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Which components knocked you out on first listen?

I've been listening to stereos since 1973 and I am still waiting to be truly knocked out by the sound of a component. I have sat in showrooms across the country and have been pleased by what I have heard but never truly blown away.
The closest I came was when I listened to a Meitner str-55 amp and VTL preamp a few years ago, sourced by a Linn Ikemi and Revel loudspeakers. However, I also have been moved by a
Apple computer cd drive, circa 1994 through a Creek 4040 and RA Lab speakers, estimated cost about $1,200; maybe more so than the Linn,Revel 10K system. How about you?
cody

Showing 1 response by larryi

larryi
3,759 posts
 
Demos of the following were so dramatically better/different from what I was used to listening to, the experience was thrilling:

Wilson Maxx/Halcro multi-channel system at CES.
Apogee Scintilla, Apogee Diva/DAX
Custom Speaker system utilizing giant Western Electric midrange horns.
Custom made OTL amps (not even a blocking cap on the output)
S.A.P, J-2001 (twin) speakers*
Audionote Kageki (uk) SET amplifiers*
Audionote DAC-5 Signature digital-analog converter
NAIM CDS3 CD player*
The big @ $50k TAD speakers (too bright and hard sounding for me to want to own it, but transient attack is absolutely amazing)
Overkill Audio speaker with Manger driver

Items marked with * I actually have purchased.
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