Lamms L2 Ref Preamp/Lamm M1.2 Ref Monos are awe-inspiring. So I bought them. The system consists of:
Lamm L2 Ref Preamp
Lamm M1.2 Ref Mono Amps (atop SRA VR-Series IsoBases)
Meitner MA-1 DAC
Meridian Sooloos Ensemble Music Server
Wilson Sasha ver. 1
Transparent Audio Ref ICs and Spkr cable
Transparent Ref XL IC between the Meitner and the L2 |
Kronos turntable. Simply music. Out of my budget, unfotunately. |
Kronos turntable. Simply music. Out of my budget, unfortunately. |
Back in 2002 I mentioned the Berning zh270 as the single component I purchased that knocked me out on first listen which is the reason I bought it. It still knocks me out 12 years later. It allows music to naturally happen without any distraction on how it sounds. |
Terrific Game Changer Experience from my memory:
Fidelity Research FR-64s (compared to Graham Phantom Supreme II)
Lamm LL2 (compared to Aesthetix Callisto Signature)
Lamm ML2.1 (compared to Atma-Sphre M-60 II.3)
Micro Seiki 5000 (compared to Kuzma Reference)
Takeda Miyabi (compared to Koetsu Coralstone)
Rowland Cadence with own BPS (compared to Klyne 7 Phono)
Signal Cable Silver Resolution (compared to Purist Audio Venustas) |
1970: ESS Transtatics, 1972: Magneplanars Tympani I-U's, 1974: Fulton Model J's. All speakers. |
I take it back! My number one knock-out was hearing a Decca cartridge for the first time. The immediacy, the presence, the dynamics, the color! Makes all other cartridges sound like pale ghostly apparitions. |
HiFiMAN HE-1000 planar magnetic headphones at Axpona. Astounding! Audiophile cliches are actually justified for these: "Game changers"
LISTEN to these if you ever get the chance. |
1985, the Mati Otala Citation XX amp.
I had a tube mac amp at the time and it sounded as if you had removed some heavy moving blankets of the speakers. I still use it as a back up. |
The following gear along my 25 year journey as an audiophile have knocked me out..
- Infinity IRS-V's. Stunning in every way. Thunderous concert-level bass and ethereal "reach out and touch it" imaging across a vast sound stage. Simply awesome.
- Vitus SIA-025 integrated amp paired with a Vitus SCD-010, Siltech Royal Signature cables & Magico Q1's. Amazingly pure, analogue-like sound which sounded dynamic and mellifluous at the same time. That demo shocked me and directly led to me selling my old system. I'm happy to say the Vitus SCD-025Mk2 is much better than the old SCD-010.
- Magico S5's. They were the first speakers which brought back the same sense of awe and excitement as the Infinity IRS speakers. The S5's sound well balanced, coherent, a touch warm & have very good bass which has texture & inner detail. They are great "all rounders".
- Crystal Arabesque. I was blown away by the overall coherency, wide, even sound stage & natural sound of these speakers. The unique glass arabesque-shaped cabinet & superb RAAL 140-15D tweeters certainly helped. The RAAL is the fastest, most grainless and natural sounding tweeter I've ever heard. The Acapella TW 1S ion plasma tweeter is faster, but did not as natural to my ears. I'm looking forward to seeing how far along Magico have come with their new diamond-coated beryllium tweeter.
- Tech Das AF1 tt with Graham tonearm. The AF1 sounds very solid, velvety smooth & coherent. Resolution and dynamics of course are outstanding, as are its build quality and industrial design. To sum up: One of best designed and looking decks ever made. Natural sound which draws you in and makes you want to listen. |
Spectral Audio amp and preamp comdo.
Took the glass right out of the "audio" window (not the glass ones). Cheers. Pete |
First McIntosh tubes...why am I frozen in place?
Heil AMT 1...the music sparkles!
Apogee Stages setup almost nearfild...where are they?
Hyperion 938 speakers...came back to their room five times. |
Over the years, the following products have been the ones that left the strongest lasting impressions on first listen:
Verdier La Platine
Genesis 300 speakers (at their current used prices, one of the best bargains in audio)
Counterpoint SA-9 / Magnum Opus
Siltech Emperor
Melbguy1's list isn't so bad either - love the TechDas AF1 and Infinity IRS V. |
|
Beveridge 2sw2 electrostatic speakers, back in the late 70's I believe. They were amazingly realistic sounding and unlike any other stereo reproduction I ever heard. They were responsible for getting me started on an endless almost 40 year old passion for high end audio gear. |
Me too Czarivey. I still have my Lambdas---they're keepers. |
Merrill audio Veritas monoblocks, no questions about. the most live like music that I ever hear.Tango |
Thiel CS 3.5 Loudspeakers.
Purchased used a couple of years ago right here on the 'Gon.
Drove to Massachsetts to get them, got em in the room, wired em up, fired up the system and before I could reach the chair I literally spun around in my tracks in amazement.
Maggies can can do that for you as well, and they have for me but I returned to the Thiels. |
