An audio component you just can't let go


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?

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That’s easy.  My Musical Fidelity A3cr preamplifier.  I bought it barely used too many years ago to remember.  It started out in my main audio system, got moved to my TV system and then moved to  my desktop computer audio system.  I’m not using my desktop system any more, which is a shame, but fading eyesight and my iPad nearly obsolete it.   It’s an important component of my computer audio system, along with its equally reliable mate, an Adcom GFA 535II amplifier.  my older Oppo 83SE  and an Audio Alchemy DDP-1 DAC.  A lot of  people would rejoice to have this good sounding system as their main audio system,  

 

it only takes a reading through this review to renew my resolve to never let this preamp go.  Every piece of music gear would rejoice to have received a review as glowing as this one.

https://www.soundstagenetwork.com/revequip/musical_fidelity_ac3cr_preamp.htm

Advent 300 receiver, with the preamp designed by Tom Hohlman. Circa 1976. Used as a preamp only for decades.

I ripped all my CDs onto an external hard drive, but still am super fond of my Oppo 105 CDP.  Of all the components I have had over 50 years of having good gear, the Oppo DAC's are the best combination of sonic excellence vs. price.  

I have had all of Don Sachs interations of octal tube-based preamps and his newest one is the best of all of them, but all have been immensely excellent.  

Cary cad-300 SEI Integrated. It has all the upgrades and I love it with the Golden Lion 300B's. Great for both my DeVore's and my HD800's.

All of them !  Plus their boxes stacked to the ceiling in the garage!  But if it's just the main ones i don't use any more but remain in the rack for aesthetics:

Nakamichi CR4 Cassette Deck

Akai GX-265 R2R deck

ADC/DBX SS-525X Soundshaper Equalizer/Pink Noise Generator/Analyzer