What has been your most satisfying component?

Tivoli radio

My, Discwasher brush! I haven't kept anything, I had my Infinity RS 2.5s the longest, around 20 years.

Thanx, Russ

Can't say they have stood the test of time because one has been in my system for 14 months and the other only 6. But I have been looking for something this good and satisfying for a long long time. The most satisfying components are my TAD 2404 speakers - to my ears they are accurate, musical and detailed. And the second most satisfying is my Kinoshita HQS2500UPM power amp. Before the Kinoshita, I had not had a transistor amp for 20 years and the last amps I had were Audion silver transformered black gated prototypes built around the VV52B tube. They were great single-ended mono blocks but to my very great surprise, bettered in all departments by the Kinoshita. Since I have been blessed with these two items I listen nearly every day.

Happy listening!

My Wadia 861 CDP...
Upgraded by Great Northern Sound Company.
Makes CD's sound like really good vinyl.

I'm afraid you'll have to pry this one out of my
cold,dead,hands!

VPI CLASSIC!!!

Three years from my first response to this thread and I'm still using the Resolution Audio CD-50 and Meadowlark Audio Kestrels. Amazing with the amount of equipment churning through my system. There have quite a few, 10 maybe, others cdps trying to boot the CD-50 but nothing is as satisfying. As for the Kestrels, I really couldn't guess how many speakers, some very good ones too, have seen duty. Nothing has come close to the over all musicality these pieces bring to my room.

My Rogue Cronus Magnum. I thought I was going to have to sell my speakers until I bought the Rogue. Then there's my NAD C317 integrated that's my stand by.

At this point, I would have to say my DIY 3 way speakers.

Sold my paradigm s8 and wilson sophia after I built these speakers.

I'd cry if something happened to my nad 4020 Tuner. Great sensitivity, selectivity, rejection in a steel hi-rise condo notorious for poor signal. Fortunate to have 2 wonderful stations, 1 with folk/acoustic/blues in the morning and the other with mostly all-day classical programming.

My McCormack DNA 125

My room treatment acoustic devices, for sure, followed by
my Magnepans 20.1 replaced with Analysis Audio Amphitryon and 1993 built Nakamichi MB1000 Music Bank CD transport.

My Mcintosh C-22 when paired with one of my Mcintosh SS amps is awesome. C-22 cost alot but well worth the money spent.

Amendment to 10-28-08
Joule Electra VZN-160's are by far the most satisfying!!!

I bought a demo McCormack DNA225 and had Steve McCormack do his Platinum and ARC2 upgrades/mods (whatever you want to call it). The amp has exceptional sonics and has been very dependable (knock on wood!).
Sometimes think about a tube amp but would keep the DNA225 even if I got one.
Plus, Smc Audio was a pleasure to deal with.

I rarely buy new equipment....DAC...yes but I seem to be able to upgrade my equipment. So I have found I get more enjoyment doing that than creating a revolving door. I have had my speakers since 1980 and my Accuphase since 1975. The VAC Rennaissance is legendary...I just bought a pair of mono blocks. I started with NBS and just upgrade as funds allow. A good system that works for me.

A marantz 8B with m-o valve kt77's and rca clear tops in the driver stages. 16+ years now. I go to sea for a living, that's how my tubes last so long. Looking back, I paid $65 ea. for those outputs - wow, those were the days.

Audioquest Doubled Bi- Wired Volcano S/C added so much resolution, they not only upped the anti they changed the game.

Actually, I have two "landmark" components:
Philips MFB 544 active loudspeaker, 3 way, 3 inbuilt amplifiers, 10 inch woofer. Tonally correct, dynamic soundprint with ability to convery body and presence to music. No more hassle with matching speakers, amps and cables.
Apogee Rosetta AD/DA with firewire card. It is a wonderful dac able to compete with the best with added functionality to connection to PC, which would more than enough to justify its price alone. But its inbuilt AD converter and firewire card made possible to record onto my computer live classical music concerts broadcasted by local FM station. Direct live transmissions have something special feeling of live music and ability to convey the "being there" feeling.

Laugh all you want, but it's my old Pioneer 1250 receiver.

It has to be my Sunfire True subwoofer. I bought it for HT 10 years ago and everything else has changed at least once or twice but I've never considered swapping it out. Does its job perfectly and is visually unobtrusive.

Tonywinsc,
Couldn't be further from the truth, I do appreciate the tech part and it is easier to enjoy the music when the system is well put together, but it is the music that I am appreciating and not the equipment.We're on the same page.

Pedrillo, sounds like you are more into the tech than the music. Which is ok too. Anyone into Hifi is bogus if they say it is just for the music. I get into both the tech and music. But once I find a certain point of satisfaction, I forget about the tech and focus on the music. In the end that's what drives us, right?

My favorite times listening to music is not always in front of my stereo- and it is not at concerts. It is either at some of the blues clubs in Detroit and Nashville or just walking around cities in Europe and finding musicians and/or bands playing on the street.

My merlins, they just keep revealing all the upgrades in the sources and amps.
And in time I will include the atma-spheres I am sure!

One of my least expensive 'components' but most satisfying is a recent purchase of Harbeth M30's. For a bookshelf system- listening to classical, jazz, acoustic and vocal music, I think ( & hope) they've gotten me off the speaker 'merry-go-round'.

Switching from a Goldmund DAC to a DCS Delius and Pucell Upsampler was the most satisfying upgrade I have made because it addressed a lot of underlying issues with the source.

My Idler Driven Dual 1229 turntable, with Grace 747 Tonearm. I have had Aristons RD 11, Linn LP 12, and Thorens 126, nothing sounds like this Dual. Now, I never even consider looking at another turntable. I am set for life.
Oh, and I just love how 'suddenly' everyone is raving about rim drive turntables... when my audio budies all thought I was nuts for the last 30 years saying I thought they sounded better. They do.

Great thread.

I have to say it's been my SP Technology 3.0 speakers. I can now honestly stand up and say "I've heard it all".

I stepped into High End HiFi in the late 80's with some nice speakers that led to a used ARC preamp. By the early 90's I worked myself up to spend big $$$ on a Sota TT with an SME arm. I got the TT home and was shaking wondering what had possesed me to spend that much money on a record player. But once I set it up and played my first album I was estatic! All doubts vanished the moment that first record started playing. The clarity, detail and musical sound kept me listening for hours. 16 years later I am still enjoying my TT while everything else around it has changed twice.

Nutella, 19 months later, isn't it time to share?
Tvad (Threads | Answers)

What about you Tvad? :)

My secondary rig is three components I hope will last forever...so far so good. Pure analog bliss from the '70's. I'm hoping to pass it on to my son someday(he's 5 years old now).
Marantz 2238B receiver
Marantz 6300 turntable
a/d/s L620 speakers

Son of a gun, I reread my post written Jan 07, I'm still using the pieces listed. That is amazing.

Conrad Johnson PV-5 preamp. Is it rolled off at the f requency extremes? Yes. Does it sound like music, with depth and width to the soundstage? Yes. Does it allow the body and richness of instruments to come through? Yes. I only use it to listen to records with on my VPI turntable....the Wadia CD player goes straight through my Belles 350A amp. I've had the CJ since 1986, it was purchased from a dealer as a never-opened 1984 model.--Mrmitch

The Walker Audio Procenium Turntable, without any question. This turntable enhanced our enjoyment of our extensive vinyl collection more than any other change we've ever made to our system.
.

Toss up between my Linn LP12 w/lingo and Art Audio Carissa SET tube amp

Ridge Street Sason's bar none..

Next is my Audioprism Mantissa decked out with vcaps

I'm on record up there as loving my LP12 Lingo, but I have been unfaithful and the Sondek has left me. I have a Scheu now and I will keep it forever... yeah, right.

Still have my Klyne preamp, though.

Nutella, what say?

Nutella, 19 months later, isn't it time to share?

He can't get no satisfaction.

The component that has been in my system the longest is the pair of MC501 monoblocks. I just can't imagine ever needing/wanting to replace them.

The second longest component is my Platine Verdier. Again, don't know why I'd ever want a different TT from a performance point of view. Aesthetics...maybe.

Music Reference RM-10 tube amp. Has made me a very happy person after going through more than a couple amps. Sometimes less is more.

Resolution Audio CD-50, this player provides such detail it truly amazes me each time I play a well known cd on it for the first time. Listening to Jeff Buckley -- Grace now, and sure enough I'm hearing music that was missing before.
Meadowlark Audio Kestrel Hot Rods a close second. They're in the closet now but they are fantastic for what I paid for them.

Aesthetix IO! Not even close.

I would say the most satisfying has been a modded Jolida JD 100. I've had it for over 2 years -almost got rid of it before. Until I started adding better and more compatible amplication and speakers (that dreaded synergy thing) I did not realize that the Jolida could play this well. But like most, the quest goes on to optimize my system. I'm counting on receiving my upgraded Modwright 999ES and the addition of Xtreme Quicksilver Gold to fully realize how good the rest of the system can be. The Ouicksilver Gold on the tube pins of my Jolida by itself has taken the sonics of my system to another level. The Quicksilver Gold has bested the Walker Extreme SST in my system. I have no afilliation with any of these products, this is simply my experience in my system. A fellow I communicate with named Mark (1Markr) in Chicago (part of that Chicago group of audiophiles (Mark, Bon, of Bon Mod fame etc). who've had the legendary Modwright Sony,999ES and 9100 ES etc shootouts) recommended the Quicksilver Gold- you were right Mark!- it's the bomb Thanks.

My Linn LP12 Lingo. My once and future TT, through many upgrades. It has a Graham on it now with a Koetsu that's just breaking in. Gorgeous. And a hat tip to my Klyne SK-5A preamp.

okay, maybe the brain and ears are not audio components.

my favorite audio component was and still is the quad esl.

Can't say that they stood the test of time yet, but so far so good - ARC CD3MkII cd player and Pass Labs X250.5 amplifier.

The component that stood the test of time in my system was an ARC LS-15 preamp - almost 7 years!

I just acquired another Pass Aleph P, after having sold an original version right at 3 yrs ago. This is one of the last made (2/00) w/remote & it sounds better than I remember. I had the first one about 3 1/2 yrs. & only sold it to try other gear. I think this one will be a keeper regardless of other changes down the road.

my brain and my ears (is that 2 components ?). i don't need a component or stereo system to enjoy music.