Jared's Audio

[audiobiker]

Good afternoon everyone. I wanted to take a moment to share my first systems and what I have progressed to today.

My first adventure into hifi consisted of a recapped Yamaha CR-400 integrated, SAE TWO EQ10 equalizer, Pioneer CT-W830R cassette deck, Hatachi HT-350 turntable, and a pair of Acoustic Research AR-2A speakers that I restored. Funny story on those speakers, I picked them up from a buddy's pawn shop for free because they were vinyl painted white by what looked to be by a 5 year old. They were missing the grills but the cabs and speakers were in great shape with loads of dust on them. After taking them home, I pulled all the speakers and stripped the cabs which revealed a very nice, solid, pine cabinet. I decided to stain them a nice darker cherry color and clear coat them. After cleaning up the speakers, cleaning the tone pots on the rear, and re-sealing the speakers to the cabs, me and the wife created some as-close-to-factory grills which turned out as good as you can get. Here's a pic. If you interested in reading the restore thread I created on the AR's, here is the link: http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=6718&hl=ar2a
http://imageshack.com/scaled/medium/713/5q02.jpg

Me and the family then moved to a much bigger place which gave me room to expand. My version 2.0 consisted of a recapped Pioneer SX-636 integrated, Dual 621 turntable, Onkyo TA-W200 cassette deck, Heath AD-2530 CD player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, Acoustic Research Classic 5's, Monster HTS 1650 power conditioner, Definitive Technology Supercube Reference subwoofer, Monster THX-1000 speaker cable, and AudioQuest and MIT AVt 3 interconnects.
http://imageshack.com/a/img853/8164/housepics1.jpg

Version 3.0 included a DBX BX-3 MKII power amp, ADCOM GTP-500II preamp, Kenwood KD-2077 turntable, Yamaha EQ-500 equalizer, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, and Bozak B-305's with modified crossovers, new internal wiring, and new 5 way gold plated binding post.
http://imageshack.com/a/img692/8384/main2iu.jpg

Version 4.0 included a DBX BX-3 MKII power amp, ADCOM GTP-500II preamp, Kenwood KD-2077 turntable, Yamaha EQ-500 equalizer, Technics RS-631 cassette deck, Akai GX-365D r2r player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
http://imageshack.com/a/img138/2598/mainupdate3.jpg

Version 5.0 consisted of a Pioneer SX-636, Ariston RD-80 SL with an Audio-Technica AT13EA cartridge, Technics RS-631 cassette deck, Akai GX-365D r2r player, Acoustic Research AR-2A's, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
http://imageshack.com/scaled/medium/827/jv98.jpg

Version 6.0 happened around Christmas time and required some slimming down to work with the big Christmas tree. This setup consisted of the Pioneer SX-636, Ariston RD-80 SL with a Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, Technics RS-631, and Klipsch Cornwall II's.
http://imageshack.com/scaled/medium/690/3qtj.jpg

Version 7.0 adventured into the world of tubes. It consisted of a Magnavox 185 tube amp, Sir.Byrd passive preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Akai GX-365D, Technics RS-631, and the Klipsch Cornwall II's.
http://imageshack.com/a/img607/7391/setup3.jpg

Version 8.0 consisted of a pair of rebuilt and modded Dynaco MK III monoblock tube amps, Sir.Byrd passive preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Akai GX-365D, Technics RS-631, and a pair of SoundLab Dynastat speakers.
http://imageshack.com/a/img202/628/23732621.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img16/2766/76171750.jpg

Version 9.0 consisted of a pair of Dynaco MK III monoblock tube amps with Sir.Byrd custom made mahogany trim, Tomcat Merlita tube preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Music Hall MMF Phono Pack, Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11, SoundLab Dynastats, and Nordost Blue Heaven bi-wire cables.
http://imageshack.com/scaled/medium/7/po73.jpg

Version 10.0 consisted of a monster Parasound HCA-2205A power amplifier, Yamaha CA-810 pulling preamp duty, Ariston RD-80 SL, Yaqin MS-22B tube phono preamp, Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11, and SoundLab Dynastats.
http://imageshack.com/a/img194/5953/1367340001310.jpg

Version 11.0 consisted of the Parasound HCA-2205A power amp, Parasound AVC-2500 preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL, Yaqin MS-22B tube phono preamp, Monarchy NM24 tube DAC, Sonos Connect, Belkin PF-60 power conditioner, SoundLab Dynastats and some Linn K400 bi-wire speaker cable.
http://imageshack.us/a/img96/8657/1370201853974.jpg

......and the current Version 12.0! What I am currently running is a Parasound HCA-2205A, Emotiva RSP-2 preamp, Ariston RD-80 SL with a Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge and a Grado Master Reference cartridge on backup, Jasmine LP 2.0 phono preamp, Monarchy NM24 tube DAC, Sonos Connect, Onyx Strata Mini speakers, KnuKonceptz interconnects, toslink, and custom 6ga power cables. I also picked up a couple slabs of granite to stick under the turntable and speakers.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/03/evypamu8.jpg

Thanks for taking the time to go through my hifi journey with me. As you well know, the journey is far from over as this is a continually changing hobby to search for the perfect sound!

Cheers,
Jared

[Thing Fish]

I love the view from version 7...:stalks:

Nice pictures of your journey and some quality kit...:)

[Ali Tait]

Nice view!

[loo]

Hi Jared some vey nice equipment you have there and have had ,especially like the range of speakers
and that view:stalks:
Paul

[Idlewithnodrive]

How can you possibly listen to music, regardless of the quality of the kit, with that view ?

[audiobiker]

Thanks for the compliments :thumbsup: The sound compliments the view :D

[Barry]

Wow! That's some audio journey - thanks for sharing! :)

[pjdowns]

Hi Jared,

Thanks for the run-down of your Hifi Journey. I see you had a Yamaha CR-400. I started my Hifi journey with a Yamaha CR-600 that was given to me from my Dad and it was a wonderful Receiver...

Paul.

[Stubies]

Amazing story and journey. Thanks for sharing it!

I cant imagine the time and dedication you must have.

I hear a voice inside my head "Focus on the journey Grasshopper, not the destination." - the Tao of Sound

[AlfaGTV]

Very nice kit Jared, and excellent photography! Particularly like your HDR pics with the big panorama window!
Can you tell us what we're seeing? (Where, to be more correct)

Regards Mike

[Audio Al]

:stalks::eek::stalks::eek::stalks::eek::stalks::ee k::stalks::eek:

Not saying anything else :D

[audiobiker]

Thanks again everyone for the compliments. Seeing as how I spend a lot of time doing college homework in the evening when the house is asleep, I invested in a Fiio E17 DAC, an Einar VC-01i balanced headphones amp, and a pair of Sennheiser HD 380 Pro cans. It is one sweet sounding combo for those late nights.

[audiobiker]

Update! The main system consists of a JWN push-pull-parallel power tube amp, Bottlehead tube preamp, JVC QL-Y66F turntable with a freshly rebuilt Grado Reference Master cartridge, Choseal speaker cable, and ADS L880 speakers. I've put the Onix Strata Mini's on break for little while and am playing with a few different flavor of speakers.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/20/ajunupab.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/08/20/ejyha3a2.jpg

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement!

Cheers,
Jared

[audiobiker]

Forgot to add that I finally got a satisfactory setup for hours of listening bliss in the office at work. Source is my computer running my high res files and Spotify. For now, I am using a FiiO E17 Alpen USB DAC which is then connected to a DIY 6N3 tube preamp in a custom wood cabinet. The amplifier is a DIY TPA3116 also in a matching wood cabinet. Speakers are Fostex FE103-SOL-8 50th anniversary limited edition 4in drivers in custom 6 liter bamboo and jatoba cabinets. I am also running a Polk 10in subwoofer under the desk crossed over at 85hz to cover the lower freqs.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/10/16/ehyvytes.jpg

[Macca]

I like that office set up. And you have AFVs and a baby on your computer! I like that keyboard too, what is that?

[audiobiker]

I like that office set up. And you have AFVs and a baby on your computer! I like that keyboard too, what is that?

Thanks for the compliments! The keyboard is a Logitech K310 washable keyboard. It's an awesome keyboard with great shortcut keys.

[RichB]

What an excellent gallery. Top marks sir.

[audiobiker]

What an excellent gallery. Top marks sir.

Thank you :)

[Lee1976]

WOW that night view is amazing. I can imagine myself there with light off listening to something good looking out of the window.I am envious of you sir. Thanks for sharing you systems and music room.

[audiobiker]

WOW that night view is amazing. I can imagine myself there with light off listening to something good looking out of the window.I am envious of you sir. Thanks for sharing you systems and music room.

Thanks! I do get to do that every once in a while after the kids get to bed and it's quite in the house.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/10/27/e3y2edys.jpg

[Andrei]

Just seen this thread: it surely earns the palm for the most fascinating journey. Thank you so much for sharing!

[costerdock]

Great setup - I really like the view and setup from version 7