Tell us about your stereo!

[gcczep]

Bosey...

I think it was six maybe seven years ago at a local Best Buy that they had an HT with an all Bose set-up. They had these mini-cubes that could turn a bit here and there plus that AcoustiMass bass module. It was alright I thought certainly not overwhelming. Enthusiasts really turn their noses at their products though they are not exactly Radio Shack starter kits either. I am not sure of any speakers nowadays that are built in house or at least nationally.

As far as gears, Marantz components are now being assembled in Malaysia. Onkyo in China I think. Same goes with Sonys, Not sure about Denons, Yamahas or Pioneers.

 

[gcczep]

Mitsus...

original Mitsubishi separates, ooolala !

All components back in the day seem to be available in silver and not the commonplace black. I have a Japanese VCR by Mits. Heavy, built like a tank, with a flip down front panel and really good picture quality. Manual is in Japanese but the original owner I bought it from translated it.

Ooohh, those lovely meters!

 

[mrJim]

I think it was six maybe seven years ago at a local Best Buy that they had an HT with an all Bose set-up. They had these mini-cubes that could turn a bit here and there plus that AcoustiMass bass module. It was alright I thought certainly not overwhelming. Enthusiasts really turn their noses at their products though they are not exactly Radio Shack starter kits either. I am not sure of any speakers nowadays that are built in house or at least nationally.

As far as gears, Marantz components are now being assembled in Malaysia. Onkyo in China I think. Same goes with Sonys, Not sure about Denons, Yamahas or Pioneers.

I walked away from Pioneer years ago, the line between their Pioneer Elite and Pioneer products got weird. I remember it started with the base Pioneer line, they just produced a fancy front panel with a lot of lights. bunch a sizzle and no steak

Back then I turned to Sherwood. Which at the time was all steak and no sizzle. I still have all of the Sherwood equipment today. built like a brick crap house. Today not sure were Sherwood sits.

What really surprises me is the Yamaha stuff. I haven't seen or heard anything Yamaha that I like anymore.

4 years ago I bought an Onkyo receiver, not sure where it's made but I would call it a "safe" purchase this day and age. Not a tremendous performer but reasonable quality and price point.

No idea about Denon could only comment on a look I got at a piece of equipment

That said I am no expert since as you can see most of what I have had wasn't what most would consider top of the line stuff.

 

[gcczep]

Old good stuff...

Jim, I used to own a Sherwood AM-9080 5 channel amp. It was really good until I moved to Parasounds. Silver finish with specs that were understated. 100 hi-current watts but seemed more. You probably have classics that vintage collectors would pay good coin for. Another maker that doesn't bs their specs is Harman Kardon. They say 65 or 80 watts but it is all channels driven...not 100 but really just two.

On the Pioneers, they don't make the Elites anymore I think. My folks use a VSX-47TX receiver that blows away any entry or mid level receivers out nowadays. 70 plus pounds packed to the gills but just no hdmi or any of the current surround sound formats. It does have one of the first auto room calibrations which does wonders. Clean, transparent sonics with no distortion. The Elites also had these wood sides that made them look distinguished.

If I can have one Pioneer product from the days of yore...it would be their Kuro line of plasmas. A friend of mine has one and doesn't shut up about it. Saw it in action, calibrated and yes, he does have a right to run his mouth.

 

[taha]

All components back in the day seem to be available in silver and not the commonplace black. I have a Japanese VCR by Mits. Heavy, built like a tank, with a flip down front panel and really good picture quality. Manual is in Japanese but the original owner I bought it from translated it.

Ooohh, those lovely meters!

wish I still had mine

 

[LG]

I think it was six maybe seven years ago at a local Best Buy that they had an HT with an all Bose set-up. They had these mini-cubes that could turn a bit here and there plus that AcoustiMass bass module. It was alright I thought certainly not overwhelming. Enthusiasts really turn their noses at their products though they are not exactly Radio Shack starter kits either. I am not sure of any speakers nowadays that are built in house or at least nationally.

As far as gears, Marantz components are now being assembled in Malaysia. Onkyo in China I think. Same goes with Sonys, Not sure about Denons, Yamahas or Pioneers.

Thing I hate about Bose are the corporate sponsored kickbacks to the retailers, BB and Future Shop here both give their sales reps a bonus for every Bose sold. I don't like subsidizing inferior equipment to make a sale, good speakers should sell themselves, you look for the sound you like in the range you can afford, any professional salesman will go out of their way to make sure you're happy.

I've never liked Bose and it goes back to his venerable '901' which I have always thought was mediocre at best. Compared to a decent full sized speaker I found them lacking in almost every detail, sure the midrange is okay no surprise there he put 9 drivers in his cabinet, one pointing out the back to enhance the 'spatial' quality.

Jim, I have a Yamaha HT receiver I bought in 2003 I think it was, I thought it was good for my needs, I don't play my movies at extreme volume or with high end speakers and I did like the music hall programs they built in. Yamaha has always been the leader for that field. Now I have a 2 year old Marantz for HT, that's all I use it for.

Sadly almost everything we buy now is either made in China or with pieces from there. But the tide is turning, many companies have had enough of doing business there and prices are rising as workers demand a higher wage, so factories are slowly moving back here where they belong.

 

[mrJim]

With Pioneer it was years & years ago that I moved away from them, and I think your right no Elite line any longer. I just hadn't give them another look since, I tend not to forget so easily, I guess.

Back then with Sherwood I knew exactly what I was getting and most of time it was understated not overstated. I am going to try the Sherwood with the M40's this weekend and see how it performs compared to the Onkyo.

LG, my Yamaha experience was very recent and probably with the consumer HT line. It was just chinsey' feeling and the sound was underwhelming, every model and I thought it was expensive.

You just don't know what you are looking at or getting anymore, the big box stores are another thing that has really hosed the market. Such a push to raise margin and gain that shelf space.

 

[mrJim]

Jim, I used to own a Sherwood AM-9080 5 channel amp. It was really good until I moved to Parasounds. Silver finish with specs that were understated. 100 hi-current watts but seemed more. You probably have classics that vintage collectors would pay good coin for.

I will have it our of the closet this weekend but I don't think its the vintage tube stuff that the collectors are after these day. If I remember right it's circa late `1980's when I bought it new.

I call it Old Reliable, and my wife knows exactly what I'm talking about. You have had that longer than u have had me

Right now Old reliable powers all my exterior speakers on my back porch and pool. hooked up to some TIC Omni-Directional speakers and some nice 6 1/2" Patio speakers. Those Onmi-Directional speakers are the shnitz! outdoors

Jim

 

[gcczep]

More is more...

Jim, let us know how the Sherwood holds up. Sometimes low rated specs can surprise as to how it can flesh out details and microdynamics.

To me, there is only one way to tell what you are getting with any component these days. Weight... Receivers with a very good amp section weigh between 60 to 70 pounds. Two channels about 20+. Also some have a solid chassis with separate isolation platforms for appropriate damping. I reckon gear nowadays have that echo if you knock on its side. Good ones have that "dead" sound if you rap on its panels. The Sony receivers of the late 1990's to early 2000's have more punch than their current crop not to mention aesthetically more pleasing to the eye.

So far, I think only the new top of the line Pioneer HT receiver uses the ICE amp technology so it isn't as heavy.

 

[mrJim]

^^ will do I have to finish up the truck then I am going to hook it up later tonight.

funny you say that about the weight. I have told people that for years and they tell me I don't know what I am talking about. good copper winding and steel core makes weight plain and simple. turning wall power into wattage takes weight.

with my Onkyo that was sort of a utility point in time purchase that I actually just picked up at Circuit City ..... while we were there my wife said well which one?, I said the heaviest one. She shook her head laughed and said; oh well u do that then we'll be over here looking around.

obviously I was half joking but I seriously checked and considered the weight on every model.

Jim

oh and the Halo A21 weighs in at 60lbs alone