What "ruined" me was the Audio Research SP 6. Bought it in 1978. Loved it.
Your greatest high end audio purchase!!!
My audiophile journey has extended to over 40 of adventurous sonic delight. Over the coarse of my over 40 year journey as an audiophile, like so my others, I cycled through a multitude of speakers, amps, cables, etc,. Now that I’m an old guy, I’ve pretty much settled on my "End-Game" audio system for the long haul, primarily because I simply love the way it sounds, and also because, at this juncture, I no longer have the will, nor do I have the desire to continue the crazy (but fun) merry-go-round of audio components in and out like I did in years past (my spouse and my wallet thank me). When I look back on all the high-speed audio gear that I’ve owned down through the years, and after giving it much insightful thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that, after everything was said and done, my beloved Revel Salon 2 speakers were my overall most pleasurable and greatest purchase of all. What was yours?
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+1 @rick_n room acoustic treatment -- Without a doubt my best purchase was the MEN 220 Room Correction system. My listening space could not be treated with acoustic panels as it already had wall-to-wall bookcases. The books provide a basic treatment, but surprisingly not anywhere near the revealing benefit of the MEN 220 automatic correction. As a bonus, it also provides active crossover management for my two REL S/510 subs and can shift the sound field with a touch of the remote to change sweet spots in the room. |
It was a really nice pair of original Quad 57's that came with a pair of Futterman H3aa's that I picked up in the mid-eighties that I'll count as one. It was always a love/hate relationship; I always wanted more output out of them and I'd go back to a box speaker but would always go back to the Quads. To me, within their range, they are amazing in that this fifties technology gets you 90%-95% of what is available today. With a modern preamp and source, they shine. I remember listening to them at the local dealer I purchased them from with a Spectral DMC 10 preamp and a fully loaded LP12 back then and it was stunning, even when compared to Modern ESL 63,s and a pair of Entec SW-2's. I still own the Quads but they reside in my basement with one of them out of commission. The Futterman's I got rid of long ago as they were problematic. Either that or my LP12 which has been with me in constant use since 1986 that drove my view of analog superiority. Or my Esoteric K-OX3D / F-05. The K-OX3D changed my worldview on digital music but with the F-O5 sometimes startles the sh@t out of me. |
Without a doubt, my wife’s wedding ring. She "allowed" me to keep my hand-built 6’-4" Alpine white speakers in "her" Living Room, and a revolving door of boxes, cables, blinking lights and things that made (mostly good) noises.. Just to demostrate how much she loves me, she gave me permission to relocate her framed, signed musical score by Barry Manilow. It was positioned at an an early reflection point in the room and degraded the sound quality. But, I’d say that the most unexpected, impactful component I ever audtioned in my home in "later life" was a Sutherland phono stage. I had no idea until that day just how much music was being left out of those cheap and/or internal phono stages. |
Like many of you my journey started years and years ago in the early 70's. It was a hobby started by my father and continued by me. The biggest improvement in sound as a result of a purchase that I can remember was adding a McIntosh C27 preamplifier to the pre-out jacks of a Marantz 2325 receiver. At the time, I was using AR3a speakers and with the addition of the Mac, sound just seemed to jump out of the AR's in a way that was so fresh and clean (circa 1979). Not sure how many audio purchases I've had since then, likely +40 or so, but nothing has made that big of an impact, all at once, that I can remember. |
Best was a phono stage - a John Curl Vendetta that sounds better than anything else I have listened to (except a Herron VTPH-2 which was pretty much a tie). Second best was a Sugano made Koetsu Urushi. Third best were speakers - Wilson Maxx 2 (with a very different sort of runner up - Martin Logan CLS) |
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These posts caused me to reflect on my audiophile journey. I think my most exciting purchase was my first (you never forget your first) receiver, the Concord CR-400 AM/FM "Quadrophonic" receiver from the late 70s. I loved the blue and green display on the front and all the different settings - loudness, synthetic, etc. and the great weighting of the tuning knob. At the time, I thought it sounded great paired with a set of Marantz speakers. I recently re-read my baby book that my mother kept and found a comment where she said that "he loves to play with the knobs on the hi-fi set." I guess our love of gadgets and audio equipment is coded in us at birth. I remember taking all of my audio gear to and from college every year. I had floor standing speakers on wheels and a home built rack for all the equipment - Hafler pre and power amp (kits that I assembed), Dual turntable, Soundcraftsmen equalizer. Seems crazy in retrospect that I lugged all that stuff around with me and took up half the dorm room with the equipment and empty boxes. My roommates never complained. |
I came into a few bucks and upgraded just about everything. Got a pair of JBL XPL 140s fully restored. Lexicon LX7 and MC12, JBL 2241 in 8 foot home made box connected to Crown XLS 1500, Dirac room correction. Got it all connected to battery and inverter for clean AC. This is my end game system since I’m older than dirt. It sounds amazing. |
Because speakers of quality equivalent to electronics cost so much more, for 20 years I was pumping high-end juice into old Henry Kloss Model 6s. When finally again in possession of a decent listening room, I upgraded to Wharfedale EVO-40s and at last heard definitively what I had known intuitively for two decades. Well, bliss didn't last long, for soon after I learned about streaming. Uh-oh. Quarter-century old Bryston amps and preamp couldn't handle the new tech. Today all components but TT, including Wharfedales, have been much upgraded. But I'd have to say those humble Wharfies provided the greatest revelation of my long but intermittent career in pursuit of high-end sonic reproduction. |
I started around 1968 when my neighbor allowed me to watch him build a Heathkit tube amp. From then on I was hooked. For a long time it was a Sony receiver and Dynaco A25s, then Wyetech labs pre and power amp with single driver Brentworth Labs speakers and a bunch of other stops along the way. But to answer the OP’s question it’s a tie between my DeVore 096s, my Backert Rhythm 1.4 and my dCS Bartok Apex. These have satisfied me from the day I got them. It’s a fantastic hobby to be sure! |
AUDIO GD HE 1 VACUUM TUBE PREAMP WITH REGENERATIVE POWER SUPPLY. I bought this from Wally at Underwood Hi Fi. Best decision I have made so far for my system. After 100 hours, this preamp had my jaw on the ground and my ears in Nirvana. I heard an element of separation, clarity, crispness, slam, speed and overall depth and presence that I never knew was capable on my system (see virtual system). This is one overbuilt, highly engineered piece of gear made in China that I would highly recommend. |
Been doing this since the early 70’s. Those Revels are keepers IMO. |
I bought one of the last pairs of Joesph Audio Prospectives (first Generation) directly from Jeff. I discovered I can’t afford the electronics to find out how good they are. Other than upgrading to second generation (just to have) my end game speakers. By the way Jeff built them from left over parts about 2 years after the gen 2’s were on the market. Can’t say enough good things about Jeff and Joseph Audio!!! |
Without any reservation I can say purchase of Thiel 3.6 speakers and pairing it with a Mark Levinson 23.5 amp were the greatest purchases. Rest of the system was assembled around those two to fit my listening tastes. And I never looked back. For the kind of music I listen, these two do full justice by reproducing what's recorded in the medium whether it is an LP, CD, cassette, or the tuner. |
Well I am going to answer this question a little differently. I too began my audio journey many years ago but taking a step back and thinking about significant audio equipment it was mostly technology and services.... 1982-first CD player CDP101 made by Sony and bought in Germany 2000-Next was Limewire- and sharing music files and exploring music 2001-Next was Itunes and the Ipod- music on the go and downloads and more exploring music 2008-09-Next was Spotify and streaming music service- huge exploration of music 2014-15- Next was Tidal and CD. FLAC and MQA files- tremendous step up in SQ. 2024 -Both Tidal and Qobuz are my current favorite music streaming platforms Biggest surprise to me was the re-discovery, re-manufacture and re-packaging of record albums and turntables. I never would have expected that in 1982-1990.
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After 50+ years, I am beginning to think, it is my latest acquisition, from my friend Tim ( rawsonte ). Tim advertised a diy F4, the F4 being one of a hand full of Pass amps I have little experience with. Using my very much needed Usher P307A, it has allowed me to hear many recordings of mine, for the 1st time. Most things, good, but some things not so good. A new experience of listening. The window has been opened. Of course, I give credit to my particular pair of Lascalas, which without them, I could not be entertained. BTW, I owned AR9s. Nice speaker...but, to each his / her own........My best, MrD. |
I was in the right place at the right time being only 2 hours away from a very special pair of VMPS RM40 BCSE speakers w/ bookmatched rosewood veneers and was THE pair of speakers Marty DeWulf of Bound For Sound had for a few years as his reference speakers to judge all others by. This was just after Brian Cheney passed and John Casler was helping the Cheney family sell off all the VMPS speakers and parts so help their family. They are among the finest speakers Brian ever made and I've now had them for about 9 years. With a couple additions from Krissy, the 2 things I think they needed small improvement on--the loss of some highs as you stand up when listening and occasional bottoming out on loud and deep bass transients are now a moot point. This version is 260 lbs of joy per channel but I'm a big guy and lifting my end with another on the other end and we have moved those up stairs and down several times. I've had many different very good speakers to challenge them with, but I'm always amazed when I return to the 40's at how great they sound. A very close second would be the TRL DUDE preamp that I became the 3rd owner of several years ago. I did 2 major tweaks to it which made it even more authoritative and the chassis more substantial. When I got the first set of NOS hand picked tubes from Andy's Vintage in Michigan, they were the final addition making the DUDE really come to life. The other piece was the Modwright Sony 5400 Signature Truth CD/SACD. Dan Wright blessed me with this after I owned a MW Sony 9000 as the first great CD player I'd owned, and then a MW Sony 9100. I've done several worthwhile tweaks to the 5400 which has transformed it into an even more super deck.
Bob |
My Mother wanted me to start enjoy music. It was the mid-80s and my parents purchased me a pioneer system for my dorm. It was separates and it included a 5-disc CD player and Infinity speakers. A good starter set that put me on my journey in search of the lost chord. So, I would say that the Pioneer System was my greatest future investment. |
Been at this since the eighties. Best high end audio purchase is kind of spurious. The room. Bought our current property a few years back, and it's the first time I've ever had a fully dedicated space to listen. Inspired me so much that I upgraded the Focal Aria 948s To Sopra 3's, which sound wonderful in the space. I don't mind driving a 260k+ mile 21 year old Lexus Gx470 when I've got the room waiting for me at home to plant my ass in and listen. Priorities. |
I had a Pioneer SX-1250, Denon DP-59L, and Denon DL-103 when I was in grad school over 40 years ago. Since then I've owned numerous receivers, integrated, preamps, power amps, turntables, cartridges, and speakers. Guess what's in my listening room now? Fully restored SX-1250, DP-59L, and a 103R in an Audio Musikraft lithium body. My only modern components are a pair of Maggie 1.7i speakers and a pair of REL subs. I'm happy. |
ghdprentice: The Nakamichi dragon was about as good as they got. The only thing it was missing was Dolby HX pro, they only went up to Dolby C.Now days one in descent condition is worth some $. No wonder you liked the Nakamichi sound! I had one but got rid of it after TDK stopped making the MA (metal bias) line of cassettes, those were the best. I should have kept it and sold it now for a nice profit! |
thanks @ellajeanelle ! |
grislybutter: Unfortunately, I am not familiar with their subs, but those that you asked about are newer. Pretty much all of the AR stuff with a black finish came after the company was sold and are not anything like their earlier speakers in terms of quality or sound. (not even close)! Those subs may sound great, but like I said I have not heard them, and I would be very skeptical. I did try a pair of newer ARs once (black finish) and I was very disappointed. They ended up as a gift to one of my nephews. The fact that they now only make some crappy lamp shaped Bluetooth speakers is a good indication of how far they've sunk. See this link: Company:Acoustic Research - HandWiki |
Interesting question, because my answer is not what I thought it would be. When all is said and done, my choice would be the Sansui AU-9500 integrated I purchased back in the early 70's. The warm sound, the black faceplate and the sensual feel of the switches and knobs. They all combined to totally infatuate me at the time. |