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Collecting Within One Brand

As a reader of Audiogon for years I've taken note of many people collecting across brands. While I'm always tempted to buy a different preamp or Cd player (and have indeed done so), adding to my speaker collection is done strictly within a single brand. I wonder how common this is.

How many people try and collect the best from one manufacturer? For me - its like collecting all of Van Morrison's releases or making certain I have every Eva Cassidy single and album which has been placed for sale. I'm more curious about how the artist or manufacturer who has captured my ear has progressed throughout the years than I am at comparing them to a band or brand I don't have the same strength of feeling for.

So far - this compulsion has just been limited to speakers - and of course to music. Anyone else addicted to a single line of speakers? Mine is KEF - especially the reference series units of the 1980's. Anybody else out there?

Warm regards,

Scott
martlet
jedinite24's avatar
jedinite24
1,503 posts
 
Hi Martlet

Good to see a fellow KEF fanatic. Your post made me realize I have/had quite a bit of KEF speakers. KEF 104/2, 103/3, Q90, Q15.2 and the new Q300s. It was not my intention to collect KEF speakers old and new but I guess subconsciously I am. I do enjoy the KEF speakers. I'm Krazy for KEF.

I think the other brand that I collected for a bit was McCormack gear from the 90s. At one time I was trying to build an entire McCormack system. I came close. I had a McCormack DNA-1 Dlx & DNA .5 Dlx, TLC-1 Dlx, DAC-1 and Wonderlink cables. I was hoping to score a nice SST-1 to round it out but couldn't find one at the price point I liked. I have since moved on and am now trying to not focus on the gear but the music. I do have favorite amps that I keep around and rotate them in and out of my systems.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Early on I had two collector roads to possible go on, one Marantz, the other McInt. Took the Marantz road, but once it became a Phillips company I stopped buying the brand.
martlet OP
4 posts
 
Thanks for the replies. Collecting McInt is a passion for so many - it should have been the first brand to come to mind. I think unless I am careful I could find myself in that company too.

With regard to the KEF attraction I have to say I get a special kick out of occasionally parting with a pair (and oh how that hurts every time I do it). I purchased a pair of 103.2 ref ser and as they were on the West coast arranged for a friend to try them out before shipping to me in the east. I'll never forget the call from my friend and two relatives (over to help "test" the speakers) and how they decided on the spot that the speakers would never reach me. Due to their overwhelming approval I agreed, though it took six years to catch up with another pair (this time locally).

Likewise I was separated from a prized pair of 101.1 ref ser when I promised to provide a complete vintage system to some friends - certain that I would find a reasonably priced pair for them in a three month time frame - a mistake I won't make again anytime soon!

I recall having the hardest time getting my ear use to KEF speakers (104/2). The sound quality was so "implicit." It was almost like training my hearing to a new sound. Once there, it has been hard to either turn back or to a different direction.
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