Reel-to-Reel

[afx]

Going to Capital Audiofest this weekend, get to see and hear some great high-end systems.  Hoping my son can attend with me. Don't have any rich audiophile friends - only way I can ever hear these systems is attending the show.

https://www.capitalaudiofest.com/

A slide show of the 2019 event which I wasn't able to attend.  

 

Edited November 8, 2022 by afx

[afx]

My son and I attended Capital Audiofest yesterday .  When we walked into the Black Ice room they were playing Sweet Home Alabama.  I requested Gov't Mule - Thorazine Shuffle.  I enjoyed the sound, played at healthy level as did those in the room.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/vinyl-reviversblack-iceklipschortofonpro-jectaudio-desk-system

 

Edited November 13, 2022 by afx

[afx]

When I said the show was a chance to hear systems I could never hear otherwise here is just one example.  This was the first room we walked into, a conference room off the hotel lobby. 

https://www.stereophile.com/content/vacvon-schweikertkronosesotericaurenderhanaultra-q

The tab for this system:

• Turntable - $55,000
• Phone pre-amp – $80,000
• CD player - $31,000
• Music streamer - $20,000
• Line pre-amp - $80,000
• Mono block amps - $75,000/ea. x4 = $300,000
• Speakers/pair - $180,000
• Subwoofers - $30,000/ea. x2 = $60,000
• Equipment racks and cables (my conservative estimate) - $40,000
• Grand total - $846,000

Edited November 14, 2022 by afx

[afx]

Treated myself to any early birthday present.  Made an offer on this Thorens TD 166 MkII turntable and the seller accepted.  Needs a little work but looking forward to getting it up and running.

 

Edited November 18, 2022 by afx

[afx]

Capital Audiofest video from one of the vendors. 

These guys, Just Audio restored my reel-to-reel.  They are about 40 minutes from my house.

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by afx

[afx]

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[Calb56]

2 hours ago, afx said:

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

Kink-FM still plays that every Thanksgiving!!!

[afx]

Got the Thorens up and running. Only had the replace the cartridge (Grado Black3).

Likely do a rebuild and some upgrades down the road but just enjoying it as Thorens intended for now.

[afx]

The Thorens TD166 in action.  Sorry for the audio quality of the snippet, the turntable sounds great in-person.

https://public.fotki.com/steelers43/audio/img-0052.html

[Calb56]

59 minutes ago, afx said:

The Thorens TD166 in action.  Sorry for the audio quality of the snippet, the turntable sounds great in-person.

https://public.fotki.com/steelers43/audio/img-0052.html

Very cool. I do miss my vinyl collection still that I gave up back in 1990.

Seems like I've given up a lot of things over the past few decades. Sigh.

[afx]

7 hours ago, Calb56 said:

Very cool. I do miss my vinyl collection still that I gave up back in 1990.

Seems like I've given up a lot of things over the past few decades. Sigh.

Easy to get back into vinyl.  Lots of used turntables on ebay.  I paid  $125 for the Thorens and you can pickup a new cartridge for $50.

[afx]

Going to 2023 Capitol Audiofest this weekend with my son.  United Home Audio will be displaying their very high end reel-to-reel decks.  Nothing I will ever own but fun to get a chance to listen to them.

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by afx

[afx]

Heading to the show later today - a preview of a few rooms

 

[afx]

Rickie Lee Jones covering Steely Dan.

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by afx

[afx]

Had a good time at the show.  The people (mostly older gentlemen) at the system controls in the rooms will sometimes takes requests.  I asked to hear this song and the man cut it off half way through - He apparently felt it wasn't proper music for his equipment.  Needless to say I left the room immediately.  

 

Edited November 12, 2023 by afx