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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
zilla
46 posts
 
JBL 150A's hooked up to a Hafler 500 power amp and a 110 preamp. I had the JBL's hooked up to some Kenwood separates and though I was in audio nirvana. A friend brought the Hafler gear over alone with a turntable.

Our jaws all dropped. Totally clean and totally clear three dimensional sound emanated from the space in front of us. Still the best I have heard. A system that just plain worked. All my gear went up for sale and was sold the next weekend. Heard the perfect sound, and could of had the perfect sound but nooo I am still searching. That system had perfect synergy by dumb luck. Maggies 3.6's and a bryston 4bsst are next.
tok20000's avatar
tok20000
608 posts
 
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1043544749&openusid&zzTok20000&4&5#Tok20000

Click for pics of components in my system that blew me away.

Enjoy!

KF
paulb
2 posts
 
the first high end system i heard was a sota saphire with a sumiko mdc-800 tonearm (the arm) and a sumiko talisman s cartridge. that was running into a perreaux sm-2 preamp going to a belles class a amp. the speakers were vandersteen 2c's. before this all i had heard was japanese midfi equipment. i knew from this point on, music listening would be different.
hbarrel's avatar
hbarrel
342 posts
 
circa 1970/71 (16 yrs. old) walked into a friends Uncle's house. His Uncle had these two speakers (make unk.) which had to be 18 - 24 inches in diameter and this contraption with more tubes than "Carter" has pills. We begged him to play it.
We were "blown away".
I'll never forget it.
Heck I had a "FM" converter in my car to one speaker.
rcrump
427 posts
 
Twenty some odd years ago I was blown away by a Keith Monks record cleaning machine.....Nitty Gritty came out with a machine for $350 and had to have one.....Wore it out and bought a VPI RCM.....A few years ago I found Optrix and it made CDs sound listenable.....Bought a beveling machine for CDs called an audio desk systeme and it was a revelation....As far as gear goes the ARC SP3A-1 was an eye opener....The Goldmund Studio was killer, but the Rockport was so much quieter and so easy to use....Rockport speakers were wonderful ten years ago, but the Sound Lab M-1s are cleaner.....Epiphanies are few and far between in audio unfortunately....
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