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... |
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) |
Albert after that stunning display of honesty how could I do anything but forgive you. Actually I would like to reward you for your honesty, and will be sending you my credit card to with as you please. |
Nrchy,
My conscience has been bothering me, it's time to fess up. Remember when you were here and you thought a pick pocket had taken your wallet?
Well, when you were out cold from the "big bang" speaker, I snagged your cash to help pay for system upgrades.
Knowing what a music lover you are, I assumed it would be OK. You'll forgive me won't you? |
Seeing Alberts name up there reminded me of the time I was at his place and his big Soundlab speaker tipped over and fell on me. I was out for about fifteen minutes. |
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When I listened to my Jadis JA-500 monoblocks at a dealer's, I was astonished with their clarity, hsoundstage and three dimensionality. In an extensive evaluation session, the Jadis was compared with 6 or 7 other top notch amps. The differences were so hugely obvious that no other amp stayed for more than 10 minutes. I thought the Jadis amps knocked me down, and I ended up buying the pair and continue to live with them.
GD |
Component that "Knocked Me Out" the first time was the tube radio in a 1953 Pontiac that hit me in the head when I was trying to swap the OZ3 regulator.
After I woke up it sounded great! Best of all, that evening I could listen with my girl at the Mansfield drive in during intermission when they had nothing great going on the screen.
You all remember that don't you? |
In no particular order, and over the course of 33 years:
1/ Dahlquist DQ10 speaker in 1975. Amplification was Audio Research Dual-76A with ARC SP3a1 preamp. In the context of what was known in 1975, this speaker was a revelation.
2/ Julius Futterman-constructed hand-wired mono tube amps. Speakers were Quad ESL and preamp was Audio Research SP3a1. Still sensational.
3/ New York Audio Labs NCP-2 preamp
4/ McIntosh MC1201 power amps (one of the few amps to shove a speaker crossover out of the way of the music, if you know what I mean). Mac MC501s are nearly as effective.
5/ Audiopax 88 power amps. Want to hear new details on recordings you've been listening to for 30 or 40 years? Buy these amps.
6/ Souther Engineering Linear Tracking Tonearm
7/ Audio Physics Virgo & VAC Avatar integrated tube amp together -- simple and heavenly
8/ Zu Definition loudspeakers - just about the end of the road.
9/ KR Kronzilla amps - BLAM!
10/ Denon DL103D phono cartridge - doing things right since about 1964.
Phil |
When I first had to do something pro, this was my first experience - back in college. I boggled at how life-like and artifact free that first master was. |
Back in 1976, I heard a pair of Frasier loudspeakers (model unknown but they were about the size of small refrigerators). They were driven by a 350 wpc Phase Linear amp and Phase Linear auto correlation preamp. Dunno what kind of turntable and cartridge. For the first time, it seemed like the musicians were in the room with me. It started me down the audio path in one listen. |
Klipschorns and Tannoy Little Reds. |
upon first listen, i've been knocked out by:
Dodson DA-218 DAC
Reimyo CDP-777
Vandersteen 5A
Aesthetix Callisto
Placette active linestage
Silversmith Audio Silver and Palladium cables |
Then and now. The first system that opened my ears to what audio was all about was in 1972-ish: Dynaco tube pre- and power amps, Garrard Zero100C turntable, and Pioneer CS99A (15" woofer, 4-way) speakers. Of course, in retrospect, it wasn't that spectacular but it was head and shoulders above the consoles (or portable radios) most of my friends' families listened to. So it got the journey started...
I've heard lots of great gear since then, but I still think my favorite was Wadia front end feeding VTL 7.5 preamp, with big Ayre amps driving Vandersteen 5a's in a well-treated room. Immediacy, pace, rhythym, really good tonal balance -- speakers disappeared and left the singer in the room with me. Sigh... |
Cambridge Audio for the money
Jolida 1501a hybrid integrated just sounds right, cost practically nothing and is a keeper. |
Easy ...
Audio Research SP10 Mk11
Audio Research D115 Mk11
Mark Levinson ML2 (a little known but awesome class A trannie)
DNM Series 3a Six Pack Pre Amp
Martin Logan CLS with Kinergetics SW800 Subwoofer
Oxford Crytal Reference turntable with Airtangent arm and Koetsu Rosewood signature cartridge
Fourier Components Sans Pareil OTL Valve Amps
California Audio Labs Tempest II SE Cd |
the Von Gaylord LAD-L2 Preamp. I sold a BAT VK51 SE after hearing this pre and i think it can hold it's own with the VTL |
H2O Signature. It is By far the best amp I have ever heard. |
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. |
I was 12 years old and my next door neighbors father had Klipschorn speakers and McIntosh amps. I listened to that system untill I was 18 years old. I had to wait 25 years before I could get myself a pair. In those 25 years I never heard anything that sounded as real as the Klipschorns. I now have three pairs in a home theater set-up. |
A pioneer open reel tape deck with ANY factory pre-recorded tape ( Preferably an Ampex or Magtec at 7&1/2 inches per second) |
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The Boulder Rocky amplifier. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Berning TF-10 tubed preamp....My first "amazing"... |
Vandersteen Fives. JM Labs Utopia. Very intriguing, 3A De Capo. |
My memory of how good the Beveridge speakers I posted on above has been brought back to life by another speaker..my Apogee Duetta Signatures. This middle of the line Apogee is a new experence in an old package..total knock-out in my room and my system and brings a package to the table that this old thread is all about.
Dave |
Replaced my monster cable speaker wire with TMC gold (20 ft runs) and replaced the MC300 with two MC352's in a biwired and biamped system into the same speakers....Tannoy D-700's.
Didn't get any sleep that night. Quantum leap! Giddy with delight! |
Back in the early 90s, I auditioned a tube/SS McIntosh system that made me a stereo junkie...
Now I'm a Krell guy, looking to make the transition over to Levinson. |
Gilmore Model 2 and Model 3 speakers.
They must be heard to be believed.
KF |
There has been no match to my first experience with the Apogee Scintilla for a knock out experience, until I heard the Acoustic Reality eAR 2 MKII on Scintillas. That was an equally mind blowing experience. |
Apogee Divas driven by a Classe DR3-VHC. I heard an LP of Liszt's "Via Crucis" through these turn the far end of a showroom into a cathedral. Utter magic.
A KR-18 integrated amp - it was the first time I "got" what SET was all about, and bought it on the spot.
My Coincident Total Victories and Audio Note 4.1x DAC |
Unsound: A Mobie is G&D's model name for their cable burner, which is no longer produced. Sean
> |
I recall my first exposure to the Ohm F as well (at tech Hi Fi in Boston)...incredibly powerful.
Koss ESP-9 electrostatic headphones.
Magnapan Tympani 1Ds, driven by Audio Research electronics....one of the first true high end systems I ever heard (many thanks to Lyric in White Plains for indulging a poor college student!)
The first time I heard Thiels (can't recall the model, unfortunately), I was blown away by the imaging and coherency. That launched a long obsession with soundstaging....although my speakers at the time, Dahlquist DQ-10s, were no slouch, they were no match for those Thiels. Today I own both 1.5s and 2.3s. |
Sean, what is a G&D Mobie? |
Quad ESL 63's, properly set up and powered with tubes, in a large room - Jazz at the Pawn Shop on a Linn 12 and a Grace F9E. Talk about dimensional with the "you are there" feeling! Been trying to duplicate that sound for years, got all the gear, but I never got the right room. |
In no specific order:
Ohm F speakers: My first taste of TRUE "dimensionality" and "surround sound".
AGI 511A preamp: SO much cleaner, clearer, faster than any preamp i had ever heard. The phono stage was miles beyond comparison to anything else.
Forte' / Threshold amps: SS with the sweetness, air and delicacy of tubes.
Cary tube amps: There's a reason that people talk about "Cary Magic". The warmth, depth and spaciousness of these products speak for themselves. Maybe not all that accurate, but highly musical and enjoyable.
Atma-Sphere OTL amps: My first taste of tubes that could be as fast and effortless as good SS amps.
G&D Mobie: I could not believe that such a device could change how cables sound. The results of using this device forever changed any notions that i had about cables up until that point of time.
Goertz flat speaker cables: The most natural presentation from any cable that i've ever heard. Introducing these into a system was a revelation to me in terms of musicality, harmonic structure, body, warmth, flow and "liquidity". No sense of "hi-fi" at all i.e. the opposite of Nordost's sonically etched / "highly detailed" presentation. Sean
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Muralman - Elite Hi-Fi in cupertino, CA. Sadly no longer in business |
R - Where was that? - an Apogee Scintilla owner. |
About 7 years ago when I purchased my Vandersteen 2C's my wife went with me for the final look/buy. She asked to see/hear something significantly better.
The owner took us into his high end room and let us listen to Apogee Grands powered by 4 giant (not sure what they were) tube amps.
I have lusted after the Apogees ever since. |
when i first heard magnapan speakers back in the early 70's.the clearest most open sound i have ever heard.it took over 25 yrs.,but i finally got a pair of 1.6's. |
My 1st official KO came in December 2001 when Gayle Martin Sanders of Martin-Logan was touring showing off his Statement E2 electrostatics.
These speakers were driven by all-Krell electronics & cabling was MIT everywhere. I don't remember the Krell model #s except that the FPB-600C monos were driving the Statement E2s.
I had auditioned a # of M-L speakers for my home but just could not get to like them. Neither am I a Krell fan for various reasons.
However, what this Krell-Statement system did was pure sonic nirvana! The immediacy, the transparency, the purity of timbre, the feeling that I was sitting at the venue of the music event, the sheer power, the nimbleness of the amp-speaker combination to reveal all the nuances was just over-whelming & awe-inspiring. On the effects side - the bass was truely moving (pun intended) as all items not securely bolted to the wall or floor rattled & moved when Gayle Sanders played a certain church organ recording & those bass notes went 20Hz & below!
I've been to a few dealerships & been impressed but this experience was a total KO! |
Elite dv47ai...first time I heard multichannel sacd. The rest of the system is 49txi, jmlab electra, parasound. |
The system that first knocked me out as a novice was at a Legacy Audio road show. They had the Whispers being driven by their high current amp. It was at that time that I publicly vowed to somehow - someday buy a system that could, again, emotionally move me to tears. After the journey began and I learned more about audio, my taste evolved. The system that first knocked me out since the acquisition of audio experience and knowledge was this:
Levinson 390S
Levinson 33H monos
Revel Salons
And it is this system that I currently own as a result of that experience. Needless to say, it moves me everytime I hear it. |
Proac response 2.5's driven with sonic frontiers power 3's...wow, the image they created was 3 dimensional, for real, it was like you could walk around the saxophonist and he had physicality to him!! not to mention the amazing bass for such an unassuming speaker
Totem modle 1's driven by cary triods...i have yet to hear diana krall sound better, on any system
Wilson Grand Slamms with Krell FPB 600...that was an eye opener on how good audio can get, yet you'd expect it to be good cause it costs 100x what the totem/cary system cost.
in that sense i was much more floored by the other two systems. |
It was a Stax Class A with 45 watts per channel. I had heard the DQ10 many times before but never like that. The speakers finally lived up to the articles I was reading. And just for the record I had an SAE 4C for a long time. I no longer own the SAE but it still doing daily duty. |
Dannylw:
You're not THAT old. The 901s were IT back when. Compared to the regular stuff that floated around at the time they were considered amazing.
Driving DQ10s with 45WPC? Wow, imagine what they would have sounded like with sufficient power to open them up. My old SAE amp had "just enough" for my DQ10s (a speaker I still miss and fondly remember) at 125/side.
F7 |
Bose 901 with Macintosh amps. (I'm old)
Hill Plasmatronics
Beveridge Model 1
Stax Class 45 watt per channel amp with Dahlquist DQ10
Infinity Beta with Audio research
Apogee Scintilla with Krell
Sequerra tuner with Stax Lambda phones
Pass Labs 30 watt single ended |
