AudiogoN Forums: Which components knocked you out on first listen?

Which components knocked you out on first listen?

I've been listening to stereos since 1973 and I am still waiting to be truly knocked out by the sound of a component. I have sat in showrooms across the country and have been pleased by what I have heard but never truly blown away.
The closest I came was when I listened to a Meitner str-55 amp and VTL preamp a few years ago, sourced by a Linn Ikemi and Revel loudspeakers. However, I also have been moved by a
Apple computer cd drive, circa 1994 through a Creek 4040 and RA Lab speakers, estimated cost about $1,200; maybe more so than the Linn,Revel 10K system. How about you?

Cody (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

11-17-02

Responses (1-50 of 196)

Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

11-17-02 Original martin logan cls iis with vtl monoblocks. yes!!! Celtic66

11-17-02 Speakers, no particular order: soundlab a1 duntech crown pri ... Albertporter

11-18-02 I rarely get 'knocked out' by listening to any one product d ... Tok20000

11-18-02 Polk sda 2b speakers first real high end audition mesmerized ... Mejames

11-18-02 The answer to this question would go back to my first exposu ... Tubegroover

11-18-02 My first "knockout" experience was when i first we ... Twl

11-18-02 I haven't listened to the more esoteric stuff, just haven't ... Sc53

11-18-02 Also want to add to my list two components i am currently us ... Sc53

11-18-02 This thread should yield some interesting things. my example ... Judit

11-18-02 Legacy audio focus 20/20 loudspeakers Timo

11-18-02 I live for soundstage and there has been nothing better than ... Imin2u

11-18-02 There are only two complete systems that knocked me out: 198 ... Shubertmaniac

11-18-02 The moscode super it. it was the first time i'd heard a tube ... Swklein

11-18-02 Audio note an/e-sec speakers...they just shouldn't be able t ... Glide3

11-18-02 These items/combinations came to mind when i read the title ... Gregm

11-18-02 Art di/o with sennheiser headphones driven by a david bernin ... Danner

11-18-02 Mirage m1 Elevick

11-18-02 No in store demo system has ever done it for me-- i have to ... Garfish

11-18-02 At the time, circa eary 80's, klipschorn, nad 3020 and linn ... Ultrakaz

11-18-02 there were some electrostatic speakers i listened to back i ... Sogood51

11-18-02 Forgot telefunken 12 ax 7 tubes simply they have magical qua ... Mejames

11-18-02 Levinson 383 with revel performa m20's. S7horton

11-18-02: Sherod
Around 1977-78.Walked into my first high end dealer and strolled into their main listening room, and what I heard just blew me away. Out of these tiny speakers, with no subwoofers ( Roger's LS3-5a ) driven by the then top-of-the-line electronics( all tube Audio Research ) with a top turntable(Linn LP-12) and Koetsu Rosewood I heard the most amazing and life-like sound I had ever heard reproduced next to live.Sitting mesmerized in a sound-drunken state, I officially became a true audiophile.
Sherod (Threads | Answers | This Thread)

11-18-02 I still miss those. Brunhilde

11-18-02 Proac response 3.5's powered by a spectral dma 180 and spect ... Dma

11-19-02 Hi cody, i will never forget when i combined my system with ... Brulee

11-19-02 Emc-1 mkii; verity audio parsifal encores, front-firing; aud ... Subaruguru

11-20-02 Two....the first experience was when i was about 17 or 18 ye ... Rwd

11-21-02 Herron audio mc phono pre-amp. goose bumps! Consttraveler

11-21-02 Jadis ja 200's Loki1957

11-21-02 Apogee scintilla. the first time i heard one i was convinced ... Muralman1

11-22-02 it was 1988 in montreal mirage m1 with classe amp,preamp,do ... Betcha

11-23-02 Nestorovic system 12 in mile's basement. i traveled to seat ... Flip

11-23-02 My top 'knocked out on first listen' would have to be a few ... Mikelavigne

11-23-02 Which components knocked me out on the first listen??? well ... Chaskelljr2001

11-23-02 Over the years i've had many "knocks-me-out" up gr ... Avguygeorge

11-24-02 Apogee duettas. in the mid-80's i heard these at a denver d ... Kleech

11-24-02 Jeez.. mike.. you make it sound so appetizing and makes one ... Mzn50

11-26-02 Flip, i will second the nestorovic system. both the type 4' ... Crp

12-06-02 Krell power amps way back when with b&w 801's cooking. also ... Bigkidz

12-08-02 I have to second the nestorovic type 4 speakers. made by mil ... Bin

12-08-02 Hms cables Snook2

12-08-02 My meridian 568. absolutely breathtaking. Johnmcelfresh

12-11-02 I had actually heard the later ones, the 63's first. unfortu ... Lou_3rd

12-13-02 Pair of cary monoblocks driving swan speakers. front end was ... gzzygiz@

12-18-02 Hill plasmatronics C1ferrari

12-27-02 My first encounter with tubes was with an old leak stereo 20 ... Rooze

12-29-02 Jbl 150a's hooked up to a hafler 500 power amp and a 110 pre ... Zilla

01-26-03 http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1043544749&op ... Tok20000

05-09-03 The first high end system i heard was a sota saphire with a ... Paulb

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