What were your favorite gear additions in 2024?


Wondering what are the top 1-3 new pieces of gear audiogoners added in 2024 that made the biggest difference in your music listening enjoyment.

Ag insider logo xs@2xknownothing

This year I upgraded the Linn LP12 I got in 2023 with the new Arko tonearm. This new Linn tonearm is  quite impressive in terms of detail, openness and bass. This gave me the opportunity to hear the limitations of my Hana SL. So just before Christmas, I treated myself with a Pure Fidelity Stratos. It is a gem at this price point. The whole combination is excellent and I am rediscovering every single LP in my collection.

Happy new year!

For me it was a lowly power supply upgrade. I opted for the Rega PSU for my planar 3 over the standard wall wart that came with the TT. I was pleasantly surprised with the improved sonic clarity and near zero noise floor of the Planar 3. Keep in mind I had upgraded from a lowly Audio Technica LP120 I had used for 15 yrs of casual listening and DJing. I think my next 2025 upgrades most likely will be the Rega phone stage and some new speakers. Although I still have an integrated amp upgrade in the pipeline so 2025 may turn out to be the best year yet for hi-fi upgrades.

REL Carbon Special. I was dead set against adding a sub. I felt that the DeVore 096’s would not benefit from the addition of a sub. I was dead wrong. It’s set very conservatively but what an improvement. Absolutely fantastic!

My favourite gear additions were. . . . 

1. Aurender N100

2. Denafrips Iris

3. Denafrips Pontus II

That being said, since I got the new gear, my Musical Fidelity integrated has been in the shop for most of the time so I haven't spent hardly any time listening.

The people working on it, now for the second time, are currently closed for the holidays. I could hook everything up to my Anthem MRX520 avr that is filling in for the MF, but I would rather wait.