Other Hobbies?

[sgt brad]

Mark,
I should have pegged you for a hifi guy. I just spent the past few months redoing my reference stereo around a new set of gallo reference3.5 speakers and audible illusions tube pre amp. I actually find critical listening more enjoyable than even driving top down in the box... Regards to your family...
Brad

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by sgt brad

Mark,
I should have pegged you for a hifi guy. I just spent the past few months redoing my reference stereo around a new set of gallo reference3.5 speakers and audible illusions tube pre amp. I actually find critical listening more enjoyable than even driving top down in the box... Regards to your family...
Brad

Audible Illusions ! I had one of their MC cartridge "set-up" amps back in the day.

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by sgt brad

Mark,
I should have pegged you for a hifi guy. I just spent the past few months redoing my reference stereo around a new set of gallo reference3.5 speakers and audible illusions tube pre amp. I actually find critical listening more enjoyable than even driving top down in the box... Regards to your family...
Brad

Regards back Brad, hoping things are going well for you and the family. You and JD have more eclectic (expensive) tastes than I do, or more accurately, I'm too cheap.

My family room / home theater set-up is a high end Onkyo receiver with Paradigm Reference speakers F & R and two Klipsch subs, not the best but good enough for me.

I am amassing a nice set-up (from the 70's) to put somewhere in our next house. Trying to catch deals on CL but they're tough to come by, the good stuff either is bought literally in minutes or people are asking ridiculous money.

[sgt brad]

I listened to a 150k 2channel system a couple months ago before I bought my gallos. If anyone thinks p cars are a hobbyist money pit they need to check out some of the audiophile websites. It's even gotten to the point where guys are spending 60+ a pop on fuses! Fuses folks...makes a raby motor at 20k seem like easy money...

Fwiw that old marantz gear is uber desirable, don't make it out like jd and I have fancier taste!

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by sgt brad

I listened to a 150k 2channel system a couple months ago before I bought my gallos. If anyone thinks p cars are a hobbyist money pit they need to check out some of the audiophile websites. It's even gotten to the point where guys are spending 60+ a pop on fuses! Fuses folks...makes a raby motor at 20k seem like easy money...

Fwiw that old marantz gear is uber desirable, don't make it out like jd and I have fancier taste!

I hear you. I was shooting the breeze last week with the tech from a local repair shop who aligned the FM section on another older Marantz I have, he showed me some of the crazy high end stuff. They had a turntable that listed for $27k, I looked at him like he was from Mars when he told me that.

You are also right on some of the gear getting expensive, ebay has driven that market wonky. Certain equipment that could be easily had for $150 to $250 3 to 5 years ago now commands $750 to $2k depending on condition.

There is definitely a reason for it though, some of the older stuff absolutely puts to shame the newer offerings. I remember you (Sgt Brad) noticing the NAD receiver in my garage a couple of years ago, it is a 7250PE model with 50 wpc and it completely decimates the 140 wpc my new Onkyo puts out, but with Home Theater you gotta have the HDMI inputs.

One thing I have tried to incorporate into anything I collect recently, keep with things that tend to appreciate in value. I REALLY wish I had more garage space, I'd be snapping up more air cooled 911's (the right ones). One the 993 forums I frequent when a nice example comes up for sale it is common for them to sell for asking price within hours if not minutes, they are getting very pricey.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by coreseller

I hear you. I was shooting the breeze last week with the tech from a local repair shop who aligned the FM section on another older Marantz I have, he showed me some of the crazy high end stuff. They had a turntable that listed for $27k, I looked at him like he was from Mars when he told me that.

You are also right on some of the gear getting expensive, ebay has driven that market wonky. Certain equipment that could be easily had for $150 to $250 3 to 5 years ago now commands $750 to $2k depending on condition.

There is definitely a reason for it though, some of the older stuff absolutely puts to shame the newer offerings. I remember you (Sgt Brad) noticing the NAD receiver in my garage a couple of years ago, it is a 7250PE model with 50 wpc and it completely decimates the 140 wpc my new Onkyo puts out, but with Home Theater you gotta have the HDMI inputs.

One thing I have tried to incorporate into anything I collect recently, keep with things that tend to appreciate in value. I REALLY wish I had more garage space, I'd be snapping up more air cooled 911's (the right ones). One the 993 forums I frequent when a nice example comes up for sale it is common for them to sell for asking price within hours if not minutes, they are getting very pricey.

You need to track down a nice early 80's Tandberg 2045, 2060 or 2080 receiver.

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

You need to track down a nice early 80's Tandberg 2045, 2060 or 2080 receiver.

I have one more receiver on my radar, actually 2, only one of which I would buy then say stop; Marantz 2600 or Pioneer SX1980. In my case it is somewhat sentimental / connected to my youth, I bought a Marantz 2285B receiver new from Service Merchandise in 1979 and helped a buddy next door to me purchase a similar powered Pioneer unit. We were both totally geeked up about it at the time, weird I know, but so am I.

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by sgt brad

I listened to a 150k 2channel system a couple months ago before I bought my gallos. If anyone thinks p cars are a hobbyist money pit they need to check out some of the audiophile websites. It's even gotten to the point where guys are spending 60+ a pop on fuses! Fuses folks...makes a raby motor at 20k seem like easy money...

Fwiw that old marantz gear is uber desirable, don't make it out like jd and I have fancier taste!

I"ve witnessed turntables alone costing $150K. In fact, some of these uber systems involve high 5 figure money just on cables and interconnects.