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Amazing ''Overachieving'' products...your pick?

I have owned both expensive gear (and I do mean expensive) and ''budget'' gear. Many components are mind-boggling on a price-paid versus performance ratio. Three of my favorites are:

1. The Bedini clarifier. This gizmo just plain works. You may like - or not - the difference it makes on your cd's. In my case, it clears up a lot of fog. The cheapest upgrade to ALL my cd's.

2. The Cayin TA-30 integrated amplifier . So much performance and flexibility for so little money. Put it up against anything up to 3 times the price, musically and from a build-quality perspective. Just plain amazing.

3. The Apple i-Pod Mini. Yes, even from in an audiophile application, playing cd's (not downloaded MP3's). You can snob it but you cannot ignore it.

What are YOUR picks ?
sonicbeauty
bluebull
269 posts
 
Kehut

I second your recommendation regarding the Ei tubes..I have found the same with the Ei Elite 6DJ8 goldpin tubes.Excellent !!

Chris
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,976 posts
 
Anything fostex,FI or oris
onemug
784 posts
 
The Omega Super 3 at $550 would top my list, just needs to be paired with the right amp.
lbenoit
10 posts
 
Bryston products -- great quality, superb sound and peerless customer service.

Benchmark Media DAC-1 -- beautiful converter, which eliminates a preamp and includes a well regarded headphone amplifier. For those strictly using digital sources, this is an "amazing overachieving" product IMHO.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Great value products can still be system dependent, but here are a few:
1) Marigo Signature, cd/dvd stabiliser
2) Pass labs Aleph 3, (given sensitive speakers)
3) Aurios 1.2 isolation devices
4) Living Voice Auditorium Range of speakers (Not such a good deal in the US with the current Xchange rate)
5) Creek T40 or T43 tuner

An eclectic mix and some seem very expensive for what they are $199 for the Marigo. But sometimes you have to pay over the odds to get really good value, if that does'nt sound crazy, which it does.
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