reel 2 reel Posted June 15, 2003 Share Posted June 15, 2003 I was just lookin' at the picture of your system at the top of this thread.....is that a denon DP62L turntable?..kinda looks like it from here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted June 15, 2003 Author Share Posted June 15, 2003 Why yes, it is. Bought it new in '84, and just sold it (reluctantly) several months ago (I kept the Sumiko Blue Point MC cartridge). It's probably one of the best direct-drive 'tables ever built, solid as a rock, and super steady. I hated to part with it (like everything else I sold), but maybe someday I'll come across another one...who knows. Do you own one, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reel 2 reel Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 no....just always wanted one...then I saw that one in the movie ..16 Candles...with a pizza spinnin' on it. It's like seeing a classic car being smashed up in the movies drives ya nutz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 I agree, that's a sin! I've never seen "16 Candles"...I had no idea a DP-62L was in a movie. Now that I know there was a pizza spinning on its platter, I don't want to. What a waste of a perfectly good turntable. You (or anyone else wanting to own a DP-62L) could've owned that one and had a perfectly fine 'table if it wasn't for the fact that it was totally ruined! Now it's probably gone, and no one can enjoy it. Those responsible for choosing that particular Denon for their movie, just to trash it for a laugh, should be strung up by their nards and shot...well, at least fired and never be allowed to work in a production company ever again! Let's take their personal gear and throw it out a 10 story window and see how they feel. I think I may need professional help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted July 12, 2003 Author Share Posted July 12, 2003 The other day my younger brother purchased his second McIntosh amplifier, a pristine MC250 like mine! As it turned out (unbeknownst to me at the time), he also wanted to use my MC250 and bridge both amps into mono for each of his Acoustic Energy Aegis Two floorstanding loudspeakers. Why would I want to let him borrow my beloved Mac MC250 you might ask? Because in exchange for the use of my MC250, he'd let me borrow his first McIntosh for my system, an equally pristine and flawless MC2100 power amplifier! This Mac (ca. 1976) is the big brother to the venerable MC250; a high-current 100 watt per channel solid-state powerhouse that sounds as rich and dynamic as any McIntosh of this era. Granted, I certainly don't need an additional 50 watts per side with my trusty Cornwalls (I barely used 15 of the 50 watts I had before), but it's nice to know I have the extra juice available for when I listen to my pipe organ recordings to near-live levels! Had he wanted to trade my MC250 for another amplifier of inferior quality, I would have called him an unsavory name and told him where he could insert said inferior amp (he's 33 and I'm 40, and we still kid around)! But as in this case, how could I refuse another McIntosh? He's very pleased with his two MC250's strapped to mono operation, and as long as he's happy, then I'm happy as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 5, 2003 Author Share Posted August 5, 2003 My brother's dual MC250 amps, each strapped mono to drive the Aegis Two towers...an incredibly tighter soundstage, I think. I believe his Acoustic Energy loudspeaker's sensitivity rating is 88dB, and those Macs don't even get warm at high listening levels. My MC250 is on the left; my bro's "new" MC250 is on the right...they both look (and perform) like they were built yesterday! I love McIntosh (as much as Klipsch)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEAR Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 Jim, Very nice little setup,the dual McIntosh amps really are quite a show!I like the classic McIntosh look.Classy and retains its freshness with age just a bout better than anything else sold out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 7, 2003 Author Share Posted August 7, 2003 Thank you, EAR. My brothers and I tend to agree! This classic Mac design (whether SS or tube) is quite distinguishable from all other amplifiers out there, which is one reason why we like 'em so much. Although unique, these old-style chrome and black McIntosh cabinets (and also their blue-meter and glass faceplates) aren't the only amplifier designs I like...I'm also quite partial to amps from Krell (with their gun-metal grey and black faceplates), and those from Classe, Audio Research, Counterpoint, Threshold, Cary Audio, Manley Labs, Carver/Sunfire, Jeff Rowland, Mark Levinson, Cello, conrad-johnson, VAC, Legacy, Musical Fidelity, Quicksilver, McCormack, etc... My least favorite has got to be Soundcraftsman...aesthetically, they just didn't appeal to me, although I'm sure they were good amps in their day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 My dad loves tube radios! Since he was 11 years old, he had a knack for repairing tube radios for friends and family...it just came naturally to him to dabble with radios of all types. When he was in the Army from '59 to '68, he was in the Signal Corps. as a Communications Specialist, working with microwave communications during Nam (and after the war, he was a HAM radio operator). When I was 10, he built me a vacuum tube shortwave radio out of old radio parts he had lying around. I'd listen to that thing for hours after dinner, pulling in stations from all over the globe. After I joined the service in '81, my radio somehow was lost in a move, and so I just lost interest in radio over the years. In '99 my dad started his own little side business doing what he loved best, repairing/restoring vintage vacuum tube radios from the 20's through the 50's. What started as a hobby for him turned into a profitable business, which in turn rekindled my interest into collecting old radios from the past. Now I started missing my shortwave radio, so in 2002 I asked him if he'd be interested in building me another tube radio like my beloved shortwave from my childhood, and offered $100 for any parts needed (of course he didn't refuse). This past June when our folks paid us kids a visit from their home up in CT, my dad handed me a large box and had me open it...this is what was inside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 I'm like a kid opening a Christmas gift...no sooner do I open the box and sit the heavy radio up on my rack, I've got it fired up and I'm fine tuning the BBC and a talk show from Bosnia...cool! Dad's happy that I'm happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 The guts of the radio is behind the aluminum faceplate. Being electronically challenged, I assume a tube radio and a stereo tube amplifier share a few common components. Many of the parts used are vintage; all the tubes and transformers are practically as old as I am (if not older)! All the wiring is new, but is cloth-covered to replicate the pre-vinyl cladding of old wire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 Here are the specs (according to the builder): "This is a 4-tube multi-band regenerative receiver with a Tung-Sol 6SD7GT broadband untuned RF amplifier, a Raytheon 6SK7GT regenerative detector followed by a Sylvania 6F5G high gain AF amplifier resistance coupled to an RCA Victor 6K6G power amp to drive the panel-mounted 4" PM speaker. The transformer power supply section provides line isolation and supplies B+ voltage by a full-wave silicone bridge rectifier. (the only solid-state item) Multi-band operation is accomplished by use of plug-in coils. Niceties include: bandspread tuning, coarse and fine screen-grid voltage controls provide smooth regeneration control. A 1/4" headphone jack, tone control and pilot light resides on the front panel. The base is mahogany trimmed with black painted pine. The front panel is heavy-gauge natural finished aluminum with chrome rack handles. Surface wiring with vintage-style cotton-covered colored wire is used throughout." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 It may not be as pretty as a Moondog, or as exotic as a Stingray...it's just a radio, after all...But I'm impressed with it to say the least! It's similar to my shortwave radio of '72 with an aluminum front panel, but without the dial or the built-in speaker (used a seperate speaker enclosure with a 3' cord and 1/4" phono plug that connected to the headphone jack), and the base was just a chunk of 3/4" unfinished pine plywood. My brothers have asked our dad to build each of us simple 10 watt SET monoblocks, but to no avail...he's a radio man, with little interest in hi-fi audio amps. Bet he could though if the price was right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 Eventually I'll obtain some rub-on stencils for the nomenclature to the tuning/volume/tone/regeneration control knobs to finish off the aesthetics of the faceplate. Maybe a small brass nameplate to show off the builder too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 It doesn't matter what kind of gear it is, if it has glowin' valves, it's all good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 11, 2003 Author Share Posted August 11, 2003 Check out the curves on these two hot redheads! Imagine how I'll act when I finally get a tube amp for my Cornwalls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted August 17, 2003 Author Share Posted August 17, 2003 These antique "cans" that came with the radio are no Sennheiser HD 600 headphones, that's for sure, but they sound better than a telephone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEAR Posted September 15, 2003 Share Posted September 15, 2003 Great pics Jim,impressive antiques.Many of the older audio gear when maintained or restored is almost magical. Unlike my industrial looking solid state gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted September 15, 2003 Author Share Posted September 15, 2003 Thanks EAR, but there's alot to be said about industrial looking Krells and Sunfires...that gear has class! As far as I know, the shortwave radio my dad built me consists mainly of old parts, with the exception of some capacitors, resistors, and the chassis. The cans are by far the oldest, probably dating back to the late 20's or 30's. It also amazes me how long those old radio tubes last. This shortwave, along with my small collection of antique tube radios, has really got me wanting to buy a vacuum tube amp for my Cornwalls (especially now since my bro bought a 6 month old JoLida JD 202A integrated tube amp)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted September 15, 2003 Author Share Posted September 15, 2003 This lil' JoLida replaces his two McIntosh MC250s. He's replacing the Chinese EL34s with Electro-Harmonix, the 12AX7s with those from Mullard, and the 12AT7s with NOS Sylvania or RCA. The original JoLida tubes sound fine (adjusted the bias to 41mV), but every bottlehead wants to try tube rolling...mods may even come later, but not for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.