SF Guarneri Homage audition gone wrong ... then a silver lining

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

Dang! Now I KNOW I'll never get Alberto to part with that Fisher Receiver!

...

Pete

Oh Pete, I am sorry but with that equipment list of yours I can't really feel sorry. I knew that with a handle like "Vintage Pete" you'd understand - even though I still don't get how a 50 year-old receiver with leaky capacitors and who knows what else can sound so damn good.

Alberto

[TommyC]

Keep the GH and pick your new electronics. You still have so many brands to choose from!

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Oh Pete, I am sorry but with that equipment list of yours I can't really feel sorry. I knew that with a handle like "Vintage Pete" you'd understand - even though I still don't get how a 50 year-old receiver with leaky capacitors and who knows what else can sound so damn good.

Alberto

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Oh Pete, I am sorry but with that equipment list of yours I can't really feel sorry. I knew that with a handle like "Vintage Pete" you'd understand - even though I still don't get how a 50 year-old receiver with leaky capacitors and who knows what else can sound so damn good.

Alberto

Oh yes, I do understand, Alberto....and some of that Vintage gear can sound very delicious indeed! And the Fisher gear of that era was excellent....one day I'll get my hands on one, just for old time's sake. Yours looks like it's in pretty nice shape. Maybe you could replace a few of those leaky caps and one day set it up as a secondary system on a permanent basis. (You'll want to maybe get a pair of Fisher speakers to go with it so the rest of the SF club can relax )

Pete

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Kool-aid? Ivan, I'm on a low-carb diet .

I know, pairing a 50 year-old receiver with a modern $6K+ speaker sounds crazy, but I hear what I hear - and I like what I like.

As I said, I don't believe in quick audition, let's see if I still like what I'm hearing in a couple of weeks.

Alberto

P.S. I've already accepted the fact that my audiophile credentials are all but busted. I like to use tone controls, I like to use loudness, I like some kinds of distortions. To paraphrase the song: "I like big bottoms and I cannot lie!"

The MC501s and Guarneri Homage pretty much prefer others' company. Not saying one is right and the other is wrong but they just don't play well together. Glad to hear you've found the path back to Vicenza.

As you prefer ample bottom, surely you know that one of history's greatest fans of the more naturally shaped bottom end, Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, had his life completely changed by his Italian experiences. Just sayin'.

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I know - I never leave it on if I am not going to be in the room. Already have contacted someone for a recap job.

Alberto

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by metaphacts

The MC501s and Guarneri Homage pretty much despise each other's company. Not saying one is right and the other is wrong but they just don't play well together. Glad to hear you've found the path back to Vicenza.

As you prefer ample bottom, surely you know that one of history's greatest fans of the more naturally shaped bottom end, Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, had his life completely changed by his Italian experiences. Just sayin'.

Whoa metaphacts, I am sure you are going to get some strong reactions to that 501 and GH comment . I would not say that they don't play well together at all - but without a preamp you have a VERY revealing combo. Nowhere near as, say, Krell or MarkLevinson + B&W, but still too revealing for my ears. Several people here are also fans of the MC501 + SF Guarneri combination.

Alberto

PS Love the Rubens reference

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by Alberto

PS Love the Rubens reference

Talk about too revealing...

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by Alberto

Whoa metaphacts, I am sure you are going to get some strong reactions to that 501 and GH comment . I would not say that they don't play well together at all - but without a preamp you have a VERY revealing combo. Nowhere near as, say, Krell or MarkLevinson + B&W, but still too revealing for my ears. Several people here are also fans of the MC501 + SF Guarneri combination.

Alberto

PS Love the Rubens reference

I'm counting on the Rubens comment being my get out of jail free card on the amp/speaker match truism.

[1KW]

Alberto I think you may want to start with a new pre amp/amp; maybe you should buy Serge's 2 month old MC2301's ? I can tell you they are mint, mint new and sound amazing . Sometimes all you need is a new pre amp, since I put the C2300 in my system it has put a big smile on my face. I had a C220 like you for several years and it was not bad sounding, in fact I thought it did make a nice combo with the 501's but it was quite noisey in comparison, even with tele tubes installed especially in the phono section . The C220 imaging was much more 2 dimensional compared to the C2300 . The background with the C2300 is pure black. I am not saying you have to stay with Mcintosh but if you like the Fisher maybe a new tube pre amp is a good starting place ? As far as Metaphacts comment about the 501's, they sound wonderful with my Elipsa's and play very nice together. Imaging is fantastic, a strong crisp bottom end, a very musical midrange with just enough detail to feel real .