Why?

__________________
Dale, R129
W202

Like I said, I seldom get to turn it on anymore. Strange how priorities shift when you have a kid...

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Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

As you can tell from the list of my home audio equipment, I haven't purchased anything for a long time.

Pioneer SX-1980 receiver
Sony 5 disk cd changer
Speakerlab 30 speakers

1961 Motorola console stereo
1954 Grundig Majestic Hi-Fi console

__________________
Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

Well, I'm in trouble. I bought a new Superaudio CD player last night and tried to break it to the wife gently on the phone. I could not help myself, I listened to it and all of a sudden found myself in audio Nirvana. THIS, is what it's meant to be. I know I've said that many a time prior to SACD, I think this is the one. I think I'm done for at least two years. No more new audio equipment for two years! You heard it here first. Now I need tips on working through the immediate aftermath of this purchase stage. Probably the most underated skill every audionut needs.
Kuan

YOU ARE IN DEEP S%&*~T!

My 500SL is like my home stereo in many ways. They’re old, reliable, and purchased second hand. I like to think they both can still hold there own against the newer competition too.

- Duntech Marque’s w/Audioquest biwires
- McIntoch MC 7072 amps (mono-blocked @540 watts each)
- McIntosh C 29 preamp
- McIntosh MR 80 Tuner
- VPI HW-19 Junior Turntable
- Nakamichi DR3 tape deck
- Meridian 506.20 used as a transport, into
- Meridian 518 Digital Audio Processor into,
- Meridian 566.24 DAC
- Apogee Wyde Eye cables all around (analog and digital)

For me there is little point in spending big money on car audio, as long it gets over it’s OK. With a 15-month-old at home there aren’t too many opportunities to rock & roll like I used too. Truth is I'ld rather be out playing with my son anyway!

Tony

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'90 MB 500 SL

Interesting to see what people put in their MBs.

Here's what's (going to be) in mine. Purchased but not yet installed:

Head Unit: Nakamichi CD700
Front Speakers: Dynaudio System 340
Front Amplifiers: 2 x Genesis Monblock (400w x 1)
Rear Speakers: Dynaudio System 240
Rear Amplifier: Genesis Dual Mono (150w x 2)
Subwoofer: a/d/s/ 310rs.2
Sub Amp: Genesis Monoblock (400w x 1)
Cables: Van den Hul

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Rainmaker
93 500E, 43k mi, Pics of upgrade parts
Evo II Wheels on Dunlop FM901 235/45x17s
94 Facelift
RennTech CF Airbox
RennTech ASR Defeat
RennTech Chip
1st Gear Start
97 Range Rover 4.6 HSE Vitesse, Yellow, "Tonka" (sold)

Mike,
When did you get the CD plyer?

I just got to listening in on Bryan Adams' albums and wished he had a better production team ... the CDs arent' that all very clear compared to the many others we have. Pity.

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... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Scott 380 receiver (Tubes),
Technics turntable, Audioreview.com
DIY speakers combined with BIC dv62si
and low level surround sound box.
Bunch of other speakers ,amps(Luxman),
and receivers.
The variety of sound is nice.

For the cars, basics.

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

2-nad 218thx power amps
1-nad 118 pre amp
1-nad 514 cd player
1-nad 412 tuner
1-nad 910 surround processor
1 nht sub woofer
1 mission 775s turntable
mission speakers
denon tape deck
now if only i could find an endless power cord

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1992 500E silver
1990 300ce AMG
1993 500e smoke silver-sold
1992 500e sold pearl black-sold
1966 mustang converible 289
1969 camaro x11
1991 ZR-1
1972 corvette roadster
2000 dodge cummins 4x4 sold
1994 e320 sold
1987 560sec Brabus
1987 300E (my first benz)

All that.. and 'lamp wire' for running the speakers! ? ! ?

Hehe

joost kiddn'

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

Just run my computer thorugh a home stereo amplifier and 3 computer subwoofer systems along with 4 towers.

With a sound blaster live, the music can sound anyway I like. and it does.

Alon

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'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

My reference system starting from the bottom.

1 pair Entec SW-1 subwoofers flat to 12hZ with 250 amps built into them firing three 10 inch servo controlled long throw woofers per side. Moves 2000 cubic inches per second. $4200 paid $3600

Infinity Reference Standard RS-1B speakers.
twelve eight inch woofers in separate bass towers
14 midrange planar diaphram EMIM midrange drivers as a line source simulating a point source in unique D'apolito array. 6 front firing EMIT tweeters and 2 rear firing EMITS. $6600 paid $2650

Custom modified Infinity crossover with Gold RCA's

a pair of bryston 4b amps 250 per channel 1000 total $4400
paid $1500

Wadia 860 CD player $7995 paid $7000

VPI TNT junior turntable. Graham arm- Koetsu rosewood cartridge.
$$$
Lots of cable + interconnects that I am too embarrassed to mention.

This sounded amazing . Most good systems will sound real about 5% of the time or less. A really good home audio high end system will sound real 15-20% of the time.

This sounded real about 80% of the time and occassionally 100% of hte time with a good recording. My friends would hear it at low levels and cranked and start grinning because it was just so unbelieveably good.

I would leave and return after vacation and always be blown away by it.

SO WHAT HAPPENED? TO THE SYSTEM?



The E500 happened.

I made the crucial mistake of test driving one. Dumb dumb dumb.

The Infinity speakers sold on EBAY for $5500 not bad after 17 yrs.
The Brystons got sold for $3600 not bad after 20yrs.
The Entecs are being sold for $2000 not bad after 14 yrs.
The Wadia is up for sale at $3700. not so hot after 4 yrs.

Now I have a Wadia 860 that runs into a McIntosh Amp that powers a set of ProAc response 1Sc speakers. Guess what? I don't listen to it much any more.

It is hard to get excited about driving a Dodge Neon if you've owned a nice Benz. Same thing goes for stereo. The Wadia 860 and the Infinity Rs-1b's along with the Entecs were the Gestalt of stereo and then will all the trimmings.

If I do it again- I have to look at like my car. I owned an E500 which was totaled. I tried to own another car. Drove the C46 and S4. It just had to be another E500.

So I know in my heart I'll need to get another set Of Infinity RS-1b's the new Quad reissues are tempting but they won't have the sheer impact and incredible dynamics.

Want to hear good audio? Go to Lyric highfi in NYC and talk to Lenny. Make sure you start out with a system starting around 20K. You may feel like you felt when you test drove an E500/500E....you have to buy it. Looking for something unusual? Hit Mark Levinson's store next to the Whitney Museum- Red Rose music.

Life is full of hard choices!

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD