Game changing kit.....

[matt49]

Duplicate

 

[steve_1979]

The Sonos ZP80/90: highly innovative MESH networking, and a GUI that was a doddle to use. This made high quality streaming a reality regardless of budget.

Good call.

Sonos was definitly a game changer regarding their streaming and networking abilities. These things were possible to do before but in the same way that Apple made downloading and playing digital music easy with the iPod/iTunes Sonos made it easy for the non computer geek to achieve streaming and networking. They did so in such a simple and polished way. It's another case of evolution and refinement of an existing technology making a game changing product.

I'd also say that the Logitech Squeezebox Touch was a minor game changer regarding streaming and playing digital music files too.

 

[plastic penguin]

I know I'll get slaughtered - IMHO, the bass on the Pulse is sublime. Within the £2k integrated bracket I've not heard such control. (But haven't heard all sub-£2k integrateds).

 

[CnoEvil]

I know I'll get slaughtered - IMHO, the bass on the Pulse is sublime. Within the £2k integrated bracket I've not heard such control. (But haven't heard all sub-£2k integrateds).

:silenced:

 

[chebby]

BBC LS3/5A.

Nothing revolutionary about them, if each element is looked at indvidually (KEF drivers, infinite baffle, beech ply, thin-wall etc.). They were just an in-house mini monitor designed specifically for outside broadcast vans and small radio studios.

However, they have taken on a life (and legend) of their own since then and a number of companies still make derivations/evolutions. (Spendor, Harbeth, Stirling Broadcast etc.)

Even KEF were at pains to point out the LS3/5A 'legacy' when they launched their LS50s.

For many years they were held as some kind of 'benchmark' for other 2-way bookshelf speakers. (Even Linn Kans were a nod towards the LS3/5As.)

Originals still fetch big prices on ebay.

It is pretty unique (due to the BBC licensing of the design) that models made by Chartwell, RAM, Rogers, Spendor, Harbeth, Goodmans et al were all identical in materials, build, drivers, crossover elements, grille cloth etc. (Everything but veneer and badge.) The idea was that the BBC could buy from any of the companies and use any two (or very often just one) and they should all sound and measure the same as any other.

Many here will object to my nominating them, but I think they qualify.

 

[chebby]

And this of course...

The first ones were marketed as the 'Richard Allan A21' in 1968, but after a few months their manufacturer started making them with his own name on the front.

And they are still making them.

 

[plastic penguin]

I know I'll get slaughtered - IMHO, the bass on the Pulse is sublime. Within the £2k integrated bracket I've not heard such control. (But haven't heard all sub-£2k integrateds).

:silenced:

That's okay - far better than I expected.

Sure the Leema doesn't have the sublime midrange or the sweet top-end of a flagship Arcam 2-channel, but the Leema's bass is incredible. Hence why speaker and source matching is so important.

 

[Electro]

A little predictable coming from me but very much a game changer in amplifier design .

The original Electro 25 watt " 2 Channel Audio Power Amplifier " designed by Dr Matti Otala and Jan Lohstroh in conjuction with Per Abrahamsen and others .

Some info and history about how it came about .

http://www.hifinews.co.uk/news/article/electrocompaniet-%27electro%27--v...

 

[Al ears]

I'd add on the Colorfly C4 Pro. It certainly changed the way I listen to music on the move and has recently spawned a whole new list of similar machines, from the likes of Astell & Kern et al.

Game changing kit I've never heard of.......must be my age, and luddite status with all things technical. :doh:

I know what you mean, as I'm getting on a bit!

Consider it a hi-res version of a Walkman Pro WM-D6C, a player / DAC and you will not go far wrong.

http://www.colorfly.eu/product_index.html

 

[Al ears]

A little predictable coming from me but very much a game changer in amplifier design .

The original Electro 25 watt " 2 Channel Audio Power Amplifier " designed by Dr Matti Otala and Jan Lohstroh in conjuction with Per Abrahamsen and others .

Some info and history about how it came about .

http://www.hifinews.co.uk/news/article/electrocompaniet-%27electro%27--v...

Agree, should surely be added to the list.

 

[CnoEvil]

And this of course...

The first ones were marketed as the 'Richard Allan A21' in 1968, but after a few months their manufacturer started making them with his own name on the front.

And they are still making them.

What with this and the LS3/5A, we're not miles apart in our thinking.

 

[chebby]

What with this and the LS3/5A, we're not miles apart in our thinking.

Sorry about duplicates from your list, I hadn't read all of it apart from the bit about SL6 tweeters.

 

[CnoEvil]

What with this and the LS3/5A, we're not miles apart in our thinking.

Sorry about duplicates from your list, I hadn't read all of it apart from the bit about SL6 tweeters.

You are making a better case for them than I was, so feel free to carry on.

 

[mikeparker59]

What about the change from shellac 78's to Vinyl 33 1/3?? with the component being the change from metal needly to sapphire or diamond stylus?

 

[CnoEvil]

What about the change from shellac 78's to Vinyl 33 1/3?? with the component being the change from metal needly to sapphire or diamond stylus?

Hmmm, not sure about that.......I think you are going to have to nominate a TT, and not just a little bit of one.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Pioneer A-400, F-91, F-93, PD-91

ATC SCM50A SL, original & super Soft Dome mid range drive units

Naim Nait 2 (olive), NAP250 (olive), CDX/XPS MK1

Pioneer Kuro

Marantz CD65 MK2 SE, CD94, PM94

Yamaha Cinema DSP, CX-A5000

Monitor Audio Platinum C-CAM Ribbon HF unit, Focal Beryllium HF unit and ATC SH25-76 HF unit

JL Audio Fathom f212

Sony Wega, SCD-1

Pink Triangle Ordinal and DaCapo

Krell FPB Series of power amplifiers

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[mikeparker59]

What about the change from shellac 78's to Vinyl 33 1/3?? with the component being the change from metal needly to sapphire or diamond stylus?

Hmmm, not sure about that.......I think you are going to have to nominate a TT, and not just a little bit of one.

I was thinking of the change from scratchy mono to the relative quietness of vinyl and the further development of stereo following the adoption of vinyl.

 

[CnoEvil]

I was thinking of the change from scratchy mono to the relative quietness of vinyl and the further development of stereo following the adoption of vinyl.

I know you were, but that's an evolution of format rather than of kit......though I take your point.

 

[plastic penguin]

Pioneer A-400, F-91, F-93, PD-91

ATC SCM50A SL, original & super Soft Dome mid range drive units

Naim Nait 2 (olive), NAP250 (olive), CDX/XPS MK1

Pioneer Kuro

Marantz CD65 MK2 SE, CD94, PM94

Yamaha Cinema DSP, CX-A5000

Monitor Audio Platinum C-CAM Ribbon HF unit, Focal Beryllium HF unit and ATC SH25-76 HF unit

JL Audio Fathom f212

Sony Wega, SCD-1

Pink Triangle Ordinal and DaCapo

Krell FPB Series of power amplifiers

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

Cno should've mentioned: Dealers not included.

 

[MUSICRAFT]

Pioneer A-400, F-91, F-93, PD-91

ATC SCM50A SL, original & super Soft Dome mid range drive units

Naim Nait 2 (olive), NAP250 (olive), CDX/XPS MK1

Pioneer Kuro

Marantz CD65 MK2 SE, CD94, PM94

Yamaha Cinema DSP, CX-A5000

Monitor Audio Platinum C-CAM Ribbon HF unit, Focal Beryllium HF unit and ATC SH25-76 HF unit

JL Audio Fathom f212

Sony Wega, SCD-1

Pink Triangle Ordinal and DaCapo

Krell FPB Series of power amplifiers

Thanks

Rick @ Musicraft

Cno should've mentioned: Dealers not included.

Hi plastic penguin

Most of the list of components are no longer in production and from some manufacturers that we don't deal or have even dealt with. Hopefully this shouldn't be a concern

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[DocG]

I think the introduction of DSP for speaker and room correction was a (recent) important step. Maybe the BeoLab 5 is a good candidate, with its fully automated room adaptation protocol. Or the Lyngdorf RoomPerfect module.

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi plastic penguin

Most of the list of components are no longer in production and from some manufacturers that we don't deal with. Hopefully this shouldn't be a concern

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

All entrants are welcome.....although a little justification of why the nominations are worthy of "game changing" status, would be even better.

 

[Jim-W]

I don't think the Quad current dumpers such as the 405, 306 ever changed any games but ,in terms of sheer ingenuity, I think they deserve an honourable mention. They were heavily patented by Quad in the mid 1970's and thus any copycat amps were thwarted. Even the Quad utilitarian and compact design deserves a mention. I think Peter Walker and Quad were very typically British, ie a bit bonkers, if I might stereeotype and for thinking outside the box, no pun intended, they deserve credit. I know the preamps get some stick, but the amps, given a decent input, can sound airy, spacious and erm just right. Quad have their detractors, but I'm a huge fan.

The LP12 certainly changed the game at the time, controversy raged later.

I think Pro-ject and Rega both deserve a mention for showing just how good a budget turntable could sound.

The early budget Marantz CD players showed the way too.

 

[CnoEvil]

The LP12 certainly changed the game at the time, controversy raged later.

It was a great deck (I owned one), but was it really that much better than the likes of Pink Triangle, Michell Gyrodec, Townshend Rock and Roksan Xerxes etc?

 

[Jim-W]

The LP12 certainly changed the game at the time, controversy raged later.

It was a great deck (I owned one), but was it really that much better than the likes of Pink Triangle, Michell Gyrodec, Townshend Rock and Roksan Xerxes etc?

I've no idea if it's better than those decks tbh; only heard a Gyrodeck. I wasn't trying to suggest it was the best turntable, unlike Linn!, but in terms of the splash it made at the time, Linn's claim or fans' claim that it was the best turntable in the world, must have forced others to up their game or at least market their products more competitively. I think in that way, it changed the game ie the way it affected the market. I'm going to whisper this very quietly: I actually prefer the Axis.