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Have you changed your mind about a brand? Was it you, or them?

I've changed my mind about many things.  Beer for instance.  Now I can really only drink IPAs and dark beers. Lagers?  Phooey.  This is very different than what I drank in my 20s though. 

Same for audio gear. 

So let me ask all of you, are there brands or equipment you've changed your mind about, for better or worse?  And if so, why?  It doesn't have to be a brand, it can be a TYPE or technology.

For instance, I used to love Ti and Be tweeters.  Now usually can't listen to them.

What about you?
erik_squires
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,813 posts
 

After living with a pair of Magneplanar Tympani's for a year, I was seduced by the new Fulton Model J, which offered deeper bass and the transparency of RTR ESL tweeter (6 of them per speaker). It took me only a coupla months to realize that what a big planar offers is more important to me than what speakers such as the J do (the midrange was reproduced by the 2-way Fulton Model 80, a real good box speaker for it's time). Back to planars!

Then there was the time I replaced my Van Alstine-modified Dynaco PAS tube pre-amp with the hot new New York Audio Labs tube/mosfet hybrid Super It phono stage, which turned out to be not-so-hot. Back to pure tubes!

Live and learn. One mistake I DIDN'T make was dumping all my LP's in the late-80's and replace them with CD's. Thank God!

bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,813 posts
 
I had forgotten: having had my mind blown when I heard the Decca Blue cartridge on Bill Johnson's tonearm (a prototype that never went into production) in '73, I never-the-less went with the flow and replaced it with a Supex moving coil and the Levinson head amp in '74. Again, learned to trust my own taste, and went back to the Decca.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I had B&W 804 Nautilus for about 6 years they were good for HT but I usually ended up listening to music with my AKG 701s. 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,974 posts
 
@erik_squires Thanks for the link. I always enjoy your blog posts and have learned a lot.

I think about the B&W move akin to the salt-fat-sugar approach to food. Get their attention and hook them with primal urges. (Only at home to they get fatigued and wonder what's wrong.)
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,160 posts
 
I have been in audio over 40 years, owned a Audio store and been sucked into pushing the name brands for years .
I just sold a well known Krell Vanguard, and bought a Yamaha 2100 integrated amp, many told me it’s not Audiophile brand .
I will tell you what it’s loaded with all quality parts from Japan 80% Nichicon gold tune ,capacitors and 4 Big -22,000 power caps,
fully balanced,with a floating ground system,and a dual mono design. and nice retro looking meters . It has very good resolution
using Dual Sanken 20 amp Mosfets per channel. One down side it was a bitch to breakin over 200 hours to settle in the new 2200 is a bit better still at $4k ,I thought it was better then my friends $6k McIntosh ,or Bryson ,that being said I like the more upfront defined presentation ,some like it more laid back .that being said it has a kt88 type sonic warmer signature with better control. That’s why it is good to read reviews,and owner opinions but let your experience
guide You not others.
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