1. Jadis JA30 Dual Mono Amplifiers, yet another Jadis nomination ^_^
2. Grand Prix Audio Monaco Stand
i have had the pleasure of living with them for 3 years and counting. they still put a smile on my face everytime i lay eyes on them and when i hear they perform their magic. they are my audio fever pride and joy. |
Conrad-johnson MET1, a vacuumtubed, 6-channel preamp. WOW does it ever sound good, and 'only' $7K RR!
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Bought my Linn Sondek new in 1984...NO REGRETS...play records with it nearly every day. |
Linn Sondek is insanely expensive, or for that matter a CJ? I guess in 1970 when I bought Infinity ServoStats for $2100, I thought that was insanely expensive. |
The Music First Audio Reference and the MFA Baby Reference along with 2 Halcyonics Silencers. All were very expensive and I think worth EVERY CENT!!! These pieces are a huge part of why I am able to extract the type of sound that makes me want to listen for hour and hours w/o end :) |
"Insanely expensive" is all in the eye of the beholder I suppose.
I bought a pair of $6000 Bel Canto REF 1000m amps used for ~ a 40% discount compared to new. THis is the most I have ever spent on a single piece of gear (actually 2 monoblocks).
Given my needs, I would say this was worth it.
I suspect I could have gone with similar amps from Wyred4 SOund for significantly less and gotten much of the performance needed, but decided in this case to not cut corners. Normally, I would upgrade a component more slowly over time to avoid overpaying. |
Audiofun, I bought two Halcyonic Micro 4s. Each made a major improvement in my sound, but I could not buy more because of their expense. Later I got a StillPoints Rack and two Component stands. With everything on StillPoints, my sound was much better. Of course I don't know what everything on Halcyonics would have sounded like but I didn't have $33,000 to buy three more. |
Tron Syren full function pre-amp.
Given the opportunity I would buy it again.
Now, if I could only afford the Tron 211 amp ..... |
When I was a boy I thought the Radio Shack receiver I bought for approx. $80 was wildly, insanely expensive; it took all my money and I didn't have speakers! I had to pull a 12" and a 10" full range driver from two console stereos to use as speakers.
It was worth it. :) |
Nothing. Never have never will. Expensive is ok if it's worth it, just not insanely. Why bother? You know you'll be sick of it SOONER or later. |
Tbg: I would like to hear my gear on a Stillpoints rack someday. I just bought the Bassocontinuo rack system earlier this year and I am very happy with that unit.
Polk432: I hear you but when I buy, I tend to get the best I can afford for my ears and then I stick with it. I have had my MFA Ref for about 2 years now and I have no intentions of getting rid of it, in fact I added the MFA Baby Ref to the stable for the second system. I have a Graaf Modena which I purchase about 4.5 to 5 years ago and in fact had it modded so that bias and DC-offset can be done externally without ever moving the amplifier. When it sounds right, I stick with it. Now digital... as it changes I have moved from a Bidat and Dynastation 2 to MSB to Metrum Octave to AMR in the last 4 years... but honestly at this point my digital has outperformed (DRASTICALLY I might add) two +$40K analog (one using the Monaco TT and the other an Avid Acutus with SME 5 arm and Dynavector XVS1 cart) front ends so even in the digital front I am very stable. Also I have had my Acoustic Reality Thaumaturges for a couple of years and have not heard better, despite listening to the new Bat Rex amps, the Audiovalve Baldur 300 and the Ayon Orthos II's in a family members system.
Some people enjoy rolling new equipment, I don't I like to get the sound I am after and then stop :) |
Audiofun, what you are doing is not insane. I like you purchase things that I want to keep. You have expensive taste and that's a good thing. Bybee speaker bullets, Ogden wires, rubber coated bricks, little pebbles, dots on the wall etc. are entirely different. I don't tweek often, but when I do, I prefer single malt Scotch. Stay hammered my friends, and happy listening. The most interesting audiofile in the world. |
Polk432: Thanks and I like your shout-out to the Dos Equis dude!!! |
if a component is insanely expensive, it may disqualify itself from purchase unless the purchaser is insane. |
Recently, I bought some insanely expensive midrange drivers and horn (Western Electric driver 713b and 12505 horn). These were in perfect shape and well matched. A few months later, another pair went for a MUCH higher price on ebay (who knows the condition?).
I haven't heard midrange drivers I like better, and they appear to be appreciating in value (they were made some time around 1939, so depreciation due to age is no longer a significant concern). There is the possibility that someone will successfully clone the drivers, but, so far, the other attempts at cloning old Western Electric drivers have not been entirely successful. |
Larryi , Excellent addition to an already outstanding system |
