General Banter => Welcome Wagon => Topic started by: ataudio on June 03, 2010, 12:41:06 AM
Title: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: ataudio on June 03, 2010, 12:41:06 AM
Hello all.
Been lurking around for a few weeks and thought its about time to introduce my self. I have been involved with music and audio gear since the very early 80's. Started out with a Sansui receiver, Omega speakers and some form of turntable that I cant remember....I think it was a Thorens. Ditched the Omegas for a pair of Haflers...yes he made speakers too. The Sansui was then replaced by a Kenwood int. amp. I think I had a cheap HK tuner then too. Then came the Belles preamp and Belles power amp with a Micro Seiki turntable. Excellent set up...I really wish I never sold that set. The Haflers went and in came some Fourier speakers. (Better Sound Concepts when Al had a store in Oakland). Then came TUBES !! The Belles setup was replaced by a Jolida int amp. Very sweet amp. I wish I still had it!!!Speakers are now Meadowlark Kestrels. Then the Jolida went bye bye a Rogue int amp took its place. The Kestrels were replaced by the Kestrel "HOTRODS". Then came a Rogue 66 preamp with Rogue M120 monoblocks. By far the best amplification I have ever owner!!!! The Kestrel hotrods left shortly after but have been replaced with...drum roll...Meadowlark Ketrel II's. Yes, I love Medowlark Ketrels. Vandersteen sub found its way here too. Front end is a Pioneer Elite PD 65 with MSB DAC. Audio perfection....for me anyway. From head to toe all quality products. Very happy. Fast forward a few years. Wife v1.0 leaves. Single for a few years. Met and married wife v2.0. Now, 2 wonderful girls later, my audio hobby had to take a back seat. Fast forward a few more years. Pioneer/Meadowlark/Vandersteen/Rogue just sit...and sit...and sit. Convinced I would never have time for this hobby again I sell it all. All of it...too cheap too. A couple of more years go by and while playing around on the net I run across vintagehifipgh.com. Whats this I say. Hmmm, time to stop by. Well, after seeing all the neat stuff Tom had in his store I got hooked again. Time to rebuild. Got a few decent speakers ((ADS (x2), Scott, Mission, JBL, NHT's, HSU subwoofer)). Got a really cheap power amp off CL. Looks like crap but sounds pretty darn good. Running CDP straight into amp..it has volume controls. Sounds pretty good for a starter system. Got a new amp in the works but need a preamp (see my classified ad for a preamp). During all of this I have built several speakers. Small 2-ways, a few single driver full range systems, a couple of power amps...still have the DECWARE tube amp I built as a kit. It needs fixed though. A project for another day. Current front ends are: a couple of NAD cd players. A Denon 520 and 660 cd players. A Philips cd60, a Magnavox 492 (with Philips guts). So there you have it. Thats my audio biography since 1980 to present. Current hobbies are: my kids, my music and photography. I can talk about audio and photography all day long. I'm a pretty good DIYer too. I will post a few pics of some of the things I have built soon. I'm looking forward to meeting more of you guys at the next meeting. Take care till then.
-Augie
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: Falcon on June 03, 2010, 01:10:03 AM
Welcome to the forum Augie!!!
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: SunnyDaze on June 03, 2010, 01:22:54 AM
Hello!
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: F1nut on June 03, 2010, 03:16:50 AM
Welcome and thanks for the nice introduction. The day I arrived here, everyone ran and hid.....well except for Lurch, he's too effing big to hide. ;D
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: Kingman on June 03, 2010, 07:37:47 AM
WELCOME FROM THE SOUTHLAND!!!!!! :P 8) :P
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: Slim-Shaddy on June 03, 2010, 09:35:06 AM
Word Brotha!
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: mikey813 on June 03, 2010, 09:58:40 AM
Welcome to the forum.
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: rgpit on June 03, 2010, 12:38:08 PM
Augie
Welcome from a fellow DIYer! What area are you located?
Ron
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: gdv on June 03, 2010, 12:53:02 PM
Welcome home! ;D
As the previous post asked, what part of Pittsburgh?
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: ataudio on June 03, 2010, 01:27:35 PM
...Opps, forgot to mention I live in Shaler. Grew up in North Hills, moved to Shaler about 16 years ago. Heres another trip down memory lane for me (and possibly some of you guys)... Opus One, Better Sound Concepts, Listening Post, Stereo Land, there was another stereo place in Squirrel Hill--2nd floor--guy named Paul--cant remember the name of his store.
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: thuffman03 on June 03, 2010, 02:11:00 PM
Welcome to the forum!
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: schwarcw on June 03, 2010, 06:41:18 PM
Welcome Augie!
Glad to have you join the forum!
Carl
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: MasterBlaster on June 03, 2010, 06:49:02 PM
Welcome aboard!
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: OCCD on June 03, 2010, 06:53:47 PM
Welcome to the club Augie!!!
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: bmwr75 on June 04, 2010, 09:55:20 PM
Welcome Augie. We have met......I bought said Rogue 66 Magnum amd M120 mono-blocks from you and have enjoyed them immensely. Regretfully this started a very expensive tube habit........thanks. ;D
Title: Re: FNG here...time to say hello.
Post by: BB3 on June 11, 2010, 02:17:36 PM
Welcome to the Forum, Augie. I'm glad you decided to join. :)
Take care of yourself and happy listening.---------Bill(BB3)