Misc Audio Equipment

[BayouTiger 100]

I had some of this in another thread but since there has been some interest, I'll move it here!

This is the only receiver I had (except for an old Bogen that I need to replace a couple tubes in and will likely keep).

Nex item I will be selling is a Vector Research VA-1400 Integrated Amp from about 1984. It is a very powerful (100W or so) unit and sounds really good. I was just rocking to it this morning and got fussed at by Ms Lisa for waking her up from downstairs in my office. It actually sounds better than my new Peachtree and has as good a sound stage as I have heard from a piece of solid state gear. I'll be selling it for about $50 plus shipping.

After that I will be selling a Parasound 2100 Preamp and 2250 Power Amp. These are likely about 8 years old, but still current models. They are not "vintage" and certainly on another tier. I will be selling them for about $600 for the pair.

Next I will likely be selling an Audio Research VS-110 power amp and an SP-16 Preamp. These are fairly high end tube amps. These will go for about $2800 for the pair. They were about $6500 new and I have brand new KT120 upgrade tubes to go in (about $900). I love the tube heat, but just do not have the room for it.

Parasound 2100/2250 (I haven't got these out of my stereo rack yet)

Audio Research VS-110/SP16

any turn tables? My sister is a vinyl addict

Actually I do have a Technics SL1200MKII that will be going for $400 or so. I will also be selling a Rega RP3 with a TTPSU that will be more like $850. Both depending on whether someone wants the cartridges or not. The Technics currently has a brand new Ortofon 2MBlue ($250) the Rega has a 2MBlack ($650).

The Technics is the most popular turntable ever made and is the favorite of DJ's but if you can get one that has not been beat to death by a DJ, they are phenomenal decks and are very hot now that Technics has ceased production after 40 years.

The Rega is more of a traditional Audiophile deck with an external power supply I bought it for $1300 last year.

I really haven't gotten around to setting prices on any of this stuff yet. I was really just checking to see if any MMFers had any interest in audio gear. I'm gonna move all this to the classified rather than clutter up the perennial thread.

[KeavDog 29]

Subscribed.

[toofart 157]

The size of your audio-fu is impressive.

[BayouTiger 100]

Yeah, I've really gotta reduce that size!

I am pretty determined to thin the pile a bit.

[StevoHemi 168]

Just got back into vinyl and loving it! Got a Pro-ject Debut Carbon TT last month.

Parting with any vinyl Chuck?

Looking for vintage

Buddy Holly

Roy Orbison

Muddy Waters

John Lee Hooker

George Thoroughgood

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Stevo

[LAN_Guru 4]

I was in the audio\consumer electronics business from 1980 until 1994 when I changed careers to IT. I sold quite a few Vector Research receivers - lotta bang for the buck. Sold a bunch of Fisher, Marantz, Kenwood, and Pioneer gear too. Mostly mid-fi stuff. But I collected nicer gear personally and used to have tons of gear because we also bought, sold, and traded used equipment so I got amazing deals\steals on stuff. Bunch of Phase Linear 700 and 400 power amps, Pioneer laser disc players, Phase Linear vertical-load CD player (one of the first made), several Dynaco ST-70's, PAS3, FM3, etc, Infinity, Cerwin Vega and Klipsch loudspeakers, original Altec A-7A's, blah, blah. I had over 2000 watts in my boom room. Got rid of almost everything. Kept my two McIntosh MC240 amplifiers, C33V preamp, two Dynaco Stereo 70's, Thorens TD147 Jubilee and TD126 turntables and a pair of mono tube power amps that were given to me by a Jamaican friend. They were supposedly hand-built in England and have four KT88 tubes in each and massive power supplies.

I also did a ton of high-end car and home installs. We were putting multiple Sanyo PA6100 power amps in cars long before it was cool. I used to grind the heat sinks on the inside and swap out the STK0049 transistors for STK0080's, add some windings to the toroid, upgrade the caps, and some other tricks. We built bridging boxes and were getting 225 watts out of each PA6100 at 8 ohms...they were rated at 100 watts. In fact, cars I did placed 1st, 3rd, and 7th in the first ever car audio competition in Atlanta. The winning car was a VW Beetle with four bridged PA6100 ams, or 900 watts. People thought it had 400 watts . Though 400 to 900 watts is only 3-4db increase.

Double the power = +3db

Ten times the power = +10db

Though a +3db increase sounds twice as loud to the human ear.

Pretty much detest the audio business now. Buncha cut throat bastards. You couldn't pay me enough money to go back to that business...or to climb in the trunk of another car!

The AR pieces are sweet.

[BayouTiger 100]

Just got back into vinyl and loving it! Got a Pro-ject Debut Carbon TT last month.

Parting with any vinyl Chuck?

Looking for vintage

Buddy Holly

Roy Orbison

Muddy Waters

John Lee Hooker

George Thoroughgood

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Stevo

Sorry Stevo! Don't know that I have any extras of those, but my buddy Jack gave me a bunch of his that he did not play any more and there are some duplicates in there with stuff I have. I can bring you those at CF if it's OK with the Col. (I'm sure he be happy for me to send them along).

Hell, I lost track of this thread! I need to pull the Parasound 2250 out of the rack to get some pics.

I hear ya LG! The Vector Research is really an very unknown gem. Mine is just one I've had a long time, but sounds phenomenal. Word is that they were build on the same OEM line as most NAD and Rotel, but that may be because they are a similar grey color to what NAD has used for years. Sound wise I would put it in that class, though name recognition is not there.

I went ahead an put the new tubes in the AR amp and I think I will keep it. Kinda silly to sell those two pieces and replace them with something that is just as pricey but lower quality. You really know what you have with Audio Research. Mcintosh may have better name recognition to the general public, but ARC and CJ are right there with them. (Mac is prettier though - if you like lots of blue and green lights) Nothing flashy about ARC!!!

[LAN_Guru 4]

You'd be hard pressed to find better pieces these days than what you have without spending insane money.

I did use some Anthem gear in my brother's home theater and was very impressed. I did it back in 2004 as a favor for him. I used my old connections and got rep sample pricing (below wholesale) and we still spent $39k on audio gear alone. Anthem AVM20 pre and PVA5 and PVA7 amps driving a bunch of high-end Triad in-wall and in-ceiling speakers. Two Triad in-wall subs, each having it's own 500watt mono amp. Two powered Paradigm Seismic 12 subs with a 1200watt Class D amp in each. Thunderous and amazing quality and clarity. The system is 4900 watts...

You know, that Vector would make a great receiver for your garage/workshop. Couple of high-efficiency loudspeakers and you are good-to-go!

[BayouTiger 100]

Yeah, unfortunately, I don't have a garage or workshop, but we'll not go there!

I actually just sold a Marantz 2220b that would have served that use better as I would use a radio more there than elsewhere (at least I do on my carport). I also have a really nice Bogen RP430 receiver that I am holding on to for when I have a use for it. I have all the parts to recap it and will replace many of the tubes, though it works well now and only needs a 12AX7 in the phono stage right now.

I have an Anthem receiver - one of the new ones with Class D outputs and I can honestly say that my fronts sound better on it at 80W than they did on the Parasound 250W power amp, and it is no slouch. I like Anthem a lot, but some of their 225 integrateds seem to have had some issues. The Halo stuff is top tier though.

If I replace my current setup, it will likely be with Rogue Audio's Chronus Magnum or their smaller Hybrid Sphinx. Not because they are better, but because they would save me space in my very cramped room.

P1310010 by BayouTigress, on Flickr

[LAN_Guru 4]

Vinyl, I see LOTS of vinyl!

There's something magical about vinyl on a good turntable playing through good tube gear.

I'm just an analog guy living in a digital world...

[Tiikirien 0]

Is that VA-1400 still available?

[BayouTiger 100]

I've still got it. I had someone on AudioKarma that wanted it, but I didn't want to ship it at the time as I had Fedex trash a Marantz receiver and I got gun-shy. I'm getting a bit more serious about making a dent in the pile now.

[Tiikirien 0]

Ok, I had the same amp before, but unfortunately it was stolen. I'd certainly be interested in it if you're willing to part with it.