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Jeff Mackwood's "Classic" Stereo Set-Up

D

Deleted member 133

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I've talked about a number of '70s era components that I had saved / salvaged / acquired and recently refurbished. These were all part of my first true hi-fi stereo set-up. I've stated that, for nostalgia reasons (and shits and giggles) I was going to put it all back together again, one last time, for one last listen.

That I have done.

I would have done so earlier but I don't have space in any room to do so - without incurring Gen's wrath. With the exception of my main HT.

After all it does offer the best treated surroundings in the house - and if I'm going to do that '70s system any justice, it deserves a good home.

So I unfolded a folding table and plunked it down at the front of the HT.

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In preparation for the occasion, I ordered a set of "On Stage" foam pads which have been placed on top of the Koss CM/1020 speakers, on to which I placed the refurbished original Bose 301 speakers.

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These allow the 301s to be angled down at my seating position. They are as effective as Mopads, but considerably less expensive (and available in a variety of widths - the one chosen being perfect for this job.)

The heart of the system is the refurbished Pioneer SX-750 stereo receiver - sporting a mighty 50 W/ch.

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Signal sources initially included FM (with a brand new antenna connected to its rear terminals) and the Akai GXC-325D fully-refurbished cassette deck

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as well as the Pioneer PL-510 turntable (with an ADC cartridge of some sort).

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FM was tuned to CHEZ106 - fittingly the first rock station that that receiver was ever tuned to. I played a pre-recorded cassette as it was the first one with Dolby B that I could lay my hands on. (The Akai predates Dolby C.) And I spun Elton's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on the turntable.

They all sounded ok - pretty much as I remember those formats sounding on that system.

But I couldn't help feeling that none of those formats were doing either the receiver, or the Bose 301s, justice.

So I connected my iPod Touch - loaded with 320MP3s.

...next post...
 
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I played several files and I must say things sounded a lot better. Hey! I'm not talking miracles here, but those reconed woofers did reasonable justice to Tove Lo's Talking Body. Not hitting those low low fundamentals - but pretty solid down to there.

Anyhow, I'm going to listen to it for a few more days, and then it will all get boxed up again, until I figure out what to do with it next. I've already got two full systems out on loan to my daughters, so I don't have anyone in mind yet. Heck vinyl (and cassette) are apparently only getting hotter, so I'm sure someone locally could be trusted to treat it right and enjoy it.

Jeff
 
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