Your most disappointing purchase or audition?

Tidal speaker not very good i heard the $80k ones was not impressed .Everybody likes something different.

Using headphone sound as a reference, Tidal I have heard reminded me of Audeze. Magico more like Sennheiser. Very different.

I've heard the Magico S5's with Boulder, Soulution, Audia Flight Strumento, Dartzeel and Vitus Reference and Signature Series. The best sound I heard was with Vitus Signature Series amps & previous model Vitus SCD-010 front end. The sound was very smooth, pure, liquid/tube-like, analogue sounding and involving. In a word, musical. Hence why i'm going for Vitus Sig series gear. Having heard a wide range of amps with the S5's, I can easily see why many people would walk away unimpressed, whist others really like them. It's a bit like the philosopher's stone.

Lyra Kleos (very limited reproduction range)

Most disappointing audio purchase,

TW AC Raven turntable , However shame on me for not taking that long drive to listen for myself , instead I relied on personal phone conversations with owners including reading through lengthy online owner testimonials.

For $17,000.00 the two motor TW could not even hold a steady speed durning play back and I understand from a former owner of the TW Back Night , a $40,000.00 flagship table, can not hold a constant speed during playback either,..
After 10 months with replacement of a "new and improved " motor controller including returning the motors for a full check up the table never
did improve to my liking and I might add my expectations for this new front end were not over the top and unreasonable .
Direct comparisons to other tables by switching arm and cartridge from the TW Raven proved there was nothing wrong with the Graham Phantom arm and Dynavector XV1 cartridge.
Maybe These new designers should understand past successful tables and motors first and not try to reinvent them.