2. amps-preamps
  3. 125923-20253

Would you go all 1 brand for electronics?

When I was younger I used to dream of stacks. Especially Tandberg. The sexy black and chrome gear was amazingly sexy, and sleek. Ahead of it’s time really in that respect. Kyocera, Studer, Sumo, Amber, Hitachi, Yamaha, Technics, were all making gear that stacked beautifully together. Of course, so was McIntosh.

Then I got to hear a demo of Conrad Johnson gear driving a Martin Logan single panel speaker. It was good, but as soon as the CJ amp got switched out for a solid state amp, it was absolutely magical. That broke the spell for me. When I got older I found myself mixing and matching more and more, as well as often wishing there wasn’t a single damn cable in the system and it all just worked. :)

I tried going all 1 brand with Parasound, but then I discovered great sounding digital amps and instead of going with many Parasounds I went with little monoblocks, and the whole stack idea was broken. They don’t make sources anyway.

So my question for all of you, especially those of you who do not have all 1 brand stacks of gear. If you had to choose, from source to amp, a single brand, what would it be? Of course your paying for it, so keep the cost in mind. :)

I think we should reasonably exclude record players, though some like McIntosh DO make them.


Best,


Erik


erik_squires
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 

 stringreen4,007 posts08-28-2016 2:51pmI bought, I connected, I conquered.....all Ayre

stringreen4,007 posts10-10-2016 10:10pmI have all Ayre electronics....amp, preamp, silver disc player....all designed to work and sound the best they can when wired together.

Yes, I believe everyone here knows that already, yawn.

Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,
Ayre, VPI, Vandersteen, Clear Day,


I think we all got it now..... ;^)
wolf_garcia
6,726 posts
 
Wax cylinders are the true analog medium, and lacquer 78s…well…you know what I mean.
raindog031's avatar
raindog031
166 posts
 
I would go on all Gryphon...when i buy Pantheon speakers (gryphon floorstanders for poor)  that will be it...
Ag insider logo xs@2x
dbphd
1,631 posts
 
Only for electronics:  Parasound JC 3 phono stage, JC 2 BP preamp, JC 1 monoblocks.  I use a Bryston SP3 for mch and HT; its front LR is passed through the JC 2 BP.  I think John Curl designed stuff works well together.

db
jonaiken
53 posts
 
I currently have all Audio Research gear including  Reference 6 Preamplifier, GS 150 Power Amplifier, Reference 3 Phono Preamplifier and Reference CD9 Player/DAC. The synergism of ARC components has been very rewarding  and has taken me to a place sonically I have never been.  Each has a similiar sonic signature built on the traditional ARC sound.  Mixing components can be equally rewarding provided the components have complementary impedances and specificifications.   But then again this is part of the fun of being in this hobby trying to achieve "Acoustic Alchemy"  with competing manufacturer components.  Can't go wrong either way.

More to discover