me hooked since that 1977 date.
My Original A1’s are gone now since 2012, but not because of any reason other than my opportunity to grab a pair of their Flagship IC 20’s.
The fundamental build and output characteristics of the drivers of the newer systems is the same as my originals just more of it (them)
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 6, 2020 16:55:39 GMT -5
I had a Sunfire Theater Grand amp for a while and it was good, but I didn't think it had that Carver/Phase Linear sound. Much more like any other amp in my opinion. I've commented on your Allisons before. I love Roy's design philosophy and there is a "sound" to them that is unlike others. Those IC 20's are probably worth more now than when you bought them...
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Post by 405x5 on Jul 6, 2020 17:17:06 GMT -5
I had a Sunfire Theater Grand amp for a while and it was good, but I didn't think it had that Carver/Phase Linear sound. Much more like any other amp in my opinion. I've commented on your Allisons before. I love Roy's design philosophy and there is a "sound" to them that is unlike others. Those IC 20's are probably worth more now than when you bought them... You would think so, yet I once described them as the greatest loudspeaker ever to BOMB in the marketplace. All the legend rose up from 100 outsourced cabinets built by an outside vendor to Roy’s specifications. Despite being offered with the image control modules and biamp ( or even tri amplification capability) in the end Allison had one hell of a time unloading them. But yeah there is a small group of nuts like me who would pay crazy money for a nicely intact pair. Bill |
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My pre was a McIntosh C28 and my tuner was from Pioneer. Garard TT and Shure cart.