At the time, circa eary 80's, Klipschorn, NAD 3020 and Linn Sondek LP12. The guys at the stereo shop hooked up the NAD to test a pair of Klipshorns that were just traded in. I was stunned. Awesome "live" gutsy and dynamic sound. Almost twenty years later this level of dynamics is almost unrivaled with modern equiptment. I wish I had bought that pair of K-horns. |
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These items/combinations came to mind when I read the title of the thread -- i.e. before I read the posts:
2 pairs Quad 63 / 4x Jadis monos (can't remember which).
Genesis 201 speakers in a system that had a Goldmund Ref TT source.
Genesis 1.1 speakers driven by Cello electronics, S. Yorke TT source.
Purist Dominus cables used vs another brand in a Burmester system (digital source).
Symphonic Line Kraft classA/CAT Ultimate combo (using the line section)
Many more come to mind as I write -- but these represent my "spontaneous" reaction! |
ART DI/O with Sennheiser headphones driven by a David Berning microZOTL. |
Audio Note AN/E-SEC speakers...they just shouldn't be able to do what they do. |
The Moscode Super It. It was the first time I'd heard a tubed component, when I was a grad student in the 80s... and I bought it to use on phono with my Harmon Kardon 60 watt receiver (!).... |
There are only two complete systems that knocked me
out: 1984, at Sassafras Audio, the Acoustat 2+2s with
Audio Research SP8 and D115 with VPI HW19(mk1) turntable
Audioquest tonearm and the cartridge...I forget.
1984, at Chestnut Hill Audio, the Acoustat 2+2s with
Spectral DMC-10 and DMA100 with.......not sure. Same
speaker but two incredibly different, but equally
magnificent presentations. I thought I went to heaven
when I heard Linda Ronstadt's voice on What's New, something
that still gives me goose bumps. I feel jaded since then. |
I live for soundstage and there has been nothing better than my first listen to the Audible Illusion 3A tube pre-amp and the JM Labs Daline 6.1 speakers. W-i-d-e, D-e-e-p and T-a-l-l. |
Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 loudspeakers |
This thread should yield some interesting things.
My examples are retrospective:
For speakers, The Revel Ultima Salon on piano playback.
For source material: The first time I heard Red Book CD on a player with upsampling.
For amplifiers: The first time I heard Krell bass make my stomach muscles tighten.
Preamplifiers: CJ tubes on Jazz
Not examples to build a system around, but certainly moments that lifted mine eyes up into the hills ... |
Also want to add to my list two components I am currently using together--agree w/TOK 20000 about the ARC CA-50:
ARC CA-50 integrated paired w/Proac Response 1SC's: I love this sound as much as that of my big "reference" system (Genesis 500's w/ARC VT100 MkIII and BAT VK30SE ). It absolutely floored me when I first hooked it up! And both pieces bought used here on Audiogon, in perfect shape. |
I haven't listened to the more esoteric stuff, just haven't lived in an area that sells it, but in my experience based on my local dealers (Washington DC area), these pieces absolutely floored me on first listen:
Ayre V-3 amp
Goldmund Mimesis 29 amp
ARC VT100 MkIII amp
Van den Hul MC-One cartridge on a full-blown Linn LP12 (circa 1991)
Linn Linto phono stage
Linn 5140 speakers (circa 1998)
ATC Active 50 speakers (circa 1993)
B&W Matrix 801 and 805 speakers (circa 1991)
Spendor BC3 speakers w/British Fidelity A3 amp (circa 1987)
Genesis 500 speakers
Vandersteen 5's
B&O Beogram 3000 turntable (circa 1975)
B&O linear tracking turntable (4004?) (circa 1978)
CAL Tempest II CD player (circa 1991)
Linn CD12 CD player
Transparent Ultra and Reference line of cables (circa 1994)Ensemble line of cables and power conditioning stuff
full on Meridian home theater/music system (circa 2000). |
My first "knockout" experience was when I first went to the Linn/Naim dealer that I eventually went to work for. I listened to a Linn LP12/Vallhalla/Ittok/Asak into a Naim32/SNAPS/NAXO/ and 3 NAP 250's driving Linn Isobarik PMS speakers. This system really knocked my socks off in 1982. Really opened my eyes to high-end stuff.
More recently, all the stuff I own now has really knocked my socks off. Agree with Tubegroover that the Berning amps are absolutlely killer. The Teres 245 turntable is a real "shocker" at how good that is. OL Silver Tonearm is way better than it has any right to be for under $800. The same for the Denon DL103R. The Lowther drivers continue to be generally unknown/ignored by large segments of the audiophile world, but provide stunning sound at low power input. |
The answer to this question would go back to my first exposure to a "high end" system.
Vandersteen 2C speakers
ARC M100 amps
ARC SP-10Mk2 pre-amp
Sota Star Sapphire tt with SME Mk 5 arm and Koetsu cartridge
Recording Earl Wild and Boston Pops "Rhapsody in Blue"
I never knew music could ever sound like that. The first great experience is generally the most memorable. I'll always remember it because it demonstrated to me what was possible to achieve through reproduced audio.
Most recent component in my system over all others that just blew me away is the Berning zh270 quasi OTL amp. After almost a year it still knocks me out.
Beyond the above, I have been impressed by systems more than any individual component bearing in mind that I haven't had the opportunity to have a Rockport Sirius, or Burmeister DAC and transport in the system to compare. |
Polk SDA 2B speakers first real high end audition mesmerized
Rowland model 1 60X2 But 60 amps current output=bass slam
Mirage M1 and its successor M1 Si
XLO type 5A speaker cables
Conrad Johnson premier 8 amplifiers
Dunlavy V
Wadia 27
Audio Aero Capitol both versions
Genesis 201 speakers |
I rarely get 'knocked out' by listening to any one product due to the fact whenever i am listening to music, I am listening to the entire system putting out the music, not just one link in the system chain.
However, I will list some audio components that when matched well, have made my jaw drop.
Speakers in no particular order:
- Wilson Watt & Puppies (original) demonstration done by Mr. Wilson himself, Man did they sound GREAT! I was a young audiophile then.
- Magnapan 3.6's were the first planer speaker I ever heard that made me want planer speakers. I got a pair of 3.6's soon therafter.
- Vienna Acoustic Mahlers might not be a speaker that blows folks away at shows, but in my system, I am coaxing sound out of them that makes most audiophiles envious.
Amplifiers (in no order)
- Naim Nait integrated amp was the first integrated amp that I ever heard that made me realize that one does not needs serious power to coax great sound out of certain speakers. This series of integrated amps are some of the best low powered solid state sound one gets from an integrated amp.
- Audio Research CA50 is my favorite tube integrated amp. If you can live with 40wpc or so, this tube amp is insanely good. Used for $2k or so it is a steal.
- Monarchy SE100 monoblocks were the first monoblocks I ever owned. For under $2k it is very hard to beat these in sound quality. When I got them, they were so superior to any other amps I had owned it was amazing.
- Plinius SA100 mk3, these were a serious step up from the Monarchy amps for driving Maggie 3.6's. Two Plinius SA100 mk3's driving Maggies is great. The Maggies without the tweeter resistor helps a lot to cancel out the Plinius' dark top end.
- Gamut D-200 is the amp to end all amps for under $5k. You must hear to believe.
Preamps (in no order)
- Sonic Fronteirs 3SE, I went from digital straight into my amps to the SF3SE preamp and the difference was dramatic.
- Ayre K-3x w/phono stage, Solid state preamps do not get much better than this for linestage and/or phono preamplification. Even the K-1x preamp is not that much better sonically than the K-3x. Sonically they are very close, however, fiscally they are many thousands of dollars apart.
Digital (in no particular order)
- Cary 306/200 was so much better than my Camelot Uther DAC it was not even funny.
- Ayre CDX-7 review to come at Audiogon. This unit sets the standard for one box players under $6k retail. And it only costs $3k retail.
Phono
- Rega P9, using the same cartridge with the P9 as my old Basis 1400 turntable, I had to check the first record I played to make sure it was the same recording I was listening to as before on my Basis 1400. The difference was that dramatic.
KF |
Speakers, no particular order:
Soundlab A1
Duntech Crown Prince
Vandersteen 4a
Magneplanar MG12 (small, shouldn't be so good)
Audio Artistry Beethoven
Kharma Exquisite
Crosby Quads
Amplifiers, no particular order:
Tube Research GT400
Atmasphere MA2
Counterpoint SA4
VTL Wotan
Wolcott Presence
Sources, no particular order:
Versa Dynamics
SME 30
Walker Proscenium Signature
Rockport Sirius
Preamps, no particular order:
Counterpoint SA4
McCormack Spatial Coherence
EASE Magnum Opus
Aesthetix Callisto
Phono Cartridges, no particular order:
Decca
Breuer Dynamic
Benz Ruby
Koetsu Rosewood Platinum Signature
Clear Audio Insider Reference Gold
The topic says "Knocked out on First Listen." I took it to mean just that. Some were quiet a few years ago, but remain important to my overall audio experience. |
Original Martin Logan CLS IIs with VTL monoblocks. Yes!!! |
