Retro-Fi

[JimP]

Thanks to HC, I've pieced together a bedroom system consisting of:

- McCormack Micro Headphone Drive (MHD)

- Rotel RCD971

- Etymotic ER-4s

I've tired of IEMs (ie sticking things in my ear) and these old ER-4s have been sitting in my desk drawer for years - sometimes I tried to sell it, but out of laziness it just sat there tucked away. Then I acquired the RCD971 (because I was in a weird GD phase and HDCD seemed pertinent). Then I acquired the MHD, which is the key here. I remember not too long ago when I was a piss-poor student and I lusted after McCormack gear, and the MHD popped up here on HC, and I couldn't resist.

It was not planned this way, but this old gear - MHD + RCD971 +ER4s - sounds righteously amazing! I lay catatonic listening to this system, as wifey rolls her eyes. I'm not saying this is THE system, as I'm sure there are many other combinations, but I could honestly sell everything and live with this. Again, the key I believe is the MHD - it is my 'Rosebud'. Here is a generic picture of the MHD off the web (too lazy to snap my own pictures).

Latest is not necessarily the greatest - I wish I stumbled on this combo early on. So what is your (ancient) gear that still punches above its weight?

ps: I alternate between ER4S and HD580 with the MHD, but its the ER4S that synergizes with the MHD the best.

pps: I also acquired a MLD on HC recently; another 'Rosebud' to build a speaker system around!

[aardvark baguette]

Not surprisingly, I didnt even know McCormack makes headphone amps.

[screaming oranges]

I know absolutely nothing of vintage gear, so it brings a smile to my face when I hear an old unit can still keep up with today's demands (and even surpass some recent endeavors). Just goes to show "that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong."

[mypasswordis]

I'm pretty sure you have more than a few vintage headphones. I'm pretty sure I have more than a few vintage headphones. I'm also pretty sure my vintage headphones are older than your vintage headphones.

[screaming oranges]

No no. Grado HP cans are not vintage. They are timeless. Big difference.

[Tachikoma]

Stereophile: McCormack Micro Integrated Drive headphone amplifier Apparently its a decent preamp too.

[swt61]

My system is a mix of vintage and new/DIY gear. The retro side consists of my Sansui TU-888 tuner that I really love, my AKG K1000 that is still my all time favorite headphone, my Tice Audio (no relation) Multi Branch power conditioner and my Parasound C/BD-2000 belt driven CD transport.

The modern gear is all DIY and consists of a balanced 4 channel β22 w/dual σ22s, a TPA balanced Darwin source selector and an incoming, all out Buffalo II DAC being built by Naaman as we speak.

This mix has culminated into my dream rig. With the exception of the Buffalo which I haven't yet heard, but my high hopes are well supported.

[Pars]

I haven't heard either the McCormack or the Ety's, but both seem to have a rep as solid performers. The Rotel I am familiar with. It uses 2xPCM63 DACs with a PMD100 digital filter. The PMD100 is still very well thought of as are the PCM63s. The output stage can be improved (greatly), but it is a solid CDP. Spritzer had one of these; I have an RCD-991 which is similar (but larger), which I really like.

[n_maher]

My soldering rig is pretty retro, especially when in Allison mode.

[spritzer]

This thread makes me want to buy a Stax SRA-3S for my SR-1...

Spritzer had one of these...

That's my old one.

[mrarroyo]

My oldest piece is a 1977-79 Marantz 2238B receiver which I am currently using at the office as a headphone amp. I am waiting to use it to drive an Stax SRD7 and an AKG K1000. Sure look forward to hearing how well or poor it will sound.

[cetoole]

I have quite a few (8 I think) headphones older than I, and my preference in dacs also leads towards the vintage, at least for the actual converter chips.

[swt61]

I have underwear older than you!

[n_maher]

My retro-fi collection may have grown yesterday.

[dBel84]

With the rapid rate of turnover, what exactly qualifies as retro/vintage? I am thinking I am all retro , no wait my transport has to qualify ( hmmm it has already been discontinued )

sure things are my tuner - 1950's Eico tube , probably all my headphones , transdac , cyrus ..... aaah frikk, beginning to feel old, I even remember the McCormack being released back in the 90's

..dB

[Knuckledragger]

I have 3 pieces of McIntosh kit and one Dynaco that are all my senior by about 5 years. I've posted photos previously. One of these days I'm going to build a mono system around a Mac C22 Pre and MC-75 monoblock

[AmanGeorge]

I've got the same old MHD sitting around my house, with a custom power supply he made. It doesn't see much use though, I don't like it as much as my current tube amp and it has a buzz in one of the channels, sadly.

[morphsci]

I love me the McCormacks. If mine had been a MID (which was what it was advertised as) instead of and MHD, Jim may have been McCormackless.

[IceClass]

My oldest piece in regular use is a Fisher 500-C. Mainly as a headamp.

[TheSloth]

Not surprising - I still think the 4s is an amazing headphone. Most accurate tonal balance I've ever heard.

[HyperDuel]

I found the Marantz 2000 series of receivers to have an excellent headphone amp for the Grados.

[PappuAli]

Any fool still using tubes can apply for "retro-fi". Welcome to the future.

[mypasswordis]

[Dusty Chalk]

I can't 'Nenso'.

[blessingx]

Series of 'em tubes & da interwebs iz R future!

Edited June 19, 2010 by blessingx