The kit we bought, our current setups

[Sjkrabbe]

Default everyday signal path: All sources run through Parasound P6 halo preamp followed by a EMOTIVA Basx A-300 to power the speakers.
Speakers are B&W 805.
Headphones are AKG K1000.

Multichoice signal path: All sources run through Parasound P6 halo preamp followed by:
1. EMOTIVA Basx A-300 poweramp - fed by Parasound RCA output
2. FOSI ZA3 class D amp - fed by Parasound XLR output

The XLR output of the Parasound pre is run through an IK audio ARC STUDIO room correction unit (that can be bypassed) and the XLR is then split into 2 signals.
One for the FOSI ZA3 class D amp and one into a patchbay for connecting active speakers if wanted/needed.

The RCA output is run directly to the EMOTIVA Basx A-300 poweramp.

Output from both power amps run through a FOSI LC30 Amp/Speaker switch - result: both power amps can feed both the B&W 805 speakers and the AKG K1000 headphones.


Rest is as follows
Sources:
TTs:
1. Thorens TD 1601 with ortofon 2M Black LVB 250 pick-up
2. Audio Technica AT-LP140XP Black with several different carts in AT-HS6 headshells.
Both TTs into this Riaa: Phono Box DS3 B True Balanced.
CD: Marantz CD6007 coax into parasound
Tuner: Argon Stream 3 optical into parasound (FM, DAB, Internetradio, spotify)
TV optical ind i parasound
PC sound goes to USB input on the Parasound.

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The latest iteration of my setup - slowly but steadily changing towards the best listening experience that I can accomplish in my rather small living room

 

[babadono]

re theft...same happened to me back in 1980. bastards stole my MAC pre amp and power amp, turntable. Tuner was in the shop getting faceplate glass replaced after movers broke it. Couldn't get my Klipsch LaScalas out the widow or into their vehicle so they left them behind. It can happen anywhere, anytime but I have been more careful in where I choose to live since then. I did not go without for 40 years but could never afford MAC equipment again.
Fast forward 4 or 5 years house I was renting got broken into but by then I had built a cabinet for my gear. Thieves must have thought it was booby trapped or something as they did not touch it...but ransacked the entire rest of the house. Roomates accused me of an inside job.

 

[RetroStereo]

re theft...same happened to me back in 1980. bastards stole my MAC pre amp and power amp, turntable. Tuner was in the shop getting faceplate glass replaced after movers broke it. Couldn't get my Klipsch LaScalas out the widow or into their vehicle so they left them behind. It can happen anywhere, anytime but I have been more careful in where I choose to live since then. I did not go without for 40 years but could never afford MAC equipment again.
Fast forward 4 or 5 years house I was renting got broken into but by then I had built a cabinet for my gear. Thieves must have thought it was booby trapped or something as they did not touch it...but ransacked the entire rest of the house. Roomates accused me of an inside job.

I was pretty sure that my theft was, at the least, orchestrated by someone within the apartment complex who had witnessed my move-in two weeks earlier. After the police grudgingly determined that I hadn't stolen my own stuff, they basically quit looking.

 

[Sal1950]

Thieves must have thought it was booby trapped or something as they did not touch it...but ransacked the entire rest of the house.

I was pretty sure that my theft was, at the least, orchestrated by someone within the apartment complex who had witnessed my move-in two weeks earlier.

That shit really leaves you feeling violated. I had my folks place get ripped off back in the early 90s when my Aunt passed away who lived in a two flat with my folks. When we came home from her funeral, we found that both apartments had been ripped off. Lesson learned, if there's a death in your family and a obit has been posted in the local paper, make sure to have someone home to look after the place during the funeral.

Best story is while I was in the Army back in 1969 and stationed in Fort Benning GA, someone broke into my car and stole a under-dash 8 track player. I called the police and made a report. About a month later the police called me and said they found my 8 track in a pawn shop somewhere local and it was returned. What's to odds on that today?

 

[Mr. Widget]

I called the police and made a report. About a month later the police called me and said they found my 8 track in a pawn shop somewhere local and it was returned. What's to odds on that today?

For an 8 track player? Pretty slim.

 

[xanalog]

From my 'awkward moments' folder:
In 1986, and a month after reporting that thieves broke into my car, two nice policeman knocked on our door to return my 'recovered' Escort radar detector.

The sad part was that my killer SonyES audio system (CDX-90/XA-D211/XDP-4000X/XDP-210EQ) is still MIA.

 

[babadono]

For an 8 track player? Pretty slim.

Hehehe

 

[Descartes]

That shit really leaves you feeling violated. I had my folks place get ripped off back in the early 90s when my Aunt passed away who lived in a two flat with my folks. When we came home from her funeral, we found that both apartments had been ripped off. Lesson learned, if there's a death in your family and a obit has been posted in the local paper, make sure to have someone home to look after the place during the funeral.

Best story is while I was in the Army back in 1969 and stationed in Fort Benning GA, someone broke into my car and stole an hank you for your service!under-dash 8 track player. I called the police and made a report. About a month later the police called me and said they found my 8 track in a pawn shop somewhere local and it was returned. What's to odds on that today?

Thank you for your service!

 

[Steven Holt]

Recently revamped my desktop setup : Topping D10S Balanced, JDS Labs Atom 2 HP amp, still currently using Grado SR225e headphones (going to work on that one). I can tell you that the Atom 2 is one hell of a hp amp, thing is rock-solid and is as close to 'straight wire with gain' that I have ever used.

 

[conman1040]

My Compact Hifi

My hi-fi system makes use of the little listening space I have. I enjoy the fact that every piece works together while being packed tight. With the room being so small, I have used a calibrated minidsp microphone to do bass mode and room corrections to really optimize the setup for the tiny space. This is definitely my happy place, this exact view from my chair. I never want to hit pause.

Almost my entire setup was selected and put together based on reviews and advice I found on ASR. You can find a review here for everything but the subwoofer and turntable.

ELAC Debut Reference speakers
SVS SB-1000 Pro Subwoofer
2x Fosi V3 Mono Amplifiers (hidden)
Fosi P4 Pre-Amp
Topping DX5 II DAC and Headphone Amp Sennheiser HD 600 headphones
Room EQ DSP within subwoofer/DAC
NUC PC running Roon (hidden)
Audio-Tech LPW40WN Turntable (not shown)
Cambridge Audio Alva Duo Phono Preamp (not shown)

 

[Sal1950]

My entire setup was selected and put together based on reviews and advice I found on ASR. You can find a review here for everything but the subwoofer.

We all build our own little slice of heaven.
Yours looks warm.
Enjoy it conman !

 

[paddycrow]

This came from my father's estate and has been sitting in my sister's basement for the last couple of decades. I remember it working when I was in grade school, but tubes started failing and he was no longer able to find replacements. So he removed the electronics and left the tuner so it supported the dial and installed a small Radio Shack receiver and speakers in the lower half. The receiver quit working long ago and was discarded.

I decided to clean it up and put a Topping PA3S amp and D10S DAC in it along with an M1 Mac Mini. I can play digital files through Audirvana and also stream Qobuz. The old Radio Shack 6 inch full range speakers sound surprisingly good.

I will use it to play music while I'm working out on the rowing machine...

 

[Johnkeizer]

 

[Johnkeizer]

That’s my current 2 channel set up.
I have the huge class a Tonewinner power amp, matching preamp, pioneer 1250 dd turntable plus a rega rp6 for when I feel like a change.
Under the dark cover on the bottom is an Oppo 105.

 

[JRowland]

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Yamaha definitely was not lying and they threw it in your face in case you missed it

 

[Johnkeizer]

A

 

[Johnkeizer]

And from one extreme to the other, a probability 4 year old Hiby DAP, 4 inch screen, about 600 cds on it, sounds divine.

 

[sergeauckland]

This came from my father's estate and has been sitting in my sister's basement for the last couple of decades. I remember it working when I was in grade school, but tubes started failing and he was no longer able to find replacements. So he removed the electronics and left the tuner so it supported the dial and installed a small Radio Shack receiver and speakers in the lower half. The receiver quit working long ago and was discarded.

I decided to clean it up and put a Topping PA3S amp and D10S DAC in it along with an M1 Mac Mini. I can play digital files through Audirvana and also stream Qobuz. The old Radio Shack 6 inch full range speakers sound surprisingly good.

I will use it to play music while I'm working out on the rowing machine...View attachment 521673View attachment 521674

Love that console, but sad the internals aren't original. It would have been lovely to have been able to use the real thing. There's a whole community of vintage electronics restorers that could gave supplied the tubes or anything else needed, but of course, that requires having the knowledge and interest to do the work. At least the visuals have been preserved and not repurposed into a drinks cabinet!

Lovely item, hope you continue to enjoy it.

S

 

[paddycrow]

Love that console, but sad the internals aren't original. It would have been lovely to have been able to use the real thing. There's a whole community of vintage electronics restorers that could gave supplied the tubes or anything else needed, but of course, that requires having the knowledge and interest to do the work. At least the visuals have been preserved and not repurposed into a drinks cabinet!

Lovely item, hope you continue to enjoy it.

S

In the late 70s / early 80s it was not possible to find tubes for it. The only place my father found what he needed was in a museum display, and of course those were not for sale. I have no doubt that I am capable, just don't have the interest to invest much time or money into it.

It's also not the original finish, my father put modern polyurethane on it and spray painted the bezel.

 

[Sal1950]

This came from my father's estate and has been sitting in my sister's basement for the last couple of decades.

It's also not the original finish, my father put modern polyurethane on it and spray painted the bezel.

Still it's a beauty to keep around, I loved those ole consoles!
Zenith, The Quality Goes In, Before The Name Goes On.

My 1939 Zenith Racetrack. still in working condition.
I can still imagine the original owners sitting around listening to FDR's fireside chats before and during WW 2