Vintage-Inspired Two Channel
I spent years chasing the newest and most expensive equipment before realising that the vintage gear I grew up listening to still holds its own. This system mixes carefully selected vintage pieces with a few modern components for reliability and convenience. The Marantz Model 9 monoblocks are the centrepiece — restored to factory spec and re-biased.
16×20 ft living room. No dedicated treatment but the room has bookshelves on three walls and a large wool rug, which handles the worst of the reflections. The system is positioned away from the rear wall using the standard one-third rule.
Components
Discussion (3)
The Model 9 monoblocks with Harbeth M40s — that's a combination I've read about but never heard. The M40s want an amplifier that can control them, and those Marantz monoblocks should have more than enough authority.
The TD 124 with an SME arm is a classic pairing. How did you find the DL-103R in the SME 3009 — some people say the cartridge needs a higher effective mass arm?
The cartridge loading question is valid. I added a small silver headshell weight which brought effective mass up to around 14g. The improvement was audible — tighter bass and better tracking.