Personality? Come on. I'd rather listen and watch to your calm insightful knowledge than some dude yelling and dancing like a Sham-wow commercial. Very professional yet laid back and to the point. I enjoy every video. Thanks and keep 'em coming.
The thing I like is your personality. Calm, balanced, reflective. Nice alternative to so much hype and attitude that is attracted to the subject of vintage audio...
@@DodgyBagehot There are people who manage to sort of put you in a spell. Just pleasurable to listen to. Then there are the people who make you want to open an artery.
For a self-described non lettered person I think you sure do know how to make interesting and excellent presentations. The content is not too long, not too short - it’s just right.
I was a kid in the 1970's with an audiophile father. I can tell you, Sansui was extremely well thought of. They were grail pieces even back than. Just more attainable.
You must be my age or very close. Pop wasn't an audiophile then, but he did self-import Sansui, SONY, and Pioneer with him from Hong Kong while in the Navy. Perhaps similar or the same as you, I could run his R2R, stack records on the changer and set the receiver up correctly before I could read. Now that I'm coming around to get into my own vintage gear, I've heard a lot of "MEH..." around Sansui. I took it to heart and was kind of avoiding the brand... Your words are encouraging. Now I know my instinct and personal experience (again similar to yours) speaks much louder than the detractors.😊
My grandfather passed away in 2018 and didn't leave much of an inheritance for any of his kids/grandkids. Apparently I was his favorite grandkid because he left me a JBL Paragon as well as two custom made satellite sub woofers that match and also use the same Paragon drivers (LE15).
I can't blame you for being a Sansui fanboy. The moment I heard the pure DC from the G series I knew what a quality build sounded like. Love the vids Kevin and I may have to support you in visiting ypur online store now.
I picked up a G-5000 recently. Took it home for a C-note from a thrift shop. Everything works. It's real pretty in looks and sound. Went looking for a nice vintage unit after being motivated by stories of thrift shop scores. I think I was lucky!
Man, your personality is exactly why I keep watching these videos! Your tone of voice is so easy to listen to, as well as informative. Don’t change a thing!
Gooday from Australia. I was born in 1961. My grandmother bought my mother a Kriesler radio gram. All tube (toob) and I still have it. It has a 3 way 6 element amplifier and the tweeters are electro static. I'm gonna have it restored along with my AKAI GXC46D cassette deck. I love your channel. Cheers from OZ Andrew Collins.
I like this video! I am one of the lucky few to own an AU-20000 and a BA-5000! Was happy to hear how highly you think of them. The big BA is out for restoration now, can't wait to get it back! It is a beast! 108 lbs! :)
When it comes to vintage audio gear, Kevin by far has the best videos on UA-cam or anywhere else on the internet. Back in the 80s-90s my holy grails were Polk Audio SDA-SRS 1.2 or Klipsch Belle, La Scala, or Klipschorn. I have owned a pair of vintage La Scalas for 24 years and they have not disappointed!
My grail was and is the Dalquist DQ10 As a salesman in the 70s when that phased array speaker came out it blew our minds in our shop and even Sal Marantz got involved with that company
I'm replacing a treble pot on a Sansui G-4700, what a pain, I had to take it nearly completely apart to get at it. They are a very good receiver though. lol
Kevin, just stay behind you. I absolutely love your narration tbh. Its not lost on me how lucky we are to have you guys doing this for us. Sansui 33000 does it for me. Thank you sir 🤗
I fondly remember owning a Garrard 301 (or was it the 401?) and lusting after an SME IV tonearm ... connected to Quad 33/303 amplification. British sound in its heyday!
Kevin has a calm and professional delivery and I love his channel … I’ll decline to watch a channel w idiots screaming with shaking iPhones at nauseam ..also AMAZING how you rescued those audio pieces from the dump! Also keep including those bloopers at the end haha.
Hey, about the euro models you posted in another vid: i owned a pioneer tower (silver faced). I just saw a picture of the amplifier: it was the sa 610. It was very reliable and clean sounding: i used it between 19 79 and 2000, and brought it to a 2nd hand shop (charity in the netherlands)
Love your uploads. As a high school kid, i owned a pioneer stereo tower. Just like my friends, i obtained it after weekend jobs during 4 years. Later on, i bought wrong stuff. But since a few months i am the proud owner of vintage yamaha receiver and wharfedale speakers. I feel the same excitement i had that long time ago.❤
Really great vintage audio presentation today, and especially that unique story regarding that randon phone call of audio treasures that you happily rescued from the landfill.
I’m no audiophile, vintage stereo person, or technology aficionado, yet I find Skylabs Audio --video intriguing for your passion and deep knowledge on the equipment, people, and history around the subject matter. Most new stuff is expensive junk with cheap guts that won’t last past the warranty. It is refreshing to hear about equipment that met some level of build quality and serviceability. Rare commodities these days.
BrianJonestown Massacre. Awesome band. My holy grail is now getting that t shirt, XXXL, thank you! Seriously, I just love the Sansui and Marantz receivers.
My never-to-be-owned, just-longed-for, grail speakers are the nearly-unobtanium Mc XR-290s, followed by Roger Russell's IDS-25. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Roger some years before he passed and was floored by the almost magical imaging of the IDS-25 prototypes he had in his living room. I ended up going home with his personal set of XR-250s (the first pair off the line, "borrowed" for "extended testing" 😀 ). The -250 was Mc's first system with Carl VanGelder's game-changing HP/LD woofers. After just ten minutes listening to them, my wife told me, "I don't care HOW much you paid for 'em; it was WORTH it." Intriguing setup you've got there with the XR-19s flipped over and stacked on the XRT-20s, given as the -19 is the bass/mid cabs of the -20 with a bunch of tweeters wrapped around the tops. As far as cassette decks go, my grail there would be the TEAC A-450. Growing up, my older brother had one for years and years. He finally sold it and got himself and me (yea for birthdays!) Nak BX-1s. Nice enough deck, but really fiddly head alignment. A few years ago he decided he should never have sold the TEAC, and went out and got himself another one. If I ever have a need for a tape deck, I'll most likely find one for myself.
Love the truck story… I found two Sansui three way speakers last year. Bought them for $14.00. The cones and mids and tweeters were in perfect condition. Who ever had them placed them where they wouldn’t fall apart. Hooked them to an old 70s Fischer studio standard , ran a aux adapter and played through my IPhone. They took me back to the old house parties back in the day. Such deep clean sound. Old school. I don’t know anything about audio but I really liked your video.
Totally awesome , I have to 100 percent agree , everything you showed is a piece of audio history, the Garrard 301 , that's just about unbelievable , also the Sansui BA5000 , G33000 , that's my dream and the ba smells like McIntosh Mc2300 , almost a carbon copy, anyway keep it coming, certainly bears merit , Anthony , Aj tha dj
I love Kevin's low key approach in these video's and I'm hugely jealous I didn't think about opening a vintage audio store before this. I lost a large amount of decent 70's and very early 80's gear due to some bad life decisions but managed to keep a few pair of Advent speakers and a couple of Marantz receivers. I wish Kevin all the luck and I keep forgetting he's about 4 hours away in Iowa.
Super job on explaining everything 1.2 tons for a speaker set OMG, loved your story on the 301's can you imagine how much vintage stuff has ended up in the DUMP brings tears to my eyes as always love your channel!!!
I got to hear the Infinity RS V’s at PS Audio in Boulder. Paul’s son left me in the listening room by myself with a few of my CD’s and I listed for a while. It was a very well behaved, lovely, and neutral system. I didn’t dare turning it up loud and kept it at normal listening levels. Really happy they allowed me to experience that 🙌🏼
Another enjoyable installment. Several months ago an Ebay seller popped up on my feed, and he had/has a bunch of Eye-Candy. Several pairs of Altec-Lansing "Furniture Pieces", and lo and behold, JBL Paragon. Wow ! I would have to imagine the cost of "care and feeding" would be expensive even after the acquisition. Great story about your Garrards.
The G-22000 is also a Dual mono in the same fashion, I have one, glad to see the Biggest G Made your list. The G-22000 competed in price with the SX-1980 but the G-33000 was in its own sphere of market above them all at the time.
I had the G-22,000, 250w, 4 channeel. I used them until I retired in 2015 to drive my 901's. The setup now belongs to my son, who can afford to make some needed repairs. I’m sure he will love what comes from them as much as I did.
In my long-past youth, I had a list of speakers that were more or less a "holy grail" list. M&K had some outstanding subwoofer/satellite systems, Ohm's Walsh speakers were on that list, Polk SDA's were also on the list. It's never bad to form those lists, especially when you eventually stumble across a clearance sale when the manufacturer is upgrading the model. That's how I picked up a pair of Polk SDA-1a's at half price. They still sound great, probably the best stereo imaging I ever experienced. The store was a local chain, "Stereo SuperStore." Located in smaller malls and strip malls off from major regional malls. They sold good equipment at cheaper prices than their competitors, but the people working there weren't really knowledgeable about what they were selling. They were just trying to push a commodity out the door. I called them "Stereo STUPOR Store. They eventually went bankrupt, bought out of bankruptcy by a local schlock furniture retailer, and that chain ended up bankrupt as well.
@@consco3667 after the bankruptcy, "And Gloria's Too!" He used to advertise on late night TV, an obnoxious ad where it looked like he was pounding on the inside of the TV tube as he yelled, "Wake up!" I knew a lady who was startled once and thought her house was on fire, swore that she would never go there. Then, there's the alarm clock that would go off by saying, "Wake up!" The face of the clock was his face.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 and I’m listening to my wife!!😂remember them well. He used to sponsor Portland Wrestling when I was a teen in the mid to late 70’s. Also Friendly Chevrolet! Escaped the leftist dystopian city of PDX and am in small town North central WA now.
I like your videos! My holy grail I bought from a friend whose father bought them in 1960 while he was in the navy. A pair of Jensen Imperial speakers! Still sound awesome!
News flash: Kevin has a sense of humor! and a dry one at that. Can I have some more, please sir? ...... But seriously, folks, a very interesting video. I spent ten years in the industry and pretty much stayed in the middle-market. I had no idea there were so many interesting things out there. Thanks for the trip through the looking glass.
Back in the early 80s I ended up in a high end audio outlet in Vancouver and they had a lot of JBL speakers. I saw the Paragon and was impressed, very impressed. I believe they had a sticker price of $14,000 CAN - ouch. Listened to them and was not the least bit impressed/were not in a sound room as were the others. Then I listed to a pair of JBLs at $4,000 and they sounded better but not impressed. Then a pair of JBLs at $2,000 as then I was impressed - That they sounded very good and way better that the others considering the different price levels. The sales person knew all of this and showed me these in that order on purpose, just cuz I guess. This is one of those special times that I will never forget.
I still own and use a Garrard 401 turntable . I use it with an SME series 2 tonearm and a Shure V15 111 cartridge with Jico stylus . All housed in an original SME 2000 plinth system . My turntable also came with a hardback manual with hand signed individual inspection report for unit serial number 03134 . Made around September 1965 and still spinning fine . I have owned a number of other turntables including Linn Sondek LP12 , Thorens TD 160 and one of those Michell ( Transcriptors ) Hydraulic Reference turntables . I have sold the all on but never parted with my Garrard 401 . I wonder what it would cost today if it was still in production ?
I had no idea that Mike Ehrmantraut's younger brother was so passionate about HIFI and gave such informed and measured opinions on the most fabulous vintage equipment... Long live to Skylabs Audio and its charismatic boss. These videos are real gems. Many thanks to you. All the best from Oleron Island - France.
I absolutely love watching Your videos and Your delivery of information/knowledge is Great keep up the Great work...listening from Washington State !!! 😊
It must have been driven by a crappy little amplifier, what, with 12 inch woofers and the other great drivers it has should have had it sounding really good?
Hi Kevin, I really do enjoy your videos as a lot of the people who leave comments do. I needed or I should say I felt the urge to make a comment on this one because I also have wanted since I was a teenager in the 1970s to have the opportunity to listen to a JBL paragon. I live in California on the coast and when I was in high school I met this guy who was in his mid-thirties who was obsessed with tube Hi-Fi gear and we became friends. He used to drive out into LA on a regular basis hunting for gear and even though he didn't buy a lot he took me with him and I got to see and learn about a lot of equipment that I never got to own. Although, I will say that I've had some very interesting pieces of equipment go through my hands over the years. Anyways I remember very vividly one day we went in to a little recycled stereo shop out in the San Fernando Valley not far from Universal Studios that had a paragon in their showroom for sale I remember it had a pretty wicked scratch on the top but other than that it was very clean and at that time they wanted $6,000 for it Unfortunately they could see that there was no way me and my buddy were going to buy this thing so they didn't even offer to let us hear it but I remember seeing it and thought it was just about the coolest thing I'd ever seen! Anyways, you reminded me of that event with your comments about the Paragon, and I just thought I would share with you that I like yourself I have never been able to hear one, but I've always wanted to. Thanks again for all of your videos. Best regards, Dave
Another great video, I constantly wonder about where my gear came from? Where did it start life at? How many parties did it witness? Man it would be awesome to know where this stuff originated from and its journey to where it ended up. Those Sansui's with the maroon, Timeless design!
Another great video, Kevin! That Sansui BA5000 is also on my bucket list, and I remember reading years ago this was the amp that people referred to when stating that Sansui was the McIntosh of Japan. Most likely, because of the output transformers, which is a design McIntosh has incorporated in most of their amps since their early days!
Sunday morning drinking my coffee and watching one of my favorite UA-cam channels. I think I'll put on some Eric Clapton and enjoy the day. Thank you for another awesome video, hopefully I'll win the lottery one day and build my dream vintage stereo system. 👍📻
Hard to disagree with that list, I also hold the BA5000's design in very high regard, its unfortunate that Sansui did not produce a matching Preamp or Tuner. For that reason I think I prefer the BA3000, CA3000 and TU9900 stacked, that is an absolutely gorgeous combo. Also one minor correction, the Paragon used 15 inch woofers, either 150-4C or later LE-15.
Absolutely! Anton is quite a character. I saw BJM last year here in Los Angeles and the show was great. Unfortunately in Europe Anton went off the rails. As you may know already Anton had a major "dust up" with his rhythm guitarist in mid-concert! It looked outrageous! Still love the band.
Excellent video thank you Kevin. I have Infinity RS2.5’s and the IRS V are the dream. I’ve never heard many vintage receivers, but your channel certain inspires me to do so. Keep up the great work.
2:00 I have a very similar Zenith console stereo that I'm working on right now, but an older 1965 vacuum tube model (MM2604). With some help online I've figured out a workable "plug and ply" strategy to be able to connect my WiiM Pro without cutting or modifying anything original. I'm very excited to get it functional again and hear what it sounds like.
Love the list Kevin. I remember the ads on TV and in the newspaper during the late 70's and 80's for Marantz and Sansui receivers. I was poor and having transportation was above having a nice stereo. I loved the look and sound of them. I can't fathom spending $20K on speakers. But I guess if you have a house with a room that can support 6' speakers $20K is chump change to you. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your content.
I love hearing about this old audio stuff. Keep them coming eventually I’ll list what I still have. Not great stuff like you talk about, but it’s what I could afford.
Just found your channel. I love it. I have many 70s and 80s pieces including a Nakamichi cassette deck, model below dragon. It used 2 sets of heads to play and record in both directions. My acustat 2s and GSI stereo70 and Kenwood turntable with black widow tonearm are my prizes. Thank you
Awesome awesome video. I did have a chance to experience in here a pair of the old JBL paragon back in 2011 at a small stereo shop in Grosse Pointe Michigan. They were awesome and dynamic sounding. At the time, I did not realize the magnitude of what was involved with that speaker, and how rare and exquisite it was.
IRSs definitely no 1... But my friend has infinity Alpha Beta Kappa's. The best rock and roll speakers i have ever heard. He called me up because they were distorting when heset them up. Turns out they were driving the entire house into oscilation and feedback runaway. I went to basement and could see floor moving up and down . Reinforced the floor and moved stereo to back of fireplace to resolve. Fantastic base...
Way back in the early 80's I was working at a shipping company which was next door to several old homes. The owner had bought each of them one by one with plans of expanding the business. When he bought the second house, likely built in the late 1890's or so, he had me take one of the dump trucks we had over there to 'clean' out all the furniture and 'junk'. He mentioned "There's an old 'radio' and record player too, if you want it, get it out of there and don't tell anyone else where it went". I went over after work, with the dump truck and found a complete stereo system set up in the living room with two huge leather chairs. The place smelled like cheap cigars but nothing looked too abused. The power was off so it wasn't a matter of testing anything. The amp was a Harman Kardon Citation 16, with a Citation 17 Preamp, the turntable a Garrard 301, mounted in a converted old Philco console TV cabinet that had been turned into an entertainment center. They had the amp and preamp on shelves below, two JBL L100 speakers at each end, and the TT on top, under a wood and glass hinged cover. They had taken a 2" thick solid slab of mahogany and made a full top for the cabinet which was close to 5ft long. Next to the turntable was a cheap portable RCA TV with half a roll of foil on top for the antenna. In the unused space below the TT, was about 30 vintage big band era albums from the 40's and 50's and on the floor to right a wooden box with about 300 45 rpm records, most dating no newer than about 1970. I still have all of it, including the home built cabinet but that cabinet got repurposed again as a side bar table in my kitchen with a new top and some doors on the front. I cut, and doubled the original mahogany top to form a solid 4" plinth and I bought and installed new rubber parts on the TT and a newer tone arm that I took from an earlier Radio Shack LAB TT. The speakers needed new grills, which at some point I did finally spring for, and the amp and preamp are set up over my work bench still today. I think I still have most of the old 45's from that box too, but they weren't in the best condition being stored loose on edge in a box. Its a cool old turntable but not my first choice, but super cool none the less. (The TT I currently have set up is a Realistic LAB 400). None of it came right into the house, the smell of cigar smoke was tough to get rid of, the cabinet and the speakers lived in the garage at my dad's place for years being used by him on an old Realistic StA64 receiver. It was him who did the mods to the old cabinet to make it into a suitable piece of furniture. The speakers, after a complete rebuild and lots of scrubbing and a refinish are now house worthy but never made it beyond my work area above the garage.
There was an estate sale back in 2010 with the JBL Paragon. Yup, didn't buy it but man, what a looker. Like seeing a vintage Ferrari. A privilege for sure.
Loved the video, thanks for the list. Most of items I've never heard of (jus the IRS-Vs, saw them in a Montreal shop and ran away). I was just wondering why there was no Nakamichi Dragon on your list, and then ... there it was. I had a Nak Dragon that I bought in Germany in 1988, ran it for 20 years (with a Quad 44 pre-amp, amp, receiver and ESL-63 speakers), sold it for more than I paid for it in 2006. Superb deck. I hope you find one some day.
Enjoyed that one. I've become a bit obsessed with Sansui since watching the channel. A hour or two ago I bought a Sansui ba-f1 power amp from Japan. I plan to use it with the preamp section of my AU7700.
My vintage holy grails: Quad ESL57 and Dahlquist DQ10 speakers, Heathkit W5M power amps, Apt Holman preamp, AR turntable, Shure V15 type 5MR cartridge, Stax and Koss ESP9 headphones.
I never noticed before, but I saw the original Skylab space station as a graphic at the end of the video, and always wondered if that had been an inspiration for the name of your company. Personally, I got into hi-fi in the mid 80s,and my holy Grail come from that era. I doubt anybody else would be interested, but I still love the Yamaha R100 is a receiver. Give me that with a pair of ADS L1180s and I’d be a happy camper. These days, for personal reasons, I’m stuck in the realm of headphones. Oh well… It’s still music!😊😊😊😊
Personality? Come on. I'd rather listen and watch to your calm insightful knowledge than some dude yelling and dancing like a Sham-wow commercial. Very professional yet laid back and to the point. I enjoy every video. Thanks and keep 'em coming.
I was always a fan of Vince from Sham Wow (and the Slap Chop).
But I like the way Kevin makes his videos.
I concur!
The thing I like is your personality. Calm, balanced, reflective. Nice alternative to so much hype and attitude that is attracted to the subject of vintage audio...
@@DodgyBagehot There are people who manage to sort of put you in a spell. Just pleasurable to listen to. Then there are the people who make you want to open an artery.
Plus, Kevin, you funny af Brudda !!
😎✌️💿
Kevin, your videos are incredibly addictive. I could watch these all day. Keep up the great work.
Glad you like them!
I really like how this guy is brutally honest and I really appreciate his audio videos
For a self-described non lettered person I think you sure do know how to make interesting and excellent presentations. The content is not too long, not too short - it’s just right.
I was a kid in the 1970's with an audiophile father. I can tell you, Sansui was extremely well thought of. They were grail pieces even back than. Just more attainable.
You must be my age or very close.
Pop wasn't an audiophile then, but he did self-import Sansui, SONY, and Pioneer with him from Hong Kong while in the Navy.
Perhaps similar or the same as you, I could run his R2R, stack records on the changer and set the receiver up correctly before I could read.
Now that I'm coming around to get into my own vintage gear, I've heard a lot of "MEH..."
around Sansui.
I took it to heart and was kind of avoiding the brand...
Your words are encouraging. Now I know my instinct and personal experience (again similar to yours)
speaks much louder than the detractors.😊
You have a great sense of humor! Just a monotone delivery. Found your channel a few weeks ago, very informative and interesting
My grandfather passed away in 2018 and didn't leave much of an inheritance for any of his kids/grandkids. Apparently I was his favorite grandkid because he left me a JBL Paragon as well as two custom made satellite sub woofers that match and also use the same Paragon drivers (LE15).
Wow! That's great!
I can't blame you for being a Sansui fanboy. The moment I heard the pure DC from the G series I knew what a quality build sounded like. Love the vids Kevin and I may have to support you in visiting ypur online store now.
I picked up a G-5000 recently. Took it home for a C-note from a thrift shop. Everything works. It's real pretty in looks and sound. Went looking for a nice vintage unit after being motivated by stories of thrift shop scores. I think I was lucky!
Man, your personality is exactly why I keep watching these videos! Your tone of voice is so easy to listen to, as well as informative. Don’t change a thing!
I need a Kevin T-shirt that reads, "It's going to be a fun one".
I would buy one.....have Kevin with his Skylabs shirt on, his head, saying that.
Gooday from Australia. I was born in 1961. My grandmother bought my mother a Kriesler radio gram. All tube (toob) and I still have it. It has a 3 way 6 element amplifier and the tweeters are electro static. I'm gonna have it restored along with my AKAI GXC46D cassette deck. I love your channel. Cheers from OZ Andrew Collins.
I restored one of those recently mate - I'm in NZ, north island. Beautiful console.
I like this video! I am one of the lucky few to own an AU-20000 and a BA-5000! Was happy to hear how highly you think of them. The big BA is out for restoration now, can't wait to get it back! It is a beast! 108 lbs! :)
When it comes to vintage audio gear, Kevin by far has the best videos on UA-cam or anywhere else on the internet.
Back in the 80s-90s my holy grails were Polk Audio SDA-SRS 1.2 or Klipsch Belle, La Scala, or Klipschorn. I have owned a pair of vintage La Scalas for 24 years and they have not disappointed!
Thank you!
Kevin is theBEST
My grail was and is the Dalquist DQ10
As a salesman in the 70s when that phased array speaker came out it blew our minds in our shop and even Sal Marantz got involved with that company
Another fantastic video. Kevin, you are the reason I enjoy these video's so much, your personality, it's Hugh. George from St. Pete
Thanks 👍
Amazing stories! I wish I could have half that much luck someday.
Love your videos Kevin. Always brings back a lot of memories of growing up and buying my first hifi system in the 70’s
Kevin, had my Sansui 9090 that I bought new in 1975 redone last year and is bringing back a lot of great Sound and Memories. Thanks for your videos.
Amaing ability to talk in a manner that is engaging and relaxed at the same time. Very therapeutic. Can listen for hours.
Love your videos, I would "never" pick the G Series as my favorite Sansui line, the look just never took with me.
I'm replacing a treble pot on a Sansui G-4700, what a pain, I had to take it nearly completely apart to get at it. They are a very good receiver though. lol
Kevin, just stay behind you. I absolutely love your narration tbh. Its not lost on me how lucky we are to have you guys doing this for us. Sansui 33000 does it for me. Thank you sir 🤗
The style of the Paragon is still relevant today! The piece doesn't look dated, could have come out recently. I would love to hear a pair!
I fondly remember owning a Garrard 301 (or was it the 401?) and lusting after an SME IV tonearm ... connected to Quad 33/303 amplification. British sound in its heyday!
Kevin has a calm and professional delivery and I love his channel … I’ll decline to watch a channel w idiots screaming with shaking iPhones at nauseam ..also AMAZING how you rescued those audio pieces from the dump! Also keep including those bloopers at the end haha.
Hey, about the euro models you posted in another vid: i owned a pioneer tower (silver faced). I just saw a picture of the amplifier: it was the sa 610. It was very reliable and clean sounding: i used it between 19 79 and 2000, and brought it to a 2nd hand shop (charity in the netherlands)
Love your uploads. As a high school kid, i owned a pioneer stereo tower. Just like my friends, i obtained it after weekend jobs during 4 years. Later on, i bought wrong stuff. But since a few months i am the proud owner of vintage yamaha receiver and wharfedale speakers. I feel the same excitement i had that long time ago.❤
Weekly highlight watching your videos. Nice shirt.
Really great vintage audio presentation today, and especially that unique story regarding that randon phone call of audio treasures that you happily rescued from the landfill.
What a list. Wow. Great story as well. Those finds are the best.
Glad you enjoyed it
I’m no audiophile, vintage stereo person, or technology aficionado, yet I find Skylabs Audio --video intriguing for your passion and deep knowledge on the equipment, people, and history around the subject matter. Most new stuff is expensive junk with cheap guts that won’t last past the warranty. It is refreshing to hear about equipment that met some level of build quality and serviceability. Rare commodities these days.
BrianJonestown Massacre. Awesome band. My holy grail is now getting that t shirt, XXXL, thank you! Seriously, I just love the Sansui and Marantz receivers.
👍 best regards from Germany.......
My never-to-be-owned, just-longed-for, grail speakers are the nearly-unobtanium Mc XR-290s, followed by Roger Russell's IDS-25. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with Roger some years before he passed and was floored by the almost magical imaging of the IDS-25 prototypes he had in his living room. I ended up going home with his personal set of XR-250s (the first pair off the line, "borrowed" for "extended testing" 😀 ). The -250 was Mc's first system with Carl VanGelder's game-changing HP/LD woofers. After just ten minutes listening to them, my wife told me, "I don't care HOW much you paid for 'em; it was WORTH it." Intriguing setup you've got there with the XR-19s flipped over and stacked on the XRT-20s, given as the -19 is the bass/mid cabs of the -20 with a bunch of tweeters wrapped around the tops.
As far as cassette decks go, my grail there would be the TEAC A-450. Growing up, my older brother had one for years and years. He finally sold it and got himself and me (yea for birthdays!) Nak BX-1s. Nice enough deck, but really fiddly head alignment. A few years ago he decided he should never have sold the TEAC, and went out and got himself another one. If I ever have a need for a tape deck, I'll most likely find one for myself.
Love the truck story… I found two Sansui three way speakers last year. Bought them for $14.00.
The cones and mids and tweeters were in perfect condition. Who ever had them placed them where they wouldn’t fall apart. Hooked them to an old 70s Fischer studio standard , ran a aux adapter and played through my IPhone. They took me back to the old house parties back in the day. Such deep clean sound. Old school.
I don’t know anything about audio but I really liked your video.
Cool list. You do have a personality sir, and... loved the quick bloopers at the end.
Totally awesome , I have to 100 percent agree , everything you showed is a piece of audio history, the Garrard 301 , that's just about unbelievable , also the Sansui BA5000 , G33000 , that's my dream and the ba smells like McIntosh Mc2300 , almost a carbon copy, anyway keep it coming, certainly bears merit , Anthony , Aj tha dj
I love Kevin's low key approach in these video's and I'm hugely jealous I didn't think about opening a vintage audio store before this. I lost a large amount of decent 70's and very early 80's gear due to some bad life decisions but managed to keep a few pair of Advent speakers and a couple of Marantz receivers. I wish Kevin all the luck and I keep forgetting he's about 4 hours away in Iowa.
Cool list. I love audio from 60’s and 70’s. Something to look forward to.
Super job on explaining everything 1.2 tons for a speaker set OMG, loved your story on the 301's can you imagine how much vintage stuff has ended up in the DUMP brings tears to my eyes as always love your channel!!!
Thank you
Thank You for sharing your Grail List!
Thanks for watching!
It was funny seeing the picture of a young Tony Blackburn he's still spinning records on BBC radio he's now in his early 80s
I actually rewinded to make sure i hadn’t dreamed your personality! 😂 seriously i like the way you show these vintage gears.
Those are some very cool choices, loved the Garrard turntable, ans thank you for another terrific video.
I have a Nakajima 500 with both white and walnut side panels. I'm the 2nd owner all the paperwork receit cover and and double shipping boxes .LOVE IT
Definitely was a fun one!
I got to hear the Infinity RS V’s at PS Audio in Boulder. Paul’s son left me in the listening room by myself with a few of my CD’s and I listed for a while. It was a very well behaved, lovely, and neutral system. I didn’t dare turning it up loud and kept it at normal listening levels. Really happy they allowed me to experience that 🙌🏼
Love your show I have learned a lot about some of the vintage stereo equipment and names I have owned through the years
I definitely wouldn't be mad if I ever got my hands on those Infinity speakers. They look incredibly musical. Really enjoy the video.
Another enjoyable installment. Several months ago an Ebay seller popped up on my feed, and he had/has a bunch of Eye-Candy. Several pairs of Altec-Lansing "Furniture Pieces", and lo and behold, JBL Paragon. Wow ! I would have to imagine the cost of "care and feeding" would be expensive even after the acquisition. Great story about your Garrards.
The G-22000 is also a Dual mono in the same fashion, I have one, glad to see the Biggest G Made your list. The G-22000 competed in price with the SX-1980 but the G-33000 was in its own sphere of market above them all at the time.
I had the G-22,000, 250w, 4 channeel. I used them until I retired in 2015 to drive my 901's. The setup now belongs to my son, who can afford to make some needed repairs. I’m sure he will love what comes from them as much as I did.
I got my skylabs shirt on Saturday and the same day I picked up a Pioneer SX-1250!
OMG! Good one, Wow.
@@dredrotten yeah i'm stoked, i have it setup in my office and bought two wiim's and have them synced with my garage system.
In my long-past youth, I had a list of speakers that were more or less a "holy grail" list. M&K had some outstanding subwoofer/satellite systems, Ohm's Walsh speakers were on that list, Polk SDA's were also on the list. It's never bad to form those lists, especially when you eventually stumble across a clearance sale when the manufacturer is upgrading the model. That's how I picked up a pair of Polk SDA-1a's at half price. They still sound great, probably the best stereo imaging I ever experienced.
The store was a local chain, "Stereo SuperStore." Located in smaller malls and strip malls off from major regional malls. They sold good equipment at cheaper prices than their competitors, but the people working there weren't really knowledgeable about what they were selling. They were just trying to push a commodity out the door. I called them "Stereo STUPOR Store. They eventually went bankrupt, bought out of bankruptcy by a local schlock furniture retailer, and that chain ended up bankrupt as well.
Portland and Tom Petersons😂
@@consco3667 after the bankruptcy, "And Gloria's Too!"
He used to advertise on late night TV, an obnoxious ad where it looked like he was pounding on the inside of the TV tube as he yelled, "Wake up!" I knew a lady who was startled once and thought her house was on fire, swore that she would never go there. Then, there's the alarm clock that would go off by saying, "Wake up!" The face of the clock was his face.
@@j.patrickmoore9137 and I’m listening to my wife!!😂remember them well. He used to sponsor Portland Wrestling when I was a teen in the mid to late 70’s. Also Friendly Chevrolet! Escaped the leftist dystopian city of PDX and am in small town North central WA now.
That Portland Wrestling was real, wasn't it? 🤣
@@j.patrickmoore9137 😂😂😂😂😂
I like your videos! My holy grail I bought from a friend whose father bought them in 1960 while he was in the navy. A pair of Jensen Imperial speakers! Still sound awesome!
News flash: Kevin has a sense of humor! and a dry one at that. Can I have some more, please sir? ...... But seriously, folks, a very interesting video. I spent ten years in the industry and pretty much stayed in the middle-market. I had no idea there were so many interesting things out there. Thanks for the trip through the looking glass.
Back in the early 80s I ended up in a high end audio outlet in Vancouver and they had a lot of JBL speakers. I saw the Paragon and was impressed, very impressed. I believe they had a sticker price of $14,000 CAN - ouch. Listened to them and was not the least bit impressed/were not in a sound room as were the others. Then I listed to a pair of JBLs at $4,000 and they sounded better but not impressed. Then a pair of JBLs at $2,000 as then I was impressed - That they sounded very good and way better that the others considering the different price levels. The sales person knew all of this and showed me these in that order on purpose, just cuz I guess. This is one of those special times that I will never forget.
thanks Kevin good stuff as usual. Keep them coming !!!
Good stuff! I also love the G series.
Loved this video, lots of stuff I never imagined.
Definitely gonna be a fun one
I still own and use a Garrard 401 turntable . I use it with an SME series 2 tonearm and a Shure V15 111 cartridge with Jico stylus . All housed in an original SME 2000 plinth system . My turntable also came with a hardback manual with hand signed individual inspection report for unit serial number 03134 . Made around September 1965 and still spinning fine .
I have owned a number of other turntables including Linn Sondek LP12 , Thorens TD 160 and one of those Michell ( Transcriptors ) Hydraulic Reference turntables . I have sold the all on but never parted with my Garrard 401 . I wonder what it would cost today if it was still in production ?
I had no idea that Mike Ehrmantraut's younger brother was so passionate about HIFI and gave such informed and measured opinions on the most fabulous vintage equipment... Long live to Skylabs Audio and its charismatic boss. These videos are real gems. Many thanks to you. All the best from Oleron Island - France.
I absolutely love watching Your videos and Your delivery of information/knowledge is Great keep up the Great work...listening from Washington State !!! 😊
Always good stuff Kevin thxs again....
I heard the JBL Paragon in 1964 or 1965. Not much bass, not much stereo separation. Looks - WOW!
It must have been driven by a crappy little amplifier, what, with 12 inch woofers and the other great drivers it has should have had it sounding really good?
Hi Kevin, I really do enjoy your videos as a lot of the people who leave comments do. I needed or I should say I felt the urge to make a comment on this one because I also have wanted since I was a teenager in the 1970s to have the opportunity to listen to a JBL paragon. I live in California on the coast and when I was in high school I met this guy who was in his mid-thirties who was obsessed with tube Hi-Fi gear and we became friends. He used to drive out into LA on a regular basis hunting for gear and even though he didn't buy a lot he took me with him and I got to see and learn about a lot of equipment that I never got to own. Although, I will say that I've had some very interesting pieces of equipment go through my hands over the years. Anyways I remember very vividly one day we went in to a little recycled stereo shop out in the San Fernando Valley not far from Universal Studios that had a paragon in their showroom for sale I remember it had a pretty wicked scratch on the top but other than that it was very clean and at that time they wanted $6,000 for it Unfortunately they could see that there was no way me and my buddy were going to buy this thing so they didn't even offer to let us hear it but I remember seeing it and thought it was just about the coolest thing I'd ever seen! Anyways, you reminded me of that event with your comments about the Paragon, and I just thought I would share with you that I like yourself I have never been able to hear one, but I've always wanted to. Thanks again for all of your videos. Best regards, Dave
Almost saw a smile while talking about your turntable:)
Another great video, I constantly wonder about where my gear came from? Where did it start life at? How many parties did it witness? Man it would be awesome to know where this stuff originated from and its journey to where it ended up. Those Sansui's with the maroon, Timeless design!
Another great video, Kevin! That Sansui BA5000 is also on my bucket list, and I remember reading years ago this was the amp that people referred to when stating that Sansui was the McIntosh of Japan. Most likely, because of the output transformers, which is a design McIntosh has incorporated in most of their amps since their early days!
Got a Marantz 2216b from Goodwill for around $20 a few years back. Clean and works perfectly.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing!
Good to see you rocking the BJM T-shirt
I have been around the Sansui BA5000 and I concur with your reaction and observation.
BTW you have a gift...your audio tales are so cool.
Sunday morning drinking my coffee and watching one of my favorite UA-cam channels. I think I'll put on some Eric Clapton and enjoy the day. Thank you for another awesome video, hopefully I'll win the lottery one day and build my dream vintage stereo system. 👍📻
Always watching your video...here in Manila philippines
That thumbnail looks super cool, could honestly be a nice poster
Hard to disagree with that list, I also hold the BA5000's design in very high regard, its unfortunate that Sansui did not produce a matching Preamp or Tuner. For that reason I think I prefer the BA3000, CA3000 and TU9900 stacked, that is an absolutely gorgeous combo. Also one minor correction, the Paragon used 15 inch woofers, either 150-4C or later LE-15.
Great video! And by the way love the BJM t-shirt. My favorite band!
Best kept secret in music. Seen them 5 or 6 times. Never know which Anton will show up, lol
Absolutely! Anton is quite a character. I saw BJM last year here in Los Angeles and the show was great. Unfortunately in Europe Anton went off the rails. As you may know already Anton had a major "dust up" with his rhythm guitarist in mid-concert! It looked outrageous! Still love the band.
Excellent video thank you Kevin. I have Infinity RS2.5’s and the IRS V are the dream. I’ve never heard many vintage receivers, but your channel certain inspires me to do so. Keep up the great work.
2:00 I have a very similar Zenith console stereo that I'm working on right now, but an older 1965 vacuum tube model (MM2604). With some help online I've figured out a workable "plug and ply" strategy to be able to connect my WiiM Pro without cutting or modifying anything original. I'm very excited to get it functional again and hear what it sounds like.
Love the list Kevin. I remember the ads on TV and in the newspaper during the late 70's and 80's for Marantz and Sansui receivers. I was poor and having transportation was above having a nice stereo. I loved the look and sound of them. I can't fathom spending $20K on speakers. But I guess if you have a house with a room that can support 6' speakers $20K is chump change to you. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate your content.
The paragon sounded unbelievable the sound surrounds you
I, like you would love to hear a JBL Paragon. You have a nice list.
Loved the pickup truck find story. That’s much better than the Goodwill stories people brag about on the audio chat’s.
I love hearing about this old audio stuff. Keep them coming eventually I’ll list what I still have. Not great stuff like you talk about, but it’s what I could afford.
Just found your channel. I love it. I have many 70s and 80s pieces including a Nakamichi cassette deck, model below dragon. It used 2 sets of heads to play and record in both directions. My acustat 2s and GSI stereo70 and Kenwood turntable with black widow tonearm are my prizes. Thank you
Great channel Kevin. Thanks for all your insight.
Thanks for watching!
Enjoyed the video! More equipment I will never own, but cool to dream about. Great story about your rescue mission!
Thanks! 👍
Awesome awesome video. I did have a chance to experience in here a pair of the old JBL paragon back in 2011 at a small stereo shop in Grosse Pointe Michigan. They were awesome and dynamic sounding. At the time, I did not realize the magnitude of what was involved with that speaker, and how rare and exquisite it was.
DEFINITELY a fun one! ;^)
Good picks!
Love my AU-717 and TU-717 set up. Big Sansui fanboy here.
Craftsman 400 or 500 Tube Amp. I just love the sound.
IRSs definitely no 1...
But my friend has infinity Alpha Beta Kappa's. The best rock and roll speakers i have ever heard. He called me up because they were distorting when heset them up. Turns out they were driving the entire house into oscilation and feedback runaway. I went to basement and could see floor moving up and down . Reinforced the floor and moved stereo to back of fireplace to resolve. Fantastic base...
Sounds like a frat house !
Way back in the early 80's I was working at a shipping company which was next door to several old homes. The owner had bought each of them one by one with plans of expanding the business. When he bought the second house, likely built in the late 1890's or so, he had me take one of the dump trucks we had over there to 'clean' out all the furniture and 'junk'.
He mentioned "There's an old 'radio' and record player too, if you want it, get it out of there and don't tell anyone else where it went". I went over after work, with the dump truck and found a complete stereo system set up in the living room with two huge leather chairs. The place smelled like cheap cigars but nothing looked too abused. The power was off so it wasn't a matter of testing anything.
The amp was a Harman Kardon Citation 16, with a Citation 17 Preamp, the turntable a Garrard 301, mounted in a converted old Philco console TV cabinet that had been turned into an entertainment center. They had the amp and preamp on shelves below, two JBL L100 speakers at each end, and the TT on top, under a wood and glass hinged cover. They had taken a 2" thick solid slab of mahogany and made a full top for the cabinet which was close to 5ft long. Next to the turntable was a cheap portable RCA TV with half a roll of foil on top for the antenna. In the unused space below the TT, was about 30 vintage big band era albums from the 40's and 50's and on the floor to right a wooden box with about 300 45 rpm records, most dating no newer than about 1970.
I still have all of it, including the home built cabinet but that cabinet got repurposed again as a side bar table in my kitchen with a new top and some doors on the front. I cut, and doubled the original mahogany top to form a solid 4" plinth and I bought and installed new rubber parts on the TT and a newer tone arm that I took from an earlier Radio Shack LAB TT.
The speakers needed new grills, which at some point I did finally spring for, and the amp and preamp are set up over my work bench still today. I think I still have most of the old 45's from that box too, but they weren't in the best condition being stored loose on edge in a box.
Its a cool old turntable but not my first choice, but super cool none the less. (The TT I currently have set up is a Realistic LAB 400).
None of it came right into the house, the smell of cigar smoke was tough to get rid of, the cabinet and the speakers lived in the garage at my dad's place for years being used by him on an old Realistic StA64 receiver. It was him who did the mods to the old cabinet to make it into a suitable piece of furniture. The speakers, after a complete rebuild and lots of scrubbing and a refinish are now house worthy but never made it beyond my work area above the garage.
Yup, same , the biggest G, and BA, my grails also. I still use old Pickering carts with new stylus on my tech 12.
There was an estate sale back in 2010 with the JBL Paragon. Yup, didn't buy it but man, what a looker. Like seeing a vintage Ferrari. A privilege for sure.
Loved the video, thanks for the list. Most of items I've never heard of (jus the IRS-Vs, saw them in a Montreal shop and ran away). I was just wondering why there was no Nakamichi Dragon on your list, and then ... there it was. I had a Nak Dragon that I bought in Germany in 1988, ran it for 20 years (with a Quad 44 pre-amp, amp, receiver and ESL-63 speakers), sold it for more than I paid for it in 2006. Superb deck. I hope you find one some day.
Enjoyed that one. I've become a bit obsessed with Sansui since watching the channel.
A hour or two ago I bought a Sansui ba-f1 power amp from Japan. I plan to use it with the preamp section of my AU7700.
My vintage holy grails: Quad ESL57 and Dahlquist DQ10 speakers, Heathkit W5M power amps, Apt Holman preamp, AR turntable, Shure V15 type 5MR cartridge, Stax and Koss ESP9 headphones.
I never noticed before, but I saw the original Skylab space station as a graphic at the end of the video, and always wondered if that had been an inspiration for the name of your company.
Personally, I got into hi-fi in the mid 80s,and my holy Grail come from that era. I doubt anybody else would be interested, but I still love the Yamaha R100 is a receiver. Give me that with a pair of ADS L1180s and I’d be a happy camper. These days, for personal reasons, I’m stuck in the realm of headphones. Oh well… It’s still music!😊😊😊😊