After months of hunting, my first system is almost complete...
imgur.com/a/Fak7m#0
imgur.comPosted May 10, 2012, 5:20 AM UTC
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imgur.comCan I just upvote for the Microphones? Great music
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That's a good looking setup. How do you like those components? Do you actually play tapes or do you just have it because it looks good? (I couldnt blame you if that's the case, not by a longshot)
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To be honest, I don't expect to use the deck and tuner much at all. I got them because I didn't want to break up the system and I set them all up because I love the way that shiny silver tower looks.
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Also, upvote for Jackie-O Motherfucker on the laptop. Those guys are awesome, and a point of hometown pride for me.
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They certainly are awesome, did you ever get to see one of their shows?
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I did! They were pretty stellar/chaotic/awesome.
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I'm so jealous. See any other great shows in Portland?
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Yeah! For all the (admitted) put-a-bird-on-it rep Portland has, it's a mainstay stop on the I-5 touring corridor.
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Came here to post the same thing. JOMF doesn't really tour these days, do they?
I really wish Fig. 5 had a vinyl release. I'm guessing it would have to be 2 or 3 LPs to keep the running order in tact but it'd be awesome.
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I just wish JOMF would go back to recording albums like Fig. 5 or Flags of the Sacred Harp. I enjoy their fuzzy psych freak-outs as much as the next guy, but Christ their folk/jazz albums are absolutely stunning.
Big ups on The Microphones as well. Kinda funny how nice this set-up is for such lo-fi albums.
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Looks very gorgeous! Nothing like my system, all hacked together from different components....
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I'd post it to r/battlestations as well. Really clean setup. Love it.
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Thanks! I tried to last night, but it never showed up in /new and never got any votes or comments. I'm not sure what happened, maybe I need to try resubmitting it.
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Probably the spam filter. Delete your first post, resubmit it. If it doesn't show up right away message the mods.
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Looks great! I don't know anything about Curtis Mathes stereo stuff, though. How does it sound?
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I hadn't heard of Curtis Mathes either so I was kinda taking a shot in the dark. The table doesn't sound so hot right now, but that's because the cartridge is worn out, 30 years old, and falling apart. Based on the quality of the components though, I'd bet it will sound pretty swell once I get a new cartridge on it.
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Curtis Mathes makes me think of this. Thanks for giving me a flashback to my childhood!
It's hard to describe what Curtis Mathes was in today's terms. I guess you could call them "showroom electronics?" I seem to remember they were one of the pioneers in the field of making money off of extended warranties.
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They were actually based in Garland Texas. They used to make high end TV's and stereo consoles. By the mid 80's they had been left in the dust by all the Japanese electronics producers. It's a pity but they simply did not adapt. I still find their sample LPs from time to time that they sold along with their systems back in the 60's and 70's.
They still exist but more or less in name only. They went bankrupt and were sold in 1988. What's left of them now is just the name which they simply put on foreign manufactured products. I never see their stuff anymore and I honestly don't know how they can exist in that limited fashion. Their web site is still up and it looks like it was thrown together in ten minutes by a Web 2.0 sadist.
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You're probably right. That thing looks like it's well built, at least from the outside.
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Very sleak and sexy setup.
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Very nice. Do you have to slide the lps under that shelf, or do you pull the table out?
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I've been mostly sliding them under the shelf. I'd prefer not to have that shelf there at all, but it can't be removed without taking the whole desk apart and I couldn't find another spot for the turntable. Hopefully I'll come across a dustcover at some point, and when that happens I'll definitely need to pull the table out to use it.
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This is extremely slick. Very very jealous.
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What program is that?
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It's Mediamonkey. I can't recall exactly what skin I'm using, I think it had "noir" in the name but I'll look it up for sure when I get home. I'm also using a minilyrics plugin, which shows scrolling lyrics as music plays. I love it.
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Fantastic, cheers for the reply.
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I link clementine a little more than MM, but you're definitely using something better than iTunes.
Might want to try foo too
edit: nice setup btw
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What record are you spinning in the pictures?
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I think it was a junky Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, I don't want to put any nice vinyl on the table until I replace the cartridge.
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What a wonderful album to display, probably so good to hear on vinyl
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I wish I could put my turntable on my desk! I always have to stand up.
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It'll get distorted by keystrokes. I recommend Corigami actually put it somewhere else.
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Good point.
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All excellent equipment, then, that mouse? Disappointed.
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This is a Curtis Mathes 7300E stereo system. I found it in pretty poor condition - the cartridge had come unglued from its mount, the woofers on the speakers had fallen apart, dust cover was missing, automatic movement of the arm was a bit shaky, and everything was coated with dust and grime. However... the impressive build quality and good looks of the set won me over and I took it for $40. I glued the cartridge back together, got everything playing, and spent the whole night scrubbing it down.
The turntable itself was much nicer than expected. It's decently heavy, with a wood plinth and aluminum platter that spins smoothly. The tonearm and head shell are metal as well. The automatic functions work. I really can't comment on sound quality yet, I haven't listened to much with it and am a bit scared to put my records under this cartridge of questionable integrity.
The last thing the system needs is a new cartridge. I'm hoping to spend around $50, and I'm considering the AT95E, Grado Black, and Ortofon Omega. Right now I'm leaning towards the Ortofon because of it's price. Does anyone have any recommendations on these cartridges or other similarly priced ones?
Thanks a bunch, r/vinyl.
Get the AT95E. When I got my first turntable (about a year and half ago) I got the Ortofon 2m RED (~$100) because I thought it was "the best." Ended up breaking the stylus a couple months ago and being on the "saving for the wedding budget" I went for the AT95E which is half the price. I swear to you it sounds better than the Ortofon one ever did. it's really a fantastic cart.
Pretty cool setup, but you should get a separate table for the turntable, otherwise every mouse movement and keystroke is going to be audible.
Thanks for the tip, I'll see if I can find something else to set it on.
I'd go Grado Black. You can't beat it for that price.
save up another 50 and get a 2m red. With all that gear you've patiently waited for.... its definitely worth the wait for that cart. Hot damn I love that cart