Vintage HiFi Audio Forum

General Banter => Welcome Wagon => Topic started by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 03, 2011, 07:12:23 PM

Title: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 03, 2011, 07:12:23 PM: I first found out about Vintage Hi-Fi from a nice gentleman in McMurray who sold me a Denon HT receiver that he had listed on CL about two years ago. (If you read this I'm sorry I don't remember your name, but your amp is still running like a champ! Thanks again.)

I was slow in finding the place, but since then I've met Tom a couple times and bought a cheap Technics receiver from him (thanks again Tom). I needed the receiver for a young friend at church who was getting into vinyl. He told me his "system" had gone down and would I help him fix it. I asked him what he had and he told me it was a Crosley USB table into computer speakers. I told him to throw it away and I would give him something decent. So I had some old yard sale finds around, a Sony PS-X something and a pair of heavily modded Yamaha NS-625 (IIRC) speakers. But I had no amp to drive them. I told Tom my story and he treated me very well. My friend is quite happy.

This is kind of my mid-life crisis. I grew up in a poor family and always wanted a nice system, but couldn't afford one. I had a friend who gave me his hand my down stereo mags (his folks had plenty of money and he had a couple systems). I used to lust after the ads. So now when I see a piece at the thrift or a yard sale, I buy it, play with it a while then give it away to a worth youngster (mainly college students in my church).

As a kid I didn't have one system, now I have them all over the city of Pittsburgh!

My own system...

Marantz 2230 (found on side of road in Sq Hill)
JVC QL-A7 (bought from a really nice guy here in Penn Hills who sold it when he upgraded to a Transcriptor!)
AT 440 MLa cartridge
KLH Model Twenty speakers (Freecycled, I recapped and used Howard Restor a Finish on the cabs - great stuff!)
Computer audio with a PC and an EMu 1212 card (sounds better than any CD player I've owned).
Grado SR-60 headphones (bought new probably 20 years ago and the best $70 I've ever spent).

Not as "Hi-Fi" as most of your systems I suspect, but it brings me joy.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: rgpit on July 03, 2011, 08:21:57 PM: Welcome Markshan ... from Monroeville

Ron
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 03, 2011, 08:47:31 PM: Thanks Ron. I've never heard a Planar 3 or Maggies in person. Just thought I'd mention it. ;)
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: SunnyDaze on July 04, 2011, 12:50:41 AM: From one Grado fanatic to another, welcome to the madhouse.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: MasterBlaster on July 04, 2011, 01:17:36 AM: Welcome Aboard!
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 04, 2011, 01:18:19 AM: I love your avatar, SunnyDaze.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Kingman on July 04, 2011, 07:48:23 AM: WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!!!! :D :D :D
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: bmwr75 on July 04, 2011, 08:51:06 AM: Welcome markshan. I hail from Irwin.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on July 04, 2011, 09:08:36 AM: Welcome. I'm also in Penn Hills
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 04, 2011, 09:35:22 AM: Quote from: bmwr75 on July 04, 2011, 08:51:06 AM
Welcome markshan. I hail from Irwin.

I didn't realize that. I have seen you over at AK. In fact, it was a post you made there about NATOE that led me to join here. That place has been tremendously helpful, but some local connections should also be great to have.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Zoot Horn on July 04, 2011, 09:46:15 AM: Hiya,, I've been there,,and my wife grew up there(Penn Hills),, sure beats the Georgia weather,, gimme snow 8)
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 04, 2011, 09:55:00 AM: Quote from: markshan on July 03, 2011, 07:12:23 PM
I first found out about Vintage Hi-Fi from a nice gentleman in McMurray who sold me a Denon HT receiver that he had listed on CL about two years ago. (If you read this I'm sorry I don't remember your name, but your amp is still running like a champ! Thanks again.)

The man who sold me the amp is Jose Sifontes. I don't know what his handle here is, but I saw him on the Facebook page friends list.

Hiya Jose 8) Thanks again!
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: bmwr75 on July 04, 2011, 10:18:15 AM: Jose (aka Pepe) is OldiesButGoodies (OBG) on here.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: schwarcw on July 04, 2011, 11:34:16 AM: Greetings and welcome to the forum!

I live in Monroeville a stone's throw from rgpit. I throw stones at him all the time. There are a lot of good "East End" people on the Forum, who judging from your posts are about the same age ;D
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 04, 2011, 12:37:35 PM: Quote from: bmwr75 on July 04, 2011, 10:18:15 AM
Jose (aka Pepe) is OldiesButGoodies (OBG) on here.

Good to know. Thanks.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 04, 2011, 12:39:00 PM: Quote from: schwarcw on July 04, 2011, 11:34:16 AM
There are a lot of good "East End" people on the Forum, who judging from your posts are about the same age ;D

I'm 44, but they say you are only as old as you feel.

I'm so screwed!
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Reverend on July 04, 2011, 01:24:44 PM: Welcome to the forum!
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: vintedge on July 04, 2011, 02:26:59 PM: Welcome to the forum 8)
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: thuffman03 on July 04, 2011, 04:36:42 PM: Welcome to the forum!
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: schwarcw on July 04, 2011, 10:53:03 PM: Quote from: markshan on July 04, 2011, 12:39:00 PM
Quote from: schwarcw on July 04, 2011, 11:34:16 AM
There are a lot of good "East End" people on the Forum, who judging from your posts are about the same age ;D

I'm 44, but they say you are only as old as you feel.

I'd say there a quite a few of the same age or even older :'(

I'm so screwed!
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: SunnyDaze on July 05, 2011, 12:27:04 AM: Quote from: markshan on July 04, 2011, 01:18:19 AM
I love your avatar, SunnyDaze.

Well thanks.

If you're going to any upcoming meetings, let me know. I can bring a set of SR325is's if you're interested in hearing them.

Or, several other cans, up to and including Stax SR-5's.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: rgpit on July 05, 2011, 07:53:29 AM: Ouch ..... who threw that?
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 05, 2011, 08:47:25 AM: Quote from: SunnyDaze on July 05, 2011, 12:27:04 AM
Quote from: markshan on July 04, 2011, 01:18:19 AM
I love your avatar, SunnyDaze.

Well thanks.

If you're going to any upcoming meetings, let me know. I can bring a set of SR325is's if you're interested in hearing them.

Or, several other cans, up to and including Stax SR-5's.

I do need to try to make one and will take you up on that if it happens. I've read reviews where they say the 60s are better than the 325s, but that certainly isn't the common take. I've also heard that the whole line uses the same drivers but different cables etc.. Do you know if that is true?

Either way, I think Grado is a fabulous company with amazing customer support.

When you have school aged kids a set of cans that you really like is a life saver. Late night sessions with a record and the Grados keep me somewhat sane.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: SunnyDaze on July 05, 2011, 11:40:06 AM: I've owned SR60's, SR225's, and SR325is's. I've listened to SR80's and SR125's.

I'll address your question first. I've never heard the older 325 model. My only experience with the 325 line comes from the 325is model, which seems to have different characteristics than the older version. The drivers in the Prestige line are indeed the same. I once tracked down the company in Mexico that produces them, but, my memory isn't what it was 5 minutes ago. As you go up the line in price, the drivers are supposedly more closely matched. Additionally, different models have different amounts of dampening material on the rear of the driver as well as the rear of the driver housing. I don't know what those differences are from model to model, nor do I care to find out with my cans as Guinea Pigs. The main cable on the 325is line is thick enough to whip a horse with, but the secondary cabling is as thin as that of the SR60 model.

When you say "better", are you talking head-fi esoterica or are you talking about leaning back in a recliner and dwelling on heavy rifts? Also, before I answer, I'm sure you've discovered that above all other variables, Grados are genre-specific: I feel they're best suited for those who've got a rock and roll heart. As I'm also sure you've discovered, most headphone manufacturers have a house sound. Grados aren't for those who seek massive a sound stage and dimensional presence. They're punchy, revealing, and raw. They make guitars do things that they have no business doing. That's a compromise I make when I put either of my Grado cans on.

The difference is that the 325's are just "more". It's difficult to explain without hearing. I may be describing what people describe as "brightness". Drums are punchier, guitars scream with more life, pianos jump out at you, winds have more life, again, it's nothing I can put in to words. It's just, more. With that said, the SR60's, being "less" are a better (albeit not good) choice for a wider range of genres. Something tells me that is what those folks are addressing as "better".

I didn't actually answer your question with anything tangible, for that I'm sorry. I'd really prefer you hear the difference.

I can even meet you at the shop on a weeknight after 9. There's enough big silver there to provide more than proper amplification for any and all Grado cans.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: gdv on July 05, 2011, 02:02:17 PM: Welcome markshan...

I three am from Penn Hills... I'm near the Churchill Side... ;)

George
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 05, 2011, 08:01:29 PM: Quote from: SunnyDaze on July 05, 2011, 11:40:06 AM

I didn't actually answer your question with anything tangible, for that I'm sorry. I'd really prefer you hear the difference.

I can even meet you at the shop on a weeknight after 9. There's enough big silver there to provide more than proper amplification for any and all Grado cans.

But you did. You confirmed that it is the same driver. As far as what the reviewer meant by "better", I'd have to ask the reviewer (whom I don't know).

You don't have to meet me at the shop, I will make a meeting eventually. I would love to hear the 325s and your personal favorite cans if you are game for bringing two.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 05, 2011, 08:02:10 PM: Quote from: gdv on July 05, 2011, 02:02:17 PM
Welcome markshan...

I three am from Penn Hills... I'm near the Churchill Side... ;)

George

George, I am in Blackridge.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: SunnyDaze on July 05, 2011, 10:01:56 PM: Quote from: markshan on July 05, 2011, 08:01:29 PM
Quote from: SunnyDaze on July 05, 2011, 11:40:06 AM

I didn't actually answer your question with anything tangible, for that I'm sorry. I'd really prefer you hear the difference.

I can even meet you at the shop on a weeknight after 9. There's enough big silver there to provide more than proper amplification for any and all Grado cans.

But you did. You confirmed that it is the same driver. As far as what the reviewer meant by "better", I'd have to ask the reviewer (whom I don't know).

You don't have to meet me at the shop, I will make a meeting eventually. I would love to hear the 325s and your personal favorite cans if you are game for bringing two.

Well, one of us will have to bribe Tom into letting us hook up my Stax (which were a graduation present from Tom) to the new Bob amps. ;D ;D :P :P
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: DJTommyK on July 06, 2011, 07:12:15 PM: Welcome aboard George! I'm in Monroeville - lots of folks from the "East End" here. :D
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: OCCD on July 06, 2011, 09:20:37 PM: Willkommen im Club! 8)
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Falcon on July 06, 2011, 11:26:05 PM: Welcome to the forum.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Dazed on July 07, 2011, 08:02:47 AM: Quote from: rgpit on July 03, 2011, 08:21:57 PM
Welcome Markshan ... from Monroeville

Ron
Welcome aboard By the way I am the guy that sold you the QL-A7. I am glad to hear you still have it I still miss that turntable from time to time
Hal :D
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Sir Thrift-a-Lot on July 07, 2011, 08:52:24 AM: Quote from: Dazed on July 07, 2011, 08:02:47 AM
Quote from: rgpit on July 03, 2011, 08:21:57 PM
Welcome Markshan ... from Monroeville

Ron
Welcome aboard By the way I am the guy that sold you the QL-A7. I am glad to hear you still have it I still miss that turntable from time to time
Hal :D

Hal, thanks again and know that your baby is well loved.
Title: Re: Hello from Penn Hills
Post by: Anders on July 07, 2011, 09:41:00 AM: Hello and welcome.
I am also from Monroeville.

Anders