Evolution of your stereo/theater

[stormwind13]

I have always been into speakers and audio as long as I can remember. My addiction started when I was about 8 and I watched movies on my uncle's cerwin vega at-15's. About 11 years later, I talked him out of these speakers and it started a very expensive and extensive spiral into audio insanity.

I'll start, Ill be interested to hear where everyone else got their start and the evolution of their systems, I'll try my best to go in chronological order.

Speakers:
Sony Sava-27 (blew the subs in both towers) 1999-2000
Yamaha NS-A1638 2000-2001
Marantz Studio 940 2000-2001
Cerwin Vega AT-15 (still have) 2001-current
Klipsch RF-3 (2010-2011)
Klipsch KSP-400 (2010-2011)
Yamaha NS-a1638 (2010-2011)
Klipsch KLF-30 (2011-2011)
Pinnacle PN8+ (2010-current)
Jamo D8CEN (2010-current)
Polk Audio SDA-SRS1.2 (2011-current)

Subs:
JBL S120pII (2010-2011)
Velodyne CT-80 (2010-2011)
m&k mx5000thx (2011-2011)

Amps:
Adcom GFA-555II (2000-2002)
Kenwood KM-205 (2002-2003)
Adcom GFA-555II (2004-2005)
Kenwood KA-801 (2010-2010)
Marantz MM9000 (2010-2011)
QSC-CX602v (2011-2011)
Adcom GFA-5500 (2010-2010)
Adcom GFA-5800 (2011-2011)
Pioneer Elite VSX-49TXi (2011-2011)
Integra DTR-7.4 (2010-Current)
Carver M1.0t (2011-Current)
Sunfire Theater Grand (2011-Current)

[sbisheff]

Man, I had a whole thread over on the old AV123 forum of this same thing. It'll take me a bit to figure it all out but good thread! I'll be back shortly :D

Scott

[Ronm1]

H/W started late 60's while in the USN

Sansui AU777, TU777, Elac TT/Shure V15, Akai openreel, AR 4's then AR 2ax, and AR3's. Eventually Sansui stuff went to sons and Carver receiver came in, B&O 2k with their top stylus replaced Elac, then a NAK OM5. Further along the timeline now an integrated HT/2ch Rotel 1065, 750's/200/300's mod'd PT gear, mod'd AA DDSpro, Oppo/Pio, which is still main h/w. Have always liked the 750's. the better the food the better they sound unlike many other speakers I have auditioned that become grating/fatigueing as you go up the food chain , IMHO, of course.

[stormwind13]

INACTIVES! the lot of you!

Have since added an onkyo tx-sr805 (thanks craigslist), a pair of polk sda-srs2.3tl (thanks craigslist)

[wje]

How About De-Evolution?

I stumbled across this tread as I was perusing the forum. I find it interesting that in the past 6 years, I could have provided monthly updates regarding the "evolution" of my system. Nowadays, though, I find myself more focused on the "de-evolution" of my system as I work backwards and going old-school in a lot of ways.

For many years, I thought source was what it was all about. I've had many home theater receivers of all levels. I've added power amps to those receivers with pre-outs. Oftentimes, my upgrades would provide me with little satisfaction and my wallet would be left with a bit of gaping hole. I also found myself really cutting back on my TV time and even movies - I'd catch a movie at home every few weeks, if that. My wife and daughter would catch their chick flicks on DVD a bit more frequently. However, they never cared for using the sound system to get the full movie experience and would instead, just use the LCD TV speakers.

I still held onto the system and would use it for occasional music listening and have it on if I had some people over shooting pool with the Squeezebox playing a series of tunes. Still, something was missing, or just plain lacking. What was it that had me so fascinated with audio 32 or 33 years ago that I was trying to emulate with today's gear, but couldn't accomplish my objectives? I couldn't really put my finger on it, but just lived with things in a "status quo" type of approach.

About a year or so back, I found myself getting pretty heavy into good to great headphones. My focus settled on Grado. My love for them wasn't necessarily how they sounded while stock, but rather what one could do with them in regards to modifications to really make them shine. Custom cut wooden cups, modified drivers, new pure silver cables, and even 3rd party custom drivers were all at my disposal. Additionally, I purchased a heavy duty leather sewing machine to manufacture some great head bands, that were comfortable. Now, this was where I wanted to be.

However, there still was a desire to pull more out of those headphones. Options of headphone amps in the $300 - $500 range were where I had set my sights. However, before opting for such an amp, I had come across some comments from a fellow headphone guru who had such a headphone amp with a friend who had a 30 year old retro stereo receiver. The premise was basically that the old school receiver could do everything sound wise, yet cost about 1/3rd of the amount.

My sights were then focused on the vintage receiver market. I strictly worked off of Craigslist to garner what I desired. I built a small collection - actually more receivers than I actually needed. This mainly happed due to my desire to try some of the various sound signatures of each and see what I preferred. I remember back several years, the late 70s / early 80s offered some great Pioneer and Sansui receivers. This is where I initially set my focus. I ended up purchasing 2 great Sansui receivers, a Pioneer receiver and an early 1990s Denon receiver with a remote.

The Sansui receivers sound absolutely delicious with my Grados. I can now listen to my music in somewhat privacy without having other family members judging the level I'm listening to and when I put on some Tom Waits, they don't have to hear it and think I'm fricken nuts.

I've since moved one of the Sansui receivers to take over duty of my 7.1 channel Yamaha theater receiver. I have it driving a pair of Monitor Audio Silver RS-6 speakers in Rosenut wooden veneer. Glorious speakers with an amazing sound. I feed the receiver with a signal from my Squeezebox and have also incorporated the use of a subwoofer - along with the speaker level inputs so I can appropriately use the crossover to balance the level between my sub and the signal that gets sent to my Monitor Audio speakers.

The result? Pure bliss. :angel: I've finally found what it was that I loved many years back, but didn't like as well with todays newer gear when it came to music. The newer receivers made the music sound dry and a bit too analytic to my ears. However, in my case, unwrapping the evolution of my system(s) turned out to be an experience that my ears have found to be completely enjoyable. Plus, my wallet has not experienced any recent shocks of damage.

[Mktheater]

In just 15 years I have gone through more gear than most. If I heard hype I bought it to try it. I am still changing crap out.

[HuskerOmaha]

INACTIVES! the lot of you!

Have since added an onkyo tx-sr805 (thanks craigslist), a pair of polk sda-srs2.3tl (thanks craigslist)

Come and get these F20s before technosponge takes them!

[stormwind13]

I want to, been a very bad couple months money wise.

[ucmike]

I've gone through 5 sets of speakers, at least 5 subwoofers, 3 projectors, two projection screens, acoustic treatments, wall painting (it was fun coming up with reasons why the ceiling should be black) and too many surround receivers.

This time I decided to stop wasting time and buying "small upgrades" and bought the SS18.2, hopefully ending my phase of buying one subwoofer, realizing its not enough, selling it for a loss, and buying another.

Oh, and to make matters worse, this isnt my only hobby. I also own two cars that I keep buying crap for as well. :biglaugh:

[diamonddelts]

From shelf stereo to home theater in a box to low end audio to mid-tier brand names to spend my entire quarterly bonus checks high end. And now back to lower mid-tier audio paired with internet direct and pro audio.

Outside of the physical mess all this stuff creates, this is the happiest I've ever been with my setup.