Post by sub on Jun 25, 2017 11:44:25 GMT 12
I guess it is not really possible to gauge what will work well together until you actually try putting different pieces of gear together, and that can be an expensive process - unless you are engaged with an obliging dealer, as I was back in the early 90s.
But, back to the present. Have made some changes recently with - mostly - 2nd hand gear. New to me is -
- the Plinius 2100i integrated amp;
- Dynavector P75/3 phono stage;
- Denon DL103R MC cartridge
- Blacklink speaker cable.
The above linked up with my circa 1978 Yamaha YP-D9 TT, old Oppo 103 universal disc player, and much older (circa 1995) Mission 753 speakers. I am still waiting for return of my 1997 Rotel RCD990 CD player - it has been away in Auckland for repairs, has been collected by an Ak based friend but we won't meet up until first weekend of July.
The introduction of the speaker cable last week improved dynamics markedly, so much so I was at last satisfied with the performance of my new to me cart and phono stage. Which got me thinking! I have stored away a pair of KEF LS50 loudspeakers. Bought them when they were being raged about nearly 4 years ago, they did perform marginally better than my 753s in my then set up, but not by much, but my housemate did not like the look of them, so into the shed they went.
Set them up yesterday, sitting on fairly hefty Sound Creation stands. Initially the metallic cones betrayed their lack of use for nearly 4 years and the treble was spoiled by a sort of "tzzzzz", but the rest of the sound was so impressive I persevered and after 5 hours or so the tzzzz had gone and I was hooked!
Fortunately it was a wet day and housemate is away, so played disc after disc of famniliar music, and yes heard detail I hadn't noticed before. But I did get reminded why I seldom play side 2 of Famous Blue Raincoat - it is boring! After the rugby played some CDs, and again the performance was outstanding. Can't wait to slot the Rotel back in.
The LS50s are now sounding much better than the 753s, the upper midrange and treble are amazing, while the 753s are marginally better in the bass department the LS50s are not far behind. I am astonished that you can get so much sound out of such small speakers. In the mid 90s the 753s were consistently rated as a Class C component in Stereophile, and the LS50s a Class A (limited bass) in recent editions. The imaging and soundstaging are equally awesome. Performers and instruments are centred between the speakers, but accurately placed and singers standing up are in the plane above the top of the speakers.
The 753s cost me $3000 in 1995, costly mostly because of our very poor exchange rate as they sold around £800 in the U.K., while the KEFs cost me less than $1500. So that is doubly amazing, how do they put so much class into such a small package at an amazingly affordable price?
All I can say is, the KEFs are staying in place!
But, back to the present. Have made some changes recently with - mostly - 2nd hand gear. New to me is -
- the Plinius 2100i integrated amp;
- Dynavector P75/3 phono stage;
- Denon DL103R MC cartridge
- Blacklink speaker cable.
The above linked up with my circa 1978 Yamaha YP-D9 TT, old Oppo 103 universal disc player, and much older (circa 1995) Mission 753 speakers. I am still waiting for return of my 1997 Rotel RCD990 CD player - it has been away in Auckland for repairs, has been collected by an Ak based friend but we won't meet up until first weekend of July.
The introduction of the speaker cable last week improved dynamics markedly, so much so I was at last satisfied with the performance of my new to me cart and phono stage. Which got me thinking! I have stored away a pair of KEF LS50 loudspeakers. Bought them when they were being raged about nearly 4 years ago, they did perform marginally better than my 753s in my then set up, but not by much, but my housemate did not like the look of them, so into the shed they went.
Set them up yesterday, sitting on fairly hefty Sound Creation stands. Initially the metallic cones betrayed their lack of use for nearly 4 years and the treble was spoiled by a sort of "tzzzzz", but the rest of the sound was so impressive I persevered and after 5 hours or so the tzzzz had gone and I was hooked!
Fortunately it was a wet day and housemate is away, so played disc after disc of famniliar music, and yes heard detail I hadn't noticed before. But I did get reminded why I seldom play side 2 of Famous Blue Raincoat - it is boring! After the rugby played some CDs, and again the performance was outstanding. Can't wait to slot the Rotel back in.
The LS50s are now sounding much better than the 753s, the upper midrange and treble are amazing, while the 753s are marginally better in the bass department the LS50s are not far behind. I am astonished that you can get so much sound out of such small speakers. In the mid 90s the 753s were consistently rated as a Class C component in Stereophile, and the LS50s a Class A (limited bass) in recent editions. The imaging and soundstaging are equally awesome. Performers and instruments are centred between the speakers, but accurately placed and singers standing up are in the plane above the top of the speakers.
The 753s cost me $3000 in 1995, costly mostly because of our very poor exchange rate as they sold around £800 in the U.K., while the KEFs cost me less than $1500. So that is doubly amazing, how do they put so much class into such a small package at an amazingly affordable price?
All I can say is, the KEFs are staying in place!