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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
thesaint519
162 posts
 
Lamms L2 Ref Preamp/Lamm M1.2 Ref Monos are awe-inspiring. So I bought them. The system consists of:

Lamm L2 Ref Preamp
Lamm M1.2 Ref Mono Amps (atop SRA VR-Series IsoBases)
Meitner MA-1 DAC
Meridian Sooloos Ensemble Music Server
Wilson Sasha ver. 1
Transparent Audio Ref ICs and Spkr cable
Transparent Ref XL IC between the Meitner and the L2
noncondition's avatar
noncondition
11 posts
 
Kronos turntable. Simply music. Out of my budget, unfotunately.
noncondition's avatar
noncondition
11 posts
 
Kronos turntable. Simply music. Out of my budget, unfortunately.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Back in 2002 I mentioned the Berning zh270 as the single component I purchased that knocked me out on first listen which is the reason I bought it. It still knocks me out 12 years later. It allows music to naturally happen without any distraction on how it sounds.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Terrific Game Changer Experience from my memory:

Fidelity Research FR-64s (compared to Graham Phantom Supreme II)
Lamm LL2 (compared to Aesthetix Callisto Signature)
Lamm ML2.1 (compared to Atma-Sphre M-60 II.3)
Micro Seiki 5000 (compared to Kuzma Reference)
Takeda Miyabi (compared to Koetsu Coralstone)
Rowland Cadence with own BPS (compared to Klyne 7 Phono)
Signal Cable Silver Resolution (compared to Purist Audio Venustas)
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