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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
pbb
1,140 posts
 
Vandersteen Fives. JM Labs Utopia. Very intriguing, 3A De Capo.
jsujo
348 posts
 
Berning TF-10 tubed preamp....My first "amazing"...
blarney
8 posts
 
In 1978 I walked into a little audio store called New England Audio Consultants in New Haven Connecticut to listen to Rogers LS3/5As.The dealer insisted that I sit down and listen to his big system---It was comprised of Mark Levinson amps and preamp along with two huge Quad speakers on stands and two 18" Hartley subwoofers. He didn't crank it to ear-splitting levels, but instead just let the system convey the power of the music. It was magnificent!

It's too bad there are so few dealers today that are willing to share such experiences just for the love of music...our hobby might gain a few more devotees if they did. Oh, and I did buy the Rogers and kept them for twenty years.
wildoats
339 posts
 
My Nestorovic 5AS speakers. I auditioned them at HIgh End Audio in the Twin Cities back in the mid- 80's. It was love at first listen, and still is. I hope they don't ever wear out because I"ve never wanted any other.
rlapporte
62 posts
 
In sequence, Quad 57s in the early 70s the Linn LP-12 in the later 70s, and then WAMMs at a Vegas CES in the mid-80s. The WAMMs are still my favorite. BTW, Dannylw mentioned a Stax 45w amp (the DA-80) which I still own, and that was the first solid state component to knock me out.
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