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Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?

When I was younger I used to dream of stacks. Especially Tandberg. The sexy black and chrome gear was amazingly sexy, and sleek. Ahead of it’s time really in that respect. Kyocera, Studer, Sumo, Amber, Hitachi, Yamaha, Technics, were all making gear that stacked beautifully together. Of course, so was McIntosh.

Then I got to hear a demo of Conrad Johnson gear driving a Martin Logan single panel speaker. It was good, but as soon as the CJ amp got switched out for a solid state amp, it was absolutely magical. That broke the spell for me. When I got older I found myself mixing and matching more and more, as well as often wishing there wasn’t a single damn cable in the system and it all just worked. :)

I tried going all 1 brand with Parasound, but then I discovered great sounding digital amps and instead of going with many Parasounds I went with little monoblocks, and the whole stack idea was broken. They don’t make sources anyway.

So my question for all of you, especially those of you who do not have all 1 brand stacks of gear. If you had to choose, from source to amp, a single brand, what would it be? Of course your paying for it, so keep the cost in mind. :)

I think we should reasonably exclude record players, though some like McIntosh DO make them.


Best,


Erik


erik_squires
inna
7,510 posts
 
However, if you want tube and ss equipment, it is hard to go with one brand. Lamm and Nagra come to mind. But you asked about one brand do it all.
Since ideally I would want tube phono and preamp and then decide on the amp, my choice with one brand approach would be limited. And Studer deck would not be enough in modern world.
So, Lamm and Nagra would most likely be what I would be after. Not top of the line which will always be unaffordable for me. The same with Ypsilon and Absolare except maybe their integrateds if they can compete with Lamm and Nagra separates. For me, probably not, at least in the drive and scale, most likely bass too.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,511 posts
 

I might.


I have a Bel Canto C5i digital integrated that in fact mostly does it all in one shoebox size package. Just add sources of your choice and speakers and or headphones.

timlub
2,042 posts
 
Not sure that It would be my cup of tea,  but a very respectable brand that has EVERYTHING is Bryston. 
Amps, Preamps, Dac,  Phono, Turntable, Speakers. 
erik_squires OP
16,414 posts
 
Well, I'm not saying going only 1 brand is right.  :)  Just wondering IF people had to, what they'd do.

I like Bryston's looks a lot, and Classe, but not a lot of time hearing either.

What about Primare, or... the ladybug like speaker company.... Forgot the name.
ricred1
2,058 posts
 
My current is all Jeff Rowland; amp, preamp, DAC, except I have the Bryston BDP2.
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