Best bang-for-buck purchase you have made?
Without a doubt, for me it has to be having a McCormack DNA-0.5 amp upgraded by Steve McCormack (SMc Audio) to their Revision A-Gold. This amp will easily compete with amps in the the $5000.-$10,000. range, and total cost (assumming new purchase of a 0.5) was $3100.-3200. The other item that really makes my system "sing" is NOS 6922 Sovtek tubes (w/Hal-O tube dampers) in my Line 2SE pre-amp-- and at $25. ea., they're inexpensive! Cheers. Craig |
Best bang-for-the-buck, that's easy. I paid $1100 for a pair of Sony SS M9 speakers. I have been saving for a pair of Wilson Watt/Puppies or a pair of Soundlabs. I had twice that money saved but after hearing the Sony's I'm not sure I need them anymore. These speakers sound so much better than I thought they would. I had the smaller SS M7a and I liked them, but the difference is not subtle. I'm glad more people don't know about these. If they did I would not have been able to get such a great deal. The only thing I don't like about them is the finish so it's hard to complain! Sound is more important than cosmetics! I also bought an SCD 777es from a guy whose store was out of business. I paid about 1/3 of the asking price. I still think a pair of Purist Dominus IC would rank up there regardless of the price because they sound so amazingly good!!! |
| Post removed |
As those that know me can testify, I have a way of finding "killer deals" on a regular basis. With that in mind, the one that really stands out to me was when i bought my first pair of Ohm F's. When Ohm Acoustics stopped production of the F's, they were retailing at appr $5K a pair. While my F's originally set me back $200 ( "free" foam rot included ), i had to sink more money into them just to get them running. Just as Listentothemusic stated with his experience with Maggies, these speakers changed my thoughts and listening habits. I liked them so much after having them repaired and finding suitable components to drive them with, i ended up driving to Boston ( from Chicago ) to buy another pair just to keep as a spare. While they are quite limited in SPL range ( 94 dB's at 8' - 10' is their limit ), are very in-efficient ( appr 82 dB's ) and a tough load ( 1.5 - 3 ohms across the band, even at low frequencies, where you already need GOBS of current ), i still love them. Even with all of these drawbacks, once you find a suitable amp to drive them, they do some things SOOO "right" that i can't see ever selling them. One full range Walsh* driver with no crossover operating from well below 20 Hz to 15+ KHz radiating in a 360 degree omni-directional pattern is something to experience when properly set up. As i've mentioned before, i don't know of any other speakers that can present the "all engulfing" soundstage that these speakers do when you feed them a good recording. As far as bass output goes, NO subwoofer needed. Can't say that about any other "full range" as far as i know either. Sean > * Don't be "fooled" by other speakers in the Ohm product line claiming to use Walsh drivers. The only "true" Walsh's were the Ohm A, Ohm F and the Ohm G. The rest of them, primarily marketed under the name of "The Walsh Series", make use of conventional drivers in non-conventionally mounted designs. |
