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
Speakers: Magnepan tympani 1Ds, stacked Quads, Dayton Wright XG-8's (leaf tweeter version), Apogee divas, Hill Plasmatronics

Electronics: Early Threshold and Krell class A amps

Turntable: Linn Sondek with dynavector 505 arm and dynavector ruby cartridge

ICs&PCs: Still looking but so far K-works makes very nice cables

Speaker Cable: Apex Signature (no longer looking)
My special edition Audion Silver Night PX25 with all the silver in it. I got goosebumps the first time I heard it and they haven't gone down yet.

The Fab Audio Model 1 speakers - perfectly consonant with my tastes in sound.

Kimber Select 3038 speaker cables. They have an "OK, I'm done" sort of sound...
I purchased a 1962 Sherwood S-7700 using the 4 7868 output tubes. I hooked it up to my Electro Voice 12-TRX's that were in bass reflex cabs at the time. I will never forget the <25hz bass that was produced with vinyl. My wife said, "My God!"
In chronological order: Magnepan tympani 1D with Crown electronics (late 1970's), Beveridge electrostatic SW2 (1970's), Hill plasmatronics (early 1980's), dayton wright XG-8 electrostatic with leaf tweeter; threshold and krell electronics (1980's), Apogee Divas and Duetta Signatures (mid 1980's), Innersound Eros (2000).
Walked into Innovative Audio here in Brooklyn about 7 years ago. Heard the Wilson Watt/Puppy with VPI TT. don't remember the pre and the amps(all tubes as I remember, could be VTL), but the sound I heard was amazing. Soundstage was so good, I didn't even have to close my eyes to see Nataly Cole standing right there and singing Unforgettable. The best I ever heard...