What Gear is Universally Adored?

@2psyop , feel free to insert “like” if you so choose, and participate in the discussion. That is fine by me! And I as noted I am not looking for gear that you personally “like”, but rather, things you are aware of that the community universally “likes”.  But thanks for reading my way-too-long post.

Not sure this thread will go anywhere as it may be too open ended, but thought I’d try…

Thanks for the input! At the risk of derailing the thread, after having home demo’d McIntosh separates (c2600 and MC452 at the time) I personally would not count McIntosh in that group. I know it’s a beloved (or “well liked” if you prefer) brand by many, but that’s just my opinion which I know others share as is also referenced above. There are many who absolutely despise this brand (I don’t!). I was actually surprised as going into the home demos of several amps I expected to walk away buying the McIntosh stuff. I actually wanted to like it. My assessment was purely based on the merits of how much I liked or disliked the sound. Won’t get into it further as I know this is many people’s favourite brand (and also the brand many love to hate). But don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying McIntosh is bad, just that it doesn’t belong in this category considering that there are a large number of folks who specifically are not fans. Myself included.

Also @2psyop , thanks for you input as well. Not sure of Magico can go on the list - if you search these forums you will see many love the sound and many don’t. Many find Magico dry, analytical, not musical enough.

As I mentioned these products are very rare. It is very seldom that a product rises above everyone’s individual systems and tastes, with the community collectively aligning their praise of the product, with little to no naysayers. But it happens. And when it does, I pay attention!

Regarding the M Scaler comments above, yes maybe it doesn’t belong on the list, if we are talking about using it with top end DACs. Same with the Innuos PhoenixUSB - it’s not required for top end streamers. But as far as I know everyone likes them when used with lesser DACs and streamers.

@twoleftears , I agree with you, but I also did concede the caveat that “most” agree with very few naysayers. My Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated is like that, and it’s why I was looking into Gryphon in the first place. I think there is a very, very small number of folks who have posted that they found it a bit “dark” for their tastes. These few people are not wrong, the sound does slightly lean that way, but most including me seem to like it. Even these people who say it’s a bit dark often say great things about it but just that it doesn’t mesh with their tastes. It’s quite hard to find these comments amongst the sea of praise…

Again, these products are very, very rare because we ARE a picky bunch, all with our own unique systems. I feel I am pickier than most (it’s been a struggle to find gear that I actually like), but I imagine we each feel that way about ourselves. I’ve had many experiences where I was wondering how a particular reviewer of a piece could possibly be hearing what they wrote about.

@dweller I have to admit Nagra is not a brand I’m familiar with. A quick Google search suggests they have a long and storied history. I will definitely look into them. Thanks!

I think there is a spectrum:

-Gear that is “universally” adored.  Note the quotes, as no gear is  truly universally adored.

-Gear that is liked by some and not by others

-Gear that is polarizing - loved by some and despised by others (many speakers would fall into this category I think, like say Magico)

-Gear that is universally despised.  Actually this category may not exist because this gear would simply be taken off the market.

Of course the likelihood of liking something is higher if it’s in the first category.  The community was raving about the Diablo 300, and as soon as I heard in in my own system (after auditioning in-store as they have a no home demo policy), after being disappointed by many prior home auditions, I realized the community totally nailed it.  It made me interested in whether other products are out there that are as widely compelling across a spectrum of people.  I know I keep going on about the Diablo but it’s the thing that got me wondering about other revered products that may be out there.

I just told my wife we are putting Herbie’s dots under our bed frame. Oh crap just realized what this sounds like as I was typing it. No not that. Was thinking of better, more easeful, and relaxed sleep.  Not even joking!

Lol….

Just to double down on my vote for Herbie’s anti vibe products. Just installed Herbie’s Tenderfeet under my gear and Giant Fat Dots under my wooden shelf (I had sliding spike decouplers under my speakers prior to this). These products do everything that the community raves about. As stated - the biggest improvement for the least dollars spent. My fully Herbified system has totally levelled up. Music is now impossible to not get into.

I know there are many other more expensive vibration control products and I can’t speak to any of them. All I can say I’d that I agree with the swaths of audiophiles that swear by Herbie’s. There’s no doubt:  Herbie’s is Universally Adored!

Great nominations! Keep them coming. And even a good speaker nomination (Rockport speakers from @ronboco ). It does seem there is an unusually high number of folks praising Rockport (yes a few naysayers, but an impressively small number considering it’s a speaker, arguably the most subjective and personalized element in a system).

Not to take away from the other speaker nominations. It’s just I’m familiar with the threads praising Rockport’s musicality with only one or two examples of a “meh” response..

@bigsecret I actually don’t think we can ever say “you can’t go wrong with component X”, I don’t think that’s ever a reality.  I think we could say “You are not likely to go wrong with component X.”, but only for a precious few components that have overwhelmingly positive community praise substantiating it.

I agree with everyone’s take on “universally adored” and to be honest I didn’t put much thought into the wording.

More import than the label is the definition that the category:  overwhelmingly praised by the community with very few who have a lesser view of the product.

@dvddesigner , thanks, and don’t mean to pick on you but I’ve set the bar higher than some of these brands (I’m not saying they are not great brands). It’s pretty easy to find examples online of those who dislike McIntosh and Wilson (I for one really like Wilson, I recently auditioned the Sasha DAW’s). I’m seeking those very rare products where there is a LOT of community buzz in favour of a product, and only one or two who aren’t really fans. I keep going back to the Gryphon Diablo 300. If you do a search on that you will see what I mean. Search for McIntosh and sure there is a lot of praise, but also a lot of people who really, really don’t like this brand. Same with Wilson to some extent (but I don’t get why!).

Transparent is a great example, although I was more interested in specific gear/models than brands. And, I’m still sore over their refusal to loan me demo Opus cords when Audioquest and Shunyata both MADE me demos of their top of the line power cords (I went Audioquest Dragon in the end but Shunyata was close for sure).

@tom23 , you are right - maybe Chord Dave and M Scaler don’t fall into this grouping.

What DACs in the range of Dave have overwhelming praise from the community, and hardly any that don’t like it?  Maybe there aren’t any?

@tom23 you’re right, Holo May probably belongs in the category, as far as DACs go.  Also don’t have experience at that level for DACs though.