Let’s see....best bang for the buck in the last 5 years.
Rythmik G22 subwoofer. Beastly, musical, articulate, and tight. 2x12 servo subs in a piano black finish for under $2k. Rather remarkable, actually. Very pleasantly surprised.
Also picked up a Yamaha CD-S2100 off Acc4Less for $1499 (manufacturer refurbed with a 3 year warranty). Darned good deal.
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My own homemade devices for vibration controls, EMI shielding and my own designed mechanical resonators and my own crosstalk mechanical simple device ...
My gear pieces are all modified to some extant also ...
Result : a 700 bucks system headphone/speakers who punch at audiophile level ...
No need for upgrade save the Dr Choueiri BACCH filters revolution for sure ...
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Whammerdyne 2A3 stereo amplifier
NewOntech DAC 07 (from Mike Powell, Veratsarr)
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I was shocked when I sent my SP-10 Audio Research in for service and they wouldn't work on it because Steve Huntley had changed a bunch of wiring and the couldn't rewire it, so I tried calling Steve to get it fixed, no problem, nobody know where Steve is , so I have a very nice SP-10 that nobody will touch..............Keep that in mind when you have someone modify your very expensive pre-amp...........You have a very nice anchor for you boat...
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Ebm, did you replace your Mini 2s with one of the Q series? |
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North Star Design-Sapphire. |
Snell Type D speakers for $50/pair. Took a bit of work to get the placement right but a great sound has been the reward. |
TRON Seven Reference phono stage. This has just arrived and has been built to match my 1968 vintage Decca London C4E FFSS MkIV cartridge. The TRON phono stage is just stunning, elevating the Decca to a new plane. Worth every penny. |
Herron Audio VTPH-1/166. Wow. Night and day over my old passive.
Well Tempered Simplex. After toying with tables for years from LP12s to Michell Orbes to Amazon Model Ones, the Simplex just sounds better than those tables. |
I just had a major upgrade of several components, and one component that is outstanding in terms of sound quality is my Conrad-Johnson Classic 2 SE preamp. It is a true minimalist design with absolutely no frills, no balance, no tone controls. Just a power switch, source selector, and volume control.
What is lacks in convenience it more than makes up for in sound quality, it is a killer preamp.
Another product that I thought was a huge bang for the buck is my new Revel M106 monitors. After about 2 minutes of listening is was quite obvious why people were talking about these at CES. Amazing sound for their size, good bass, and they disappear in the room. I am in love with these little guys, incredible sound for the money. |
Dennis_the_menace: A sleeper for sure. Maybe because they're only $4500 people don't take them seriously. |
Coincident Statement Line Stage |
Music First Baby Reference preamp. |
Transmission Audio M1i ribbon loudspeakers / monitors. They're amazingly full range, compact, transparent and just sound spectacular. I'd pay $10K for them, twice what they retail. |
Without a doubt my PS Audio P3 ac regenerator. This had a profound impact on my listening pleasure. Honorable mention: Ayre MXR monoblock amps and Stillpoints vibration management products. |
Mystere CA-21 preamp.
Honorable mention to Clear Day speaker cables, Quicksilver mono horn amps, VPI Super Scoutmaster Reference rimdrive with Classic platter and Lyra Titan-i cartridge, Graham Slee Reflex phono preamp, Graham Slee Elevator SUT. |
Wow this one is easy.
Phasure NOS1 768kHz DAC with matching XXhighend software and highend computer !!
Gota mention the Teo liquid mkII and High Fidelity cables too. |
With out a doubt the best "value for the money" I have found in audio is the NHT Classic Three speaker. For $900.00 a pair, I have compared them to some of the most respected speakers up to $5000.00 a pair. I also think that there dsp controlled B-12d subwoofer mated to them creates for $1800.00 a speaker that out performs any thing I have heard at $4/5000.00. I know it sounds insane. I came across them a year and a half ago looking through the front covers of Absolute Sound Magazine. In April (?) 2007 ( I think) they got the cover with the caption " The Best $1000.00 Speakers" and that peaked my intrest. I bought a pair on a lark..... My $6000.00 B&W Diamonds are long gone and I'm rich. You have to hear them to believe them, I kid you not... |
I must qualify this with "bang for the buck," but that said, My Emotiva D/A XDA-1, Bought for 199.00 delivered.
Not an Elgar, but better than anything under 1500 that I tried.
Since it is a preamp, I thought I would throw it in here.
Not much of a risk either, since it sells for 150 used and has a 5 year warranty.
Mine has been in place for year or so and isn't going anywhere. |
1) the Omega upgrade (18 ohm Alnico magnet midrange and tweeter drivers, and new constantly charged crossover for the tweeter) for my series 3 Avantgarde Duos raised sensitivity from 103dB to 107dB and gave even more unforced detail and musical soul. Somehow, through alchemy I do not understand, it also improved the bass performance - more filigree and better match to the mids in the upper bass/lower mids power region.
2) AMR CD-77.1 CD player with isosynchronous USB DAC and switched non-oversampling filter options for the TDA1541 chipset. Bombproof build quality, superb attention to detail (for example, the shipping case is better made than some "high end" components I've had in the past), NOS tube output stage and the most detailed yet musical presentation I've heard from any digital source - truly a CDP for analog lovers.
3) Cary SLP-05 line stage, with my fave NOS Sylvania 6SN7s. A heavenly meeting between soul and accuracy, at a reasonable price. |
+1 on the Marantz PM8004. If you only have $1K for an amp, have middling (70 wpc) power requirements, and need the highest end experience at that price, this one will do it. You can actually pair it with $10K speakers (e.g., SF Cremona M) and it will *own* them.
Consider the tone shaping and good MM phono stage bonuses, |
I'd have to say the First Watt B4 active crossover. Discrete, analog, no opamps, and adjustable on the fly. |
All my stuff in newer than 5 years, but I should consider the Tyler D1 speakers and the Bryston BDP-1 as my OUTSTANDING products. |
5 years? Not sure about time frame, but 5 weeks-- SMSL SD-022+ USB DAC. Tiny little box that has no right sounding this good. Even with my cheapie TA2020 amp and lo-fi PC speakers, it made a dramatic improvement with ALL web radio stations. |
@Scouter766: Join us on whatsbestforum.com - hosts the only dedicated Spectral forum |
Spectral DMA-260 amp. Absolutely the most incredible amp I've ever heard. Soundstage deep and wide, gets subtle shades right, plenty of "air", yet still has ample power to burn. I just sold it to get ready for the D400's coming out soon, and hope I made the right decision. If not, I'll buy another one, and consider it "audio greed". |
With Super BAM. Bested my Dali Helicon's, Usher Be-718's, and a host of others. |
Had to add to my list the MARANTZ PM8004 integrated amp. Not quite fully featured as my McIntosh MA6600. Yet amazing sound and very well constructed. Higher priced units watch out, this amp rocks. |
My choices are based on price(I paid)/performance ratio
Amp: Acurus A200---With this amp, my speakers are faster, tighter, and more detailed than any amp I have used.
Source player: Onkyo DV-SP1000/Integra DPS-10.5---I love these players, built rock solid, sturdy smooth transport, very musical IMO.
Preamp: B&K PT-3II---Outstanding price/performance factor at retail price($598.00) but especially at the $75.00 I paid.
Speaker: Klipsch Quartet---Just an outstanding 80's/90's speaker that I am totally in love with that I picked up for the insane price of $100.00, and it is in perfect condition.
Subwoofer: Revel B15---Bar none, the most musical subwoofer I have ever owned or heard. I got this sub for the crazy price of $450.00.
Bill |
LFD NCSE Mk II, Best SS Amp I've ever heard. |
have done a total redo of my system in the past 5 years. upgrading my front end too the PWT/PWD mkII was by far the biggest leap forward. i've never heard digital this good.
a close 2nd would be the bridge for my PWD. opening my eye's to computer audio was a game changer. it's allowed me to re-discover my music collection and all the gems i'd forgotten about.
next on the list would be the high quality rack i purchased from Steve Blinn.....i got the extra wide and was floored by how nice it was. |
CAT SL1 pre amp...best pre I have ever owned, made a big difference in my system's sound. |
Modwright LS100 preamp & KWA100SE power amp |
ASR Basis Exclusive. Changed my vinyl perspective. |
I'll add Audyssey XT32 (in my case via an Onkyo pre-pro). I see (hear?) why Stereophile named it a Product of the Year.
Marty |
DNM HFTN IC's - Very natural sound like having no cable at all
Warpspeed Optocoupler - LDR Preamp simply amazing in letting the music flow.
Shelby + Kroll Nano Monitors and Woofer Monitors (subs)- Huge sounstage and imaging with deep articulate bass.
DSpeaker Anti-Mode 8033s - Used on subs to take care of room nodes and nulls in the bass...Beast I've ever had and heard over the last 20+ years. Also helped the midrange to be cleaner and more defined due to the tamming of the nodes and nulls.
47 Labs Flatfish CD Transport Modified with a super clock and power by a custom battery power supply - Very articulate with no jitter issues, and is the heart of my digital front end.
I seems as though I've listed my whole system as the "outstanding"...Well over the last couple of years I took a lot of time to put together a system that I feel brings out the enjoyment in music that I like. Many a piece of gear (mostly borrowed or in-home auditioned 30 day's min) has been in and out of the rack and to date these were the true head turners in that period of time. I wouldn't hesiate to reccomend any of these products in their respective categories.
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Red Wine Audio Signature 15 Integrated. Remarkable little box for the $$.... |
I have really made significant changes to my system in the last 5 years. The musicality and ease my system displays is breathtaking at times. The system excels at playing all types of music with aplomb. The system is just stupid good.
1. Sold my Revel Salons and upgraded to the Legacy Audio Helix speaker system. These speakers have all the finesse and qualities of the Salons and out do them across the spectrum. With the surface area that all 10 drivers contribute they have no limitation. These speakers have all the qualities of planar speakers like the Maggies (i owned 3.6s too) but out do them at every turn. They are steered by the Xilica XD 4080 digital crossover. They have built in 750 watt 15 inch subs and require 3 stereo amps to drive them. With 3500 watts per channel available, one never runs out of headroom. See amp below.
2. Sold all my Krell KSA 250s and MDA 500s and bought 3 Coda Technology CSX amps which bring 350 watts per channel to the party. These amps weigh only 65 lbs. compared to the Krells 150lbs, run cool to the touch after hours of play time, can be left on all the time, and are class A for the first 25 watts.
3. Sold my ARC Ref 3 and purchased the Coda CP preamp. In my system it easily bested both the Ref 3 and the Pass Labs XP 20. The key to these Legacy and Coda purchases having such synergy is that these are the same electronics that Bill Duddleston uses to voice the Helix. What a combo.
4. Sold my Levinson 31.5 and purchased a PS Audio PWT. I grew tired of he drama and mismanagement by Harman of the Levinson brand. The PWT sounded better than the 31.5, is upgradable, and can play HiRes files as well.
5. Sold my Levinson 30.6 and bought the PS Audio PWD and Bridge along with an iPad II. Upgrade the PWD to MK II status. The PS Audio equipment sounds much better than the Levinson stuff and computer audio is fun and sounds great too.
6. Purchased a PS Audio P-10 power supply. I have my entire front end plugged into this and it really made a significant difference to the system.
7. I wired my system with Signal Cable. I use the Silver Resolution interconnects, Ultra speaker cables, and both the Magic PCs and Magic Digital PCs. I've had very expensive Synergistic Research cables at 10 times the price at one time and the Signal Cables system out does the Synergistic system hands down without all the mysticism that the SR cables have today.
Who knows what the future will bring? |
Hi all ! Actually in the last year I have purchased ( and just love ) the following : Ayon CD-2s ...this thing just plays so dynamic and musical , just unreal . Cary SLP-05 ...clean , clear and fast and great bass too ! Tekton Lore's .....have some $$$ for speakers but why ? I have posted probably waaay to many times about these speakers but crap , they make the speakers at the local hi-end store look silly . |
Parasound halo A21,Morrow audio SP3 Biwire cables and MA3 xlr's, Loom of Ps Audio cables AC12-AC3, Soloist Premier in-wall conditioner,Boston Acoustics E100 mains,Oppo 95and Ps Audio Quintet have contributed to best sound Iv'e heard in 25 yrs!
Lovin Audio again! |
The most satisfying additions during the last 5 years (in chronological order):
1. KT-77 E-Linear monoblocks (homemade)
2. Emotive Audio Custom Vita monoblocks
3. Homemade speakers using vintage components--Jensen P15LL woofers and Altec 802-8G compression drivers in 32A horn |
WHoops, forgot to toss in DNM Reson ICs, another personal top 5 innovative design that would also be hard to replace. |
1) Ohm F5 with series 3 CLS drivers (irreplaceable)
2) Bel Canto ref1000m IcePower monoblocks (irreplaceable)
3) Audio Research sp16 pre-amp (hard to fault)
4) mhdt Constantine DAC (outstanding value)
5) Squeezebox Touch (outstanding value)
6) Denon DL 103R cart (hard to fault)
7) TAD 125 Hibachi monoblocks (outstanding value)
8) Dynaudio Contour 1.3 mkII monitors with Dyn. stands (hard to fault for small monitors)
9) mhdt Paradisea (outstanding value) |
Without a doubt the best product I have acquired in the past five years are my Silverline Bolero's. They have been fundamental in opening my ears to all things musical as well as audio related. A joy! Not cheap, but outstanding when looked at in context - no more speakers to buy! |
I'll second the Yamaha A-S2000 integrated & up one to the Yamaha CD-S2000.
Outstanding value, clean & neutral sound, powerful & extended. A joy to use! |
The most outstanding piece of audio gear I've bought in a long while is a Western Electric 713b driver and matching horn. This combination delivers the best midrange I've heard from any speaker. The amazing thing about it is that it was probably built around 1939. |
Tie-- ARC Ref 40 and Wilson Sashas. |
