Greg Gill's Systems
Hello! Looking forward to meeting you this Feb. Ann and I would like to welcome you to our home.
A little information about myself might help in understanding my approach to hifi and the assembly of systems through the house.
My journey has been heavily influenced by friendships and relationships. When I have positive experiences, I can develop loyalties. I confess to liking gear and its esthetic. I take pleasure in each of my music systems, both their history and their sound. For me there is more than the pursuit of an elusive “life like” sound, but I am certainly not immune to it. I like when the music makes me smile, and I can get the feel or vibe of it. I like to hear what the artist is saying. I hope you get a good vibe while you are here, and enjoy the afternoon.
Starting on the second floor
The story : I owe this system to Owen Wheeler, dear friend and former owner of Simply Stereo. In the mid 70’s he worked at HiFi Hutch in Villa Park. Owen introduced me to tubes. His store was taking in a lot of tube gear in trade, and with his encouragement I purchased the set. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Only years later did I realize I had bought McIntosh’s first stereo components. They could have been purchased together from 1962 to 1964. Always tuned in to WDCB jazz
The story: Bits and pieces of gear from the 80’s. Receiver was my father in laws, I added the sub from another project and always used it as a sculptor stand. Computer speakers I snagged from my son. Here I mostly play background music, or holiday favorites. Always mellow, lots of Bing, Frank, Nat around xmas. Good place to sit and read.
The story: This system is a tribute of sorts to Jeff Sonn, a friend and wonderful hifi repair guy. Jeff had lost his job when his tv/audio service center closed. He was a McIntosh fan and needed money so he put several pieces of gear up for sale. Jeff could not get what he thought they were worth. To help Jeff, my wife and I bought all of it at the price he was asking with the provision that when he got back on his feet he could buy back any or all of it for a reduced ( further used ) cost. It became my office system. Several years passed and he eventually bought back his favorite amp. I added the turntable, sub and speakers. Once again, many years went by before I realized that the MC2505 represented the first solid state McIntosh amplifier along with the introduction of the blue meters, full glass faceplate, autoformers and pan loc mounting. Much of what makes McIntosh an iconic brand started with the MC 2505.
The Main System: Room treatment, ceiling, walls, floor. Every item considered as a reflector, absorber or diffuser.
Signal inputs:
McIntosh C 52
Signal distribution:
McIntosh MC255 in 3 amplifier mode, one pair McIntosh MC30’s
Speakers:
Klipsch LaScalas, only the mid bass horns are used, Midrange horns by Dave Harris, drivers by John Allen, Tweeter horns and drivers are .CT125 by Crites.
Center Bass Horn: A modification of the Klipsch pro line MWM – Single. (patent #US4210223) Placed in vertical configuration rather than intended horizontal. Additional side extensions and directive baffle complete the design. The original MWM was designed by Paul Klipsch and Gary Gillum between 1977 and 1978. ( Gary was Paul’s first speaker engineer hire ) . The modification elements were by Gary Gillum co holder of the patent and given to me over lunch at Chicago CES in 1985. This is the only example I know of, to have ever been built. Stands 5’3” tall and 7 feet across the mouth, aprox. 300 pounds.
Additional essentials:
Frequency analyzer with pink noise generator and calibrated mic
The Story: come and find out…
Final easter eggs- Go back in time. Find my original stereo 70 ( I did the VanAlstine mod) Super Pas II pre (all tube) ancient RadioShack mini speakers, cdplayer, Pioneer sx727 and Yamaha speaker.
A little information about myself might help in understanding my approach to hifi and the assembly of systems through the house.
My journey has been heavily influenced by friendships and relationships. When I have positive experiences, I can develop loyalties. I confess to liking gear and its esthetic. I take pleasure in each of my music systems, both their history and their sound. For me there is more than the pursuit of an elusive “life like” sound, but I am certainly not immune to it. I like when the music makes me smile, and I can get the feel or vibe of it. I like to hear what the artist is saying. I hope you get a good vibe while you are here, and enjoy the afternoon.
Starting on the second floor
- Bedroom:
The story : I owe this system to Owen Wheeler, dear friend and former owner of Simply Stereo. In the mid 70’s he worked at HiFi Hutch in Villa Park. Owen introduced me to tubes. His store was taking in a lot of tube gear in trade, and with his encouragement I purchased the set. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Only years later did I realize I had bought McIntosh’s first stereo components. They could have been purchased together from 1962 to 1964. Always tuned in to WDCB jazz
- Living Room:
The story: Bits and pieces of gear from the 80’s. Receiver was my father in laws, I added the sub from another project and always used it as a sculptor stand. Computer speakers I snagged from my son. Here I mostly play background music, or holiday favorites. Always mellow, lots of Bing, Frank, Nat around xmas. Good place to sit and read.
- Dining Room: No hifi here, but a point of interest in the 1925 Grebe MU1 Synchrophase Radio. One of the best performing and certainly most striking radios available in the roaring 20’s. Battery powered.
- Kitchen: Easter egg in here. Look for a Zenith A508-R radio. (1956?) Often on WGN or SCORE while I work in the Kitchen
- Basement: - Office.
The story: This system is a tribute of sorts to Jeff Sonn, a friend and wonderful hifi repair guy. Jeff had lost his job when his tv/audio service center closed. He was a McIntosh fan and needed money so he put several pieces of gear up for sale. Jeff could not get what he thought they were worth. To help Jeff, my wife and I bought all of it at the price he was asking with the provision that when he got back on his feet he could buy back any or all of it for a reduced ( further used ) cost. It became my office system. Several years passed and he eventually bought back his favorite amp. I added the turntable, sub and speakers. Once again, many years went by before I realized that the MC2505 represented the first solid state McIntosh amplifier along with the introduction of the blue meters, full glass faceplate, autoformers and pan loc mounting. Much of what makes McIntosh an iconic brand started with the MC 2505.
The Main System: Room treatment, ceiling, walls, floor. Every item considered as a reflector, absorber or diffuser.
Signal inputs:
- Vinyl: Turntable stand, isolating pads, Well Tempered Table, Well Tempered Tonearm, Grado Reference 3, Phoenix Engineering speed regulator
- CD’s : Cambridge 650 c as a transport only.
- Streamer: Node X with apple mini - Tidal
- Reel to Reel : Teac A6600 with dbx II 128 when desired
- Tuner: Yamaha CT 810
McIntosh C 52
Signal distribution:
- Paradigm X-30
- Marchand Electronics XM66
- ALK Engineering Universal networks
McIntosh MC255 in 3 amplifier mode, one pair McIntosh MC30’s
Speakers:
Klipsch LaScalas, only the mid bass horns are used, Midrange horns by Dave Harris, drivers by John Allen, Tweeter horns and drivers are .CT125 by Crites.
Center Bass Horn: A modification of the Klipsch pro line MWM – Single. (patent #US4210223) Placed in vertical configuration rather than intended horizontal. Additional side extensions and directive baffle complete the design. The original MWM was designed by Paul Klipsch and Gary Gillum between 1977 and 1978. ( Gary was Paul’s first speaker engineer hire ) . The modification elements were by Gary Gillum co holder of the patent and given to me over lunch at Chicago CES in 1985. This is the only example I know of, to have ever been built. Stands 5’3” tall and 7 feet across the mouth, aprox. 300 pounds.
Additional essentials:
Frequency analyzer with pink noise generator and calibrated mic
The Story: come and find out…
Final easter eggs- Go back in time. Find my original stereo 70 ( I did the VanAlstine mod) Super Pas II pre (all tube) ancient RadioShack mini speakers, cdplayer, Pioneer sx727 and Yamaha speaker.