Author Topic: NGC - Old Pioneer component stereo (Read 9355 times)

ohiorider · « **on:** February 24, 2018, 08:37:58 PM »

Some of you may remember when I mentioned having my old Pioneer component stereo repaired. Probably in 2013. It was a low end system, but it was the best I could afford in 1980.

This evening, I thought I'd give the turntable a spin and listen to some vinyl. So enjoyable to realize that the good tunes are coming to me courtesy of a needle, cartridge, and an analog disc ..... we called them LPs, I think.

I'd picked up a couple of new vinyls, Katie Webster was one. Followed that up with a much older vinyl that's still in good shape. Melissa Manchester. Circa 1980 or thereabouts. Followed up with an old Pat Benatar album.

Not sure any of these would be anyone's personal choice. I simply enjoyed the fact that this 38 year old Pioneer system, combined with Epicure speakers, could still produce such enjoyable sounds.

Bob

EDIT: I had the speakers rebuilt after the woofers barfed all their rubber suspension onto the floor. Dry rotted. The gentleman that rebuilt them was an analog guy, It was funny when he told me that whoever had repaired them previously had installed a rear speaker from a 1970s auto stereo system in one of the speakers. Talk about an impedance mismatch! He corrected that problem.

LowRyter · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2018, 09:21:14 PM »

I am still playing my mains from speakers I purchased in 1974. Norman Labs #7

The 12' woofers have been re-coned three times, I've replaced capacitors in the crossovers, replaced the grill cloths and have added a sub to EQ away from a rattle below 100hz because on the left one. The old speakers + SVC 400 wt sub sound really good to these tired old ears. Onkyo AV receiver + CD and DVD players and cable box. But I play most of my music on a thumb drive now.

I've taken my old Philips turntable to the backroom hooked to an old receiver and some bargain speakers.

oldbike54 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2018, 09:22:42 PM »

Hard to beat the warm sound of analog isn't it bud .

Dusty

fotoguzzi · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2018, 09:57:43 PM »

What? I can't hear you, my old ears are plugged up with Airpods>Ipod > Bluetooth .. no wires .

ohiorider · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2018, 10:00:09 PM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on February 24, 2018, 09:22:42 PM

Hard to beat the warm sound of analog isn't it bud .

Dusty

Yes it is! I need to shop some new vinyl. It looks so simple ..... record, turntable, amp, speakers. But this was the end of an analog era, that started with Thomas Edison. And to me, it is awesome, the quality of the sound that could be recorded onto a master, and stamped onto a piece of plastic. To me amazing ..... it came from a simpler time .... from very smart people that figured out how to put a man on the moon making their calculations using slide rules.

AJ Huff · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2018, 10:08:51 PM »

I ditched vinyl for CDs and never looked back. I'm stumped by the resurgent appeal.

-AJ

LowRyter · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2018, 10:39:35 PM »

give me USB, Bluetooth and LED lights anyday.

The brighter the better. And no clicks or hiss.

guzzi4me · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2018, 01:05:25 AM »

While I don't miss the vinyl, 8 track or cassette era I can appreciate the fond memories.

When I listen to "Rocket Man" by Elton John I still can remember the exact time that my 8 track switched tracks...I listened to it that often....

Ahhh....the good old days....

But I prefer digital....

And I ride a Guzzi....go figure.......

Ride safe and often,

Jeff

Mr Pootle · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2018, 04:20:16 AM »

Vinyl is still my main source, via a Linn LP12 I bought in 1982. It is getting to be a drag getting up every 20 minutes to change the record, and though the system is in the main room, the records have been banished to a back room, so I have to bring a bunch of them through every day, and lug them back when I’ve finished listening. Streaming is beginning to look attractive. There’s one streamer cum amplifier which can download vinyl as you play it, store it and find and display the cover art. That seems like the way to go.

fossil · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2018, 06:26:03 AM »

In another time I made my living by selling and repairing HiFi - equipment. From this time I still keep my Pioneer Amp and Tuner, my S1010 - speakers have to be refoamed. Just over the past month I bought some 40 year old equipment (thank you, Ebay!) like an old Kenwood preamp, Philips MFB - Speakers, and I reactivated an old Dual turntable my own sister (!) wanted to dump. And I bought some new vinyl (like e.g. the new Deep Purple live album). To say it loud and clearly: CD can never reach the quality of a good analogue chain. It is almost a phisolophical question: what is better? A description of the momentarily volume 44100 times per seconds in 16 bit steps or a picture of the real waveform pressed into plastic or changed into magnets (yes, I still use a ReVox for live recordings)?

Chuck in Indiana · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2018, 06:44:56 AM »

Quote from: fossil on February 25, 2018, 06:26:03 AM

In another time I made my living by selling and repairing HiFi - equipment. From this time I still keep my Pioneer Amp and Tuner, my S1010 - speakers have to be refoamed. Just over the past month I bought some 40 year old equipment (thank you, Ebay!) like an old Kenwood preamp, Philips MFB - Speakers, and I reactivated an old Dual turntable my own sister (!) wanted to dump. And I bought some new vinyl (like e.g. the new Deep Purple live album). To say it loud and clearly: CD can never reach the quality of a good analogue chain. It is almost a phisolophical question: what is better? A description of the momentarily volume 44100 times per seconds in 16 bit steps or a picture of the real waveform pressed into plastic or changed into magnets (yes, I still use a ReVox for live recordings)?

I still have my B&O turntable, Adcom separates, NHT towers and sub. Many years ago, I found a CD player that sounded *very* good. For digital.

It's a California Audio Labs Tercet III. Unfortunately, while it still plays, it has a couple of issues. The display doesn't light up any more, and the CD carrier sometimes hangs up coming out. Still sounds great. Is this repairable? Nobody around here knows anything about fixing stuff..

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2018, 07:10:52 AM »

One of my clients gave me this V-DAK digital-analog converter years ago. I use a desktop computer with I-tunes and a NAD amp I bought in the '80's and a set of Klipsch Heresy speakers.

ROCK AND ROLL!!

giusto · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2018, 08:26:32 AM »

I just bought a nice tube driven amp to power my turntable and I'm soooo glad I did. Hundreds of old Jazz, Blues and early Rock albums that just sound better analog...granted the pops and imperfections of vinyl are present....digital is so convenient....but too squeaky clean...almost dry and airy sounding compered to analog.
I too dig the Klipsch speakers.
8 tracks are a different story lol...I can remember the comical wobbling tones of mine...just never figured out how to adjust the heads that worked for very long.

By the way John

Steal your face right off your head!!! Especially for the GD recordings

oldbike54 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2018, 08:28:02 AM »

There is something about sitting in a dimly lit room watching a turntable spin Live Bullet , or Shootout at the Fantasy Factory , lights glowing on the amp to set the mood , favorite lady friend next to you . Bliss , a mood setter you can't match with modern digital .

Dusty

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2018, 09:28:45 AM »

Quote from: oldbike54 on February 25, 2018, 08:28:02 AM

There is something about sitting in a dimly lit room watching a turntable spin Live Bullet , or Shootout at the Fantasy Factory , lights glowing on the amp to set the mood , favorite lady friend next to you . Bliss , a mood setter you can't match with modern digital .

Dusty

^^^ Well, at least you still have some memory left

^^^

slowmover · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2018, 10:01:56 AM »

I still listen to my Sansui receiver with Marantz Imperial 6 speakers and Technics turntable I got 50 years ago.

fossil · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2018, 12:23:46 PM »

"I still have my B&O turntable, Adcom separates, NHT towers and sub. Many years ago, I found a CD player that sounded *very* good. For digital.

It's a California Audio Labs Tercet III. Unfortunately, while it still plays, it has a couple of issues. The display doesn't light up any more, and the CD carrier sometimes hangs up coming out. Still sounds great. Is this repairable? Nobody around here knows anything about fixing stuff.."

Well, basically nearly everything is repairable. I don�t know California Audio Labs (I fear they were never sold in Europe). However perhaps you should contact them directly.

The Klipsch Heresy! I have never had opportunity to listen to them but from all descriptions they seem to be the speaker that could make me happy - if I would not own other speakers that do the same.

Of course I also use digital sources, Like e.g. a Dell Latitude I7 - laptop with an external USB sound device made for semi-professional recordings or - if I want to stream into my house and use headsets - an aptX - dongle. The good old 64 - bit version of VLC sounds not bad! The problem is the CD - standard. It was launched at least 10 years to early

pebra · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2018, 12:24:10 PM »

I wore it all out, including my hearing.
Particularily missed are my hearing and my ca 1970 Marantz receiver.

Still haven't moved to newer music, either!

Seriously: Playing digital music via Bluetooth directly to the hearing aids is about he greatest thing since ...... (don't really know, something great)

fossil · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2018, 12:31:02 PM »

Quote from: pebra on February 25, 2018, 12:24:10 PM

I wore it all out, including my hearing.
Particularily missed are my hearing and my ca 1970 Marantz receiver.

Still haven't moved to newer music, either!
Seriously: Playing digital music via Bluetooth directly to the hearing aids is about he greatest thing since ...... (don't really know, something great)

The thing is: tests have shown that people with somewhat damaged hearing were better able to identify digital mistakes than people with unimpaired hearing.

LowRyter · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2018, 12:31:57 PM »

maybe you guys are right about analog. More pops and hisses.

Perhaps we should go pre-vinyl LPs to hand crank 78s? And a real horn speaker.

that's the ticket.

Moto · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2018, 12:37:53 PM »

I still have and occasionally use a nice Technics turntable, and admit it sounds warmer to me. But before getting too carried away about reproduction quality, I'd advise a hearing check for any here of Guzzi-appropriate age. I can't hear above 10,000 hertz anymore. I've tried doing A/B digital/analog comparisons, but doing it right is too much trouble. <shrug>

Sheepdog · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2018, 12:51:25 PM »

My son showed me the stuff all the pro ball players are buying. BIG tube amps and speaker towers that deliver sounds in a punchy-yet-clean manner and lots of volume. The source of the music doesn't seem to matter in his world...unless "scratching" is part of the sound he's trying to achieve. I gave all my LPs to my son-in-law and my CDs went into storage. My entire music collection is available on my computer and playable through some great Bluetooth sound systems in my home, shop, and automobiles. No balancing of cartridge arms, no cleaning records/CDs, and no need to dedicate huge amounts of space to a sound system and all my recordings.

I gave most of my books to the library, too.

AJ Huff · « **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2018, 01:48:26 PM »

Quote from: Sheepdog on February 25, 2018, 12:51:25 PM

My son showed me the stuff all the pro ball players are buying. BIG tube amps and speaker towers that deliver sounds in a punchy-yet-clean manner and lots of volume. The source of the music doesn't seem to matter in his world...unless "scratching" is part of the sound he's trying to achieve. I gave all my LPs to my son-in-law and my CDs went into storage. My entire music collection is available on my computer and playable through some great Bluetooth sound systems in my home, shop, and automobiles. No balancing of cartridge arms, no cleaning records/CDs, and no need to dedicate huge amounts of space to a sound system and all my recordings.

I gave most of my books to the library, too.

I buy the CD, rip it, play it anywhere I want. Vinyl was high maintenance, zero portability. And people are paying over $20 for NEW vinyl? I don't get it. All of my old records are in storage. I'd be shocked if any of them are flat enough to play.

-AJ

Muzz · « **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2018, 02:08:48 PM »

I still remember (

) listening to my friends records on his mother's hifi set which had a Leak amplifier. It had a solid state pre-amp but the main amplifier was steam. Ran rings around anything else I had heard at the time.

My wife has just bought a deck with the output linked to a USB port as well. She has just put a lot of our old favourite LP's on to the computer and USB stick for the car. Best of both worlds.

wavedog · « **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2018, 03:25:12 PM »

I still have my old direct drive JVC turntable. When I was in the navy in the 70's stacks of stereo equipment was the thing to have.The sonar techs always had the best stuff. It was truly amazing to see - and listen to. Stacks of electronics 4-5 feet high in the living room. Speakers all over the place. Lots and lots of wooden crates with LP's in them. These guys would listen to the oddest music not because they like it, but because of the sound and how they could manipulate it. It was a bit bewildering. I almost felt unworthy when I would go back to my beach house and listen to some Jean-Luc Ponty, or Jan Hammer, or Jeff Beck or Zappa on my warm, smooth sounding Marantz set up with JBL speakers and JVC turntable. So unlike todays cold digital, although todays sound quality is really improving. It is amazing. Today I don't care what is playing my music as I can't hear worth a crap, so its usually some incredibly convenient small digital device. The sonar techs were so proud of their equipment, but the torpedo-men always had the best, coldest and most beer. Guess who had the best parties.

Aaron D. · « **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2018, 05:35:01 PM »

I think my Sonos may be the best stereo I have ever had.

Kiwi_Roy · « **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2018, 06:13:26 PM »

My older Brother occasionally drags out his hand cranked 78, young people who have never experienced one are amazed at the volume those old record players have, tense the expression "Put a sock in it"
Funny our classic bike group were talking stereo today, I had never heard of Linn before, from UK I believe.

Bulldog9 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 25, 2018, 09:49:18 PM »

My wife and I held on to all our old LP's. We still have our 1980 Era Receivers as well, an Onkyo, and a Pioneer. Our speakers crapped the bed years ago, bu we kept the various Receivers going, and kept the NAD turntable, Sony Dual Cassette Player and 6 disk Pioneer CD Changer... The era of Surround sound speakers kept things going, but we mainly just used the Radio and for TV sound. About 3 years ago, I found a really nice set of Infinity Old School speakers at a yard sale, added a small sub woofer, and decided to rebuild the turntable to spin some vinyl..... All it took was 20 minutes and the need to walk across the room to flip the record to appreciate digital....... I LOVE my classic old school U2 autographed IPOD ;-)

It is true there is nothing like an old tube amp and vinyl sound, but a decent digital recording through an old school amp and speakers is just as nice..... Spend the day listening to my Incubus collection...... Set and forget. Beautiful.......... .......

fossil · « **Reply #28 on:** February 25, 2018, 10:02:54 PM »

Quote from: LowRyter on February 25, 2018, 12:31:57 PM

maybe you guys are right about analog. More pops and hisses.

Perhaps we should go pre-vinyl LPs to hand crank 78s? And a real horn speaker.

that's the ticket.

About the horn speakers you are right. Hence the Heresy. Or the Klipschorn.

fossil · « **Reply #29 on:** February 25, 2018, 10:08:23 PM »

Digital recording is not bad. 18 bit at least and a sampling frequency of 96 kHz or better 192 kHz, all is well. But the CD - standard is appalingly outdated. Just try it: make a good recording with really good mikes (Sennheiser MD 441 e.g.), a good analogue recorder (ReVox A77 High Speed), then convert it into CD-standard with good equipment and compare the recordings. You would be astonished.

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Author Topic: NGC - Old Pioneer component stereo (Read 9355 times)

oldbike54

oldbike54

Moto