Equipment that has made you 'stop' looking?

Normansizemore, I too am in my 70s. Frankly, I am still having a ball with audio. I do really need my music, but I also enjoy the quest. I do have to curb by appetite for trying new components that seem to have promise as my income is now fixed although ample and given the times, old equipment is not easily sold.

I still get a real thrill when I experience a great performance that approaches sounding real where I am tempted to jump and shout "bravo."

Conrad Johnson, Audio Research, Meridian. Truthfully, I think I am just on hold!!

I recently sent my MFA Lumi preamp and M120 amps to Mr.Scott Frankland for repairs and some upgrades. The Lumi was upgraded about as far as Scott could take it. The amps received more modest upgrades. The components now have a significant "wow" factor compared to before the mods/repairs. But wait, there's more....

And, per Scott's suggestion, I replaced the amp power tubes with Genalex KT 88 Gold Lion Reissues, and the amps have improved to yet another level.

Overall improvement is extraordinary. And this, in a system which sounded damn good before.

I've yet to seriously address room acoustics, but that's coming....

Studer A820 Master Recorder :-)

Simaudio evolution series, specifically Supernova cdp and P-7 pre. W-5 amp will magically turn into a W-8 or W-7 mono's one day