Some maintenance on the old classics.

[formariz 11,987]

After 51 years the McIntosh ML-1C’s foam surrounds have finally given up. Time for fitting new surroundings so they will perform as they did half a century ago. 
 

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,201]

7 minutes ago, formariz said:

foam surrounds

 

Can't tell you how many of those foam surrounds I've done!

 

Parts Express?

 

[formariz 11,987]

37 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Can't tell you how many of those foam surrounds I've done!

 

Parts Express?

 

Simply Speakers. 
 With some luck the next time should be by my grandchildren another 50 years from now. I just don’t think the quality of these surrounds is the same as what came from McIntosh labs. 

Edited December 24, 2021 by formariz

[squonk 41,079]

My 40 yr. old + Realistic Receiver that I have in the shop finally died a couple of weeks ago. Started looking on Market place for something cheap but decent. I just listen to XM or a CD once in a while. Lots to choose from but ended up going to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore outlet and found a nice RCA receiver that goes nicely with the RCA speakers that I saved from the scrap when I worked at the hospital 

[Jeff-C175 7,201]

10 hours ago, formariz said:

don’t think the quality of these surrounds is the same as what came from McIntosh 

 

Hard to say without material analysis.

 

I don't know why they can't make the foam so that it doesn't deteriorate after a few decades.  Cheap speakers, expensive, doesn't matter, the foam rots out.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

Dad had some McIntish years ago, in 01 we upgraded to a Cerwin Vega Surround Sound with a 12" ported, powered sub...not going to lie, the sound on a more uodated system is incredible, like you're hearing frequencies the older stuff just couldnt reach.

 

That said...my 1980 Motorola Turntable and pair of little Realistic Speakers make a sound that cannot be made digitally 

[Handy Don 12,216]

On 12/24/2021 at 9:24 AM, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Hard to say without material analysis.

 

I don't know why they can't make the foam so that it doesn't deteriorate after a few decades.  Cheap speakers, expensive, doesn't matter, the foam rots out.

 

So far, nearly all plastics that have flexibility also outgas. Losing the gas causes them to harden over time and then fatigue and fail.

[AMC RULES 37,130]

 Was just saying, 

firmly believe this is the reason why I always have a haze and cannot keep the interior of my trucks windshield clean.

[Jeff-C175 7,201]

1 hour ago, AMC RULES said:

interior of my trucks windshield clean

 

And one should not need to use Naphtha to get that film off them!

[formariz 11,987]

On 12/24/2021 at 5:31 PM, RED-Z06 said:

Dad had some McIntish years ago, in 01 we upgraded to a Cerwin Vega Surround Sound with a 12" ported, powered sub...not going to lie, the sound on a more uodated system is incredible, like you're hearing frequencies the older stuff just couldnt reach.

 

That said...my 1980 Motorola Turntable and pair of little Realistic Speakers make a sound that cannot be made digitally 

Surround sound systems or home theater systems are not exactly faithful, or accurate reproducers of sound. They are designed to razzle and dazzle with emphasis of certain frequencies and sound distribution. In fact  most of the time will they are not be capable of reproducing frequencies to the extremes of human hearing capability 20Hz to 20,000Khz. Its only an illusion as it is in car stereo systems. Only a high end system designed for faithful sound reproduction will come close to that ,or more importantly to the sound of  a live performance, including sound quality and instrument localization vertically and horizontally. Essentially they have to as much as possible have a neutral sound and just reproduce what is fed into them without adding or subtracting anything. Most speakers will however have a certain personality. For example Cerwin Vegas have long been preferred by rock aficionados because of their characteristic sound which a classical music listener will have strong objections to. Recent and new technology also will not necessarily be an advantage over older components or older  technology. There is a reason why many older components particularly tubed equipment is today highly sought after and most times worth many times over what they sold for originally. These particular speakers I mention above will faithfully and readily reproduce a 20Hz tone probably not able to be heard by most humans ( one will feel it however). Same cannot be said for most sub woofers sold today.Play a test canon shot through them at a realistic level and watch them self destruct.

[Jeff-C175 7,201]

2 minutes ago, formariz said:

a 20Hz tone

 

Getting close to the infamous 'brown note' !  

[Jeff-C175 7,201]

On 12/24/2021 at 5:31 PM, RED-Z06 said:

upgraded

 

[formariz 11,987]

10 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Thank you. I just did not want to go there.

[RED-Z06 2,221]

18 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

You can laugh...the macs were not bad but i was happy to see the claw drag them into the garbage truck, and smash them, it made a spectacular sound.  The Vega system is far and away a better sounding system if for no other reason than it utilizes Dolby Digital ACS3 5.1.  It doesn't overemphasize any frequencies in the pursuit of volume.

 

Watching the Opening sequence to Star Wars Episode 4 (the thx remastered version) is like being there.

[formariz 11,987]

51 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

You can laugh...the macs were not bad but i was happy to see the claw drag them into the garbage truck, and smash them, it made a spectacular sound.  The Vega system is far and away a better sounding system if for no other reason than it utilizes Dolby Digital ACS3 5.1.  It doesn't overemphasize any frequencies in the pursuit of volume.

 

Watching the Opening sequence to Star Wars Episode 4 (the thx remastered version) is like being there.

We can all agree to disagree,but with all due respect I have never had the privilege of being present at a real Star Wars event (not even a remastered one) so I cannot comment on that experience. It is also not however the fact that I have owned and own enough high end audio equipment worth enough to buy a very nice car today, but the fact that I had the privilege of being actually in front of musicians and singers exercising their craft such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck , Ron Carter, and Al Jarreau, just to name a few from different genres ,and based on  those real experiences I believe I understand what I am speaking about.

 

I do agree that the system you mention can indeed be very impressive sounding for I am familiar with it, but so  it is the sound system in my nephews car. They are each designed for a different function and outcome. We are however not comparing apples to apples such as we would never say that a banana tastes or is better than an apple. They are just not the same in taste,texture, or in the way one benefits form eating each one, so besides personal preference there is not any factual data to compare one against the other. One cannot say a banana is better that an apple or vise versa and therefor  should not  try to compare the two.It is all personal preference.

 

Home theater systems or surround systems are designed for home theater experiences to duplicate the experience and  what one hears when in a theater. 

Home Audio systems are designed to duplicate the experience of a live musical performance.

One can use either for the same purposes and even though components are similar they should never be compared against each other for they are just not the same.

 

On a side note, if you have any more Macs to dispose of , please do not dispose of them in that manner. I will be more that happy to buy them from you. You may be pleasantly surprised with how much they may be worth.

[Jeff-C175 7,201]

4 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

i was happy to see the claw drag them into the garbage truck, and smash them

 

I know y'all do things differently in FLA, but I've never seen a garbage truck with a claw on it, and frankly, I don't believe you stood there and watched them being smashed by same.

 

I fear you're just saying this to get a 'rise' out of us.

 

[RED-Z06 2,221]

1 hour ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

I know y'all do things differently in FLA, but I've never seen a garbage truck with a claw on it, and frankly, I don't believe you stood there and watched them being smashed by same.

 

I fear you're just saying this to get a 'rise' out of us.

 

Ill get a picture next time...its a truck about the size of a typical city truck but the operator climbs out and runs a big grapple on top that comes down and grabs anything not in a County issued trash can receptacle, the claw picks it up and puts it into a roughly 8x8 hole on top and then a hydraulic packer pushes it back.  In this case the old entertainment console/hi-fi, philco cabinet tv, junk speakers, were out on the curb...because a new 54" Hitachi, DVD, Surround Sound system has been installed during a much needed renovation to, what was at the time an entertainment room/Den, to bring it into the 21st century.  And yes..i stood there as the claw picked it up and smashed all of it, i found it funny i had been strictly prohibited from touching any of it in my younger years and here it was getting crushed.

 

Its not worth the time to get on the internet to get a rise out of old music technology snobs, on-road bicyclists, or self proclaimed IPA connoisseurs so i dont bother, i only speak my personal facts and experiences...

[RED-Z06 2,221]

This is the modern version ECUA started using in 2018 or so, the top is open and no hydraulic pusher, i think they opted for this because of storm debris collection issues with the old one, but yeah...the thing will take about 1200lbs before it grunts hard.

[formariz 11,987]

Something rarely seen or known. McIntosh’s proprietary behemoth woofer. The enormous magnet  a big part of its incredible low frequency response.