While streaming is great, nothing beats an amp and CD player setup. I know the kids all love vinyl, but I’ve been buying CDs since the 80s, and still go back to them for sitting and listening.
Vinyl and CDs are on equal standing in my house because I grew up when vinyl, cassettes (or reel to reel) and FM were the choices. Didn't sell my vinyl when CDs came out but I adopted CDs quickly. I have about 2500 of each. I only stream when I'm at my desktop.
This was such a good down to earth video John, sometimes Hifi can feel really elitist (and of course, it still is) nice to see a content creator such as yourself making a video like this
I'm not an audiophile. I just love music. Seeing the content of the video is really appreciated. I really like your attitude towards high fi gear. I always said the most important aspects of this hobby are, room, means, will and time. Turning the clock and buy old skool gear is my way to go. It works, it's usually simple and my ears are satisfied. Thanks again for this Mr. Darko.
I worked in a HiFi shop in Melbourne, Australia back in the 90's, selling these Marantz CD Players. They were a great unit (and yes, we sold a shit-tonne of them!). The only niggle was that this series of players (CD43, CD53, CD63 etc) had a common issue in that the wrong grease was used on the Laser Drive Mechanism, which is a sort of worm-drive gear. This grease would clag up, such that the laser couldn't track properly, resulting in these skips that you hear. In the worst cases, the machine couldn't read a disc. The common warranty fix back then was to rip out the old Laser Mechanism and pop in a replacement with the correct lubrication - a 10 minute job! Now, 25 years later, that may not be so simple. If you have one of this series of player with this issue, pop the lid off and have a look at the worm gear that tracks the laser. If the grease is dark brown and crappy looking, there's your problem. It should be white or creamy in colour and texture. I'm a long time out of the game now, but I wonder whether it would be feasible to carefully degrease that gear and relubricate it with an appropriate grease? I wish I still had mine!
My recommendation would be to go for a slightly older Marantz or Philips CD player - one with the legendary TDA1541 DAC and CDM2 or CDM4 mechanism. I've had my Marantz CD56 from new, and it's still as sweet as the day I bought it!
I haven’t re-greased any audio CDs but I’ve done a good few CD-ROM drives over the years and can confirm it’s a simple enough job. Cotton buds, isopropyl alcohol and some decent quality white lithium grease are all you need.
I have that same CD player and it’s in my garage because it skips but I never thought it was that great. It sold because it looks cool and was not too big. I also have a pair of Mission 753, good close to a wall in their day but boxy sounding compared to a modern speaker. I was using the Celestion 3 small bookshelves in 91, great tweeter but boxy sounding as well. Still have those as well. They actually would work on a bookshelf(why I kept them) because they have so little bass being acoustic suspension but I used them on target stands and enjoyed them until I got the higher end Missions.
I have a 945 AX in my workshop needing a new mech… the mech (Phillips CDM-4) will cost as much as the player is worth but I’m going to do it because I feel loathed to junk an otherwise immaculate machine. It’s pretty average sounding to be honest, the RCD-965 BX and RCD-951 I have are clearly better… but I’ll sell it on to someone who will appreciate, it. I won’t make a penny but it doesn’t matter.
I've been running a vintage setup mostly because of budget and nostalgia - most of it was my dad's - and it continues to blow me away how good a bunch of even budget mid-90s kit can sound. I've got my dad's Mission 731i speakers, with their ridiculous but fantastic "micrometer" stands, and his Denon CD player which packs a pretty nice Burr-Brown R2R DAC chip. Even paired with the ubiquitous Cambridge A1 integrated amp I bought as a poor high school student back then, it sounds great. Far better than anything I could put together new for even double the price.
G'day it's Shane from Australia. I loved this video I only did something very similar myself recently, going out into my shed and finding my old gear from the late 80s early 90s. And yes I am a hoarder. It was a wonderful weekend spent I really enjoyed the nostalgia of it all. Found my old Technics SUV 60 class A integrated amplifier. My old Technics CD player of the same era. And my Jamo CBR 1305 loudspeakers which where still in great condition. God I saved long and hard to afford those back in the day lol. Brought it all inside dusted it all off and cleaned it properly plugged it all in and WOW! It's transported me back to being a youngster reveling in hifi. Sure it wasn't anything like the $100000 I've spent on my current system. But I still had a ball all weekend pulling out CDs I haven't played since back in those days. A great video thank you so much 👍😁🎧
American here, no, I don't think anyone native to the US did call them cinch, I've heard others from Europe or Britain etc call it that instead. If you spend anytime on audio forums where members are from all over, you'll see it used there a lot.
I am setting up my first stereo system and got these speakers yesterday for 60 euros. Now waiting to pick up my turntable, cannot wait to try them out. Great video :)
Pure nostalgia making a great point. You do not need the latest and greatest to enjoy music. These components were built to last and to give decades of enjoyment!
I have 4 of those Mission 760i sitting in the basement, still. Man, I’m old!!! Absolutely LOVED them when I got them in the early 90s, great sounding speakers. Thanks for the trip down memory lane
Bought my first hifi back in 1991, denon ceramic 3 head tape deck, denon cd player, denon tuner, harmon kardon 90w integrated amp, thorens turntable, all components made in japan, and a pair of jbl lx 44 speakers made in holland, still going great, system cost me $5,500 australian dollars back then, todays quality does not compare to this, thankyou for putting tobethet this great video, cheers
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! John, so good to see the ‘vintage’ gear it brings back so many memories, this first setup gear can change lives. I recently bought a pair of Sennheiser HD 414SL’s, not to listen to, just to have hanging above my desk reminding me of the day I heard ELO’s ‘Jungle’ through them when I was a young teen… it blew my mind. They remind me every day of the start of my amazing journey, I’m sure we all have our own stories to tell on how we all got here, but boy, I’m glad I’m still here, enjoying it just as much as ever.
Thanks so much, it was like a beautiful trip down memory lane. When I just about got into Bahrain in 97 and bought myself a Pioneer A300R amp, a Pioneer PD-S705 cd player, Pioneer CT-S550s tape deck, Pioneer F403 tuner, Pioneer GR333 equaliser and a pair of Mordaunt Short MS25i, Monster Audio interconnects and Acoustic Research speaker cables. Later on, added an A307R amp and a Sony MD520 minidisc player. Recently added an Audio Technica AT- LP5x DD turntable and a TP Link audio receiver and couldn’t be more happier. Sounded gorgeous back then, and now after all these years still sound just as good. Totally a budget system separates but has worked its magic for me.
Ahhh John, so many memories. I actually got my old system, from the 80's out of the loft in January. Marantz CD player and amplifier and a dodgy pair of cheap speakers. Lost my B&W's during a row with the ex ! I set the system up and bingo, sounded incredible. Just goes to show 20 odd years in a cold damp loft can still put a smile on your face ! Thanks for sharing.
Wow, I can't believe my ears when u mentioned the Naim Nait amplifier, after all these years. My vintage setup is the Nait + Linn Kan speakers, both version 1. They are still with me but unfortunately I don't have the Linn Sondek LP12 anymore. Anyway, this was my first proper hifi setup & now connected to a modern CD player, its still enjoyable to listen too. Cheers for taking us back to our vintage hifi gear.
Love this video. I have 2 "vintage" Hifi systems in my house just now. 1. In my Garage. I have an "old" Rotel RA03 amplifier, driving a pair of Wharfdale Delta 7.1 speakers. There were my first every speaker I bought (rather than inherited) back in the late 90's, and until a few years ago, they were the speakers I used always for DJ-ing with. The Rotel is fed with a Chromecast Audio using the simple analouge 3.5mm to RCA. No DAC here. It might just be because it's in the garage, so that is maybe doing something to the sound, like reverb or similar, but to me, it's the best sounding stereo system in my house. 2. In my kitchen. I have an Arcam A60, again with a chromecast audio, and a pair of B&W M1's. It's plenty good enough for the kitchen to be fair. But obviously not quite as impressive as the Rotel setup due, at least in part, to the much smaller speakers. These setups have generally been put together "on the cheap" often using speakers I have upgraded from in the past. So, for example, my B&W M1's became available when I upgraded my PC speakers from the M1's to 686's. Which themselves became available when I upgraded my rear speakers in a 5.1 from the 686's to 685's. Which themselves became available when upgrading the front speakers of the 5.1 from the 685's to 683's. Trickle-down economics in full effect there. Everywhere gets an upgrade, and a new room gets a system. The amplifiers on the other hand, they were bought locally off Facebook Marketplace in order to set up these systems in their respective locations. I think I paid around £110 for the Rotel, and around £80 for the Arcam. So bargain prices really. The CCA's were bought off Amazon (I think) years ago in a sale, and never used (for around £15 each or something). They sat in a drawer for a few years, until I found this use for them. Both systems also have a Google hub thing (the small screen version) so that I can use my voice to control some of the aspects of the system at least (play radio, control volume etc...) since they are in "working" rooms. Overall, I tyhink I get great sounds out of these systems. As I said, I think I get the best sound, for music, out of the Rotel / Wharfdale setup in my garage. But then my "main" system is through an AV amp (Denon 3600x) and the 683's. I don;t think the amp is doing the speakers many favours, with respect to stereo music at least. For movies and stuff, it is amazing though. So I am currently looking for a solution to add an amp with AV bypass to that system.
Excellent video for neophytes, well explained. I purchased used when setting up my current system after a divorce, money was tight had a new Rotel pre-amp processor and I purchased a used Carver av705x for $450, powerful, quiet, and runs cool. Still going strong today. Upgraded my pre-amp to a Marantz av7005 used for $350 very nice improvement. Way to go John
I have recently bought my old vintage HIFI from the 90’s as always loved it and regretted ever selling it. Yamaha AX-393 amp and Yamaha CDX-493 CD player with TDl RTL2 speakers. It hasn’t disappointed. Cost me all in £80.
I've watched many of your videos but only just had this pop up in my recommendations. So many memories!! My first proper system consisted of Pioneer PD-S703 CD player, Rotel RA-820AX amp and these Mission 760i's which I seem to remember almost all of the other audio nerds at university also had. Ah the power of What Hi-Fi recommendations! The CD player is still doing occasional duties in the lounge, the amp and speakers went to my dad for his PC set up and hopefully they are still being enjoyed. Many thanks for your entertaining videos and the best of health to you.
Seeing that “Trance Europe Express” cd set from Volume reeeeaaaalllyyyy brought me back to the early 90’s when I was buying anything and everything British and latched onto compilation CDs as a way to learn about as many new bands as humanly possible.
Really enjoyed this. My first system was pre cd (1982) and had Mission 700 speakers, a dual turntable, Marantz amp and a Sony Tape Deck (can’t remember the model numbers). Loved the sound at the time and it took me many paper deliveries to pay back. Nostalgia in music is so important which even more makes me think that we worry too much about the relative merits of… Enjoy the music and the moment I think.
It's really cool to see you talking about something you're passionate about, while taking the time to explain it in a way I can actually understand. Setting up a sound system is one of the most intimidating things to me, there's so many knobs and buttons it's just overwhelming.
I had a 25 year-old vintage system, including Harman Kardon AVR 25 II integrated amp, NHT SuperOne and Marantz 63 SE just like the host has. The bass from the rated 57Hz - 25kHz speakers is actually amazingly solid and well-defined. At low volume, I will turn on the "Loudness" button which not many modern amps have anymore to accentuate the low-end listening experience. They are a wonderful sounding combination and are now retired as a second system in my bed room. But I can tell you their sound will never be retired even stacking up with much pricier modern gears.
John...you are talking my era!!!!! My HI-fI basically evolved from my first Pioneer Tower system I bought in 1982!!! By the mid 90's I was using Kef Coda 7 Bookshelf Speakers a Audiolab 8000A amp and a Pioneer PDS 703 CD Player. At one point I tried my mates Marantz CD 67se in my system and as you say...it was a smooth sounding player as opposed to the more analytical detaily Pioneer...which I loved. Looking back....probably my fav set up before replacing the Audiolab with a Arcam Alpha 8R...which was more forgiving of bad recordings. Once I moved house my main set up went the Home Cinema route....but I lost something that mid 90's set up had. Great video.
Loved this....reminds me of my first separates system, when I went to uni in 93, and spent half of my first year's student loan money on it....Stand mounted Mission 760iSE speakers, Marantz CD52 mkII CD player (I got 2nd hand) and a Marantz PM44SE intergrate Amp....I was considering a Rotel Amp also, but got a good deal on the Marantz, so went with that.....recently bought a pair of Mission 780 speakers (2nd hand) and paired them with a newer Marantz amp (MCR 610), and was just as pleased with the results as I was with with the original system :-)
…had the same missions connected to my fathers old amp from late 1970´s..many hours playing lifeforms … and my audiophile journey began..wonderful memories..thanks John.
The Marantz CD-63SE is classic with elegant looking. I also bought one in 1990s but already give away to my cousin as gift. Today it still sounds great.
Just built a first system for my 12 year old. Something old... Sonus faber concertino wall speakers. Beautiful and a steal at 150 GBP. Something new... Pi, running Volumio, into a Loxjie A30. Beats the pants of my first system in the 90's, which included both the CD player and Amp shown. Great video.
Enjoyed this very much ……. memory lane stuff, still have the Marantz and used daily by my 91 year old step father. I used to play through a Rotel RB971 power amp hooked to a Kenwood KRV990D AV receiver with Tannoy M3 floor standing speaker, It’s where it began for me…..super!
Awesome, I definitely enjoyed this one… I have recently revisited some of my early kit too. I had a Rotel RCD 965-BX CD player, RA 971-MK2 amp and Mordaunt Short MS-20i Pearl speakers on Apollo stands, all wired up with Ixos interconnects and Rega speaker cable. I sounded great but I soon jumped on the upgrade chain and bought an Arcam system, which I upgraded even more quickly to a Linn system. I have bought another Rotel system, it’s in the company of Linn, Naim, Cyrus and Meridian systems and it holds its own pretty well, it’s actually really enjoyable… the big Linn system in my dedicated listening room is obviously in a whole different league, but it’s also orders of magnitude more expensive, it’s huge, it has more cables than the stage at woodstock and it needs that dedicated room to do it’s thing… the simplicity of the Rotel system is really refreshing.
Glad you’re enjoying your trip down memory lane, John. I started mine 18 months ago in my study but as I’m older, my gear was from the ‘80s. Inevitable NAD 3020, a Sansui SR222 MkII turntable and the nearest thing I could get to Audiomaster speakers, Monitor Audios. Since then I have taught myself the basics of stripping amps and rebuilding them with upgraded components. Old gear burns stuff out, that CD player of yours is frying it’s laser most likely. I have owned and sold about a dozen different amps, maybe 30 cd players and 10 pairs of speakers. I’ve stopped at a system I always hankered after, which is centred around a Sansui AU217 MkII amp which I have gutted and rebuilt including all the crusty old wires, phono sockets, binding posts, caps, resistors and finally a fully shielded mains cable. I reckon it’s as good as most amps costing £1,000 today. Of course, the turntable has also been fully rebuilt on a new MDF plinth with silver litz rewired arm to high quality phono sockets, allowing my to use really good phono cables. I added a totally nuts Goldring G1042 cartridge. I know I’ve gone over the top but I absolutely love the sound quality of records again. I have a CD player too but that’s just for listening in the background when the radio is rubbish. Matching Sansui TU217 FM tuner, of course. Ultimately, it doesn’t compare with my reference CD system in the lounge, but it really rocks my world when I fancy playing an LP or two. And yes, they are records or LPs, not “vinyl”. That’s something Ford used to put on the roof of your dad’s Cortina GT. 🤣
Nice trip down memory lane. Owned the Mission 761 back then with a Sansui CD player and an old Technics amplifier. Stands were DIY copies of Atacamas with Translator speaker cables. Oh, and a Pioneer recordplayer from 1975 was in the system as well. In my small bedroom it worked really well and made me step into the world of audiophiles. But the joy it brought back in the days was so rewarding it still fulfills me with very good memories.
I'm in the UK and remember the Rotel/Marantz combos from the nineties well. I still have my nineties Linn system (albeit fed with a Bluesound Node 2i) and I still love it.
My old Mission/Rotel combo (2nd system) is also now fed with a BS Node 2i. Funny how streaming has completely replaced the need for physical CDs...still sounds pretty good!
Great video and brought back memories of scraping money together for two years to buy a nad amp, mission speakers, sony FM tuner (Annie Nightingale on Sunday nights) + Ariston turntable with some upgraded stylus. The NME was companion to all the equipment. The 90’s was littered with albums with one great single and lots of fillers though….
I was only searching for some basic information on how to set up stereo components, but I quite liked this video, and your tone and the way you describe these things, so I've subscribed.
thanks for the trip down memory lane. As a chap of a certain vintage I feel I have been on the full audiophile journey - from my first 'real' system auditioned at Tottenham Court Road, down a few rabbit holes of bi amping, cryogenics, power conditioning, poring over Russ Andrews latest catalogue, building my own speakers and valve amps, before just accepting that streaming was just easier (and family friendly) ..... great to hear that the 90's system still holds its own.....
Back in 2006 I couldn't afford expensive gear but I managed to come up with a very good little system that tided me over until 2019! I bought a new pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 speakers for €198, a 2nd hand Marantz PM4000 integrated amp for €110 and a Denon DCD-685 CD player for €50 also used. I also got Supra speaker cables 2x3m for €18 and a well shielded Philips RCA interconnect for €10. Oh, and a new pair of Atacama stands for €120. At the time those €506 made me a very happy man and my CD collection was joyfully rediscovered, also my friends and neighbours couldn't believe how little I had spent for such an amount of pretty good sound and enjoyment. Some had spent as much or even more on terrible AV receivers and 5.1 speakers and were embarrassed by how bad music sounded at their homes when compared to my humble abode.
I built a system using a Denon Pma-860 amp- Cambridge audio cd player & Mordaunt and short 817 vintage speakers plus a sony ps-11 turntable and I love the sound I get, have a network player attached but to be honest I don't use it that much thanks for all the work you do really enjoy watching it
It looks like Audioquest G-2 is the modern equivalent of the classic QED 79 Strand, which was everyone's go to budget speaker cable 40 years ago. 79 Strand is still available!
You’ve given me major nostalgia vibes. I’ve still got that exact Rotel amp and the matching CD player and cassette deck. I bought them all from Encel hifi in Richmond, Melbourne Australia in the early 90’s. All played through some Jamo loudspeakers. Don’t remember which ones.
Encel! I lived in Tassie back in the '80s, and they had a store down there. Great retailer. I definitely got some gear from there: several Luxman pieces and a little Rotel for the bedroom. And a pair of baby Stax 'ear speakers'.
Finally! I own a piece of kit that was featured on Darko Audio’s UA-cam Channel!!! The Marantz CD-67SE. Seriously John, I am glad you have added to your collection of beginner videos. Hopefully this will introduce you to even more followers who will find your approach to all things audio as refreshing as I do.
Love this video. I often think of my first "real Hi-Fi" and how much pleasure it brought me. I don't think it can ever be truly re-captured. I've spent £1000's and years looking for those revelatory moments in the music, now playing around with HiRes and fancy DACs. But I always think back to my NAD 5440 CD player and the fun I had listening to it.
I set up my first hi-fi system in 1975 but I still like learning about hi-fi. The bad thing about that system is that I was in the Navy and only got to hear it when I was home on leave. I love vintage receivers, I have a Marantz 2020b and a Sansui 5050. I am listening to you right now with a 1983 Harman Kardon PM 650 Integrated Amp and JBL speakers.
That was enjoyable. Brings back memories of the 90s. Wait…I am still using equipment from the 90s. Bought back in 1994. All of them still working. Rotel RB-980BX 2 Channel Amp Rotel RB-956AX Multichannel Amp Rotel RSP-960AX Pre-Amp Rotel RLC-900 Power Conditioner NHT SuperZero Speakers NHT SW2P Subwoofers Source is purely Spotify/Tidal via AirPlay to Apple AirPort Express. Only a week ago I bought the Bluesound Node 2i (first audio related purchase in 27 years).
I have a pair of the same Mission 760i in my guest room, and I agree they are quite nice. Then again I have Mission 775 towers and 77C center for my home theater setup, i love their ‘dryness’. Great video John, keep up the good work.
Enjoyed your video as usual. Just realized I have been running a vintage system for some time. Most of my equipment is from the early 90's and working beautifully. Did have to have my Magnaplaners rebuilt but for the minimal cost that process worked wonders on these old work horses.
You are so spot on. I still play my vintage 90’s Linn setup more than my modern kit. The Karik CD died years ago but I feed Lossless CD directly in to the Numerik DAC from a Squeezebox touch (using Roon / Tidal etc) it sounds fantastic and has just about the same Bells and whistles as my modern system. Including Roon, touch screen and the streaming library of Tidal. You are also spot on this older system seems smoother and boy does it have some punch and responsiveness ( probably due to the 4 x LK 240 mono blocks ) yes you may miss some finer detail here and there but I can listen to it all day long.
Superb video! I still got the Marantz PM7200 as mint as can be. Pressing “Play” on the CD player is still an unbeatable experience. Lovely and tactile and you know pure musical bliss happens as a result
Love my Braun Hifi setup from the 70s. Used to be grandad’s and now I use it with joy. Dieter Rams design and German engineering means everything is heavy and solidly built
Brilliant video. I sell vintage refurbished gear to local folk. I will now use your video as a pre-buy knowledge for folk to watch!. Big thanks from Scotland! Excellent video mate. Thank you!
Brilliant video John, My first ever HiFi at 17 years old was a gerrard sp25 mk4 record deck with naim amp & mission 770 speakers went on to replace the gerrard with a amazing sounding rega planar 2 & then later a linn sondek, all second hand. Had to sadly sell it all so cheap when finances became tight. Back in the 90’s I bought a refurbished Marantz CD63SE KI signature and partnered it with an Audiolab 8000A amp that I found in a pawn shop for £50 I too had the same mission speakers 760i & atacama stands, the sound was a very detailed but lacking warmth which the manager at Sevenoakes put down to the Audiolab, so I tried an Aura A80. Amp & it was sounded sublime, detailed warm & involving. Unfortunately my Marantz started playing up and tried a pioneer PDS 703 cd player which to me sounded nearly as good as the Marantz so I ended up with that for a long time
I recently inherited my late grandpa's old Hifi setup from the early 80s and while I figured out most of it from the way it was setup before I moved it to my house, this video clarified a couple things and was very helpful. I am definitely going to be getting some new speaker cables and banana plugs now just to make the setup a bit cleaner. Almost everything except the amp and speakers has been massively outmoded (for example a double tape deck and radio tuner), but I am keen on giving his big chungus CD player a go and trying the phono mode with a record player. At the moment the amp is hooked up to my PC on its own because the jack on it is incredible for driving high impedence headphones, but I can't wait to play around with the other stuff. God knows what this setup cost him in the 80s, but I'm guessing it was pretty pricy, the man always went for high end stuff when it came to his hobbies.
Flashback to my first couple years in college. My best friend had a McIntosh system he took from his parent’s restaurant. He had an amp and CD player. Can’t remember the speakers but we listened to a lot of CDs like Depeche Mode and INXS. In our dorm. Thanks for another great video John!
My first speakers were a pair of used Mission 761 purchased in 1991. I kept them for sentimental reasons until 2013 but had not listened to them for years. My first system, featuring the Mission 761, was a Denon DCD-620 (source) and, like every other college student in the USA at that time, an Adcom GTP-350 (preamp-tuner) and n Adcom GFA-535 (stereo amp) and, of course, monster cable.
Great video. Many thanks. Trying to get my old Hi Fi working after many years. But want to do is a simply and cost effective as possible - "not too expensive". This video was perfect to get me thinking about what and where I should be looking to replace things.
Loved this! I’d really enjoy a version of this w currently available gear. Same relative price points and delivery etc. I find I am sliding back to owning just the music that is worth having in physical space. Thanks John!
Anyone reading the above comment who likes guitars should check out this guy's excellent channel. Actually even if you aren't interested in guitars, go and watch it anyway. He presents stuff in a really interesting way and his voice is really chill too. I often work with his vids as background noise.
loved this content, so nice to see a vid with 2nd hand kit.......i recently helped a friend build his first separates system of vintage kit.....loved the search, brought back some memories.
Thank you, I'm a beginner and this is just the news I wanted to hear. I just can't justify spending big money, but I'm encouraged to hear quality old stuff is still capable of good audio. I was amazed you still enjoyed the sound from that set up, I find from my experience with top end fly-fishing rods that going 'backwards' just isn't possible, and if I pick up a rod from thirty years ago I wonder how I ever used it. I'm also fascinated with how you communicate the nuances from kit, I was struggling with words to describe the sound in my new headphones (just used m50x), just how sort of 'immersive' it was.I had no idea things could sound so good. Next stop eBay, I'm hoping there will be a good supply of used bargains, being post- Christmas.
Yip, my CD-63 mk2 KI Signature CD player is still going strong! I have bought it around 2004 and never had any issues with it. Later, around 2007, I bought the PM 7001 KI Signature amp. Wonderful Marantz gear!
I started with a similar system at a similar time - the mission speakers, the same CD player, arcam amp. I moved to an arcam AVR 300 with quality inbuilt DAC, KEF q55 speakers. With advice from John I now am using it with Roon and an allo signature streamer with the kef's biamped. It really sounds amazing, easy to buy on eBay and you would get change from £400. Thanks John! Good hifi isn't a new thing and is hugely affordable secondhand - I guess UK gear is good value in the UK.
You just recreated my first HiFi system from the early 90's. Nothing since has provided me with the same satisfaction as the first time I fired that system up. BTW, I am still using a CD63 mk2 KI Signature CD player I have had for 20 years, although running it through an external DAC now into an original Audiolab 8000s amp , into brand new (finally) Wharfdale Evo 4.4 speakers. Sounds great but will upgrade amp soon. Thanks and keep up the great videos!
Great video! Good sound does not have to be expensive. I love that 900 series Rotel. They sound so open and clear. Be careful when buying them: always listen/check first because they tend to lose a channel, or have a crackling channel after around 30 years.
Loved this video. I'm an old school audio scrounger, and I love building value sound systems that sound great, and then re-homing them (give them away). I learned the magic of DAC's from you; and that has given a lot of vintage / used / dated gear a new lease on life. Bravo.
Loved this video Mr D! Took me right back. I bought my first system around the same time as you but I recall the Marantz CD player was always a bit more than I could afford at the time (What Hi Fi loved it). I also used to listen to the same album as you show in the video. My fave track on it was 'Utuba' by Beaumont Hannant which with all the clicky bleepy sounds gave the tweeters on my Mordaunt Short MS30's a real work out. Ahhhh....the god old days.
When I was 16 I read all the Audiophile magazines i could, got a part time job at a gas station, then scrimped and saved until I could get the best I could afford, which was a Rotel pre amp and Power Amp, along with some Heybriook bookshelf speakers. I’m 54 now and have moved on to other gear, but my 17 year old is now using the Rotel gear in his bedroom, along with some Dali speakers I handed down to him. 34 years later Rotel couldn’t have been a better investment.
I’m a little crazy and have four full systems. One at work, home theater, two home 2-channel systems. One of the 2-channel systems is a Luxman R-115 receiver, Luxman D-111 CD, Luxman K-111 cassette driving Klipsch Epic CF-2’s (I stream to it using a Yamaha WXC-50). All this gear is from the late ‘80s or early ‘90s. Often I gravitate to this system because it sounds so good.
Great video and a trip down memory lane - thank you. My first system Celestion SL 600, Carver 1090 Integrated (the only budget amp that can power celestions) and a rotel cd player ... all very very second hand ... and 35 years later still going strong!
Love this. I’m always scouting gear from that time period to build separate listening stations throughout the house. My latest is a garage setup where I work on my bicycles. Cheap recycled but reliable gear goes a long way.
My next to the last CD player was the CD63 Ki Sig. I loved that thing. around 20yrs ago I replaced it with the Marantz CD17 Ki Sig which I still have today & still use on a regular basis. Great down memory lane vid thank you. 👍
This is definitely now my favourite video on the channel! Will send to some of my friends who are yet to get into hifi! The perfect introduction. Thank you 🙌
Still run my Mission 780se’s today after buying them in 1993, used everyday as part of a home theatre setup. They’re sat on Atacama SE24’s and powered by a Cyrus 3 amp. To my ears they still sound awesome.
Still hoping to find a Cyrus amp to go with my Mission 753s. They were designed to go together - but Cyrus amps are scarce and expensive on this side of the North Sea.
For me it was 1997, the year that I bought my pair of Mission 731 PRO, served me well untill 2019 when I sold them to my cousin, just needed something new, bought Elac Debut B6.2. But the Missions were my first loudspeakers, they survived birthday parties, my teen years and still sounded great.
Great video John, it doesn't do any harm to be reminded of the basics. My first system included the Marantz CD63SE CD Player & Mission 761 speakers (similar price to Mission 760i) but I had a Creek 4040 S2 amplifier rather than the Rotel. I have now upgraded the speakers to Castle Harlechs. I think the Marantz CD63SE when I bought mine new in 80s or 90s was £350 rather than £250 as you stated in video.
Brought back so many memories! Had the same amp, loved my Rotel, technics cd player and Sony floor standing speakers. Had s similar experience to you when I swapped out the Rotel for a more expensive amp, just wasn't as happy, it had lost a little bit of fix. Always remember the start of wages day by deacon blue causing the hairs in the back of my neck to go up, but after I swapped out the Rotel, that no longer happened.
I’m a little older maybe by ten years and saved so hard to buy my first system - Creek 4040, Heybrook HB1 and a Rega Planar 3 joined a few years later by a Marantz CD52SE. Even all these years later I get a lovely flood of nostalgia recalling it, my youth, the music and the sweethearts.
I ran that CD player for a decade and I have to agree, regret moving it along. Very well done video, we old cats assume everyone knows how to set things up. Once done a few times it’s a breeze. Enjoy the music. 😎
I have always loved the vids of Darko Audio. They inspire. For the past vids, I have hoped that audiophiles will view and abandon their "old" equipment so that I may pick up some deals on pieces that are still awesome. I connected with this vid alot as I still have all of my gear from the 70s on to the present and it still excites me. Thank you for this one. Very appreciated as always ... of the content, the thoughts, the descriptive language and the video and editing. Regards.
While streaming is great, nothing beats an amp and CD player setup. I know the kids all love vinyl, but I’ve been buying CDs since the 80s, and still go back to them for sitting and listening.
Vinyl and CDs are on equal standing in my house because I grew up when vinyl, cassettes (or reel to reel) and FM were the choices. Didn't sell my vinyl when CDs came out but I adopted CDs quickly. I have about 2500 of each. I only stream when I'm at my desktop.
@@alm5693 Hi-res is better than CD...
Sorry but records are better….been listening to all types since early sixties…nothing beats a great record album!
The simplicity of that system is like a breath of fresh air. Planning on doing something similar for my office.
It‘s that easy: good sound comes from perfect fitting high end components, an easy setup reduced to components REALLY needed
This was such a good down to earth video John, sometimes Hifi can feel really elitist (and of course, it still is) nice to see a content creator such as yourself making a video like this
Glad you enjoyed it!
I'm not an audiophile. I just love music. Seeing the content of the video is really appreciated. I really like your attitude towards high fi gear.
I always said the most important aspects of this hobby are, room, means, will and time. Turning the clock and buy old skool gear is my way to go. It works, it's usually simple and my ears are satisfied. Thanks again for this Mr. Darko.
I worked in a HiFi shop in Melbourne, Australia back in the 90's, selling these Marantz CD Players. They were a great unit (and yes, we sold a shit-tonne of them!). The only niggle was that this series of players (CD43, CD53, CD63 etc) had a common issue in that the wrong grease was used on the Laser Drive Mechanism, which is a sort of worm-drive gear. This grease would clag up, such that the laser couldn't track properly, resulting in these skips that you hear. In the worst cases, the machine couldn't read a disc. The common warranty fix back then was to rip out the old Laser Mechanism and pop in a replacement with the correct lubrication - a 10 minute job! Now, 25 years later, that may not be so simple. If you have one of this series of player with this issue, pop the lid off and have a look at the worm gear that tracks the laser. If the grease is dark brown and crappy looking, there's your problem. It should be white or creamy in colour and texture. I'm a long time out of the game now, but I wonder whether it would be feasible to carefully degrease that gear and relubricate it with an appropriate grease? I wish I still had mine!
My recommendation would be to go for a slightly older Marantz or Philips CD player - one with the legendary TDA1541 DAC and CDM2 or CDM4 mechanism. I've had my Marantz CD56 from new, and it's still as sweet as the day I bought it!
I haven’t re-greased any audio CDs but I’ve done a good few CD-ROM drives over the years and can confirm it’s a simple enough job. Cotton buds, isopropyl alcohol and some decent quality white lithium grease are all you need.
That's exactly what happened to mine. Sigh.
I have that same CD player and it’s in my garage because it skips but I never thought it was that great. It sold because it looks cool and was not too big. I also have a pair of Mission 753, good close to a wall in their day but boxy sounding compared to a modern speaker. I was using the Celestion 3 small bookshelves in 91, great tweeter but boxy sounding as well. Still have those as well. They actually would work on a bookshelf(why I kept them) because they have so little bass being acoustic suspension but I used them on target stands and enjoyed them until I got the higher end Missions.
I have a CD63 Mkii KI for years and so far it’s never had any skipping problems. 😀
Amazing. My first 'proper' system comprised of 760 SE, Rotel 935 BX and Rotel 945 AX CD player!
I have a 945 AX in my workshop needing a new mech… the mech (Phillips CDM-4) will cost as much as the player is worth but I’m going to do it because I feel loathed to junk an otherwise immaculate machine. It’s pretty average sounding to be honest, the RCD-965 BX and RCD-951 I have are clearly better… but I’ll sell it on to someone who will appreciate, it. I won’t make a penny but it doesn’t matter.
I still have my RA-820 in the cupboard. It died in one channel but I can't bring myself to bin it.
I've been running a vintage setup mostly because of budget and nostalgia - most of it was my dad's - and it continues to blow me away how good a bunch of even budget mid-90s kit can sound. I've got my dad's Mission 731i speakers, with their ridiculous but fantastic "micrometer" stands, and his Denon CD player which packs a pretty nice Burr-Brown R2R DAC chip. Even paired with the ubiquitous Cambridge A1 integrated amp I bought as a poor high school student back then, it sounds great. Far better than anything I could put together new for even double the price.
I have those speakers and stands, a Denon amp and a Marantz Cd63se as a bedroom system. May have your A1 amp too! 👍
G'day it's Shane from Australia. I loved this video I only did something very similar myself recently, going out into my shed and finding my old gear from the late 80s early 90s. And yes I am a hoarder. It was a wonderful weekend spent I really enjoyed the nostalgia of it all. Found my old Technics SUV 60 class A integrated amplifier. My old Technics CD player of the same era. And my Jamo CBR 1305 loudspeakers which where still in great condition. God I saved long and hard to afford those back in the day lol. Brought it all inside dusted it all off and cleaned it properly plugged it all in and WOW! It's transported me back to being a youngster reveling in hifi. Sure it wasn't anything like the $100000 I've spent on my current system. But I still had a ball all weekend pulling out CDs I haven't played since back in those days. A great video thank you so much 👍😁🎧
Wow, so cool that it worked!
The wife factor must be very understanding
American here, we call those RCA cables as well. Never heard it referred to as a cinch cable, but maybe that's a regional thing.
Yep RCA. Also never heard it called thee other thing.
American here, no, I don't think anyone native to the US did call them cinch, I've heard others from Europe or Britain etc call it that instead. If you spend anytime on audio forums where members are from all over, you'll see it used there a lot.
living most of my life in Poland, I always called this cinch cable until I came to the USA and I call it RCA
Another American here, RCA too.
I always call them tulip connection
I am setting up my first stereo system and got these speakers yesterday for 60 euros. Now waiting to pick up my turntable, cannot wait to try them out. Great video :)
Pure nostalgia making a great point. You do not need the latest and greatest to enjoy music. These components were built to last and to give decades of enjoyment!
I have 4 of those Mission 760i sitting in the basement, still. Man, I’m old!!! Absolutely LOVED them when I got them in the early 90s, great sounding speakers. Thanks for the trip down memory lane
Bought my first hifi back in 1991, denon ceramic 3 head tape deck, denon cd player, denon tuner, harmon kardon 90w integrated amp, thorens turntable, all components made in japan, and a pair of jbl lx 44 speakers made in holland, still going great, system cost me $5,500 australian dollars back then, todays quality does not compare to this, thankyou for putting tobethet this great video, cheers
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! John, so good to see the ‘vintage’ gear it brings back so many memories, this first setup gear can change lives. I recently bought a pair of Sennheiser HD 414SL’s, not to listen to, just to have hanging above my desk reminding me of the day I heard ELO’s ‘Jungle’ through them when I was a young teen… it blew my mind. They remind me every day of the start of my amazing journey, I’m sure we all have our own stories to tell on how we all got here, but boy, I’m glad I’m still here, enjoying it just as much as ever.
Thanks so much, it was like a beautiful trip down memory lane. When I just about got into Bahrain in 97 and bought myself a Pioneer A300R amp, a Pioneer PD-S705 cd player, Pioneer CT-S550s tape deck, Pioneer F403 tuner, Pioneer GR333 equaliser and a pair of Mordaunt Short MS25i, Monster Audio interconnects and Acoustic Research speaker cables. Later on, added an A307R amp and a Sony MD520 minidisc player. Recently added an Audio Technica AT- LP5x DD turntable and a TP Link audio receiver and couldn’t be more happier. Sounded gorgeous back then, and now after all these years still sound just as good. Totally a budget system separates but has worked its magic for me.
Ahhh John, so many memories. I actually got my old system, from the 80's out of the loft in January. Marantz CD player and amplifier and a dodgy pair of cheap speakers. Lost my B&W's during a row with the ex ! I set the system up and bingo, sounded incredible. Just goes to show 20 odd years in a cold damp loft can still put a smile on your face ! Thanks for sharing.
Wow, I can't believe my ears when u mentioned the Naim Nait amplifier, after all these years. My vintage setup is the Nait + Linn Kan speakers, both version 1. They are still with me but unfortunately I don't have the Linn Sondek LP12 anymore. Anyway, this was my first proper hifi setup & now connected to a modern CD player, its still enjoyable to listen too. Cheers for taking us back to our vintage hifi gear.
I had Mission speakers years ago. They were great. Now I want a Rotel CD player. Love your articles.
Love the tangents. Love the filmmaking. Love that there's always a story to your videos, not just a string of information.
You get it! I try to infuse every video with a story that weaves in and out of the gear. 👍🏾
CD player on top of the amp! I was always told the amp should always sit on top of everything else because of the heat it generates.
Love this video. I have 2 "vintage" Hifi systems in my house just now.
1. In my Garage. I have an "old" Rotel RA03 amplifier, driving a pair of Wharfdale Delta 7.1 speakers. There were my first every speaker I bought (rather than inherited) back in the late 90's, and until a few years ago, they were the speakers I used always for DJ-ing with. The Rotel is fed with a Chromecast Audio using the simple analouge 3.5mm to RCA. No DAC here. It might just be because it's in the garage, so that is maybe doing something to the sound, like reverb or similar, but to me, it's the best sounding stereo system in my house.
2. In my kitchen. I have an Arcam A60, again with a chromecast audio, and a pair of B&W M1's. It's plenty good enough for the kitchen to be fair. But obviously not quite as impressive as the Rotel setup due, at least in part, to the much smaller speakers.
These setups have generally been put together "on the cheap" often using speakers I have upgraded from in the past. So, for example, my B&W M1's became available when I upgraded my PC speakers from the M1's to 686's. Which themselves became available when I upgraded my rear speakers in a 5.1 from the 686's to 685's. Which themselves became available when upgrading the front speakers of the 5.1 from the 685's to 683's. Trickle-down economics in full effect there. Everywhere gets an upgrade, and a new room gets a system.
The amplifiers on the other hand, they were bought locally off Facebook Marketplace in order to set up these systems in their respective locations. I think I paid around £110 for the Rotel, and around £80 for the Arcam. So bargain prices really.
The CCA's were bought off Amazon (I think) years ago in a sale, and never used (for around £15 each or something). They sat in a drawer for a few years, until I found this use for them.
Both systems also have a Google hub thing (the small screen version) so that I can use my voice to control some of the aspects of the system at least (play radio, control volume etc...) since they are in "working" rooms.
Overall, I tyhink I get great sounds out of these systems. As I said, I think I get the best sound, for music, out of the Rotel / Wharfdale setup in my garage. But then my "main" system is through an AV amp (Denon 3600x) and the 683's. I don;t think the amp is doing the speakers many favours, with respect to stereo music at least. For movies and stuff, it is amazing though. So I am currently looking for a solution to add an amp with AV bypass to that system.
Excellent video for neophytes, well explained. I purchased used when setting up my current system after a divorce, money was tight had a new Rotel pre-amp processor and I purchased a used Carver av705x for $450, powerful, quiet, and runs cool. Still going strong today. Upgraded my pre-amp to a Marantz av7005 used for $350 very nice improvement. Way to go John
I have recently bought my old vintage HIFI from the 90’s as always loved it and regretted ever selling it. Yamaha AX-393 amp and Yamaha CDX-493 CD player with TDl RTL2 speakers. It hasn’t disappointed. Cost me all in £80.
I've watched many of your videos but only just had this pop up in my recommendations. So many memories!! My first proper system consisted of Pioneer PD-S703 CD player, Rotel RA-820AX amp and these Mission 760i's which I seem to remember almost all of the other audio nerds at university also had. Ah the power of What Hi-Fi recommendations! The CD player is still doing occasional duties in the lounge, the amp and speakers went to my dad for his PC set up and hopefully they are still being enjoyed.
Many thanks for your entertaining videos and the best of health to you.
Seeing that “Trance Europe Express” cd set from Volume reeeeaaaalllyyyy brought me back to the early 90’s when I was buying anything and everything British and latched onto compilation CDs as a way to learn about as many new bands as humanly possible.
I just bought that cd player on Facebook selling site for £40. Times were so simple back then. Love your videos John
I subscribed to this channel because I got addicted to the sweet voice of sponsor lady usually at the beginning of the clip.
John, you've got me hooked. I went from knowing next-to-nothing about HiFi systems to spending HOURS researching (i.e., reading/watching). Thank you!
Really enjoyed this. My first system was pre cd (1982) and had Mission 700 speakers, a dual turntable, Marantz amp and a Sony Tape Deck (can’t remember the model numbers). Loved the sound at the time and it took me many paper deliveries to pay back. Nostalgia in music is so important which even more makes me think that we worry too much about the relative merits of… Enjoy the music and the moment I think.
It's really cool to see you talking about something you're passionate about, while taking the time to explain it in a way I can actually understand. Setting up a sound system is one of the most intimidating things to me, there's so many knobs and buttons it's just overwhelming.
As a relatively amateur to the world and politics of Hifi, I found this video an absolute refreshing change. Thanks John
I had a 25 year-old vintage system, including Harman Kardon AVR 25 II integrated amp, NHT SuperOne and Marantz 63 SE just like the host has. The bass from the rated 57Hz - 25kHz speakers is actually amazingly solid and well-defined. At low volume, I will turn on the "Loudness" button which not many modern amps have anymore to accentuate the low-end listening experience. They are a wonderful sounding combination and are now retired as a second system in my bed room. But I can tell you their sound will never be retired even stacking up with much pricier modern gears.
John...you are talking my era!!!!!
My HI-fI basically evolved from my first Pioneer Tower system I bought in 1982!!! By the mid 90's I was using Kef Coda 7 Bookshelf Speakers a Audiolab 8000A amp and a Pioneer PDS 703 CD Player. At one point I tried my mates Marantz CD 67se in my system and as you say...it was a smooth sounding player as opposed to the more analytical detaily Pioneer...which I loved.
Looking back....probably my fav set up before replacing the Audiolab with a Arcam Alpha 8R...which was more forgiving of bad recordings. Once I moved house my main set up went the Home Cinema route....but I lost something that mid 90's set up had. Great video.
Loved this....reminds me of my first separates system, when I went to uni in 93, and spent half of my first year's student loan money on it....Stand mounted Mission 760iSE speakers, Marantz CD52 mkII CD player (I got 2nd hand) and a Marantz PM44SE intergrate Amp....I was considering a Rotel Amp also, but got a good deal on the Marantz, so went with that.....recently bought a pair of Mission 780 speakers (2nd hand) and paired them with a newer Marantz amp (MCR 610), and was just as pleased with the results as I was with with the original system :-)
That little system is quite simple and musical and will not disappoint !!!
…had the same missions connected to my fathers old amp from late 1970´s..many hours playing lifeforms … and my audiophile journey began..wonderful memories..thanks John.
nice nostalgic review!
the missions 760 were my first speakers, early 90s!!
The Marantz CD-63SE is classic with elegant looking. I also bought one in 1990s but already give away to my cousin as gift. Today it still sounds great.
Just built a first system for my 12 year old. Something old... Sonus faber concertino wall speakers. Beautiful and a steal at 150 GBP. Something new... Pi, running Volumio, into a Loxjie A30. Beats the pants of my first system in the 90's, which included both the CD player and Amp shown. Great video.
Enjoyed this very much ……. memory lane stuff, still have the Marantz and used daily by my 91 year old step father. I used to play through a Rotel RB971 power amp hooked to a Kenwood KRV990D AV receiver with Tannoy M3 floor standing speaker, It’s where it began for me…..super!
Rotel, Mission and Marantz - oh, the memories :)
I've been waiting for a video like this for YEARS! Thank you!
Theres such a beautiful cinematic quality to the look of your videos and I really love and appreciate that.
Awesome, I definitely enjoyed this one… I have recently revisited some of my early kit too. I had a Rotel RCD 965-BX CD player, RA 971-MK2 amp and Mordaunt Short MS-20i Pearl speakers on Apollo stands, all wired up with Ixos interconnects and Rega speaker cable. I sounded great but I soon jumped on the upgrade chain and bought an Arcam system, which I upgraded even more quickly to a Linn system.
I have bought another Rotel system, it’s in the company of Linn, Naim, Cyrus and Meridian systems and it holds its own pretty well, it’s actually really enjoyable… the big Linn system in my dedicated listening room is obviously in a whole different league, but it’s also orders of magnitude more expensive, it’s huge, it has more cables than the stage at woodstock and it needs that dedicated room to do it’s thing… the simplicity of the Rotel system is really refreshing.
Takes me back - my first system was Rotel RCD 965BX, Arcam Alpha 3 and Mission 760i. Still got the Rotel as a spare.
@Gryff Longdong built like a battleship and a super smooth sound - what’s not to like?
Glad you’re enjoying your trip down memory lane, John. I started mine 18 months ago in my study but as I’m older, my gear was from the ‘80s. Inevitable NAD 3020, a Sansui SR222 MkII turntable and the nearest thing I could get to Audiomaster speakers, Monitor Audios. Since then I have taught myself the basics of stripping amps and rebuilding them with upgraded components. Old gear burns stuff out, that CD player of yours is frying it’s laser most likely.
I have owned and sold about a dozen different amps, maybe 30 cd players and 10 pairs of speakers. I’ve stopped at a system I always hankered after, which is centred around a Sansui AU217 MkII amp which I have gutted and rebuilt including all the crusty old wires, phono sockets, binding posts, caps, resistors and finally a fully shielded mains cable. I reckon it’s as good as most amps costing £1,000 today.
Of course, the turntable has also been fully rebuilt on a new MDF plinth with silver litz rewired arm to high quality phono sockets, allowing my to use really good phono cables. I added a totally nuts Goldring G1042 cartridge. I know I’ve gone over the top but I absolutely love the sound quality of records again. I have a CD player too but that’s just for listening in the background when the radio is rubbish. Matching Sansui TU217 FM tuner, of course.
Ultimately, it doesn’t compare with my reference CD system in the lounge, but it really rocks my world when I fancy playing an LP or two. And yes, they are records or LPs, not “vinyl”. That’s something Ford used to put on the roof of your dad’s Cortina GT. 🤣
My first system was a set of Mission 762i and a Rotel RA-985bx integrated, basically the big brothers to John’s system here. Great vid!
Love this video. My first system had that CD63SE and Mission (701) with a Musical Fidelity E11 amp and Nordstrom flatline gold/VDH cables. Loved it!
Nice trip down memory lane. Owned the Mission 761 back then with a Sansui CD player and an old Technics amplifier. Stands were DIY copies of Atacamas with Translator speaker cables. Oh, and a Pioneer recordplayer from 1975 was in the system as well. In my small bedroom it worked really well and made me step into the world of audiophiles. But the joy it brought back in the days was so rewarding it still fulfills me with very good memories.
I’m 50 now John just started building a retro system can’t wait to experiment thanks for your amazing work 👍🏻🇬🇧
I'm in the UK and remember the Rotel/Marantz combos from the nineties well. I still have my nineties Linn system (albeit fed with a Bluesound Node 2i) and I still love it.
My old Mission/Rotel combo (2nd system) is also now fed with a BS Node 2i. Funny how streaming has completely replaced the need for physical CDs...still sounds pretty good!
Great video and brought back memories of scraping money together for two years to buy a nad amp, mission speakers, sony FM tuner (Annie Nightingale on Sunday nights) + Ariston turntable with some upgraded stylus. The NME was companion to all the equipment. The 90’s was littered with albums with one great single and lots of fillers though….
I was only searching for some basic information on how to set up stereo components, but I quite liked this video, and your tone and the way you describe these things, so I've subscribed.
Loving the Artificial Intelligence II inclusion, what an album!
thanks for the trip down memory lane. As a chap of a certain vintage I feel I have been on the full audiophile journey - from my first 'real' system auditioned at Tottenham Court Road, down a few rabbit holes of bi amping, cryogenics, power conditioning, poring over Russ Andrews latest catalogue, building my own speakers and valve amps, before just accepting that streaming was just easier (and family friendly) ..... great to hear that the 90's system still holds its own.....
Back in 2006 I couldn't afford expensive gear but I managed to come up with a very good little system that tided me over until 2019! I bought a new pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 speakers for €198, a 2nd hand Marantz PM4000 integrated amp for €110 and a Denon DCD-685 CD player for €50 also used. I also got Supra speaker cables 2x3m for €18 and a well shielded Philips RCA interconnect for €10. Oh, and a new pair of Atacama stands for €120.
At the time those €506 made me a very happy man and my CD collection was joyfully rediscovered, also my friends and neighbours couldn't believe how little I had spent for such an amount of pretty good sound and enjoyment. Some had spent as much or even more on terrible AV receivers and 5.1 speakers and were embarrassed by how bad music sounded at their homes when compared to my humble abode.
I built a system using a Denon Pma-860 amp- Cambridge audio cd player & Mordaunt and short 817 vintage speakers plus a sony ps-11 turntable and I love the sound I get, have a network player attached but to be honest I don't use it that much thanks for all the work you do really enjoy watching it
It looks like Audioquest G-2 is the modern equivalent of the classic QED 79 Strand, which was everyone's go to budget speaker cable 40 years ago. 79 Strand is still available!
You’ve given me major nostalgia vibes. I’ve still got that exact Rotel amp and the matching CD player and cassette deck. I bought them all from Encel hifi in Richmond, Melbourne Australia in the early 90’s. All played through some Jamo loudspeakers. Don’t remember which ones.
Encel! I lived in Tassie back in the '80s, and they had a store down there. Great retailer. I definitely got some gear from there: several Luxman pieces and a little Rotel for the bedroom. And a pair of baby Stax 'ear speakers'.
Finally! I own a piece of kit that was featured on Darko Audio’s UA-cam Channel!!! The Marantz CD-67SE.
Seriously John, I am glad you have added to your collection of beginner videos. Hopefully this will introduce you to even more followers who will find your approach to all things audio as refreshing as I do.
Love this video. I often think of my first "real Hi-Fi" and how much pleasure it brought me. I don't think it can ever be truly re-captured. I've spent £1000's and years looking for those revelatory moments in the music, now playing around with HiRes and fancy DACs. But I always think back to my NAD 5440 CD player and the fun I had listening to it.
I set up my first hi-fi system in 1975 but I still like learning about hi-fi. The bad thing about that system is that I was in the Navy and only got to hear it when I was home on leave. I love vintage receivers, I have a Marantz 2020b and a Sansui 5050. I am listening to you right now with a 1983 Harman Kardon PM 650 Integrated Amp and JBL speakers.
That was enjoyable. Brings back memories of the 90s. Wait…I am still using equipment from the 90s. Bought back in 1994. All of them still working.
Rotel RB-980BX 2 Channel Amp
Rotel RB-956AX Multichannel Amp
Rotel RSP-960AX Pre-Amp
Rotel RLC-900 Power Conditioner
NHT SuperZero Speakers
NHT SW2P Subwoofers
Source is purely Spotify/Tidal via AirPlay to Apple AirPort Express.
Only a week ago I bought the Bluesound Node 2i (first audio related purchase in 27 years).
I have a pair of the same Mission 760i in my guest room, and I agree they are quite nice. Then again I have Mission 775 towers and 77C center for my home theater setup, i love their ‘dryness’. Great video John, keep up the good work.
Enjoyed your video as usual. Just realized I have been running a vintage system for some time. Most of my equipment is from the early 90's and working beautifully. Did have to have my Magnaplaners rebuilt but for the minimal cost that process worked wonders on these old work horses.
You are so spot on. I still play my vintage 90’s Linn setup more than my modern kit. The Karik CD died years ago but I feed Lossless CD directly in to the Numerik DAC from a Squeezebox touch (using Roon / Tidal etc) it sounds fantastic and has just about the same Bells and whistles as my modern system. Including Roon, touch screen and the streaming library of Tidal. You are also spot on this older system seems smoother and boy does it have some punch and responsiveness ( probably due to the 4 x LK 240 mono blocks ) yes you may miss some finer detail here and there but I can listen to it all day long.
Superb video! I still got the Marantz PM7200 as mint as can be. Pressing “Play” on the CD player is still an unbeatable experience. Lovely and tactile and you know pure musical bliss happens as a result
Love my Braun Hifi setup from the 70s. Used to be grandad’s and now I use it with joy. Dieter Rams design and German engineering means everything is heavy and solidly built
Brilliant video. I sell vintage refurbished gear to local folk. I will now use your video as a pre-buy knowledge for folk to watch!. Big thanks from Scotland! Excellent video mate. Thank you!
Brilliant video John, My first ever HiFi at 17 years old was a gerrard sp25 mk4 record deck with naim amp & mission 770 speakers went on to replace the gerrard with a amazing sounding rega planar 2 & then later a linn sondek, all second hand. Had to sadly sell it all so cheap when finances became tight. Back in the 90’s I bought a refurbished Marantz CD63SE KI signature and partnered it with an Audiolab 8000A amp that I found in a pawn shop for £50 I too had the same mission speakers 760i & atacama stands, the sound was a very detailed but lacking warmth which the manager at Sevenoakes put down to the Audiolab, so I tried an Aura A80. Amp & it was sounded sublime, detailed warm & involving. Unfortunately my Marantz started playing up and tried a pioneer PDS 703 cd player which to me sounded nearly as good as the Marantz so I ended up with that for a long time
I recently inherited my late grandpa's old Hifi setup from the early 80s and while I figured out most of it from the way it was setup before I moved it to my house, this video clarified a couple things and was very helpful. I am definitely going to be getting some new speaker cables and banana plugs now just to make the setup a bit cleaner.
Almost everything except the amp and speakers has been massively outmoded (for example a double tape deck and radio tuner), but I am keen on giving his big chungus CD player a go and trying the phono mode with a record player. At the moment the amp is hooked up to my PC on its own because the jack on it is incredible for driving high impedence headphones, but I can't wait to play around with the other stuff. God knows what this setup cost him in the 80s, but I'm guessing it was pretty pricy, the man always went for high end stuff when it came to his hobbies.
Flashback to my first couple years in college. My best friend had a McIntosh system he took from his parent’s restaurant. He had an amp and CD player. Can’t remember the speakers but we listened to a lot of CDs like Depeche Mode and INXS. In our dorm. Thanks for another great video John!
My first speakers were a pair of used Mission 761 purchased in 1991. I kept them for sentimental reasons until 2013 but had not listened to them for years.
My first system, featuring the Mission 761, was a Denon DCD-620 (source) and, like every other college student in the USA at that time, an Adcom GTP-350 (preamp-tuner) and n Adcom GFA-535 (stereo amp) and, of course, monster cable.
Great video. Many thanks. Trying to get my old Hi Fi working after many years. But want to do is a simply and cost effective as possible - "not too expensive". This video was perfect to get me thinking about what and where I should be looking to replace things.
Loved this! I’d really enjoy a version of this w currently available gear. Same relative price points and delivery etc. I find I am sliding back to owning just the music that is worth having in physical space.
Thanks John!
Anyone reading the above comment who likes guitars should check out this guy's excellent channel. Actually even if you aren't interested in guitars, go and watch it anyway. He presents stuff in a really interesting way and his voice is really chill too. I often work with his vids as background noise.
loved this content, so nice to see a vid with 2nd hand kit.......i recently helped a friend build his first separates system of vintage kit.....loved the search, brought back some memories.
Thank you, I'm a beginner and this is just the news I wanted to hear. I just can't justify spending big money, but I'm encouraged to hear quality old stuff is still capable of good audio. I was amazed you still enjoyed the sound from that set up, I find from my experience with top end fly-fishing rods that going 'backwards' just isn't possible, and if I pick up a rod from thirty years ago I wonder how I ever used it.
I'm also fascinated with how you communicate the nuances from kit, I was struggling with words to describe the sound in my new headphones (just used m50x), just how sort of 'immersive' it was.I had no idea things could sound so good.
Next stop eBay, I'm hoping there will be a good supply of used bargains, being post- Christmas.
Yip, my CD-63 mk2 KI Signature CD player is still going strong!
I have bought it around 2004 and never had any issues with it.
Later, around 2007, I bought the PM 7001 KI Signature amp.
Wonderful Marantz gear!
Took me back to the early 70s when I started, Metrosound ST60, Leak 3090 speakers and a Dual 505 turntable.....bliss!
I started with a similar system at a similar time - the mission speakers, the same CD player, arcam amp. I moved to an arcam AVR 300 with quality inbuilt DAC, KEF q55 speakers. With advice from John I now am using it with Roon and an allo signature streamer with the kef's biamped. It really sounds amazing, easy to buy on eBay and you would get change from £400. Thanks John! Good hifi isn't a new thing and is hugely affordable secondhand - I guess UK gear is good value in the UK.
You just recreated my first HiFi system from the early 90's. Nothing since has provided me with the same satisfaction as the first time I fired that system up. BTW, I am still using a CD63 mk2 KI Signature CD player I have had for 20 years, although running it through an external DAC now into an original Audiolab 8000s amp , into brand new (finally) Wharfdale Evo 4.4 speakers. Sounds great but will upgrade amp soon. Thanks and keep up the great videos!
Great video! Good sound does not have to be expensive. I love that 900 series Rotel. They sound so open and clear. Be careful when buying them: always listen/check first because they tend to lose a channel, or have a crackling channel after around 30 years.
Loved this video. I'm an old school audio scrounger, and I love building value sound systems that sound great, and then re-homing them (give them away). I learned the magic of DAC's from you; and that has given a lot of vintage / used / dated gear a new lease on life. Bravo.
despite you made this video for you, i find it to be one of my favourites of your channel
Loved this video Mr D! Took me right back. I bought my first system around the same time as you but I recall the Marantz CD player was always a bit more than I could afford at the time (What Hi Fi loved it). I also used to listen to the same album as you show in the video. My fave track on it was 'Utuba' by Beaumont Hannant which with all the clicky bleepy sounds gave the tweeters on my Mordaunt Short MS30's a real work out. Ahhhh....the god old days.
Telling a UA-camr you used to listen to a track called Utuba. Epic.
Just set up my first Hi-Fi rig last week. I'm using a beautiful marantz cd-63 mkii ki signature and its superb
When I was 16 I read all the Audiophile magazines i could, got a part time job at a gas station, then scrimped and saved until I could get the best I could afford, which was a Rotel pre amp and Power Amp, along with some Heybriook bookshelf speakers. I’m 54 now and have moved on to other gear, but my 17 year old is now using the Rotel gear in his bedroom, along with some Dali speakers I handed down to him. 34 years later Rotel couldn’t have been a better investment.
I’m a little crazy and have four full systems. One at work, home theater, two home 2-channel systems. One of the 2-channel systems is a Luxman R-115 receiver, Luxman D-111 CD, Luxman K-111 cassette driving Klipsch Epic CF-2’s (I stream to it using a Yamaha WXC-50). All this gear is from the late ‘80s or early ‘90s. Often I gravitate to this system because it sounds so good.
Great video and a trip down memory lane - thank you. My first system Celestion SL 600, Carver 1090 Integrated (the only budget amp that can power celestions) and a rotel cd player ... all very very second hand ... and 35 years later still going strong!
Love this. I’m always scouting gear from that time period to build separate listening stations throughout the house. My latest is a garage setup where I work on my bicycles. Cheap recycled but reliable gear goes a long way.
My next to the last CD player was the CD63 Ki Sig. I loved that thing. around 20yrs ago I replaced it with the Marantz CD17 Ki Sig which I still have today & still use on a regular basis. Great down memory lane vid thank you. 👍
This is definitely now my favourite video on the channel! Will send to some of my friends who are yet to get into hifi! The perfect introduction. Thank you 🙌
Still run my Mission 780se’s today after buying them in 1993, used everyday as part of a home theatre setup. They’re sat on Atacama SE24’s and powered by a Cyrus 3 amp. To my ears they still sound awesome.
Still hoping to find a Cyrus amp to go with my Mission 753s. They were designed to go together - but Cyrus amps are scarce and expensive on this side of the North Sea.
For me it was 1997, the year that I bought my pair of Mission 731 PRO, served me well untill 2019 when I sold them to my cousin, just needed something new, bought Elac Debut B6.2. But the Missions were my first loudspeakers, they survived birthday parties, my teen years and still sounded great.
Great video John, it doesn't do any harm to be reminded of the basics. My first system included the Marantz CD63SE CD Player & Mission 761 speakers (similar price to Mission 760i) but I had a Creek 4040 S2 amplifier rather than the Rotel. I have now upgraded the speakers to Castle Harlechs. I think the Marantz CD63SE when I bought mine new in 80s or 90s was £350 rather than £250 as you stated in video.
Brought back so many memories! Had the same amp, loved my Rotel, technics cd player and Sony floor standing speakers. Had s similar experience to you when I swapped out the Rotel for a more expensive amp, just wasn't as happy, it had lost a little bit of fix. Always remember the start of wages day by deacon blue causing the hairs in the back of my neck to go up, but after I swapped out the Rotel, that no longer happened.
I’m a little older maybe by ten years and saved so hard to buy my first system - Creek 4040, Heybrook HB1 and a Rega Planar 3 joined a few years later by a Marantz CD52SE. Even all these years later I get a lovely flood of nostalgia recalling it, my youth, the music and the sweethearts.
I ran that CD player for a decade and I have to agree, regret moving it along.
Very well done video, we old cats assume everyone knows how to set things up.
Once done a few times it’s a breeze. Enjoy the music. 😎
I have always loved the vids of Darko Audio. They inspire. For the past vids, I have hoped that audiophiles will view and abandon their "old" equipment so that I may pick up some deals on pieces that are still awesome. I connected with this vid alot as I still have all of my gear from the 70s on to the present and it still excites me. Thank you for this one. Very appreciated as always ... of the content, the thoughts, the descriptive language and the video and editing. Regards.