I’m gob smacked. What were you’re aha moments?


Had a productive couple of weeks on the used gear market and today has been digital demo day (Analog arrives next week). Added a Bryston BCD-3 and original Tara Labs Prime I/C’s to my system at very good prices. 

I don’t have “golden ears” by any stretch but I’m gob smacked at the results.

The BCD-3 is replacing an Oppo UDP-205 w/ DHL BL-1 I/C’s. Rest of gear is an Anthem STR integrated and ML Monti’s. My bass has easily doubled, maybe tripled. I can feel the pressurization in my room and it’s tight not bloated. 

I think this has been the biggest jump up in SQ I’ve experienced. What were your biggest surprises/improvements regardless of budget?



lmnop
Modified Sony Playstation PS1 SCPH-1000 after cheap CDPs

Reynaud Twin speakers and tube amp

Streaming Tidal with Modi Multibit using coax spdif input, Liquid Spark headphone amp and Nighthawk Carbon phones after cheap headphones directly from laptop using Spotify.
Ironically it was when I replaced my vintage MC-240 amp with an Odysey Khartago Premium. I have severe restrictions on speaker size and placement in my old house so a highly efficient pair of Klipsch were simply not feasible to keep my venerable 40WPC Mc. The move to a larger modern amplifier (even though solid state) to drive my Davone Ray S speakers was nothing short of amazing in terms of bass I simply never had before. It didn’t hurt that my vintage C22 remained in the signal path.
The first time I heard Maggies was a moment for me.  The end of box speakers in my home.

Interestingly, my wife was good with getting 20.7s, but room size ruled the day.  It was 14 years ago and we have not looked back.
It was setting up and listening to my Apogee Duetta Sigs in 1991. Still sound great today.