Stereo Times list of the " 2020 MOST WANTED COMPONENTS"


Stereo Times (v2.stereotimes.com) has just posted its annual list of the MOST WANTED gear for 2020. I believe that you GON members would find it an interesting and informative read.
teajay
+1 for Nenuphar. I switched from Tekton Design Double Impact to Cube Audio Nenuphar speakers. Combined with Prima Luna EVO 300 it is the best setup I have had so far. The bass is unreal.
I’ve been thrilled by my new Aestheix Mimas. It’d be fun to hear the Coda, but I’m pretty sure I’m off at least the amplifier merry go round. Those Townsend platforms are another story!
@teajay those Kirmuss cables were quoted to me at $100 above what you listed...not a big deal, just saying
Hey cd45123,

Don't know who you contacted regarding purchasing price. However, contact Mike Kay (Audio Archon) who carries these cables and will sell them at the price I mentioned in my short statement about them.

By the way, I now know over 10 individuals with very different systems who raved and bought the Kirmuss speakers cables because of how wonderful they made there system's sound. Some had cables over 15K and many owned some of the highest regarded wires on the market.
Hey Wig,

The designer believes that 12 feet runs give optimum sonic performance. However, he will custom build them in different lengths.
@teajay ok thanks! I emailed the owner at Kirmuss directly. He did mention, as you say, that 12’ is optimal, although he was willing to go down to 8’. 
I saw Mike Wright has a Silversmith Fidelium review coming soon. Those are my current reference, but like most of us, I’m always interested in trying what’s new. Currently in the process of auditioning Bionic Cables AT1, but Kirmuss is next up.

Btw, you really have me thinking of trying out Coda although I love my current Hegel integrated.
Hey cd45123,

Yes, get back and share your experience if you end up auditioning the Kirmuss speaker wire.

Shared with respect to you, your Hegel integrated is a good piece. However, it is not across the board (performance and build quality) in the same league as the Coda gear. Hope, you a chance to try their new integrated amplifier. A fellow Stereo Times reviewer just went "over the top" with praise on its performance.
@teajay I have no doubt the Coda is likely beating the Hegel in some areas. The Hegel has surprised me though with how satisfying it has been compared to other integrated amps, but I get the feeling that Coda is just in another league of performance altogether.

If I audition the Kirmuss, I’ll definitely provide feedback to this thread. Also, this Pagoda DAC is just begging to be auditioned, too. :)

Honestly, stereo times has pointed me in the right direction on so much stuff. 

The CODA CSiB is very quiet almost as quiet as the Benchmark AHB2. The warmish CODA sounds so good I am going to get the Krell K-300i integrated for the family room. I wanted something as warm or warmer than the CODA so that I can use my RAAL headphones with that too. My CODA CSiB is only used as a headphone amp.

I would have never considered the Krell or warm gear if not for my positive experience with the CODA (in my office). I was expecting to get the Hegel 390 for the family room but now changing that to the Krell.

It seems I am making all these gear choices based on how the RAAL SR1a headphones would work with them. The Hegel would not work well with them like my AHB2 did not.
Thanks for posting.

Glad to see the LSA and Spatial speakers getting attention/more attention.

The review of the Lejonklou Boazu integrated amplifier is very interesting.  
Ok, Kirmuss cables are the real deal. I've listened to a lot of cables in the sub 2k range and I will do more in the future, but these are punching way above their weight. I'm actually surprised that these haven't received more attention.

@teajay you were not kidding on these. They are a screaming steal. Mike was great on getting them shipped out immediately. Honestly, these are phenomenal. There's just more information getting through, better dynamics. Maybe they'll improve even more after a couple hundred hours, but they're very impressive right from the start.

I shudder to think what could be done if Kirmuss went with a cost no object design...
Regardless of cost, I haven’t heard a commercially built cable that sounds better to my ears against the Kirmuss Speaker Cables!

Transparency, clarity, low level detail, tight image focus, excellent bass impact and sound stage depth is phenomenal.

Quite amazing you get this level of sound at the asking price...

Wig 😁