Some of these brands rarely appear here. Maybe the customers are satisfied for life? - Boulder (I only saw at most 5 times) - Rockport (saw a Sirius TT once, the gigantic speakers once) - Walker - Spectral (okay, maybe this is not so rare...)
I once had a Celestion integrated amp called the Ditton Elan di260 might have been the model number, quite rare. Just another one of those obscure Brit integrateds from the 80’s, EJ Jordan was another rare one. Anyone remember Wingate amps? Not for beginners was their ad tag line. I always dug rare gear. Later today gonna pick up another pair of Raina Tyr II’s, will restore them and hope they come out better than the last pair that I regret selling.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Good Festivas all :)
06-06-08: Joeylawn36111 How about Madrigal? You see ML and some Cello....
FWIW, Madrigal never put their name on any product, AFAIK. They represented ML and Proceed for a few years as a distributor, but sold out to Harmon International. I know of no equipment that bears the Madrigal logo.
Need help identifying this Bruce Moore dual mono preamp I found - no serial # or model # just the words "Blind Mellow Jelly" on the black brushed aluminum face plate want to price it to sell on this site
I haven't been on a'gon long, but I rarely see my speakers mentioned on the Internet: Soundline Audio. Their website must have disappeared at least 2 years ago, so I assume they're OOB.
I have a pair of the Rauna Tyr II's in my bedroom system and they are fabulous. Extremely lifelike in reproducing music. I'm very happy with this 1986 vintage speaker.
How about Rauna Tyr or Tyr II speakers? This was the very first hi end speaker I heard about 20 yrs ago when I went into my first hi end audio store. They blew me away. A miniature Vandersteen with Rosewood top and bottom plate and concrete on the inside...fabulous sound...
Music Reference amps are usually available and I think at most times there is at least one up on the site. Just about 3-4 weeks there were three amps, two different models. I've also heard they are reliable but have recently been told by a 30 year audiophile they originally were not.
My vote goes for Air Tight. Don't come up very often but then they are a small outfit and only make pretty expensive stuff. By that I mean their cheapest amp is $7,000.00.
Music Reference.I have not seen these in a long time,But have heard them and like what I hear.I've been told that they are very reliable tube products as well.
In general I am coming to the conclusion that SS has come a long way...as a tube enthusiast I'm not sure I ever thought I would say that
A few years ago I would have laughed at your comment, today I must agree with you.
I still prefer tubes for my system, but more and more I am hearing things from high performance transistor amps that I respect. Like everything in this hobby, it's component and system dependant.
Yes, in a word it's excellent. I'm not sure I am ready to go where HP has gone (keep in mind he is hearing the big brother) but it is one of the very best amps SS or tube I have ever had or heard... and this list is quite long.
In general I am coming to the conclusion that SS has come a long way...as a tube enthusiast I'm not sure I ever thought I would say that.
It has made my Tonian TLM-1's, Exemplars and Quad 57's sound as good or better than any of the other amps that have been connected to them.
I will also say that the build quality and ease of use (particularly as you are dealing with a battery system for the pre) is excellent
Great product that I also believe to be a great value when one looks at what it is and does.
Yr44 and Albertporter, Lest you think that those speakers from the link I posted above are mine...They are not. That is a picture off the internet somewhere. I did not intend to mislead you all.
Frankly, the Avalons are not full range enough for my taste. Beautiful midrange and highs, though.
The_smokester, thanks for the link to the Wavestream. Beautiful speakers too, I seriously considered those (Avalon) when I moved away from Sound-Lab last year.
I got the first production model of the Wavestream phonoamp almost a year ago last Thanksgiving Day. Arrived at the Analog Room at 3p and Brian and Scott met me beaming like proud parents. After admiring it for about an hour (the shop was of course closed) I drove away with it. Looking back over my shoulder they looked like they had just given up their first born.
It is brilliant design which competes with the best. I, as you surely, have done the side-by-side comparisons with the Wavestream and the Aesthetix Io.
P.S. The line for Scott's new Linestage forms behind me. That will give me a complete Wavestream Kinetics system.
Albert, no we're just miscommunicating. You're thinking that my reply was to you fellas sub-thread regarding the Wavestream Kinetics V-8 Power Amplifier. When I was responding to the thread in general, not your sub-thread. The 'as if on que' comment meant that Bill's Vyger went on sale the same day that this thread started.
I also thought of Wavestream and DNM...two of my favorites.
I live only a few miles from the analog room in San Jose and have heard Scott's V8's many times....excellent. I believe George Cardas also uses these amps.
I own Scott's newest creation his wavestream kinetics phono stage and it is also marvelous.
In addition I have a pair of his MFA 200d's that he has modified over the years as he develops new thoughts on design...they are also excellent.
There seems to be a consistency here with the stff Scott does...hmmm.
Next up is his Wavestream Kinetics Line Stage...can't wait.
Regarding the Wavestream V8. I just had an opportunity to hear one (er...actually two - monoblocks) this week driving a pair of Avalon Eidolon (sp?) Diamonds at The Analog Room in San Jose.
Wavestream Kinetics V-8 Power Amplifier...Made by Scott Frankland of Moore-Frankland Associates (MFA) as mentioned in the first reply above. These were made by him subsequent to the demise of MFA. They come as either mono blocks or stereo and are still made to order. Mine is #30. I believe that less than 50 have been made--maybe just a few more than 30.
The power tubes are driven in a manner described by Scott in a patent he has. The originals sound beautiful but Scott has thought of further upgrades in the intervening years.
Stan Klyne lives in the Seattle area, so local audiophiles are perhaps more aware of his designs than other parts of the country. Tim Ratcliffe, owner of Experience Audio here in Seattle, carries Klyne products, and he recently told me that Klyne hasn't built many units recently. Stan is, however, still in the business.
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