Collecting Within One Brand

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.

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.

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.

Thanks for the reply on Eva. I join with you in celebrating different musical tastes. For the purpose of qualifing my inclusion of her name to this forum may I respectfully point out one of the many mentions her recordings get in audiophile circles...

http://www.stereophile.com/content/esoteric-k-01-and-k-03

Additionally - it should be noted that Nightline (Ted K.'s era) aired a profile on her three times, a rare number of repeats for any news based program.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/rainbow--10170062

Of course even with substantial sales of her music, it is understandable that some will prefer other musicians and/or styles. Thanks once again for the comment.