In a space where vinyl's warmth and CDs' clarity converge, this audio setup is a curated selection reflecting a true appreciation for both analog roots and digital advancements. The Luxman L-1500 amplifier delivers a robust foundation, pairing seamlessly with the crisp outputs from the Marantz CD player. It’s a blend that resonates with any audiophile who treasures the depth of history and the sharpness of modern technology.

Here, the Akai GXC-709D cassette deck and 4000 reel-to-reel keep the analog spirit alive, spinning a tangible nostalgia that's hard to find in today’s digital streams. The combination of B&W DM 4 speakers and REL Quake subwoofer produces a full-bodied sound experience, making every note felt as much as heard. Rounding out the setup, JVC’s RX-950V receiver, XL-Z411 CD player, and TD-R452 tape deck ensure a seamless audio journey, echoing the meticulousness of a well-crafted mixtape. It’s a setup that doesn’t just play music; it revives the very essence of eras gone by, marrying them with the distinct quality of today’s sound.

by: Marcel Schmeitz

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Analog Heart, Digital Pulse

B&W DM 4

REL QUAKE

Marantz CD

The Luxman R-1500 is a vintage stereo receiver that was manufactured in the 1970s. It was part of Luxman's R-line of products and featured a wood cabinet design with silver faceplate. The R-1500 is known for its warm sound and high-quality build construction.

R-1500

The Akai GXC-709 D is a model from the Akai brand, primarily known for its tape decks. It features a dual-capstan transport mechanism that ensures stable tape movement, which is essential for playback quality. This model has a sleek design typical of late 20th century audio equipment, with analog meters for monitoring levels. It often includes features such as auto-reverse, allowing for uninterrupted listening by seamlessly switching the direction of playback. Additionally, the device typically supports various tape types, enhancing its versatility. It is powered by an AC source and is known for its robust build quality. The GXC-709 D is usually equipped with various inputs and outputs, accommodating connections to other audio equipment.

GXC-709 D

Akai 4000 is a reel-to-reel tape recorder manufactured by Akai Corporation. It was introduced in the late 1970s and was part of Akai's popular 4000 series of reel-to-reel recorders. The Akai 4000 featured a compact design and was known for its decent sound quality and ease of use. It had two speeds for recording and playback, and could accommodate 7-inch reels. The 4000 series from Akai were widely used by audio enthusiasts and professionals for various recording purposes.

4000

The JVC RX-950 V is an audio receiver that was manufactured between 1987 and 1988 in Japan. This device features a sleek black finish and provides a variety of connections for different audio sources, including Phono MM and MC inputs, multiple tape inputs, AUX, and CD connections. The receiver has a total of 240 watts of continuous power, delivering 120 W RMS per channel at an 8-ohm impedance. It offers low total harmonic distortion of 0.03% at rated power. The RX-950 also features a configurable equalizer with 7 center frequencies and allows users to adjust tone with a ±10 dB range. Additionally, it supports a range of FM/MW frequencies and boasts a signal-to-noise ratio of 84 dB for FM mono. The unit includes a programmable remote control (JVC RM-SR-950) and features such as loudness, high and low filters, and muting. Its dimensions are 435 x 128.5 x 381 mm and it weighs 10.4 kg. The original price of the RX-950 was approximately 1,650 DM.

RX-950

The JVC XL-Z 411 is a CD player produced by JVC from 1989 to 1990. It features a black chassis and was originally priced around 599 DM. Alongside its aesthetic appeal, it includes a coaxial digital output, making it a useful component for integrating with other audio systems. The player is equipped with a MN6471M bitstream DAC chip, known for its early bitstream sound characteristics, which can provide clarity but may also produce a harsher sound in some listening experiences. Its design includes a high-quality CD transport system, offering reliability and performance in playback. The XL-Z 411 is part of a series that includes various integrated amplifiers and other audio components, indicating its place in a broader audio ecosystem that JVC offered during this period.

XL-Z 411

TD-R 452

The Jamo 502 is a compact 2-way bass reflex loudspeaker that was manufactured in Denmark between 1980 and 1982. It features a design with dual woods—walnut, rosewood, and a stained black option. The speaker's dimensions are 480 mm in height, 250 mm in width, and 240 mm in depth, with a weight of 7.5 kg. It has an original price of approximately 250 DM. The technical specifications include a woofer size of 238 mm and a 25 mm dome tweeter. The power handling capability is rated at a nominal 50 W and a maximum of 80 W, with a sensitivity of 92.4 dB at 1W/1m. The frequency response ranges from 34 Hz to 20,000 Hz, with a crossover frequency of 1,800 Hz, and it has an impedance of 8 Ohms. Notable features include overload protection for the tweeter and a matching base model F23. Other models in the same series include the Jamo 702 and various CBR models.

At the High End Show, we spotted an impressive Dynaudio audio system setup that exudes both elegance and technical prowess. The centerpiece of this setup is a pair of Dynaudio Focus 50 wireless streaming speakers, perfectly positioned on either side of a minimalist wooden shelf. These speakers, with their sleek black high gloss finish, stand tall and are designed to deliver high-fidelity sound. On the shelf sits a Thorens turntable, its clear dust cover revealing a record spinning gracefully, hinting at the collaboration between Thorens and Dynaudio. The turntable's integration with the Dynaudio system highlights a seamless blend of modern wireless technology and classic vinyl playback.

Focusing on the turntable, it's evident that Dynaudio and Thorens have crafted a piece of audio art. The turntable is based on the renowned Thorens TD 403 DD direct-drive mechanism, known for its precision and reliability. It features a sophisticated black-anodized aluminum finish, giving it a modern and premium look. The onboard RIAA preamp, along with modules for digital and Bluetooth output, ensures versatile connectivity options. Pre-fitted with a custom Ortofon Concorde Music Blue cartridge, the turntable promises exceptional sound quality, making it a perfect addition to any audiophile's collection. The overall setup is a testament to Dynaudio's commitment to combining aesthetic appeal with high-performance audio technology.

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Dynaudio and Thorens Collaboration

Dynaudio Turntable

Focus 50 is perhaps the world’s most advanced active wireless hi-fi system. It combines the convenience of a consumer speaker system with the heavyweight credentials of prestigious hi-fi speakers, making it the pinnacle of wireless hi-fi. This active wireless stereo speaker system offers extensive connectivity, allowing you to fill your room with true audiophile performance without cluttering it with cables, boxes, and racks.

You can connect over the air via Apple AirPlay 2 from your MacBook, iPad, or iPhone, with Google Chromecast from your Android phone, tablet, or Chromebook, using Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect from virtually any device with those apps. Additionally, you can hook up with Roon, stream via Bluetooth, and connect your physical digital sources via coaxial or optical digital inputs. Analogue sources, including turntables, 8-track machines, and Edison Concert Phonographs, can be connected via line-in or a compatible adaptor, and networked devices can be connected via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

Effectively, if a recording exists, you can listen to it on Focus 50. Hi-res heaven is only a smartphone swipe away. Designed for living rooms rather than sterile listening caves, Focus 50 is built for those who want to share amazing sound with their loved ones. It even includes WiSA streaming, allowing it to connect wirelessly to your TV and replace a hulking AV receiver/cable tangle/equipment stand combination. The only downside? Your cat won’t be able to warm itself on the amp anymore.

Setting up Focus 50 is simple and powerful. It won't take more than five minutes to go from unboxing to listening. Just plug the speakers into the mains, launch the accompanying Dynaudio app, and follow the guided set-up instructions to connect to your network and optimize your speakers. Each speaker only needs one power plug since the amplifiers are built-in. Each driver has its own specifically tuned and optimized amp, eliminating the need for one-size-fits-nothing amplification or component matching. It's a tailored system.

Each speaker includes three class-D amplifiers: a 110W unit for the Cerotar tweeter, a 280W amp for the neodymium midrange driver, and a 280W amp for the twin Esotec+ bass drivers. These amplifiers come from Pascal in Copenhagen, the same company that created the power plants for Dynaudio's mighty Core professional studio systems. Peak power is a whopping 1000W, ensuring that the Focus 50s – and your ears – are in good hands.

Sophisticated DSP (digital signal processing) technology ensures optimal performance based on speaker placement in the room. Optional Dirac Live tech allows for total customization if you want to take calibration to the next level. Custom EQ presets even account for whether or not the magnetic grille is installed, with auto-sensing technology that activates the presets automatically. Additionally, a custom sliding high-pass filter prevents speaker damage at high volumes.

Focus 50 draws heavily from techniques and technologies used in Dynaudio's high-end Contour and Confidence passive hi-fi families. For instance, the soft-dome Cerotar tweeter uses the Confidence’s Hexis inner dome to optimize airflow and minimize unwanted resonances, resulting in sweeter, clearer treble. The midrange driver, derived from the award-winning Contour 60, provides Contour-level performance, and the pair of 18cm Esotec+ woofers deliver tight, powerful bass with trickle-down tech from both Confidence and Contour.

No gimmicks, no nonsense – Focus 50 exemplifies clean, stylish Danish design and craftsmanship. From the anodized brushed aluminum cover rings around the drivers to the subtle Dynaudio logo on the speaker grille and a gently glowing light that changes color based on the speaker's activity, Focus 50 looks the part in a real living space. The beautiful finishes, including open-grained Blonde Wood and Walnut Wood, and the glossy High Gloss Black and High Gloss White lacquer, add to its aesthetic appeal.

Focus 50 is the ultimate premium wireless hi-fi system, offering true audiophile quality with the benefits of modern digital streaming technology. It’s time to listen to something new.

Focus 50

This audio ensemble epitomizes the perfect marriage between savvy thrift finds and cherished classics, offering a rich and dynamic sonic experience that defies its modest origins. Anchored by the Yamaha R-S202 receiver, known for its robust performance and clear sound, the system boasts a versatile Panasonic CD/DVD five-disc changer, ensuring a seamless playback of both audio and visual media. The Cerwin Vega D3 speakers, discovered alongside Infinity bookshelf speakers for a steal, promise a powerful and immersive listening experience, showcasing the enduring value of smart, selective investments in audio equipment. This setup, enriched by decades of audiophile dedication, starting with acquisitions of Adcom, Sony, and RS 7s in the ‘80s, stands as a testament to the timeless pursuit of audio perfection.

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A Thrifty Yet Powerful Audio Ensemble

Panasonic CD/DVD

Yamaha is a Japanese brand known for manufacturing a wide range of products, including musical instruments, audio equipment, electronics, and motorcycles.

Yamaha

The Yamaha R-S202D is a stereo receiver designed for audio enthusiasts looking for versatile performance and user-friendly features. With a power output of 100 watts per channel (into 8 ohms), it is capable of driving a variety of speakers, delivering powerful and clear audio across multiple sources. The receiver features a built-in FM/AM tuner with RDS (Radio Data System), allowing users to enjoy a wide range of radio stations along with music playback. It also supports Bluetooth connectivity for streaming audio from compatible devices, offering modern convenience alongside traditional audio sources. The R-S202D is equipped with multiple inputs, including HDMI, optical, and coaxial connections, making it compatible with various audio and home theater components. It has a simple, elegant design with a user-friendly interface, making it an appealing choice for both casual listeners and dedicated audio fans. The receiver supports digital audio formats, providing enhanced clarity and detail in sound reproduction. Overall, the Yamaha R-S202D is a balanced choice for those seeking a robust stereo receiver that caters to different musical preferences and setups.

R-S202D

Cerwin-Vega is a brand that specializes in manufacturing loudspeakers and audio products.

Cerwin-Vega

The Cerwin-Vega D3 is a part of a series of passive speaker systems designed for performance in both home and professional audio settings. This model is distinguished by its robust build and distinctive sound profile, making it suitable for music lovers and those seeking to elevate their audio experience. The D3 typically features a 3-way speaker configuration, which allows it to effectively reproduce a wide range of frequencies. In terms of specifications, it commonly includes a 12-inch woofer for deep bass response, a midrange driver to handle vocals and instruments, and a tweeter for high-frequency clarity. The speaker's sensitivity rating is often around 90 dB, with an impedance of 8 ohms, making it compatible with a variety of amplifiers. Cerwin-Vega products are often appreciated for their ability to deliver substantial power handling, with the D3 accommodating peak power inputs of around 400 watts. The construction usually includes a sturdy MDF cabinet which aids in minimizing distortions and enhancing sound quality. Overall, the Cerwin-Vega D3 is designed to deliver high-impact audio with clarity across the frequency spectrum, appealing to both casual listeners and audio enthusiasts alike.

A Thrifty Yet Powerful Audio Ensemble

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Analog Heart, Digital Pulse

Dynaudio and Thorens Collaboration