2. amps-preamps
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Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?

When I was younger I used to dream of stacks. Especially Tandberg. The sexy black and chrome gear was amazingly sexy, and sleek. Ahead of it’s time really in that respect. Kyocera, Studer, Sumo, Amber, Hitachi, Yamaha, Technics, were all making gear that stacked beautifully together. Of course, so was McIntosh.

Then I got to hear a demo of Conrad Johnson gear driving a Martin Logan single panel speaker. It was good, but as soon as the CJ amp got switched out for a solid state amp, it was absolutely magical. That broke the spell for me. When I got older I found myself mixing and matching more and more, as well as often wishing there wasn’t a single damn cable in the system and it all just worked. :)

I tried going all 1 brand with Parasound, but then I discovered great sounding digital amps and instead of going with many Parasounds I went with little monoblocks, and the whole stack idea was broken. They don’t make sources anyway.

So my question for all of you, especially those of you who do not have all 1 brand stacks of gear. If you had to choose, from source to amp, a single brand, what would it be? Of course your paying for it, so keep the cost in mind. :)

I think we should reasonably exclude record players, though some like McIntosh DO make them.


Best,


Erik


erik_squires

Showing 3 responses by pokey77

pokey77
1,269 posts
 
mofimadness said,

"If cost no object...MBL." Fully agreed. I've heard a number of their systems and they are the electronics and sound I long for. 

I most recently heard the Corona line integrated amp, CD/DAC, and their entry level speakers (approx $30k) and it was very lovely. Fairly close to mush more expensive systems in their line up. That was compared to the Noble line amps & dac with the 101E MkII. Source was a computer playing files vs. the Corona CD player. Bass was better with the  101E MkIIs but really both systems just sing. I've also heard the Extreme system several times and other systems with their mid-line speakers. So I know what they sound like. For reference, my system consists of a McIntosh integrated, Martin Logan Vantage ESLs, Shunyata Research, & Oppo 105.

It has been over three decades since I've had a system that was totally built by one manufacturer. Mbl has definitely inspired me to think about that again. But at $30k it is a BIG stretch, really out of reach if I'm honest to myself.
pokey77
1,269 posts
 
2psyop - Check out the entry level Mbl system. I've heard a number of their systems including the Extreme and the 101E MKIIs with all Mbl electronics. The entry level is very nice for the $30k price tag. Still, too rich for me. Maybe at retirement. One can definitely dream.
pokey77
1,269 posts
 
mountainsong - I heard a mostly Gamut system at the Show in Newport. It was very good in my opinion. I could easily live with it except I don't have any vinyl!
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