Top questions that audiophiles must ponder over!!

[lugano]

1. What is your single most pivotal audio purchase of all time? The one that you think changed everything for you?

My first CD Player, which also happened to be Sony's first CD player. At that time, there were about 30 CD titles available and I bought 10 !!

2. What is your current most bang for the buck, most phenomenally worth it gear that you have in your system right now?

CLS II

3. What is the next big addition to your system within the next year, 2, or 3?

nothing in the audio realm, but in the HT territory it will be a high res projector when my Philips bursts into flames.

 

[JonFo]

1. What is your single most pivotal audio purchase of all time? The one that you think changed everything for you?

For me it has to be the SL3's I bought new in 1993, I had never heard a speaker do what it could.

You know it's pivotal when five years later I designed my entire house around a room specifically designed to host a MartinLogan set

2. What is your current most bang for the buck, most phenomenally worth it gear that you have in your system right now?

That would have to be the DBX DriveRack 260 speaker processor on my Monoliths and SL3XC. This totally transformed the speakers, making woofer and panel integration so much better than stock x-over, and allowed me to perform 'room correction' at the same time.

3. What is the next big addition to your system within the next year, 2, or 3?

Hum, with 29 devices already in the system (plus 8 speakers), I'm not about to add anything. I might replace with better, newer, or actually try to simplify. But no one makes a component that does all the things I need / want. So I'm staying put.

The only possible 'addition' would be a new digital projector if something happens to the trusty G70 CRT PJ.

 

[TomDac]

1. What is your single most pivotal audio purchase of all time? The one that you think changed everything for you?

Nakamichi Dragon tape deck. It was my first really high quality piece of equipment and what got me hooked on the hobby. I treasured that thing for years. This was before I left Japan and before I got my Sequels.

2. What is your current most bang for the buck, most phenomenally worth it gear that you have in your system right now?

ML reQuests of course.

3. What is the next big addition to your system within the next year, 2, or 3?

I went from 2 channel separates to HT via a receiver and now am going back to separates and will upgrade my amplification, HT processor, then surrounds.

 

[TomDac]

1) Like Dan, my Speaker journey.....Dahlquist DQ-10's, Maggie 3.6's

Dahlquist DQ-10s... Never had a chance to audition them, but of course I love how they looked (like Quad 57s!). I heard they were a ****** to drive, but sounded pretty sweet with the right amp. How long did you have them and please say they were in white.

 

[sleepysurf]

1. What is your single most pivotal audio purchase of all time?
Apogee Stage planar-magnetic speakers, purchased 1989, which began my foray into high end audio. I (reluctantly) sold them in 1999, lacking room for their wider footprint in my new home. That's when I bought my first pair of ML's... the Aerius i.

2. What is your current most bang for the buck, most phenomenally worth it gear that you have in your system right now?
Surprisingly (perhaps, to some), I would have to say the Slimdevices Squeezebox... as that $300 device has COMPLETELY changed the way I listen to music.

3. What is the next big addition to your system within the next year, 2, or 3?
Plan on getting a 55-60" LCD or Plasma wall-mounted HDTV (and smaller credenza cabinet) to allow more optimal placement of my Summits.

 

[TomDac]

2. What is your current most bang for the buck, most phenomenally worth it gear that you have in your system right now?
Surprisingly (perhaps, to some), I would have to say the Slimdevices Squeezebox... as that $300 device has COMPLETELY changed the way I listen to music.

yeah.. I'll concur with this statement. Not sure what I ever did without it. I listen to music MUCH more now.

 

[twich54]

Dahlquist DQ-10s... Never had a chance to audition them, but of course I love how they looked (like Quad 57s!). I heard they were a ****** to drive, but sounded pretty sweet with the right amp. How long did you have them and please say they were in white.

OK Tom, I'll say they were in White........but I'd be lieing !!, they were Black and Walnut. Bought them new in late 1979, owned them for five years, almost went the "mod' route with them but I discovered Magepan and so that journey began. Amplification with them started with a Hafler SS, but in early '81 I believe, I came accross the Nakamichi (Nelson Pass clone) Stasis amp that did a mighty nice job !!

 

[Zero]

Sleepy,

Just a friendly correction; the Apogee Stage is a full-range ribbon speaker. I got my ear on a pair roughly a year or so ago (along with the Diva and Scintilla).. GREAT speakers....

 

[DTB300]

Amplification with them started with a Hafler SS, but in early '81 I believe, I came accross the Nakamichi (Nelson Pass clone) Stasis amp that did a mighty nice job !!

The person I bought my CLSIIz's from had one of those Stasis amps driving them. Had a very nice sound to them, but ran out of gas rather quickly. I thought I remembe them having a couple of models for the stasis - correct?

Dan

 

[twich54]

Yes, Dan, therein lies the difference between the Threshold and the "Nak" , for I believe the filter capacitence and # of output devices were not the same.

To the best of my memory there were two variants, a 100w and I'm pretty sure mine was 150w.

I did find the sound inticing on my DQ-10's to the point that when I got my Maggie's I stepped up to the 'Real' thing, Threshold's Stassis s300.

 

[Pcar928fan]

yeah.. I'll concur with this statement. Not sure what I ever did without it. I listen to music MUCH more now.

I am hoping that my iPod DLO dock will offer that same level of enjoyment of my music. I have about 350 songs that I REALLY like, another 150 songs that I like well enough and then I have some more esoteric stuff that I like but don't listen to it often.

The DLO Delux dock has video output too, so I can see on the TV what I am playing and my playlists and can scroll them remotely and bring them up from across the room! Should be pretty cool!

Sound won't be anything to write home about, but frankly I can't complain about the quality sound of my iPods, they all sound pretty dang good!

 

[Sambob2]

Originally Posted by TomDac
Nakamichi Dragon tape deck. It was my first really high quality piece of equipment and what got me hooked on the hobby. I treasured that thing for years.

I don't know to many people with those Nak Dragons, but I can tell you that we had two in the recording studio and they performed great and put up with a lot of usage! Great deck, always wanted one for myself at home...but get this...I spent so much of my time in that place I decided not to get one...most of my casual listening was done in the control room listening to those Naks' playing my pre-recorded tapes while I did alignments, maintenance, or setup/take-downs.

You know I bet they are still pretty competitive these days with current cassette decks!..there are still cassette decks out there right...tell me there are...???

 

[jtwrace]

I don't know to many people with those Nak Dragons, but I can tell you that we had two in the recording studio and they performed great and put up with a lot of usage! Great deck, always wanted one for myself at home...

my dad has one of them...I think he used it twice. He was like you with it, I've always wanted one. He got it and never really used it. Now it just sits idle.

 

[lugano]

In 28 years of joeyitis I went through an endless list of gear, but I only had 3 pairs of loudspeakers, can you believe it ?

- JBL Control Monitor 4301B
- Martin Logan Stylos
- Martin Logan CLS II

Sambob, the first HiFi purchase I did has been a Technics tape deck (3 head, still working at a friend's place...) and a pair of Koss headphones. I spent month's pay to get them...

 

[sleepysurf]

Sleepy,

Just a friendly correction; the Apogee Stage is a full-range ribbon speaker. I got my ear on a pair roughly a year or so ago (along with the Diva and Scintilla).. GREAT speakers....

Well, I think the woofer panel technically was planar-magnetic, but regardless, I sure wish I could put the Stage and Summits side-by-side for a shootout! In my (aging) auditory memory, I think the Stage *might* have won.

As I've mentioned in other threads, Graeme "GRAZ" Keet, in Australia, after years of refurbishing old models, has now "officially" resurrected the Apogee Acoustics name... http://www.apogeeacoustics.com/index.html

Alas, the speakers size, AND price, still prohibit me from being a proud owner again.

 

[lugano]

memories, memories...

I've been infected with joeyitis at birth. I think it's in the genes by now...at 16-17, instead of browsing Playboy, I was frenetically turning the pages of HiFi catalogues, magazines, brochures and similar. My obsession was such, that at a certain moment I created this collage, with lots of patience needed for achieving a more or less correct perspective and careful cutting elements from pictures of that period's gear. It's an unique piece of (questionable) art, shown here publicly for the first time. The over 40es amoung us will probably have some fun at recognizing / identifying elements characteristic of the early eighties. For me, it represents my joeyitis certificate

 

[Zero]

Sleepy,

So far my big time Apogee devotee's have informed me its a complete ribbon design. I am not too critical on it anyway; it was a fantastic speaker. In fact, it very well may be one of my all time top 5 favorite transducers. I actually liked it over the vaunted Scintilla. I really hope you can re-unite with it one day! Hell, I wish I had the room to accomodate it.

 

[TomDac]

In 28 years of joeyitis I went through an endless list of gear, but I only had 3 pairs of loudspeakers, can you believe it ?

- JBL Control Monitor 4301B
- Martin Logan Stylos
- Martin Logan CLS II

Sambob, the first HiFi purchase I did has been a Technics tape deck (3 head, still working at a friend's place...) and a pair of Koss headphones. I spent month's pay to get them...

Two sets for me.... ML Sequels & reQuests. Most of my changes have revolved around the speakers and getting the most out of them. I'm loyal to ML.. Everything else = NO. There was a time when I was jonesin for some Apogees.. Divas or Scintillas.. This was before they went under. Glad to see they've been resurrected.

 

[TomDac]

I don't know to many people with those Nak Dragons, but I can tell you that we had two in the recording studio and they performed great and put up with a lot of usage! Great deck, always wanted one for myself at home...but get this...I spent so much of my time in that place I decided not to get one...most of my casual listening was done in the control room listening to those Naks' playing my pre-recorded tapes while I did alignments, maintenance, or setup/take-downs.

You know I bet they are still pretty competitive these days with current cassette decks!..there are still cassette decks out there right...tell me there are...???

I sold mine about 9 years ago.. Got more than what I paid for it... Thank God for the Navy Exchange in Japan!

It did work GREAT and the auto azimuth feature meant you could play tapes that were in really bad shape and they would sound wonderful..

I know they still put tape decks in new cars.. Not sure why.

 

[lugano]

Answering a member's request...

Here comes a picture of my (sold) Stylos speakers. I think it does have some documentary value, as I did not spot many pictures of this particular model on the whole site. Their new price in Switzerland was CHF 6400, about $4500 when I bought them.