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Your best ''outstanding'' products in last 5 yrs?

I have been reflecting on my biggest surprises and value-for-money purchases in the last 5 years - the ones that were truly impressive for the money, here are mine, and would like to find out about other maniac's choices! Stick to what you have actually purchased please! My top 5 (so far).

1. Yamaha AS2000 integrated amplifier.

Totally off the charts. This is an absolutely outstanding amplifier for the money - I cannot think of anything under $ 3,000.00 that is more refined, powerful, and full-featured all at once. Gracious looks and battleship build are a bonus.

2. Shanling MC-30 receiver.

It may look like a toy, but it sure isn't one. Wonderful musicality with a whopping 3 watts of power, sounds much more powerful than that. A steal at the price. Amp, cd, tuner, with the magic of tubes.

3. Yamaha AS1000 SACD player.

Only the second (along with the AS2000 amp) Yamaha component I have owned in my lifetime. Ridiculous price, amazing quality with the smoothest-operating load mechanism south of 5K. Someone told me that Yamaha's marketing mistake is that they should have invented a sister brand (like Pioneers TAD or Teac's Esoteric) for the AS series so that they could charge more. I agree, but in the meantine, the consumer wins.

4. Music Hall MMF-7 turntable.

No REGA or VPI bragging rights, but this is a BEAUTIFUL table worth every penny and more. Decoupled motor, classy acrylic plate, double-deck plinth, decent Pro-Ject tonearm, it just screams ''buy me''. Now updated to 7.1 - I listened to both, could not detect a sonic difference with the same cartrige.

5. Cambridge Audio combo of DacMagic and the new ID100 digital transport (check my review on this one). Roaming hundreds of free digital Web radio stations has become very enjoyable with not-too-shabby sound. Pocket change as far as audiophile budget goes for these 2 items.

Special mention to TT weights and their Classic model. Where else can you get a CNC-machined product from an avionics supplier for 60 bucks?

That's it for now - after mega-buck tube amps, cables, preamps and cd players - these top 5 are it for me, and have given me a break in my pocketbook with no regrets.

Let's hear your choices!
sonicbeauty
smoffatt
205 posts
 
Audio Research REF3 LE with GNSC mods
Audio Research REF Phono 2 with GNSC mods
Audio Research DAC7 with GNSC mods
Bel Canto 96/24 USB Link
Sota Cosmos IV
Graham Phantom II
Ortofon A90
Verity Audio Parsifal Encore
Stealth Indra IC throughout
Audio Research Classic 120 Mono's with GNSC mods (circa 1990)
Sistrum Audio rack
Shunyata Python CX power cables
Lessloss Signature power cables
mizuno
59 posts
 
LFD NCSE - integrated amp... velvet with tight bass
Spendor s8e - speakers- amazing value/ great all rounder
Sonos - wow factor to enjoy and rediscover music before buying the CD. Need to support HD though or I'll switch to Logitech
W4S DAC - great dac but but there are better ones for a bit more money
david12
1,454 posts
 
I did add the Ayon Spark to the Pathos Inpol2 and as I hoped, equally fine sound but quite different.
Two great integrated amps and long term keepers
jwm
918 posts
 
I agree with Chales1dad, the most impressive upgrades were the addition of amp and preamp. In my case it was the VAC Phi 300.1 Monos and VAC Sig. Preamp. This upgrade made more of a difference then source. All new digital products I tried in the past year sounded good and at their best with this upgrade.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
I have been "on the wagon" the past few years since I was too busy at work. That has all changed over the past 8 months and I have had the opportunity to spend some time fine tuning the system. I will say this, to all you folks out there with tube gear, that having gone through numerous NOS and various new tubes from different manufacturers over the years in both my Supratek Syrah pre and Berning ZH270 amp I recently installed a pair of closely matched Sophia Electric 6SN7 line tubes in the Supratek. Before installing i throughly checked out the tubes on my Hickock tube tester and I have NEVER seen a more closely matched pair of tubes, bar none. These guys really do some serious matching. The results were staggering out of the box. The increase in clarity, dynamics, bass control and balance at all frequencies was beyond anything I have experienced with any other tube I have tried and I've been through MANY of them over the years.

Bottom line for 200.00 these tubes are some kind of real "high end" bargain. The great thing is they still aren't broken in, I can still detect a bit of harshness especially in the upper frequencies but see where this is going. They only have 10 hours and 100 is what they recommend before any serious analysis. Impressive indeed and along with the MHDT Havana with an early production Bendix 2C51 output, I feel I have hit the jackpot on a small bet! My vinyl rig is the next project.
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