About 3 years ago, I got my beloved 1981 vintage MCS integrated amp back from a year long wait from a guy who specializes in restoration of quality vintage audio gear. When I picked it up from his garage shop, he gave me the final performance print out of specs and told me that he was "surprised" at just how good my amp was. From a guy who does McIntosh and Marantz work. Since then, it has graced our living room and provided renewed enjoyment for our house. Last year my old Proformance linear tracking decided it did not want to operate and after several email exchanges with the same tech, decided it was simply beyond repairs. So a search for a replacement began. After considerable research at what was in my budget (and reading a bunch of threads here) settled on a Music Hall Classic as what I felt was my best option in sub $1k turntables. I found a great audio shop in Kalamazoo, Kazoo Audio that was an AD. I chose an upgraded Grado Red cartridge for it.

After a couple weeks, we are really enjoying listening to my vinyl collection again. It really is a nice addition to my system and has exceeded my expectations. I'd post a picture but I need to relocate the mount for our TV so that it clears the higher dust cover of the turntable.

I know some of you have incredible systems but I'm pretty happy with what I've put together and maintained over the years.

The only downside to this is now I need to start saving for a pair of Klipsch Heresey IV speakers to upgrade my original ones.

Congrats, Brad! I'm always interested in hearing about audio gear and people's systems.

I'm starting an initial search into a new set of speakers. I'm still in the internet research stage and haven't been out to listen to any yet.

Congrats Brad!

Nice!! Good call IMHO. Music Hall was on my short list. Wife let me splurge and I ended up going with a GEM Dandy PolyTable w/10" Jelco tonearm and a Nagaoka MP-200 cart. Eventually, I'll add a Hana EH MC cart to the stable.


Rick

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RIC.45,

Thank you so much for posting this Brad.

quote:

Originally posted by RIC.45:
Nice!! Good call IMHO. Music Hall was on my short list. Wife let me splurge and I ended up going with a GEM Dandy PolyTable w/10" Jelco tonearm and a Nagaoka MP-200 cart. Eventually, I'll add a Hana EH MC cart to the stable.


Rick

That's a cool looking turntable. Nice choice!

There's been quite a bit of discussion about turntables on SF. I recently got my old turntable out of storage.
It's a Dual 701 -- the direct drive style. It has no cartridge installed, so I'm looking into getting a used V14 III body that mounts in a Dual head, and a new stylus. I had a Stanton 681EEE in the past.

Pretty much the only reason that I would ever build a "dream home"
Would be to have a 24'x 24'
Music / theatre room
That would include a nice audio set up.

I sold mine in the early
80's.
Happy listening

I bought a Dual 1229 with base and cover in about 1973. I used it until about 25 years ago. It’s sitting in my office waiting for me to set it up. Some day.

That's a beautiful turntable.

I still have and use my Elac Benjamin Miracord 50H that I bought in about 1970. Maybe not high end for serious audiophiles, but it was a lot for a 17 year-old still in high school. Coupled with my Sansui Model Eight receiver and a pair of walnut cabinet three-way speakers with 12-inch woofers, I had the best stereo system of anyone I knew. Until a good friend of mine went McIntosh a few years later. But that's another story.