How has your system changed since joining AOS

[John]

AOS is coming up to five years old and was thinking it might be good for those that want to reflect upon what are the changes in your system
I joined around April 2008 my system has gone through a complete change apart from my table support.
At the time I had a VPI HW19 MK4 heavy duty platter sama motor terminator parrel tracking arm ZXY R100 H Cart Whest ps30r then latter upgraded to the dt phono
Laptop Ps Audio DAC Digital link 3
Music First passive copper
SAC Glowmaster
Wharfedale Opus 3
The Turntable went through a lot of changes first being modifed to a reference superscoutmaster with rim drive, then having to sell this and getting the Salvation, which has bags more attack and detail.
I was already experimenting with computer audio, before I joined AOS I had a Audiocom Nu-vista with about £2000 worth of mods to it, which gave it a lot more authority. I found it hard to listen to digital set up (that included the Nu-Vista and the laptop) if I listened to my turntable first but DACS and software have improved and now I can listen to either digital or vinyl and enjoy without feeling I am missing anything and it will usually come down to the quality of the recording to which I perfer but would say still have a leaning to vinyl but listen mostly to digital as most of music collection is not availble on vinyl.
The biggest change has been the speakers at the time I had Wharfedale Opus 3, nice speakers. I heard a few open baffles and liked what they were doing with the soundstage and then heard a pair that I liked with what it was doing with the bass. Up to then I was thinking Open baffle would never do rock music juistice. I decided to order some Hawthorne drivers and build a basic open baffle. I then kept developing the speakers by buiding better baffles improving the crossover and a few other mods that helped. What I now have is speakers with a huge soundstage and are impossible to tell where they are in the room, do dynamics really well and can really give you the energy of rock, yest have lots of speed.
The other change has been the amplification I used to have a music first passive pre and then went to a active, I expermented with some old school Sansui gear and then Tamps, my current set up is basically a Bantam with a Slagle volume stage which works a treat with my speakers
I also added a seperate spur with special mains cable and a dedicated earth.
I think in many ways I followed my own path (the road less travelled), but alot of my experiments were inspired by threads on AOS and hearing other peoples systems.
I have no idea where the system will move onto I still see computer audio as still developing so I guess that is one area it will develop naturally. I guess that for me has been the biggest change is the progression is no longer really planned more just a natural development of its sound.
For me what I enjoyed most from AOS is meeting people with a like minded passion for music and sound. I am also a lot less judgemental around sound I could be rather snobbish in my attitude at times but now have the view that it is about enjoying the music.
For the future I am really looking forward to the AOS show and getting to meet a few more people
What has been your experience

[Marco]

Excellent idea for a thread, John. I'm sure that lots of people will have different thoughts on this. I shall contribute my input later :)

Marco.

[IHP]

And I shall be short and sweet. I went all Croft (25R and 7) and don't mind admitting I was influenced by rantings here. Unlikely to change, adore them.

[walpurgis]

Well, I've only been with AOS since last April and all I've done is aquire another DAC, an MC cartridge and bought and refurbed a pair of largish Tannoys. I may reluctantly thin the collection down a bit, but haven't sold anything off yet. I like hanging onto my toys!

[John]

And I shall be short and sweet. I went all Croft (25R and 7) and don't mind admitting I was influenced by rantings here. Unlikely to change, adore them.

Great to hear

[Rare Bird]

tbh, ive never ever really settled on a system, always swaped & changed for the sake of it over the last 30 years. It's only the last few years 'ive gone around in circles sticking with a few old favorites i used to love the most, for once i think i'm nearly settled..Just money that's holding me up with completion.

So to answer the O/P: Quite a few times but with no influence from members of AOS..

However my main purpose here is Psych/Prog Evangelists :eyebrows:

[Barry]

What have I changed to my system since joining AoS four years ago? Well apart from acquiring a few cartridges (both fixed and moving coil) - I've always been interested in analogue record reproduction, the major changes have been to the electronics.

I made a slight upgrade to my CD player and changed the tuner from a much loved, and much used, Quad FM3 to a Quad FM4.

The biggest change has been the shifting of my loyalties from Quad amplification (held for thirty years) to Mark Levinson amplification (though that change has not been without its difficulties).

None of the changes above have been solely due to reading Forum posts, but they have helped.

The one purchase I have made, which in all honesty is largely due to comments read here, is of a Radford STA15 III amplifier. As a solid state enthusiast, I thought it was about time I tried a good vintage valve amplifier.


But the biggest effect AoS has made, has been reading the posts on 'Spinning Today': many purchases of music, new to me, have been due to that thread.

Thank you AoS! :)

[synsei]

Well, I turned up on AoS nearly two and a half years ago with a WTF 5 tsar (deliberate mistake) award winning mid-rangish system from the 1990's and now, after seeing the light, I own a right mish-mash of equipment with a few surprising changes along the way. For example, who-da-thought that a pre amp, which cost over three grand in its day, would marry up quite so well to a teeny sixty quid T-Amp and make such beautiful music, evicting a highly modded and well regarded Hafler DH220 in the process. Or that a 40 year old speaker design from B&W, bought secondhand for peanuts, could outperform more modern speakers costing many, many times their worth.

To those just beginning their travels along the path to enlightenment I will say this: You don't need to spend a kings ransom to assemble a kickass hifi system, it can be achieved with quite modest means but you have to be prepared to think outside of the box and LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN to any potential new components in your system, or if that is simply not possible then at least try to listen to them in a system that sounds somewhat similar to your own. If you can't, then seek advice from the wonderfully knowledgeable crew here on AoS so you can at least gain a rough idea of the sound characteristics of the product you are considering. Always try to remember however that the equipment is a means to an end, that end being the music... :)

[John]

Well, .

To those just beginning their travels along the path to enlightenment I will say this: You don't need to spend a kings ransom to assemble a kickass hifi system, it can be achieved with quite modest means but you have to be prepared to think outside of the box and LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN to any potential new components in your system, or if that is simply not possible then at least try to listen to them in a system that sounds somewhat similar to your own. If you can't, then seek advice from the wonderfully knowledgeable crew here on AoS so you can at least gain a rough idea of the sound characteristics of the product you are considering. Always try to remember however that the equipment is a means to an end, that end being the music... :)

Some great advice to anyone starting the journey I totally agree with you view point around not having to spend crazy money to get great sound

[John]

The one purchase I have made, which in all honesty is largely due to comments read here, is of a Radford STA15 III amplifier. As a solid state enthusiast, I thought it was about time I tried a good vintage valve amplifier.


But the biggest effect AoS has made, has been reading the posts on 'Spinning Today': many purchases of music, new to me, have been due to that thread.

Thank you AoS! :)

The Radford a lovely amp
I got a few albums from the spinning today thread

[Macca]

Except for the loudspeakers my whole system has changed since I joined in Summer 2009 - the Croft Micro Basic pre-amp and the XTZ amp I am curently assessing were suggested to me by AoS members. I also bought a Technics sl1200 as I had been meaning to try one for years and AoS rekindled that interest. It's arrival coincided with my old Systemdek packing in so the SL1200 has been my TT of choice since - I've even bought a second one as a spare. I do like to plough my own furrow in life as well as in hi-fi but I've also got nothing against jumping on a bandwagon if it looks like it will be fun ;)

My system now is, I feel, just inches from greatness. The core components are settled, just a few more tweaks are needed - mains cables and interconnects mostly. Quite frustrating really, to be so near and yet so far.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I went down the 1210 route from being a lp12 owner, I have kicked the habit of elastic band driven tt's although I must admit that the alphason solo was a great piece of kit. I've become a little more serious about valves. I have also become more interested in the internal workings of a component which is something I would not have been bothered with previously, I now also have a weird habit of collecting speakers. I now own five pairs. I think I've also learned that my system sounds great with a mixture of old and new components.

[Dingdong]

Iirc I started of with some Linn stuff after getting back into hifi a few years ago. Had a pair of Saras, which I will be selling shortly, and LK1/280.

Swapped the Saras out for the DM2's. Then the Lk1 for an MF pre. Realised just how bad the LK1 was.

Then I got all valvey with the Kel80's and the Audionote pre.

The cdp has always been a vrds. Now a 7 in place of the 9 that is not well.

I started with a Thorens TD160 that I fettled a bit. Then briefly tried a Luxman and a 1210. Now settled on an SP-10 in slate.

The only things I have not changed are the R2 stands and the cartridge. The cartridge will probably changed as soon as I get meself a job though.

I've just been fettling an Oracle Paris turntable for a friend. It has an Alphason Xenon and Dyn 17D2 on it and I loved the sound of it, so will be looking into mc cartridges at some point. That might get expensive. I was quite happy with the Shure previously.

[Jonboy]

Still with Valves but been through nearly every type of common valve there is in one amp or another, just love playing with old valve amps which was better for my pocket but not so sure now as prices have risen alarmingly.


The Tannoys have been with me for what must 3 years now so i suppose you could say they are keepers.

As others have said you don't need to spend fortunes to get a good sound just a matter of selecting things that suit your ears and situation, ones man heaven is another mans hell and money certainly dosn't buy audio nirvana

[icehockeyboy]

According to AOS I joined in May 2011, although I'd swear it was before then, but afaicr, my whole set up has changed.

PMC FB1+'s were replaced by Quad 22L2's, they were replaced by Usher CP6371's.

The Classe pre, and Lyngdorf power were replaced by an integrated Lyngdorf SDAi 2175.

SB3 replaced with the Touch.

Theta Dac replaced with Stans amazing Bushmaster.

Speaker cables have included Belkin and TQ Blue, now TQ Black.

Ic's also included Belkin, and Silver High Breed, now Atratus wotsits.

Mains unit....was Tacima, now Belkin.

I think that's about it. :scratch:

[steviej233]

I am afraid that my gear is not in the same league as everyones else but i have brought a new amp since joining which i find amazing and other than that i have replaced all of the speaker cables and i am planning on replacing my interconnects when the funds allow it! It has been a real eye opener joining this site! :)

[Tim]

Every single bit of my system (apart from the rack) has changed since joining AoS and I only came here looking for information about a DAC :lol: - oh, I have two systems now if you include the Mini-T setup.

When I arrived I had a MF A3 amp and A3 CDP, Monitor Audio GR60 speakers, around 1,000 less CD's and I didn't listen to anywhere near the amount of music that I do now. I would guess then it was around 10~20 hours a week, now its 40+ hours a week. This was down to the very bright and fatiguing sound I had, which I didn't really realise until I discovered the Harbeth sound - I cannot listen to Monitor Audio speakers now.

[Floyddroid]

Bought a Mark Grant cable and now planning a total change to Mark Grant cables. met one AOS member and therefore a new friend, planning a North east bake off. How good is that?:lol:

[The Grand Wazoo]

Not too many changes over here since I joined AoS almost five years ago.
The main components have remained the same.

But:
I've sold a lot of spare tuners and amps.
I've stopped farting about with cables and settled on a cheap, sensible solution.
I've added some reel to reel machines.
I've added a second turntable - one that I always wanted to own since I was a kid.
I've had my beloved Radford STA15 restored to something like it's former glory, to offer a different flavour from the Levinson monsters, when the fancy takes me.
....I could go on!

[hoopsontoast]

Since joining in 2010, I have been through the following :mental:

Speakers
Fostex FF225K Jericho Horns
Kord Tornado
Veravox 3 (Omnes Audio BB3.AL) (DIY)
Keesonic Kolt
Rega R1
ATC SCM10
Fountek FE87
IAS Prototypes
Keesonic Kolt (+ BK Gemini II Sub)
Wharfedale Diamond Active Plus
Acoustic Energy AE2
Kord Vulcan
Magnepan MMG
KEF Reference 104/2

Amplifiers
Teac A-BX7R
Sony TA-F770ES
Rega Brio 3
Amptastic T-Amp (Loan)
Sony TA-FA448E
Temple Audio Bantam Gold (Loan)
Sony TA-F670ES
Arcam AVR200
Decware Zen
Denon PMA-2000AE
Antique Sound Labs Wave Mono's
Icon Audio LA3 (Loan)
Teac A-H01
Audion Sterling Plus
Quad Elite Stereo
Restek Challenger
Puresound A10
Sony TA-F770ES

CD Players
Teac VRDS 10SE
Sony QS CDP
Phillips CD-850
Sony DVP-S9000ES

Turntables/Carts
Michell Focus One / Focus Unipivot / Ortofon 2M Red
Luxman PD-272 / Sure M97xE and Denon DL-103/AU-320

Phonostages
Sony TA-F670ES and Sony TA-F770ES Internal
Rotel RQ-970BX
Heed Questar MC

[Macca]

Crikey Rob - would have been quicker to list the stuff you haven't tried. Of the CD players which do you prefer?

[hoopsontoast]

Out of the CDP's I would say the S9000ES, but I never had it at the same time as the Sony QS or Teac VRDS.
Its lovely considering the bargain price they go for these days. As is the CD-850, excellent reliability and CD read speed.