I remember bringing home, on loan from my local audio dealer, on separate occasions, a Mark Levinson amp and a pair of Thiel spkrs. Both of the items were being raved about in the audio press but the amp got a solid 'meh' and the Thiels' were a complete disappointment. The only item I've ever bought and was disappointed by was the original Phillips CD recorder, due to it producing so many duds. I'd say it had a 25-35% failure rate! That said, I still recorded a load of CD's with it until replacing it with a Pioneer Elite and later a Tascam, both of which very rarely failed/fail me.
Your most disappointing purchase or audition?
I've had a few.
bought a Naim Nait 3. Loved it in the store. Returned it within a week- way forward at home
Brought home some CJ preamp to audition perhaps 22 years ago. Noisy as anything and a turn off transient destroyed a tweeter (though years later i bought a CJ 17LS2 which I thought was the finest preamp I ever heard in my home)
Auditioned a VPI table (HW19) in a store- the store just could not get the belt to stay on. Bought a Rega instead. This was in perhaps 1990.
Fortunately, I never really experienced buyers remorse say 6 months or more after settling on a piece of gear.
Finally, there have been too many speakers that got stellar write ups which I just didn't care for.
bought a Naim Nait 3. Loved it in the store. Returned it within a week- way forward at home
Brought home some CJ preamp to audition perhaps 22 years ago. Noisy as anything and a turn off transient destroyed a tweeter (though years later i bought a CJ 17LS2 which I thought was the finest preamp I ever heard in my home)
Auditioned a VPI table (HW19) in a store- the store just could not get the belt to stay on. Bought a Rega instead. This was in perhaps 1990.
Fortunately, I never really experienced buyers remorse say 6 months or more after settling on a piece of gear.
Finally, there have been too many speakers that got stellar write ups which I just didn't care for.