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

I bought a MC240 from a friend back in the 90’s. Was driving it from a Counterpoint SA 5.1 preamp. I sold them to buy a new Cary SLI-50 (which I still have and will never sell)

Very much wish I had never sold them, should’ve kept them and bought the Cary as a 2nd.

At the time, I didn’t fully appreciate what I had or what they were capable of. Was too young I guess. Got into tubes without  due diligence, and didn’t understand how the tubes I had in the units were sub standard, old and generally not up to snuff. Fresh tubes all around and a recap of the MC240 would’ve changed everything. I have every intention of at a minimum getting another Counterpoint. One day...

Pair of big Vandersteen 4 speakers from mid-'80s. Bought them used; they arrived on a semi-trailer that was too big to get in the driveway. Had to walk them 200 ft to the house w/dollies. 

These have built in subs, each one = 2 X 12" woofers connected via steel bar in push/pull configuration. The very flexible tri-wire system allowed use of SS on the subs & tubes on mids/treble, which is what I did.

They're still the finest sound I ever heard from speakers. And they're still stored in a closet here in our 2nd house (moved in 1991, nowhere to put that big audio system).

HK 150 wpc integrated amp circa late ‘80s early 90s capable of +/- 80 amps instantaneous current. A real brute for then something shy of $900; Wall to Wall Sound if you’re old enough to recall and not to old to forget ;). Wish I still had it. Attempted one costly repair that didn’t last and moved on. Might have tried again if I would have considered dragging around a 40lb paperweight.  

Interesting seems as if mostly everyone’s favs are from yesteryear and not today’s new, improved, and much more costly.

1. Plinius SA100mk3 amplifier upgraded by Vince Galbo's Ralph Abramo near San Berdoo CA (pliniusaudiorepairs.com).
2. Companion Plinius M16 pre with designer voodoo (Gary Morrison)

These form the soul of driving Dynaudio C1 Sigs.
TT and digital under serious review....

Got JAZZ???

My favorite is my 833A single ended triode stereo monoblocks. I could never afford to buy manufactured ones ($350,000 for WAVAC and a "cheap $60,000 made in Poland.) I built my own with all the design features I want and could not count on getting if I could afford one from a manufacturer: polypropylene power supply filter capacitors in a pi network with the chokes on the negative side for grounding safety instead of inferior electrolytic caps, Hammond 1642SE output transformers good for 4kV carrying only 1kV at which by battery polarity reversal tests on the zero bias grid shows the same current change from the modest 20 ma plate current so I know it s respectably linear and which sounds spectacular, The Hammond transformer is good for 300 ma. This is a marriage made in Heaven for Magnepan speakers which are more than loud enough running the tubes so modestly and allow that SET sound without the need for complicated cones, cabinets, and crossover networks that are sensitive enough for less powerful tubes such as the 300B or the 45. I drive the 833A grids through Lundahl transformers with 45s and these with choke loaded mu follower 2C22s directly with no need for capacitors n the signal path. It took me over two years to perfect this system and I desire no other.

After many years  in audio and going through so much equipment, I can't say I miss any particular piece of equipment. My present setup is best I've had, I expect future changes will also be upgrades. At this point in my audio evolution I find I'm no longer nostalgic over past components.

If I was to wax nostalgic about any one particular piece, it would probably be recalling the experience of hearing my CJ MV55 tube amp after many years of exclusively running SS amps. Twenty some years later, tube amps only for me. Also, still own the CJ amp, likely will never be used again as Its bettered by all my present tube amps.

My Berveridge (Roger Modjeski, RIP) RM-1/RM-2 Preamp, since 1981.  Still amazing after all these years.

Dali Helicon 400, Sony TS 999ES SACD player. 

I’ve owned a lot of different components from many companies in my life. So obviously they don’t count.   Speaker-wise, I’m a Maggie Man through-and-through, but I’ve upgraded up the Maggie line a few times now, so I can’t count them either.
I do have two old friends that I will never sell. A pair of McIntosh C-20 preamps. They’re both about 60 years old. I’ve owned them for almost 50 years. They both have been restored and upgraded twice. The last time by Don Sachs. I’ve had them tested and the specs now exceed the original specs by a nice margin.
My C-20s are in a quadraphonic system. They Each sit just before the front and rear channel amps and are restricted to a line-level input coming into the Aux inputs, and then stright out to the amps.
Basically, I use the C-20s for l-r balancing and volume control of each amp and to get that sweet tube sound they put out. This was in place long before the term “tube buffer” came into vogue.
I still think they are the coolest looking preamps in the world IMHO and as I said, after almost 50 years together - they’re like two old friends.
Tim

Tandberg 1055 receiver from mid-70s, manufactured in Oslo, Norway, it was one of the top receivers of the day;Scandinavia's answer to McIntosh. Was still going strong when I had it fully overhauled and upgraded 6 years ago. Visually it is almost dead mint. 
    It's powering my 2nd system. Love the looks, and  its not embarrassed sonically by the higher end separates in my primary rig when I've installed it there. Its always had a place in my heart.
     

SOTA Sapphire w/MMT arm.  I got it used in 1987.  I've changed &  upgraded & cross-graded everything else in my system more that a dozen times, but I've never felt the desire to change my SOTA.  Still love it today, and I'm always excited to plunk down some vinyl, whether it's an old average pressing, or a pristine Mo-Fi pressing.  

My first TT: Thorens TD160

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

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.

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

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....

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?

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.

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!  

• 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

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.

Onkyo p3000r m5000r   

CAT Preamp.

Harbeth 40.2. These I will never sell

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.

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

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.

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 still own them.

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

https://www.theaudioatticvinylsundays.com/about

Audio Research Ref 10. The most gorgeous sound. 

No longer own it. Heartbreaking.

Devore Orangutan 0/93's

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

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. 

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.

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?

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.

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.  

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!

Lots of cool stuff.

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. 

I love every piece of equipment I own 

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.

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

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.

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

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).

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.

Mac 2105. Still have it after 44 years.

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