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From: miker@polari.UUCP (Mike Ranta)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Request for Advice
Message-ID: <11527@uwm.edu>
Date: 29 Apr 91 12:46:40 GMT
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In article <11438@uwm.edu> claris!Mike_Steiner@ames.arc.nasa.gov writes:
>I'm thinking about upgrading my system and am asking for advice as to what
>components to upgrade first, and to what.  The system consists of the following
>
>APT Holman 1 pre amp               bought new in 1979
>Audionics CC2 power amp            bought new in 1979
>Original DCM Time Window speakers  bought new in 1978
>Techniques SP-15 turntable         bought new in 1977
>Magnapan Unipivot tonearm          bought new in 1983
>Sumiko Talisman cartridge          bought new in 1991
>CAL Icon CD player                 bought new in 1990

I used to either sell, or sell against, most of the older equipment you
have in your system--good choices back then!
 
I don't know how big you are on vinyl, but I'd probably leave your entire
turntable setup alone unless the Unipivot is giving you trouble.
 
The Time Windows were _great_ in their day for soundstaging and an open
mellow sound.  I don't know what your tastes are in music, but these days
you can get a better low end, more detailed sound, and perhaps slightly
better imaging from modern speakers in the under $1000/pair category.
I can suggest Theil, Snell, Vandersteen and perhaps Paradigm as speakers
to go listen to (excluding electrostatics and planar speakers).
 
The APT preamp had an outstanding phono section back then--probably as 
good as most of the more mainstream preamps today (mostly because of the
lack of emphasis on vinyl these days).  Adcom makes a couple of good
preamps if you don't want to get too expensive, but the Apt might work
just as well (assuming nothing is wrong with it).

The Audionics was a good amp, but I'd probably replace it with an Adcom
GFA-545 (or larger if you like it loud).

My overall advice is the same today as it was in 1978, TRUST YOUR EARS!