2. best-of
  3. 1037570597

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
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,365 posts
 
Walked into Innovative Audio here in Brooklyn about 7 years ago. Heard the Wilson Watt/Puppy with VPI TT. don't remember the pre and the amps(all tubes as I remember, could be VTL), but the sound I heard was amazing. Soundstage was so good, I didn't even have to close my eyes to see Nataly Cole standing right there and singing Unforgettable. The best I ever heard...
josep_hernandez
50 posts
 
Mine, Viva Solista integrated amp with any good and easy to drive speaker. It feels you are sitting with Miles and Thelonious. They are so there. In front of you. You feel the bass. It's real. Not disco/club-like-type-of-bass, sort of like wooosh!. No. The type of bass you feel like woomp, right in the stomach. The real velvety sound of bass. Not the electric one. Electric bass makes our ears so distorted (very different from live music.) The Viva was as close to live music as I ever heard. (Also, I would add the latest VTL with the JM Lab Grande Utopia; and I really enjoyed the Wilson Sophia with the T+A; finally the Sonus Faber Grand Piano with the McIntosh 2275. Beautiful sound).

Funny you mentioned the Creek 4040. I was just talking to a very good friend of mine. He is a well-regarded engineer for a high quality audiophile brand. I will not mention his name. He said that the 4040 had something unique, which was lost in later designs, that made it as good as some five figure amps. He got me so intrigued that I bought one used, just to try. I will receive it in a couple of weeks and will let you know. I will try it with Triangle Celius and the Wavelength Audio USB DAC; and will compare it against my Audio Aero Integrated. I look forward to.

Good post.

Josep
gliderguider's avatar
gliderguider
294 posts
 
The Tom Evans Linear A amplifier. Ten minutes after I powered it on I knew it eclipsed any other amp I'd heard. It's hard to convey in words what a transformative audio experience this amplifier has been for me. It's bewilderingly good.
jpms
39 posts
 
Sound Lab A-1. Big in every way, subtle also.
Supratek Syrah. Fantastique tube line and phono preamp.
Supratek Cabernet. Closer to the truth even then the Syrah.
EMM Labs CDSD transport and DCC2 Digital Control Center. An impressive music machine.
jasman
102 posts
 
Magnapan's with Conrad Johnson in 1981. That system got me into High End audio.
More to discover