Vintage Gear

[Ki Choi]

All audio things older than 30 years would be of great interest - basically the audio toys I used to drool over but couldn't afford them at the time and all those that are so old I didn't know they existed...but sounds awesome even today.

[microstrip]

My latest acquisition - a mint SME 3012R from 1983. It is sounding too good in my system!

[MylesBAstor]

If there's enough interest, I can certainly create a vintage forum.

[mep]

My latest acquisition - a mint SME 3012R from 1983. It is sounding too good in my system! [ATTACH=CONFIG]n1340[/ATTACH]

This tonearm continues to be rediscovered. DDK has single-handedly created a recent buzz about this arm.

[MylesBAstor]

This tonearm continues to be rediscovered. DDK has single-handedly created a recent buzz about this arm.

Where is David?

[Ki Choi]

This tonearm continues to be rediscovered. DDK has single-handedly created a recent buzz about this arm.

Yes, I drank DDKoolaid and bought a mint one from David and another one locally.

Another audio friend, Jam (he plays on the other playground and works for a manufacturer), confirmed how good this 3012R is. I think he also obtained several 3012Rs and sold all of his other tonearms.

Will have to show them off soon!

[Ki Choi]

Where is David?

Didn't you invite him?

[MylesBAstor]

Thought David was a member but apparently not. If you have his email, please invite him.

[Ki Choi]

Thought David was a member but apparently not. If you have his email, please invite him.

Done......

[MylesBAstor]

Done......

Thanks buddy!

[Rob]

Ki thanks for suggesting this forum. Im a firm believer of knowing where we came from to understand how far we have gotten mindset. IMHO a lot of today's gear (esp tubes) are just old wine in new bottles. I have a VTL ultimate pre from 1989 in my system now and iit's superb and worthy of a 'modern' system. Unfortunately the newly minted audiophile cant wrap their mind around this concept unless a component is currently recommended in TAS or Sterophile.

[MylesBAstor]

Ki thanks for suggesting this forum. Im a firm believer of knowing where we came from to understand how far we have gotten mindset. IMHO a lot of today's gear (esp tubes) are just old wine in new bottles. I have a VTL ultimate pre from 1989 in my system now and iit's superb and worthy of a 'modern' system. Unfortunately the newly minted audiophile cant wrap their mind around this concept unless a component is currently recommended in TAS or Sterophile.

Or the longer one is in audio, the more we resdiscover the wheel? Idler, direct drive, etc.

[Ki Choi]

Ki thanks for suggesting this forum. Im a firm believer of knowing where we came from to understand how far we have gotten mindset. IMHO a lot of today's gear (esp tubes) are just old wine in new bottles. I have a VTL ultimate pre from 1989 in my system now and iit's superb and worthy of a 'modern' system. Unfortunately the newly minted audiophile cant wrap their mind around this concept unless a component is currently recommended in TAS or Sterophile.

Rob

I have constant itch for new preamp and power amps. Most of the manufacturers have more new models than I can keep up. Then I turn on my old Manley Reference Tube preamp with basically two tubes per side and no remote control, I am happy to listen to it.

[david k]

Hello Everyone and Thanks for the invite Ki! Don't know how many vintage users/lovers there are on this site but subject is massive, hopefully there some users here. Regarding the SME 3012 and its variants, I've been happily drinking that Cool-Aid for nearly 3 decades. Over the years I've had many other tonearms including other SMEs some of which might have been even more sophisticated from an engineering POV but sonically and ergonomically I find the 3012 most natural and flexible arm to use with almost any cartridge. I haven't come across compliance issues with any cartridge I've owned and without a bayonet mount you're losing out on some glorious vintage cartridges like the Neumann DST and various SPUs and EMTs.




The sled design of the SME's base simplifies over hang adjustments and will fit almost any cartridge/table that you mount the arm on and a simple modification to the arm board will give you almost infinite adjustment.





david

[MylesBAstor]

Hello Everyone and Thanks for the invite Ki! Don't know how many vintage users/lovers there are on this site but subject is massive, hopefully there some users here. Regarding the SME 3012 and its variants, I've been happily drinking that Cool-Aid for nearly 3 decades. Over the years I've had many other tonearms including other SMEs some of which might have been even more sophisticated from an engineering POV but sonically and ergonomically I find the 3012 most natural and flexible arm to use with almost any cartridge. I haven't come across compliance issues with any cartridge I've owned and without a bayonet mount you're losing out on some glorious vintage cartridges like the Neumann DST and various SPUs and EMTs.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1584[/ATTACH]


The sled design of the SME's base simplifies over hang adjustments and will fit almost any cartridge/table that you mount the arm on and a simple modification to the arm board will give you almost infinite adjustment.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1585[/ATTACH]


david

Welcome aboard David!

Either here or in a new thread, could you talk a little bit more about that Neumann cartridge? I had a fascinating and eye opening conversation with Frank Schroeder about the Neumann cartridge at RMAF. The cartridge has a fascinating history!

I understand there's now a Russian clone being made named the Tzar that Art Dudley recently reviewed. I was talking with Harry Weisfeld the other week and he was also impressed. Have you heard the Tzar? I think the Tzar was also installed in the new Dohmann Helix table at RMAF but didn't realize it at the time.