What is a component you just can't seem to let go or sell even after you've already upgraded and not really using it anymore. What makes this component so special?
Plastic tubes of all sizes and diameters, cardboard one, straws, Shungite, quartz, low cost Schumann generators. Springs, wood, concrete slabs, bamboo plates, cork plates, sorbothane all materials i use in my acousticals,mechanicals and electrical embeddings controls experiments.
Cost : peanuts...
The gear choice is relative to your budget and matter less at the end than the way you implement it in your room.
Dont be a passive consumers learn acoustics basic .
Any component regardless of price or brand that allows you to connect with music is worth keeping around. A component must possess Musicality and the Synergy with rest of your audio gear. If a specific audio component cannot convey music with its natural emotions, then it simply gotta go, IMHO.
I have a few pieces in my system that qualify, except (as you specify in your post), I haven’t replaced them or removed them from my system. Occasionally I take them in to have some of the internals upgraded or repaired, but they will always be an integral part of my system.
So the pieces I can’t let go of are my musical instruments. My string bass, my electric bass (which turned 50 two years ago), and a couple of my guitars. I haven’t played them in over 35 years, but they were so prominent in my life that I’ll never sell them.
Each step I have made forward (since a few mis-steps very early on) have been substantially enough to immediately dissolve attachment. The only thing I have kept is my Marantz 2040 integrated that I bought irresponsibly in college in 1972. Not for the sound… that is for sure.
I still have my Adcom GFA555 amp that I bought new many years ago. I'm actually using it in bridged mono to drive my center channel speaker. Also has some B&W DM302 bookshelf speakers that I wouldn't sell. They are sitting in their original boxes. My Von Schweikert VR-4s are sitting unused, but I'm saving them for my son. He has no room for them now.
I used to have a pair of five sided dbx speakers. They had tweeters on 3 sides. Real walnut veneer. Probably not amazing sq, but very cool. I wish I still had them.
B&K Pro10 Pre and ST-140 power amps with a pair of Mirage M760s. I purchased these in the later 80s. Have also run more than half a million dollars' worth of audio gear into and out of my home. I still not sure why I set them aside as they still sound wonderful.
My Sony 32 inch CRT TV. 25 years old and works as good as the day I bought it. Perfect for watching old shows that just look better with a little pixelation. It has stereo sound so it qualifies here.
It was my first 'hifi' system and it sound great and may be the most attractive piece of stereo equipment ever made (even better than its successors). It is so attractive that it may be in museums at this point.
It was advanced for that time, D amp with streaming, before streaming was so popular (we listened to radio stations) / downloadable Firmware - simply great.
@re-lar-kvotheI owned the B&K Pro10 and ST140 for 25 years. Purchased in 1985. Drove an original pair of Vandersteen Model IIs. The B&K combo was superb at the price point and beyond.
Klipsch sb3s and sb2s bookshelf speakers... they sound great but mostly taking up space in my storage space. If you are on a low budget, these will get you audiophile quality sound.
Some good responses so far and some interesting ones too!
I recently moved and was faced with downsizing my equipment.
A few pieces I decided to hold on to even though it's no longer in use are:
Audio Valve Eclipse pre and Challenger mono amps: The Eclipse preamp chassis is made of stainless steel (similar to Shindo) and weighs over 40 lbs. It sounds amazing, very quiet, and has one of the best bass of any tube pre I've heard. This is a German brand that never sold well in the U.S. despite having prices that I consider low for their level of quality. With the recent passing of their owner, Helmut, the company has gone with him.
vintage Studer A-810 reel to reel: this is a highly regarded tape machine that I was able to obtain from a home studio, it's in excellent condition with original box and packaging (rare to see). Went through so much trouble to get the old electronics inside overhauled that I don't see ever letting it go.
I hear you and I would do the same. I still regret selling my Shindo Monbrison preamp from Ken Shindo era. Four years later, I am still searching for mint condition Monbrison preamp. Speaking of stainless steel chassis, THÖRESS comes to mind. I am so tempted to pick up their phono enhancer.
@lalitkShindo has always intrigued me but have never had a chance to listen. I’ve been to quite a few shows but Shindo is not something you commonly find there. Would like to have a listen some day .
I've got and old Audio Research VT130 amp that was kind of "thrown in" on a purchase I made some years ago. It had a blown screening resistor (that kept blowing thanks to a failing 12BH7 tube that tested OK) I replaced a number of resistors and bought a matched tube set for it from ARC ($2100 GULP). The 'ol girl just sounds so warm and sweet with such a silent black background that I just keep finding "second location" systems to include it in. For now it's job is to make a pair of Maggie 2.7s sing in my small office. It doubles as a space heater in the winter and smells wonderful when it's warmed up.
I will never sell my four Krell KAS2 monblocks or the Krell KCR-HR preamp and, of course, never never my Linn Sondek LP12 which have been with me since 1988.
@mesch A friend is currently using the Mirage M760s with a rebuilt Sony TA-N80ES. I was quite impressed with the sound. The B&K gear is tucked away for safe keeping.
When I bought my new to me Auralic Aries G1 I boxed up my Aries Mini but couldn't bring myself to sell it. For 6 years it was utterly reliable and nearly flawless and I figure I may find use for it again some day.
Mirror imaged pair of Dahlquist DQ 10 phased array speakers. Purchased new in 1980 and recapped/refurbished. Also a Denon DP 51F TT purchased in 1981. Only change is new RCA cable.
ADS 200s: Historically, these little "studio monitors" represent the first legitimate mobile audio (car stereo) system ever assembled. They broke the "sound barrier" and took us from Clarion coaxials (yuk!) to true high fidelity in a car/truck/van. We built competitive car audio systems for years (including winning a national championship trophy) and these have a special place in my heart. And, in my current office system. Low end is handled by custom-built (teeny tiny) passive sub to integrate seamlessly.
Nakamichi TA4: These were introduced around the Golden Age of "big boy" receivers and featured Nelson Pass designed Status technology. In my view, they were head and shoulders above what was offered in the day, and sound quality was more akin to a competant integrated. When we upgraded a system of a previous TA4 customer to high(er) end gear, we boxed up this receiver for him and placed it in storage in his basement. For years, I begged him to let it go and, finally, he was willing to part with it. It is currently boxed up and sitting in my loft (with plenty of other stuff), not being used. This topic reminded me that I need to get it out and "exercise" it a bit, and do a little checkup and maintenance.
Klipschorn 1958: Got this in a trade from a customer who wanted a pair of current high quality bookshelf speakers. The drivers are correct and the speaker sounds pretty amazing for its age. Not sure how/if I'll ever use it. But, have no plans to let it go.
Sony TA-E80ES preamp from 1990. Class A solid state. More inputs and outputs than I thought possible (3 tape loops!) including balanced. Stellar MC phono stage, quietest I’ve ever experienced with a LOMC. Maybe it’s the double cascaded power supply regulation.. Nonetheless it now anchors my TV system along with:
Heathkit UA-2 EL84 tube monoblocks from the late 50’s. An easy rebuild, they’re the sweetest (and most dynamic!) 12 watts I’ve ever heard whether they’re driving rebuilt Large Advents, a Fostex backloaded horn single-driver system, or, my favorite, B&W 805 D3’s.
I run an vintage system in my spare room and for me its fun.
my A/D/S L910 speakers are keepers for life.
I also love vintage Sansui integrated amps. AU 20000, AU 777, are some of my favs.
Sansui Tuners are some of the best ever made love my TU 9900. dream of TU-X1. I use the TU 9900 in my main system still, have not found anything that sounds better, note mine is fully restored.
Revoa Agora B active speaker system is another vintage speaker system that amazes me on a regular bassis. I don't think i could sell these speakers. very rare in North America. Each speakers has 3x100w A/B amps for each section. thats 600w of power in these speakers. Some of the best bass i've ever heard regardless of age.
My Nagaoka Kilavolt #103 De-stat wand from the ’80s’.....One C cell to ’stat’ them all.....
Best sub-$100 item I’ve ever bought With a carbon fibre brush included that lives next to it. Simple as it is, never been reproduced since....a pity, that.
A Niles Audio CPM-31 Universal Component Patching Matrix....also ’80’s. a 6 in X 6 out analog box that the back ends up looking like an octopus with delusions of grandeur....*L* ....and requires physical stability enhancement when fully engaged with 24 RCA’s....
A JVC JX-S777 AV selector allows 6 a/v in/out, 2 additional with optical in and a single opt out, and 3 monitor loops....one with the opt out.. Used for 'component in' mostly.....
Keeping my 4 large ESS amts’....and my Walsh diys’ obviously....
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