Which components knocked you out on first listen?


I've been listening to stereos since 1973 and I am still waiting to be truly knocked out by the sound of a component. I have sat in showrooms across the country and have been pleased by what I have heard but never truly blown away.
The closest I came was when I listened to a Meitner str-55 amp and VTL preamp a few years ago, sourced by a Linn Ikemi and Revel loudspeakers. However, I also have been moved by a
Apple computer cd drive, circa 1994 through a Creek 4040 and RA Lab speakers, estimated cost about $1,200; maybe more so than the Linn,Revel 10K system. How about you?
cody
MIT power conditioning products while evaluating top level Krell and Mark Levinson power amps. Stunning !
KLH Model 9 electrostatic speakers with Marantz Model 9 and/or Futterman H-3 amp with a Dyanco PAT3 preamp. Turntable was either a Toshiba which had a pencil thin arm with an electret cartridge or it was a Garrard fitted with a Stanton EE. It's been a while (late 60's) but that's a general idea of the set up.
Quad 988.
Klipschorn and many other klipsch speakers were my main stay - but I had been wanting to improve the midrange tone. Heard many other "high end" speakers JM Focal, Tannoy, 801's, and on and on... sorry to all who disagree, but Klipsh's design from the 1940's beats them all. BUT... When I heard the 988 - I thought I had gone to heaven - brought a pair home then very next week. Happily ever after...
Grateful, your last name is not "Dead" is it?

If yes, would you autograph some LP's for me?
Rogers LS3/5A w/Janis subwoofers. The amps were classic tube designs (I think 70's marantz) with a Linn LP-12 source. My first experience with a true high-performance system and it was absolutely mind blowing at the time. I still have my LS3/5A speakers in my office and hear them everyday - still love 'em!

More recently, the Metronome Kalista transport - reinforces the idea the source component is THE most important.