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Which components knocked you out on first listen?

I've been listening to stereos since 1973 and I am still waiting to be truly knocked out by the sound of a component. I have sat in showrooms across the country and have been pleased by what I have heard but never truly blown away.
The closest I came was when I listened to a Meitner str-55 amp and VTL preamp a few years ago, sourced by a Linn Ikemi and Revel loudspeakers. However, I also have been moved by a
Apple computer cd drive, circa 1994 through a Creek 4040 and RA Lab speakers, estimated cost about $1,200; maybe more so than the Linn,Revel 10K system. How about you?
cody
sc53
719 posts
 
Also want to add to my list two components I am currently using together--agree w/TOK 20000 about the ARC CA-50:
ARC CA-50 integrated paired w/Proac Response 1SC's: I love this sound as much as that of my big "reference" system (Genesis 500's w/ARC VT100 MkIII and BAT VK30SE ). It absolutely floored me when I first hooked it up! And both pieces bought used here on Audiogon, in perfect shape.
judit
217 posts
 
This thread should yield some interesting things.
My examples are retrospective:

For speakers, The Revel Ultima Salon on piano playback.

For source material: The first time I heard Red Book CD on a player with upsampling.

For amplifiers: The first time I heard Krell bass make my stomach muscles tighten.

Preamplifiers: CJ tubes on Jazz

Not examples to build a system around, but certainly moments that lifted mine eyes up into the hills ...
timo's avatar
timo
610 posts
 
Legacy Audio Focus 20/20 loudspeakers
imin2u
392 posts
 
I live for soundstage and there has been nothing better than my first listen to the Audible Illusion 3A tube pre-amp and the JM Labs Daline 6.1 speakers. W-i-d-e, D-e-e-p and T-a-l-l.
shubertmaniac
350 posts
 
There are only two complete systems that knocked me
out: 1984, at Sassafras Audio, the Acoustat 2+2s with
Audio Research SP8 and D115 with VPI HW19(mk1) turntable
Audioquest tonearm and the cartridge...I forget.
1984, at Chestnut Hill Audio, the Acoustat 2+2s with
Spectral DMC-10 and DMA100 with.......not sure. Same
speaker but two incredibly different, but equally
magnificent presentations. I thought I went to heaven
when I heard Linda Ronstadt's voice on What's New, something
that still gives me goose bumps. I feel jaded since then.
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