longtime forum lurker, first time caller.

hello from los angeles!
i've been lurking audio forums for many years...been a record collector my whole life but didn't start taking sound seriously until my first mcintosh amps about 10 years ago-- c20, c22, mc30's, 225...all thru k-horns.
heard my first SET amp about 7 years ago and was immediately converted. my first SET purchase was a pair of sophia electric 300b's that i loved.
soon after that i started reading stereophile and became very interested in shindo thanks to art dudley (who i already miss dearly!).
the shindo sound seemed extremely suited to my 'music comes first' approach. this lead me to a visit to pitch perfect and then very quickly selling everything i'd collected thus far to start financing my journey into shindo where i very happily remain.
i figure it's time to step out of the shadows and say hello since i'll be needing quite a bit of assistance with a new build i'm (slowly) working up based around a pair of altec 1505b horns and vott cabinets.
here's my current main system--
(and there's quite a bit of other gear upstairs that makes appearances in the main room here and there!)
speakers:
mod'd altec valencias w/ werner jagusch xo's. (also have devore 0/96's in rotation)
pre:
shindo monbrison.
amp:
shindo cortese 300b.
turntable:
emt 930st w/ hanze power supply. schick 9.6" arm w/ emt jsd6p cart into an auditorium 23 hommage t2 sut for the stereos. schick 12" arm w/ miyajima zero cart into miyajima mono etr sut for the monos.
power:
shindo mr. t.
cabling:
shindo interconnects, auditorium 23 speaker wire.
...and a lot of records!
-zach
IMG_4707.jpgIMG_4708.jpgIMG_4709.jpgIMG_4711.jpgIMG_4712.jpg
 
Welcome to the Haven @joyofatoy!

Wow, seriously impressive setup; I can tell that each piece was very carefully considered. I've thought about selling it all and going Shindo on more than one occasion.

I think that the VOTT's will be a nice upgrade from your Valencias. But I must say, I really like the stands you built for the Valencias.

Do you already have any of the components together for the VOTT build?
 
Welcome to the haven and awesome set up! love the TT/plinth, record collection & chair. I have been eyeing a Shindo preamp for a while but like you would have to sell a piece of Mcintosh gear to get there. Looking forward to hearing more about your journey and different pieces of gear.
 
thanks for the warm welcome! i'm trying to talk a few of my other LA listening buds into joining as well...we're all a bit internet shy!
@marantzfan - yep, i've been slowly gathering pieces for the VOTT build over the past year and it's almost showtime. cabinets are 828 which i've braced, dampened, and cut new ports for from with info that i've gathered from a million forums and old issues of sound practices (thanks, joe!).
woofers are 416a, drivers are 288-16k....as mentioned before, horns are tar filled 1505b.
i had corona quarantine ambitions of learning enough about crossovers to build my own hiragas but gave up and commissioned a pair from pete riggle....they should be ready next month.
 
thanks for the warm welcome! i'm trying to talk a few of my other LA listening buds into joining as well...we're all a bit internet shy!
@marantzfan - yep, i've been slowly gathering pieces for the VOTT build over the past year and it's almost showtime. cabinets are 828 which i've braced, dampened, and cut new ports for from with info that i've gathered from a million forums and old issues of sound practices (thanks, joe!).
woofers are 416a, drivers are 288-16k....as mentioned before, horns are tar filled 1505b.
i had corona quarantine ambitions of learning enough about crossovers to build my own hiragas but gave up and commissioned a pair from pete riggle....they should be ready next month.

Funny you should mention that crossover; I'm just about to build a pair. Parts literally just came in yesterday.

I'm putting together a big Altec project as well with Onken cabinets and some Markus Klug 1005b wooden horns. Drivers will be 416a and 291-16k (converted to 288-8k via diaphragm), so very similar to what you're working with.

I went back and forth between the 828 cabinet (ala A5) and the Onken for quite a while.

Since you mentioned that Pete Riggle is building your networks, is he doing his stock build or something similar to what he put together for @Jeff Day?

Oh... and tar filled 1505b's.... Wow!
 
I was just thinkin’ the other day about how I don’t see enough Shindo ‘round these parts. Howdy!
 
Funny you should mention that crossover; I'm just about to build a pair. Parts literally just came in yesterday.

I'm putting together a big Altec project as well with Onken cabinets and some Markus Klug 1005b wooden horns. Drivers will be 416a and 291-16k (converted to 288-8k via diaphragm), so very similar to what you're working with.

I went back and forth between the 828 cabinet (ala A5) and the Onken for quite a while.

Since you mentioned that Pete Riggle is building your networks, is he doing his stock build or something similar to what he put together for @Jeff Day?

Oh... and tar filled 1505b's.... Wow!
i definitely see myself heading into onkens sooner or later - i must admit that i've always been a sucker for them aesthetically - BUT i've had the 828 cabinets sitting in my hallway for a year (bought them very cheap to harvest parts from) so that's where i'll be starting.
re: xo's- pete will be doing something closer to the OG hiraga schematic for me...wish i could afford the crazy duelund ones he built for jeff...buuuuut....
feel free to message me directly if questions/tips/etc come up in regards to your build as the two are indeed very similar.
 
yeah, it's a truly insane turntable and it was quite a mission to acquire! i bought it from 'two good ears' stefano (@Redboy this was your fault for telling me bout the sale!!) who sent it from italy to holland to get a complete overhaul by jaap pees at hanze hi-fi who also built me the custom US power supply.
i've been a dj for about 20 years and had listened to everything on technics 1200's before my 'hi-fi journey' started. the quest kicked off in belt-drive world with a thorens 160 and then a michell gyrodec. loved 'em both but the garrard 301 i bought from nate turned me into an idler maniac.
in the idler world, to my ears and in combination with the rest of my chain, the emt is king and you'll have to bury me with this 930! (well, until i can find a 927...ha!)
 
Welcome to the Haven. I’m honoured that you chose our little corner of the interweb to dip your toes into online waters. Make yourself at home and enjoy!
 
Welcome aboard bud! Very nice system. Looks like a place you can really relax in and just enjoy the music.
 
yeah, it's a truly insane turntable and it was quite a mission to acquire! i bought it from 'two good ears' stefano (@Redboy this was your fault for telling me bout the sale!!) who sent it from italy to holland to get a complete overhaul by jaap pees at hanze hi-fi who also built me the custom US power supply.
i've been a dj for about 20 years and had listened to everything on technics 1200's before my 'hi-fi journey' started. the quest kicked off in belt-drive world with a thorens 160 and then a michell gyrodec. loved 'em both but the garrard 301 i bought from nate turned me into an idler maniac.
in the idler world, to my ears and in combination with the rest of my chain, the emt is king and you'll have to bury me with this 930! (well, until i can find a 927...ha!)
Man, I get blamed for a lot around here! 🤣
 
Back
Top