Disappointments

@ghdprentice boy, do I hear you. First preamp to replace the preamp section of my Sansui 2000x receiver (just built my Ampzilla) was an ESS preamp- sound “as clear as light” with tons of feedback to give low distortion figures. Except it sounded sterile- thin and bright and edgy. This is when I realized that published distortion figures measured on a static signal meant nothing.

I then bought a Soundcraftsman PE2217 based on the Absolute Sound rave review. It was better despite poorer specs, but it had that grain that you describe. It was not terribly resolving either, and was two dimensional in imaging.

I then purchased a non-working Marantz Model 7, replaced the non working rectifier with a solid state rectifier bridge, replaced the electrolytic capacitors in the phono section, and replaced the paper capacitors with CDE molars, and the resistors in the signal path with metal film resistors, and replaced the tubes with new Dutch Amperex tubes.

WHAT A TRANSFORMATION. Depth, image from wall to wall. Natural, liquid and more resolving to boot. Been a tube guy ever since!

CDE Mylars, stupid auto correct!

I can honestly say "no". The only time I felt I took a risk was with my Acoustat 1+1s. The room I was going to put them in was too short heightwise. So I cut the ceiling drywall between the floor joists above to form a "trough" in the ceiling. I then finished the edges with wood trim and resprayed the popcorn. Looked like it was a deliberate feature. Talk about your "room treatments". 

They sounded pretty good but it wasn’t until I added an RH Labs sub that they really took off. 

Happy listening.

Well, not so much showroom gear... but the places I deal with over sixty years, are better than I am at system design and give me the right to return non-performing stuff.  They know my standard is to hear a positive difference right away.  And generally, they sell systems at $250K and up.  That said, I've bought some stuff, usually unheard, like some cables and power cords, that left me feeling flat when put in use.  Never heard a difference with fuses either. 

@elliottbnewcombjr No seat belts back then.

And to keep this on topic the Flame Linear was a was a total letdown and meltdown.