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Amazing ''Overachieving'' products...your pick?

I have owned both expensive gear (and I do mean expensive) and ''budget'' gear. Many components are mind-boggling on a price-paid versus performance ratio. Three of my favorites are:

1. The Bedini clarifier. This gizmo just plain works. You may like - or not - the difference it makes on your cd's. In my case, it clears up a lot of fog. The cheapest upgrade to ALL my cd's.

2. The Cayin TA-30 integrated amplifier . So much performance and flexibility for so little money. Put it up against anything up to 3 times the price, musically and from a build-quality perspective. Just plain amazing.

3. The Apple i-Pod Mini. Yes, even from in an audiophile application, playing cd's (not downloaded MP3's). You can snob it but you cannot ignore it.

What are YOUR picks ?
sonicbeauty
ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,239 posts
 
AudioPrism Ground Control
triode
263 posts
 
Wright Sound 3.5 mono amps; EAR 834P phono stage, Cary SLP-98 F1 line stage.
outlier's avatar
outlier
381 posts
 
Audio Physic Virgo II Speakers. I've 'upgraded' four times since then and yet the Virgo has a balance, imaging and unfettered beauty that in some way eludes my more expensive speakers. They are an outright bargain if you can set them up properly. My current speakers are $35k. Are they better than the Virgo II? Sort of, maybe.....but it's definitely not night and day.

YBA CD1 CD Player. I'm guessing this older player doesn't have the latest 192 resolution etc.... But, it plays music beautifully. I owned it, sold it and now miss it.

Supratek preamps. My Syrah replaced a $5k Sonic Frontiers Line III, easily. I bought a Musical Fidelity KW phono stage, and sold it because the Supratek's internal phono was better. I think I can only sell this to get another Supratek - it helps that it's so beautiful looking too.
dwr
113 posts
 
Clear Day silver speaker and I.C. cables; MHDT Paradisea+; Oppo BD-83SE
knghifi
1,668 posts
 

Zu Varial IC. After reading the 6moon review and contact Srajan Ebaen, I gave it a shot. At the time, it best my AQ Sky and Cardas GR.

The Zu Ash is also an excellent digital cable for the $$.
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