HAPPY NEW YEAR!

REALISTIC STA-2080

This is a beautiful sounding, very powerful brute. I replaced a fuse inside, cleaned it, continued to work on the balance control which is now quiet, and have it driving the JBL L88 Plus 12s with authority. In researching this piece I learned that Radio Shack used at least 3 or 4 suppliers for receiver manufacture. I was pretty sure (no clues inside) that this was made by Pioneer, but the thick, green edged glass tuner scale cover reminds me more of Onkyo. I found this information on a site that specializes in evaluating the tuner section of many receivers:
STA-2080 - This 80 watt per channel analog receiver has 4 large analog meters running across the top, and just flat-out looks fabulous. It also performs well. The tuner has 4 gangs and 3 ceramic filters. Used as a standalone tuner via its line-out jacks, it sounds surprisingly good, better than many standalone tuners. This is probably due to the MOSFETs used in the preamp section.
The unit is conservatively rated at 80 watts/channel and the power meters go to 150. It sounds very powerful, clean and airy. I'm asked what difference in sound a more powerful amp makes in an already efficient system, and in my opinion air and ambience are the rewards.
This sounds great driving the Advent short stack!
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Freddie Hubbard, rest In peace.

I was fortunate to hear Freddie Hubbard at the Montreaux jazz festival in 1983, in both large concert & very small (6 feet away!) club settings. He was a brilliant performer, and one of the finest trumpet players of his generation (I've also seen Woody Shaw & Dizzy Gillespie in intimate clubs). In reality, he was THE choice on trumpet for scores of the finest jazz recordings, because Miles didn't play on other people's records (I'm just saying that Miles was more famous - in every technical/musicical way, Freddie Hubbard is anyone's equal - Miles' musical vision and bandleading was unique). He recorded many stunning albums himself. When I posted the artwork for two of them (I'm listening to RED CLAY right now) last week, I had no idea that I'd be writing this, and am sad that I am.
Drink a toast to a great.

THE

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I have updated the Advent post

Have a look. If you seek really musical sound for really little money, this could be for you. e-mail me.

"Headbanger Receiver" 1981

This beast arrived in a trade yesterday. I am going to have to look inside to see if I can determine which supplier to Radio Shack made it, but my guess would be Pioneer. It's rated at 80 watts/channel, and has just about every bell and whistle. The power meters go to 150 watts. I expect it to be a powerhouse. The balance control is very scratchy, and I'll investigate. I hope to be listening soon, and can't wait to hear the 2080 driving stacked Advents.
UPDATE: The balance control is scratchy and affecting everything. I'll get back to you on this one.

My First Encounter With Dynaco

I've read some mixed opinions about the Dynaco ST-120 amp. One guy on Audiokarma thought it was the worst he'd ever heard. There are many who love it, and I may become one. The tube cage-like design warms me to it. The early transistor design amazes me with it's warmth and effortlessness. I haven't used it a lot yet, but will. It sounds great driving the Smaller Advents & Advent 1s, I will check it out with the JBL L88 Plus 12s soon (they had there non-factory tweeter surrounds removed, and the leads need to be resoldered). There is some technical information here. This amp runs a bit warm, but dissipates the heat through the funky cage. The one I have has a gold cage which I think may be repainted back to black. I'll check and make sure it's not a rare limited edition or some such thing first!
At the same time I got the ST-120, I got an FM-5A tuner, which having an auxiliary input, a volume control and audio out jacks, functions as a simple and clean preamp. The pair sound great, and if you don't require a phono stage (or have a separate one) could be perfect for you. e-mail me.




60 beautiful watts/channel!

Stacked Advents!

In the mid seventies, The Absolute Sound Magazine (about which much more some other time) said that stacking 2 Advent Loudspeakers, tweeter to tweeter on each channel was the budget audiophile's best bet. I have recently acquired a set of Advent 1s, and a pair of Smaller Advents, and yesterday refoamed the Smallers (I did the Advent 1s last week). An awful lot has been written about the sound of these speakers. Both pairs share a relaxed musicality, and a beautifully balanced high end. After a few days with the Audio Oasis Titans, with what sounded like an overly etched high end (I think they would work better with tubes), Advent was a breath of real music. The 1s, with their bigger (by an inch) woofer have more extended bass, but the Smallers are no slouch.
So is the stack better? Yes! each pair sounds great separately, but together everything sounds more open and effortless, with no loss of imaging, and beautiful bass!
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Freddie Hubbard

Woody Shaw

A taste of this century's high end for the end of this year

Titans by Audio Oasis.
Update: 3 days later and I know I won't miss these.
Made about 5 years ago by Audio Oasis on Queen East, downtown Toronto. They use Danish Peerless tweeters & high quality (chinese Dynaudio clone) 6 1/2 inch woofers. All components are high quality (crossover capacitors, wiring, binding posts). Cabinets designed and made for these components in Toronto. Full (front to back. side to side) internal bracing, rear ported. Awesome imaging tight bass (update 3 days later: stunning bass!). Newer than what I usually go for, but a very transparent window to enjoy the musicality your Marantz, Sansui or Macintosh (!) through. Drivers are in perfect condition, woofers have rubber surrounds. please e-mail me soon to arrange a listen.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

It shocks me that this is my first post since last Thursday. I'm sorry so much time got away, but will do a lot of catching up in the next few days.
The little Revox Piccolo speakers left two nights ago to live with some Dynaco tube gear. I'm know they're sounding great, the buyer told me! I had a pair of Wharfedale Diamonds that left this morning, and with more power than I'd first used (the Marantz 1150 at 75 watts/channel, instead of say a Marantz 2226) they sounded better than I'd initially thought, but not close to the Cantons or Revox.
I spent a lot of time with the last pair of JBL L36s before they left, and will talk about why I still love them, why they are more difficult than L100s, and why they're worth the effort.
I will post soon about some post 2000 made speakers that are out of the seventies stereo time frame, but an eye opener for me.
Thanks to all of you who write and call. I have enjoyed meeting and talking with you, and learned (and continue to learn) more than I could imagine.
This holiday season I hope you all enjoy your favourite music with your favourite people.

SEVENTIES STEREO BOOK CIRCLE

I haven't recommended a book before (and I'm joking about the book circle), but this drew me in, kept me awake until I'd finished it in one sitting, and stays with me still. Many of you whom I've spoken to or met are collectors with a lot of passion and intensity. Some are chasing their audio/musical dream, trading ever upwards, some hold onto every piece along the way (and every detour). Hurbert's Freaks is about the joy and pain of collecting and dealing in something you are passionate about. I loved it, and you might too.

The L100s have found a good home.

Rewritten:
The L100s were here for only 18 hours. I enjoyed them a lot last night. As I said, they sounded identical to the L88 Plus 12s (which are still here). This morning I changed the connectors to proper binding posts, sanded and oiled them. A guy with very good ears came to hear them this afternoon and tooK them home. A gorgeous pair of L36s came nome with me. I'm thrilled to have two excellent pairs of JBLs in house. The L36s sound very much like L100s with a bit less bass extension. Lower efficiency too (the NAD 3020 drives the L88 Plus 12s with no problem, but has a harder time with the L36s). In smaller rooms, they may be a better choice (I'll yell you when I get the Marantz 1150 back tomorrow). I continue to love both.