Top questions that audiophiles must ponder over!!

[Pcar928fan]

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.

Those are like a big version of the Script! Very cool! In white they almost disappear too!

 

[miljac]

1. Mission 770MkII loudspeakers bought back in 1981. (still own them & they still sound quite nice in my secondary system!)

2. My DIY embedded Linux based FLAC network audio client/player. Sounds just great. Never thought that Red Book could sound *so* good. Right now I'm FLACing my complete CD library. Rediscovering all of it. I'm not exaggerating

3. Tube pre and tube power amp for panels.

 

[amey01]

1: Probably my first pair of genuine hi-fi speakers, the KEF K120. Close second would be my first pair of MLs, the Aerius.

2: For sure the Vista speakers.

3: A source upgrade - the Marantz 8300 SACD is great, however has seen three speaker upgrades, and two amplification upgrades. It is next, hopefully to the Ayre CX5e or the Goldmund SRCD3.

 

[risabet]

Music is the most important part of my system!

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

Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" and Coltrane's "A Love Supreme"

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

The TAD amps are giant killers!

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

TT upgrade. I was leaning towards an Avid Sequel but may upgrade the Linn instead and use the extra 2K for music purchases!

:cheers:

 

[jfm]

...that would be a cool thread - the specific record or cd that turned us into audiophiles. great stories there for sure.

 

[Joey_V]

I'm glad I started this thread... it turned out pretty good!

Yeah, man... just thought about it some more... and it was definitely the Mosaics that had to be the big pivotal moment in my time in this audio hobby of ours. First semblance of a soundstage that I really took notice of.

Keep it going guys! :cheers:

 

[Sambob2]

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...

Lugano,
It's hard to believe how much things have changed and become nearly forgotten! I remember the old Technics players you refer to, both cassette and reel-to-reel...In fact isn't that a Technics reel-to-reel tape capstan assembly in the collage you put together?

Years ago this was the type equipment that made those pivotal changes for us guys that remember them to be. Thus the purpose of this thread...

Sam

 

[lugano]

In fact isn't that a Technics reel-to-reel tape capstan assembly in the collage you put together?

Yes, correct The Technics deck I was talking about - my first piece of gear - was a RS-M63 in black, see pic below.

 

[tonyc]

1. My first electrostatic speaker, a pair of Acoustat 3's. I fell hard and stayed down!
2. ARC Ref 3 preamp. There simply is nothing else out there that can touch this baby.
3. ARC Ref 110. I have been lusting for a tube amp for a long time and now I have appropriate speakers (Summits).

 

[asindc]

I had previously posted, but I giving a more thorough answer now...

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

I've always been a music lover and gadget freak, so it was inevitable that I would get into high-end audio (and HT). With that said, my first purchase with my first paycheck ever was for a Sharp stereo system, with a built-in tuner, turntable, and 8-track (don't laugh!) tape deck. It came with matching speakers. Got me through high school.

In terms of pivotal, however, that would be the aforementioned Polk RT800i speakers and Onkyo 575x receiver. Began to look at music in a whole different way!

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

My Ascent-i, no doubt. Non-ML gear... Oppo 970HD (bang for the buck) or Sunfire Cinema Grand amp (phenomenally worth it).

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

Stay tuned...

 

[MotorToad]

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

Hrm, that's a tough one.... Most of what "changed it" for me has been listening to other peoples' systems, making me want to replicate that sound. One instance of that was hearing a set of Dalquists (DQ-20 I think) in '91 or '92. I suppose for my own stuff, it was the Pinnacles (PN-7 I think) I bought in, uhm, '88? '89? something like that. They showed me that speakers didn't need to be huge to sound awesome, most of the enjoyment I get out of listening is midrange and treble, bass is overrated.

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

Positively absolutely the best worth-it gear is the Sequels, but I got them used, in perfect condition, and under market value. The best new gear bump up in quality was the Mirage M-490s.

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

Answer!

:cheers:

I want to buy a big, honking amp. Whatever (probably Carver) bargain that comes up in a couple of months. Oh, and I need a CD player. :-\

 

[MotorToad]

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 never got a chance to try them out on my own equipment (but I sure wanted to!), but the US Navy has used these for recording sonar systems! My first boat had two of them sitting in a rack with all the supermegasecret mil-spec sonar gear. With a budget like theirs, that speaks volumes.

 

[Robin]

Top Q's For Audiophiles...

Joey,

1). The most pivotal purchase for me was the day I bought my ML Ascent i's, Descent and Theater i was definitely the one that changed everything for me.
These ML's sounded so great in the store. Of course, when I got them home they didn't sound good at all but that's what got me seriously started in finding how best to drive, position and connect them. I found this site as well, which leads me to the next Top Q...

2). At the ML Club ~ through many Q's and reading as many posts as I could, lead me down the path of investigation, auditioning and then to purchase my most phenomenally worth it piece of gear, my Anthem Statement P5 amplifier. Huge bang for the bucks, I spent, wonderful neutral clear uncolored power. I love it. Great for HT and Music listening as well.
Close behind is the purchase of my ML Script i's....


3). In the next year, 2 or 3. I will start-up a bedroom music listening system probably purchasing a source (Marantz SA-7S1)first, then preamp (Cary SLP 05) then amplifiers (Pass Labs XA-160's or Plinius 250's as mono-blocks)and lastly ML speakers CLX with Descent i or Super-Summits or Summits depending on how well the auditioning process goes...

I'll be adding to my HT system in five years when I retire. Then big up-grades Anthem D3 or D4 Processor, Sony Pearl or JVC front projector, 200" Stewart Silver-screen, Mono-blocks for my mains, new ML mains Super-Summits or Summits, Seating for ten, Crystal speaker IC Cables all around.

 

[Diamonds]

Best bang for the buck equipment I own is: Martin Logan Summits. They compare with speakers 3 times the price.

Next Big Upgrade: The Esoteric X-1 Limited CD Player. I also swapped out my Macintosh MX-134 for a Cary 11 as my video processor. The Cary wiped the floor with the McIntosh for half the price. I actually made money on this deal. The CDP will be a very different story!