Decisive moments your your audio journey

DQ10s for sure were the first 'moment'.

Magnepans in another college dorm room a couple years later.

I will never forget the 'he is in the room singing' feeling from hearing Frank Sinatra on vinyl in Honolulu 1990. It was at a high end shop on great bookshelf speakers via a turntable and electronics (all quality but names forgotten).

That moment really showed me for the first time how magical music could sound if portrayed superbly. It convinced me to upgrade everything and the disease started...

My ah ha moment was in 1978 when I heard my friends original Snell Type A speakers driven by Accuphase electronics.  Unbelievable!

the Snell Type A was my second ah ha, in same store as Linn Kans, a few months after I heard Magnepans

1968. Heard a truly full-range system. Wow! Bass really helps hifi sound like music!

1989. Heard (and bought) a pair of Apogee speakers. Understood "transparency" for the first time.

1991. Heard really good digital (dCs) at a show. Found one could have zero flutter and non-irritating violin sound simultaneously.

2005. Started treating my audio room (per ASC plan). Suddenly, everything sounded better.

2006. Started using subs and DSP to get even bass. Bass without boom: a pleasure.

Deja Vu Audio loaning me the stereo EL34 amp I ended up buying and owning for 15 years when I brought an amp I bought on Audiogon in for repair. It was so much better sounding than any amp I'd had before I traded them the amp they repaired plus some cash and kept it.