Tell us about your stereo!

[gcczep]

Congratulations on your new addition to the 'family' George.

I haven't looked at vintage gear for a while, but other than the Akai cassette decks with the glass heads the only other one I've ever really coveted was Pioneer's masterpiece, I can't remember the model off hand but it's massive and has all the bells and whistles, only drawback are flourescent meters instead of analog ones' and the heads aren't quite as durable.

I almost bid on an old Akai last year, but it was too expensive and you are never sure if the piece has been maintained properly unless you can see it in person like you did.

Thanks Bruce. I take it that the Pioneer you are talking about is this? The CT-A1?



I agree that is risky to bid on a unit and not knowing how it will really turn out unless the seller has a reliable reputation, is honest and knows what he is talking about.

 

[LG]

^^That's close but the Pioneer I looked at had a silver finish and the panel layout was a little different so it might have been a different year or a model down from the one you posted. Still a beautiful piece of gear though. Back then they built quality into everything.

 

[gcczep]

Builds...

^Agree about the quality back then... Even tuners were solid and heavy. He also had EQ's he was offing that are heavier than receivers being sold nowadays. Also, he gave me a local audio repairman that he swears on.

Edit: This could be the one you are talking about:



Looks very beastly... From what I have read, they also call it a Phase Linear version.

 

[LG]

^^That's the one, it was impressive the first time I saw it brand new back in the day. I have a nice TEAC EQ, but have always wanted a SAE parametric one, have only seen a couple advertised over the last 5 years and too expensive for my liking.

We have a couple good repair shops here for electronics, can be expensive if you are recapping old gear but once you do that replace the power supply and install LED lights for the controls the gear will last another 20 years easily.

 

[gguerra]

As far as high end cassette decks I do remember this one stood out.



Nakamichi 1000. The world's 1st 3 head cassette deck. Was the one to get for me back in the day. Never could afford it however.

 

[LG]

^^Nakamichi was legendary for sure and bloody expensive as well. I could never afford one either. Today I would still rather get an Akai or one of Pioneer's tape decks, just a matter of personal preference GG.

 

[gcczep]

Nakies...

^^^Adding to gguera's post, Naks earlier higher end models are much sought after especially the legendary Dragon. I have this model below which is the CR-7A:



I enjoy the unit's auto calibration features and it even comes with a remote. It has developed a problem however, when the tape nears it's end during playback, it will stop and won't go further. Having it checked out. Prior to it I owned an LX-7. My very first deck was a Teac which served me well for close to a decade until it gave up the ghost.

I have to add Bruce that the Pioneers with its closed panel have that minimalist look yet still stylish.

 

[LG]

The Dragon is highly prized among collectors...but I can't justify the expense. After all this chat about tape decks I checked one of my online shops and found a really nice Pioneer in Calgary for $150...haven't decided whether to ask him if he would ship it or not yet but it looks in beautiful condition so I'm tempted for sure.

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649084428-pioneer_ctf950/

 

[Sox]

SPEAKERS:
$280,000 - Genesis 1.2 Speakers (1 pair)

AMPLIFICATION:
$375,000 - Goldmund Telos 500 amps

TURNTABLE:
$300,000 - Goldmund Reference 2 Turntable

PREAMP:
$ 38,000 - VITUS AUDIO SL - 101 Preamp
$ 34,000 - VITUS AUDIO SP101 Phono Preamp

DIGITAL:
$69,000 - dCS Scarlatti System

CABLING:
$ 90,000 - MIT Oracle speaker wires (x3)
$ 50,000 - MIT system interconnects & pwr

MISC:
$40,000 - NTT AUDIOLAB RC-5 stands
$20,000 - Phono cartridge and arm
$10,000 - MAGNUM DYNALAB MD-109 Tuner
$30,000 - Electronic crossover, power conditioning and treatment

=======

$1,336,000 Retail Price


Not bad !

 

[LG]

^^My friend Robert who owns Audio Ark has a pair of Genesis speakers Old Ent, not sure what model but they might be the ones in the picture.

You know even if I had millions I'm not sure I would go that far...you are at the point of spending for such small technical improvements it's only a game for those folk with more brass than they know what to do with. But I would have a nice system for sure, rather than a garage full of expensive sports cars.