tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post167621489986863088..comments2023-03-24T08:49:34.359-06:00Comments on On The Road To Patzcuaro, Mexico......: My Old Stereo AmplifierTanchohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11196129338636347646noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-66876938080345133012011-03-04T10:10:05.671-06:002011-03-04T10:10:05.671-06:00Yes Pat, the smell of soldering flux hitting the c...Yes Pat, the smell of soldering flux hitting the components, using a solder sucker to remove the old part and solder....truly therapeutic, then when the job was done, you could stand back and feel that you actually accomplished something, sort of resurrecting a Phoenix from the ashes....<br />Not anymore.....<br />I still have my tools, but lack that motivate to tare into something nowadays because the last time I tried it, it was such a hassle finding parts. And when you do, since there are no longer local parts houses, you have to contend with minimum orders of 25 dollars or more for a 2.75 cent part.<br />Often the shipping costs 8 or 10 bucks, so you do the math.<br />I can definitely tell the difference of the digital audio vs analog on both vinyl and cd's which is a little difficult at times, but what is real easy to detect is when you listen to Satellite radio or Internet radio you can tell in a nanosecond....Tanchohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196129338636347646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-22802185067161893552011-03-04T00:11:05.682-06:002011-03-04T00:11:05.682-06:00Hey Tancho, I used to work for a two-way radio sho...Hey Tancho, I used to work for a two-way radio shop where we repaired everything to the component level. I would repair stereo gear for myself and my friends by replacing components with the ECG/Sylvania equivalents. That cross reference manual was my best friend! Of course that was when the first cellular phones cost $1,500 and they were mounted in the trunk. But wait - you probably already know this... <br /><br />I went all through the audiophile stereo component phase, paying $300 for phono cartridges that immediately started eating up the vinyl on my records. Maybe (no, definitely) my hearing has deteriorated since then, but digital music sounds just fine through my current 5.1 surround Yamaha receiver with Klipsch speakers to me. And there's no question that the convenience of digital music distribution beats the hell out of the way we used to buy and store records. I contend that the only way you can tell analog music from high sample rate digital is by the pops and clicks on an LP or the tape hiss on a R-R or cassette. The problem is that recent generations only know music through highly compressed MP3s over tinny earphones. They've never had the experience of true high fidelity sound. Plus the music sucks. But that's another story...Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-58102394612862937442011-03-01T17:48:30.120-06:002011-03-01T17:48:30.120-06:00Anytime an appliance or electronic item fritzes ou...Anytime an appliance or electronic item fritzes out, mind you we do not have anything real new, I take it down to the Latin section of town, there are several strip malls that have electronics, maybe a jewlery store, a money order transfer joint, a grocery store, a video place that sells pirated cd's and dvd's, and two or three restaurants. For some reason they have the ability to repair stuff cheap, then, I go next door to buy stuff for dinner and walk out saving at least 40% over the big chain supermarkets, a real deal of you ask me.<br />HD Fla.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-55594856672758940102011-02-27T07:03:57.302-06:002011-02-27T07:03:57.302-06:00Those tube amps are still the top-of-the-line in a...Those tube amps are still the top-of-the-line in audio (with solid state power supplies however). Digital may never meet the sound quality of vacuum tubes - Great story about the repair job!Calypsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705486544074674388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-82795161005057249902011-02-26T21:42:11.435-06:002011-02-26T21:42:11.435-06:00I still use my Thorens turntable and HH Scott prea...I still use my Thorens turntable and HH Scott preamp and amplifier, powering some KLH 11 speakers. This stereo will outperform anything that is made today.<br />I just hope it never fails, since I haven't seen a repair shop in years.<br />When I can't crank it up, I will place some Koss Pro4 headphones on, and sit enjoying sound!JerryLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-42438852134083213292011-02-26T20:57:57.914-06:002011-02-26T20:57:57.914-06:00I don't know about you, Dan, but I can instant...I don't know about you, Dan, but I can instantly tell if the audio source is from an analog source. Maybe it is the warmer sound, or perhaps built in miniscule distortion, but I also love vinyl and also reel to reel. <br />I have a extensive collection of 4tract stereo on 10 1/2 reels of broadcast remotes I did, and still enjoy them to this date. I do notice of few more drop outs, than before, but the sound is great!<br />I still have lots of analog boards and amplifiers and stuff in storage, I thought that I would bring it down here, but I think time is running out, It would take me too long to set up the board, with turntables, recorders, all the fund stuff.....<br />Sad that all the sources like on FM are all automated digital stuff, so no longer are there decent programs on FM anymore.<br />Yep, I gave the tech a nice propina which will buy him a nice brewsky. I am sure that in the future I will have more stuff for him......Tanchohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196129338636347646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-26625416622394452912011-02-26T20:00:29.888-06:002011-02-26T20:00:29.888-06:00Pioneer sx1000-tx amp, pioneer pl-41 turntable,CS-...Pioneer sx1000-tx amp, pioneer pl-41 turntable,CS-33 speakers, Teac 7010 & Akai 360-D R-R's and a Sansui reverb unit - All STILL working and used weekly if not daily during the summer! I have almost the same amount of vinyl and tape selections as I have stuffed the Ipod with! Tancho, you really cannot beat the sound of the older gear. Digital is fab for portability, but there is something magical about the way Sinatra, Piaf, or even T-Rex sounds on vinyl! In my neck of the woods, I doubt that this gear can be repaired! It took me a month just to find new belts for the turntable! So finding a decent and knowledgeable tech in your back yard is fantastic! Hope you bought him a beer when you paid the bill!<br />Cheers!<br />Dan in NCDan in NChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08863090182812197749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-91106267687828822142011-02-26T18:15:01.385-06:002011-02-26T18:15:01.385-06:00HI Marc, thanks for stopping by, Yep, Sansui, Kenw...HI Marc, thanks for stopping by, Yep, Sansui, Kenwood, Sony, Teac, Roberts Tape recorders, those were all the stuff we sold at the store.<br />I remember equipping a new stereophile with a system out the door for about 1200 to 1500 dollars including some veracious speakers. ( A whole bunch of money then)<br />The Fisher that I have here in Mexico is actually kind of a newer unit. One of my first Fishers was a 500C, tubes, nice sound....<br />When I picked up my amp at the repair shop, I got to talking about the business with the owner, I was telling him about SAMS Photofacts, because his biggest problem was finding documentation on a lot of the units.<br />I worked for a Furniture store that also sold TV's and stuff. I remember the fold out unit quite well. Those were the boom box of the 60's, right on the table next to the GE or Hotpoint 12inch B&W TV......Tanchohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11196129338636347646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33849671.post-6907862510860651132011-02-26T17:21:26.137-06:002011-02-26T17:21:26.137-06:00What memories you bring back. My first job in high...What memories you bring back. My first job in high school was in the sound and cameras department of a department store in the early '70's. As soon as I'd saved enough money (quite a while at $2/hr), I bought a Sansui amp, a Garrard turntable, and some cheap speakers for my room. I never had a high-end system, but the music was fine.<br /><br />Coincidently, earlier this week I noticed a real old-time TV repair guy on a side street about four blocks from my house here in Mérida. It was just like the old days, with piles of TV's, parts, speakers, and even a record player, Admiral I think, one of those all-in-one deals that looks like a small suitcase. You open up the hinged lid, there is an adapter for 45's, all that. These technicians do still exist, here and there. Thanks for the interesting post.Marc Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11289566244668566622noreply@blogger.com