What's the best and/or favorite piece of equipment you've owned? And do you still own it?

My all time favourite piece of kit is my Michell Gyrodec bought in 1992 (for £659 !!!) and subsequently upgraded to Orbe status. Now with SME V tonearm and Koetsu Black cartridge and still in regular use to-day. I have had other turntables down the years and wish I had had the funds to keep them rather than having to trade them in !! (Pioneer PL12D, Thorens 160 Super, and Dunlop Systemdek III, the latter equipped with an outboard power supply which made all the difference).

Tice clock. Vpi magic brick. 
Seriously, As  smandlej above, Michell Gyrodec Full Plinth, SME V arm, remove the bridge, full Gert Pedersen mod takes it to another level. 

Original Audio Research D-150.

Wish I still had it!

Cheers!

I don't think I will ever part with my Emotive Audio Epifania preamp and Vita amps. I have owned them for over 15 years now (serial #2). Over the years some changes have been made. The original caps have been replaced with VH Audio copper teflon caps (preamp and amps). The preamp's original volume control was replaced with an autoformer volume control, and the plate voltage on the amps was increased to properly run 6550 tubes (originally used 6L6 tubes).
I've changed speakers a few times and am currently using Bache Audio Tribeca's. 

My first decent speakers age 19, were AR2x. I was ransacked years later, took me a lot of years to get over the loss of those speakers.

When I bought my first pair of high end speakers after graduating college. Year 1991 at the Listening Room in Scarsdale, NY. I listened to four different speakers all under $1,000 I think at the time -  Snell, Thiel, Mirage and Def Tech BP10. I remember the Def Techs cause i still have them in my basement storage room havent been used in a decade.  I was blown away by that bipolar signature sound at the time and that's when Def Tech's tower speakers were higher quality. 

A Carver TFM-35 I bought NOS sealed in the original box from eBay in 2009. I still have it.

When hooked up to the Don Sachs preamp gives very little away to his Kootenay. I was surprised that it had very similar upper end resolution. It lost out in lower midrange resolution and bass.
Both things that could be resolved with some careful modification.

Also my Technics 1200G. First upper end component I ever bought. Total end game piece that I will probably never give up.

Bought mint used Infinity IRS Beta’s over twenty years ago.  They are still mint and will never sell them unless someone wants to downsize from their IRS V’s.   Wish my hearing was improving, not declining.   

My favorite is a pair of horn-loaded 3-way speakers from the 1960s that were my Dads. University "Dean". They are huge and heavy and super-efficient (103 dB at 1 watt at 1 m). I have them at a vacation home and am always blown away by how great they sound. Big live, natural sound. You can feel the air movement when they are cranked. This system rivals my main system that costs 15 times as much. Unfortunately, I will have to sell them soon as we are downsizing, let me know if you are interested.

My biggest regret was selling a Sansui  777 integrated amplifier back in college. I have yet to see another one. 

Woodsong Garrard 301 wt Triplaner arm and Miyajima Shalabi cartridge. The beauty of it and the function always thrill me. Not to mention its drive and impact. Never had another TT that recreated music with such reality. And I just love to look at it doing its thing!

15 year old Magnepan 20.1s, originally $12,500, bought for $5,500 right here on Audiogon. Magnificent sound.

Mac 2105. Still have it after 44 years.

Conrad Johnson Premier 7A amplifier.
That was an absolutely transformational piece for my system.
Followed by Thiel CS 2.2 speakers.
With the Connie J I probably didn't get the low end grunt which the 2.2's were capable of. But the mids, high end and imaging were positively heavenly.

Very fond of a pair of LXmini's I DIY'd last year - inspiring the sale of Tekton DI w/factory upgrade, and they outshine the ML's, B&W's and GE's (floor-standers still have in the stable). Others just can't compete - they all just sound like speakers to me now, while LXmini's disappear and sound real. However, I have not heard many other speakers that might compare favorably in this arena (Spatial, Project, GR-R, etc.). LXmini's do require subs for full-range. ML e-stats share some likeness, but have such a narrow sweet spot. I'll probably always keep a pair of LXmini's (these, or future builds).

Revox B77 and I still have since 1972. It was serviced every few years and still works flawlessly.

Best: Philips 22AR470

Favorite: Rotel RA-414 tie with Technics SL-Q2

I still use Technics SL-Q2 and, just in case, did buy an identical one a couple of weeks ago. Spare, NOS (!?) stylus arrived today for the first one.

Adcom GFA- 585 LE with my 93 Khorns in Germany...gone....I'm going to cry now.... 

Without a doubt it was my McIntosh Power Controller.  I couldn't believe what a difference it made.  Don't expect I will ever get rid of that thing, unless there is no room for it in the retirement home.

I love every piece of equipment I own 

For me my tannoy Legacy Ardens bought 18months ago and only gerting more enjoyable with every listen.... And luxman 550ax2 it just does everything well. Controlled musical and a great phono stage as well. 

Lots of cool stuff.

Lots of interesting vintage equipment!  My favs are more modern but I remember as a kid my dad bought me a fisher component system for xmas that had a dual tape deck and turntable that kicked off my descent into the rabbit hole of high end audio.  I spent hours making mix tapes and playing 45's - it was for simple enjoyment of the music.  Was it the best ?NO. Was it my favorite? NO, but it was a lot of fun and nostalgic.

Keep the responses flowing!  Good Stuff. Plus, I learn from what people use!

Stax ESL F-81 electrostatic speakers.  Difficult to drive, limited bass and ultimate volume.  My favorite because it makes the most natural midrange I have ever heard as well as the most realistic sound staging (on a smaller scale) that I have heard.  I’ve owned them twice and not letting go of current pair.  

Nakamichi dragon cassette deck. Yes still own and still use often. This thing is still an amazing piece of equipment way ahead of its time. I will put in a tsk metal tape and people don’t believe that the sound is from a cassette deck. I still don’t understand the hate out there for cassettes. Yes with streaming you do not need to make a copy as in the past but old live recording I have still sound good.

Small Home Theater Front Speakers

DBX Soundfield 100

http://www.hifi-classic.net/review/dbx-soundfield-100-135.html

I told Donna, walking into 6th Avenue Electronics flagship store on 6th avenue (39th/40th street?): "We’re not buying, just a quick listen to these new speakers I read about". "Sir, where do I bring the car around to: front, side, rear door to pick them up?"

Maybe too small for a larger HT, but for me I will never part with them.

Their design creates a WIDE CENTER Image, 3 people on a couch all get imaging with the Phantom Center Sounds anchored to the video.

Surround Sound, IF the sound is directed to the center channel speaker, and the center speaker is on, everyone gets good center imaging no matter where they are sitting. But, other off-center imaging varies.

ANY Imaging, (surround material or 2 channel source) created by equal or deliberately unequal sounds from front left and front right speakers (Phantom as there is no center speaker involved) is only great seated in the center, progressively ’less great’ related to distance off-center, UNLESS the speakers are unique.

Basically, these DBX angle the drivers, like massive toe-in, aiming left to right, right to left. Sit centered, everything is centered. Move left: you are closer to the left speaker, however, the right speaker is aimed more directly toward you, thus the volumes from each are ’equalized’ by distance/direction. The result is a Phantom Centered Image while sitting off center.
tweeters on 3 surfaces to distribute highs everywhere.

Enough Bass to be enjoyable, and I added a single non-directional sub for Dinosaur Stomp extension.
..........................................

Any current speakers specifically designed for WIDE CENTER Image available?

From an appearance perspective, the nicest piece of equipment I have owned was a JBL SA-660 integrated amplifier.  It was an amazing example of beautiful industrial design.  Wish I still had it.

The only piece of equipment I still own since I bought it new back around 1983 is my ENTEC Subwoofer. Having owned it that long should give you a hint how much I like it. 

Dahlquist DQ10s I acquired a few years ago.....amazing

Devore Orangutan 0/93's

Audio Research Ref 10. The most gorgeous sound. 

No longer own it. Heartbreaking.

I still own them.

See the "about" page, in the lower left, or scroll down if on mobile:

https://www.theaudioatticvinylsundays.com/about

My McIntosh XRT 28 speakers. They’re never leaving my system. I just love their sound and looks.

Another piece I’ve had for a long time is a Pioneer VSX 505S (bought in 1996 for $320). It’s not high end, but it’s my daily home office receiver that’s still running strong after 24 years.

I would have to say it is a tie between my newly refurbished all black Revox PR99 and my custom made Grandinote Mach 36 speakers (from Italy).  There is something quite soothing and magical watching those 101/2" gold reels spinning while generating great music through those giant speakers, each with 36 drivers and 25 tweeters.  I love the rest of my system (500 level Naim amp, pre amp, CD, phono stage) but the R2R is sublime.  Oh, I almost forgot about my Kuzma Stabi XL DC turntable with the 14" tonearm and Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum cartridge.

Pair of mono blocks made by a local guy Dave Herrin (Portland Oregon).  They just keep playing good music.

There are things that I would be reluctant to get rid of (which is why I have 3 1/2 systems) and a few things that fall into the cold dead hands category.

In the first category are some Martin Logan original CLS, several Classe DR3 VHC amps, a pair of Vandersteen 4A speakers, and a CJ Premier 14/11a combo..

In the latter category are my Koetsu Urushi (original Sugano) cartridge and my Vendetta SCP-2D phono stage.

Harbeth 40.2. These I will never sell

CAT Preamp.

Onkyo p3000r m5000r   

Probably my Audire Diffet 3 preamps, which were very limited production.  I have only ever seen 5 for sale, two of which I bought and one the ad for the one I sold.  I know of two others.  Julius also made a dual mono preamp with tone controls, the  Andante, because he did not use the superstitious Japanese number 4.   (His fourth amp was the Forte.)    I still kick myself for not getting the one I saw advertised.  It has two circuit boards, one above the other, with separate controls for each channel.  Even rarer is a Diffet 5, of  which a half dozen were built to go with his tower amps, with open bottoms for air circulation.  At last report, his phono amp is still used by a Stereo Review tester in his number 1 system.  My Diffet 2 is really good, a bit better than my Bryston, but the 3 is as good as I will ever need, and I tried a lot of them.

• My favorits are Jadis JA30 monos from 1997. Latest ”uppgrade” are new power tubes KT120 from Shungyang, very pleased and closest you can get to NOS.
  
• Also have KT88 from Shungyang but changed to KT120 for it’s bigger ”soundstage”. 
• I also have to thank (deceased) Bobby Palkovic for his strong dedication and belief in Merlin speaker. I have VSM-X with uppgrades on filter and internal cabling, recently I added a 10 nF from Duelund on treble and mid/woofer section, it opened the top on each f-range spot-on.

Regards,
Clabe

My fave pieces are a pair of B&W 805Ss connected to a Creek 4330 integrated. I've had the Creek for over twenty years and I haven't heard anything like it since, even the (optional) phono stage is mega, quite an achievement for its size and price. The B&Ws are newer, about 10 years old and I can't see parting with them either. I compared them with a pair of KEF LS50s a while back (based on all the gee whiz reviews) and IMHO the B&Ws handily blew them away!  

Krell KAV 300r. It has a great tuner, and adds just the right bass to the speakers paired with it. For me it’s a keeper.

Sansui AU-717 Integrated Anplifier.  Still use it in my utility room, powerful and smooth sounding.  A little bright, but you can turn down the treble dial....remember those!

Also, still have my NAD 3080 Integrated Amplifier from 1980!  Never been recapped, yet it can still drive my old pair of Infinity RS-1.5’s into oblivion, with their 12” Dual Watkins Woofers.  Who needs subs?

Ok then Sansui AU 7700....

Any qualities he have it in some relatively high degree....

Versatile and more powerful than his official watts  measure and beautiful....

So good that i cannot part with it..... Way more costly to beat it....

I'm in a monogamous relationship with my Shindo Giscours preamp.
Til death do us part.

My favorite is my current two way system. A Klipsch K-402 horn with an 1132 driver on top of a self built bass bin derived from the Klipsch MCM 1900 MWM bass bin but built with a 108" throat. A single fold horn and it goes down to 27hz before it starts dropping off. Amazing headroom, presence and fidelity. It’s fun to watch the expressions on the faces of those who stop in to hear them for the first time.  The other important part is the Xilica XP3060 and it is key to making the horns sound right which it does so well.

Magnepan 1.7i's.  Fantastic speakers, bargain price.  

My first TT: Thorens TD160