Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Stereo Sources

I like home theater, love my ADA1500 LFR11OO, VP160, twin EP600, M2OW system.

But for music, I'm a 2.2 channel guy.

The most convenient source? Cox cable music channels. Pretty much CD quality, sounds pretty darn good.

I have the Gold Note DS10 and power supply for Qobuz streaming. Definitely a cut above cox.

Next up in sound quality is FM radio. The Sansui T9090 is a beautiful and excellent sounding source. We have 2 great fm stations here in Orange County, 88.1 KJAZZ and 91.5 KUSC classical. There's just something wonderful about FM.

Then there is SACD through a Marantz SA10. Pretty good, but if I'm going to spin a disc, I'll take vinyl any day.

Music with the Feikert Woodpecker and Koetsu Black Goldline cartridge is sort of spectacular.

Best of all? The TASCAM 32-2 track reel to reel.

I'm moving the TASCAM upstairs and getting an Otari M50n reel to reel this Sunday. Very excited about this.

Someday I'll upgrade my wonderful Sansui tuner with a top of line FM tuner, one made by an AXIOM family manufacturer... the incredible MAGNUM DYNALABS MD108 tuner.

Tubes of course.

The downstairs system is pretty good. Balanced Audio Technologies VK56SE monoblock amps, VK80 preamp, Wilson Sabrina X speakers twin subs, pretty good, but it needs an Axiom family addition.

Stereo is good sound!

Those are nice setups, 2x6spds.

I still miss my family’s original hi-fi setup (JVC JA-S31 integrated amp, JT-V31 tuner, KD-35 tape deck, JL-A20 turntable, and Akai GX-265D open reel player). Brushed stainless steel goes with any decor.

But I still prefer my current setup. The Axiom M5HP’s are the least flawed loudspeaker I’ve ever owned. The Angstrom Modular 6/C center was a 50 Hz capable competitor to the less expensive VP150. It has a lifted treble, slightly forward midrange (or perhaps the M5HP’s midrange is recessed?), a weird coloration that only shows up on piano, and is the first to go into compression at high volumes. My AVR’s cinema filter solves the treble lift; the timbre match then becomes very close. The tri-polar Angstrom Suono 100SD surround speakers are nowhere close to neutral but fine for surround duties. The Harman Kardon HKSUB12 12” subwoofer is solid down to 26 Hz.

I bought an entry level Onkyo TX-SR393 AVR to get 5.1 audio, 4K HDMI switching, and bass management. The plan was to find out what I really wanted in an AVR and move onto something better. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s good enough, I don’t need more power, channels nor better bass management software. I just don’t have bass issues in my room. In fact, every seating position has deep, tuneful, musical bass.

I can’t optimize for stereo without turning the living room into an obstacle course, so I just use Dolby Digital two-channel up-mixing. 5.1 wins every head-to-head listening competition against 1.1, 2.0, 2.1, 3.1, or 4.1, the whole room becomes the sweet spot, and the center image stays anchored to the TV.
https://www.axiomaudio.com/blog/dolbyprologicii (DD is DPLII but better)

I use JBL Tune Buds IEM’s at work. JBL’s sound is the Harman curve with lifted bass and treble. It’s not as neutral as my Sony WF-1000XM3’s, but deep bass down to an honest 20Hz is a forgivable sin. Next time, I’ll skip IEM’s altogether and jump straight into WIEM’s (workout in-ear monitors) that latch onto the ear lobe to prevent falling out and losing a tight seal. I’ll also try someone else besides Harman, my son’s JBL Tune 130NC’s already need a warranty claim, and the warranty process is a labyrinth.

I listen to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music through a Chromecast + Google TV HDMI dongle or iOS app. I’ll occasionally stream ripped audio tracks from my phone through AirPlay, Bluetooth, or Chromecast; my ears aren’t good enough to notice a difference. There’s a lot of issues with how YouTube does playlists and folders, but a commercial-free YouTube experience is worth paying for.

I’m open to one day replacing it all with the simplicity of a wireless flagship soundbar system when (if?) they became good enough to rival discrete home theater setups.

2x6, Agreed, Magnum Dynalab look really nice. Their amps look really nice too.

Ive never heard a reel to reel and know nothing about it. I’m sure there’s way more to it than I can imagine.

Thanks for the list of your favorites. My favorite is CDs via my Denon dcd2700.

Second favorite is vinyl, which I’m just getting into and havent scratched the surface yet. I have a very modest setup.

I’m listening to kjazz 88.1 right now! I’m inspired to get a good tuner

Did you get the 50n?! How easy or hard are the reels to source? Is there a market out there of lots of music on reel to reel?

Agreed, stereo is king. I also love my 2.2 channel stereo setup.

88.1? Where are you Mr. Kodiak? Are we neighbors?

Yes, I drove 250 miles, each way, this last Sunday, to get the Otari. The heads look new, but the unit was rack mounted, so no side panels. Puzzling. Sounds really great. I'll post some pictures when I get back.

I ordered some wood side panels so I can use it in my living room.

Kodiak, if you prefer CD over vinyl, you might want to try the $189 Goldring E3 cartridge. It has phenomenal sound quality!

Nice to see some audio conversations here.

If you are local, PM me and we'll get together. Oh, I see you are in beautiful BC Canada.

I will check out the Goldring, Thankyou. I’m always into good value and good performance gear. Appreciate the tip thanks.

I enjoy chatting audio too. I don’t really have any friends that are into audio, so it’s nice to chat casually with like minded folks.

No i don’t live in Orange County but PM sent anyway.

So, I ordered side panels from Riga, Latvia. What a mess. They didn't come close to fitting. Disputed rhe $264 with Amex. Should work out.

I bought some Maple, finished it, drilled the screw holes, and mounted them. Beautiful!!!

Sounds great. Very pleased!

I'm going to have Adrian up in Canoga Park check and swap caps, clean its gizzard, and swap out the Otari's op amps with some Sparkos.

I'll post some pictures soon.

Round head screws have to go. I'll find some bronze flat tops at Home Depot.

Great job

Nice looking rig.

Classical music isn't my thing anymore, so I donated my open reel collection and Akai player before the existence of Craigslist/Kijiji. I couldn't find anyone who wanted about 200 pounds worth of music.

Oh my goodness, that's a lot of music. 2 track or 4? This Otari will only play 2 track.

4 track. The Akai GX-270D could play both forward and backward without having to flip the reels.

I've noticed that vintage audio gear is worth a fortune nowadays. Too bad that all of mine went south by the 80's and 90's. But the Akai was still going strong by 2004. I threw away my tape splicing kit around the same time, that's a skill I never want to use again.

Akais are beautiful R2Rs. I think they used glass heads. Should last a lifetime.

Good looking unit. Nice job on the wood, it’s a nice touch. I know nothing about r2r but can appreciate the interest. My kids think I’m crazy for playing cds. But then again they seem to think playing records is cool. So who knows. Point is, old can be great and appreciated.

I agree, "old can be great and appreciated." My favorite audio gear has tubes, Reels or tone arms. My golf clubs are blades and woods are persimmons. If I could find balata golf balls, I'd play 'em. I figure, if I'm not shifting, I'm not really driving. Hence, the S2000. I'm getting there myself.

By the way, your Hafler 9505 is one of the great all-time amplifiers! Very sweet. You chose wisely.

Mr. Hambrabi, I bet you wish you still had your wonderful Akai R2R. They are hypnotizing, you know.

I love the look of vintage audio gear and a library of physical media, but they'd sit unused as a minimalist such as myself gravitates towards more convenient and compact formats. And it doesn't get more convenient and compact than an app.

Wow thanks 2x6, the hafler 9505 has an interesting history of its development as well. I don’t have anything to compare it to but it really makes my m60s just sound fantastic. I’d like to try the hafler 9505 with a tube pre and see if that ups the quality further. I’m not sure what to get really, tube pres are not cheap. The pre I have is ok I think, based on nothing more than what I’ve read about jfet and more specifically the 915 class A jfet and bit I have. But I wonder if I tube pre would be an improvement, I think yes. I could getting a schiit freya or something but I suspect the next tier up ( in the used vintage market ) like a CJ Pv5 or something is the better move…
Not sure, this is new territory for me.

Regardless, I really enjoy hunting for good deals on used quality gear. Like I said, I get to enjoy and get more experience listening and learning vs waiting until “ I have more money”. .

Hambrabi, the minimalist concept is very intriguing to me, I feel I have a vein of it in me but at the same time I feel like a really organized and prepared specific hoarder. However I do subscribe to the “ easy come easy go “ thinking. I dont stress about letting go of things. In fact I like giving things away to friends and family that could use or need something I have.

Physical media really does bring me joy for the right medium and time. But the streaming and apps are awesome for in the truck, on the go, travelling ( especially work travel ) , and in the home office. It’s great.

The Otari MX50n sounds terrific. I can't bring myself to buy an audiophile 1/4" album as they go for $300-600 each!

I record new records on the Feikert turntable with the Koetsu cartridge into a EAR pb88 tube phono stage and then directly into the Otari with XLR interconnects. They sound terrific at 15 ips. I can get an album and a half on a single 10" reel at 15 ips.

The Otari does both NAB and IEC equalization. The Tascam 32-2 only does NAB. Almost all the prerecorded music is in IEC. Both the Otari and Tascam sound great.

And ... the reel to reel cool factor is off the charts.

Tascam 32-2 2 track R2R. I don't know what to do with it. I don't think I'll put it in the Harbeth/Line Magnetic system. Hate to sell it. I think I'll wait and make sure the Otari passes its checkup before parting with this beauty.

Correction. I can get 1 1/2 albums on the R2R at 7.5 inches per minute, not at 15 ips.

Hi Kodiak

Yes, I think a tube preamplifier would be a good idea.

I'm waiting for a Cary clone tube preamp from Aliexpress.

Russian audio reviewers on YouTube love it. Will report back. Cost about $300 with shipping and tax. It takes 4 x 12au7 tubes. I have a quad of Telefunkens waiting, each one cost more than the preamp. Should be interesting!