THe best HIFI component ever

[cse]

For me it has to be the ION OBELISK FM1 Tuner - amazing piece of kit that I still use everyday and is much better than any CD player I've ever owned, including currrent Densen 420. Does anybody know what happened to the company, or where you can buy their old kit? I think that they might have been Welsh.

 

[gregory]

leak stereo 20. getting expensive now though but a great amplifier, regreted selling it to finance my sons drumming so he better sort me one out when he makes it big.

 

[the record spot]

I'm going to nominate two:-

The Linn LP12 - not because it's a record deck but because of the underlying principle in the design objective; that the source item is the most important of all. That and a superb design which has more or less lasted to this day and which Linn still supports for the earliest models all the way up to the latest Majik 12.

My second choice would be arguably my favourite piece; the NAD3020 (or the 'A' version as I have). It brought a taste of audiophile quality for a low-budget price and its' lasting popularity amongst reviewers and owners alike is testament to the quality of the amp.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with both those products and couldn't have chosen better mystelf. I still have a NAD in a second system and it sings like a little bird.

 

[Anonymous]

Wharfedale E70 speakers. Late 70s sublime products. 93db efficiency - if any of you have ever heard any, please tell me!

 

[gpi]

In response to that, the start of the slippery slope into what we have now released on CD: music we can't listen to past 8 o'clock on the dial without it hurting our ears. And what happened to all those impressive promises of the media being indestructible etc? Good for scaring birds and coasters though.

 

[Anonymous]

The first magnetic cartridge, after using piezoelectric styli your whole life that would have been epic.

 

[Anonymous]

Sony minidisc player! Pretty cool device given the very awkward, ungainly CDman( uurrrrgh!). Shame it never took off (damn u mp3). i did like carrying those discs in my bag though - made me feel like a DJ............

A close 2nd - The 'sony dream machine' tuner/alarm clock

 

[Anonymous]

Quad 405 is a bit of a legend...

 

[gpi]

[quote user="fr0g"][quote user="gpi"]In response to that, the start of the slippery slope into what we have now released on CD: music we can't listen to past 8 o'clock on the dial without it hurting our ears. And what happened to all those impressive promises of the media being indestructible etc? Good for scaring birds and coasters though.

[/quote]
To be fair thats not the formats fault.
I also seem to remember owning some over comresssed, and overloud sounding 12" singles...[/quote]

Why did you buy those then?

I have a few 12" singles but they are a small part of my collection and of vinyl pressings in general. Anyway, let's not turn this into a vinyl v CD debate.

Garrard 301.

 

[Anonymous]

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="BigGuads"]

[/quote]

and not far behide.....

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="igglebert"]Quad 405 is a bit of a legend...[/quote]

I keep promising myself that one of these days I'm going to buy a Quad 33/303/FM3, and probably a decent used LP12, too...

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Andrew Everard"]
[quote user="igglebert"]Quad 405 is a bit of a legend...[/quote]

I keep promising myself that one of these days I'm going to buy a Quad 33/303/FM3, and probably a decent used LP12, too...
[/quote]
Get the 405-2 instead. In fact, if you look around you might find a couple that the BBC converted for mono use making a battered but smooth pairing!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Having heard both, I still quite fancy the 303.

 

[the record spot]

Must admit, having read a bit about the 33/303 combo, I'm up for a set of these as well; think one of the WHF competitor mags is very keen on tracking down old / vintage items and the Quad's ranked incredibly well. Pricewise, I think they're available - if they're in good order - for about £300 all in.

 

[Anonymous]

I've not heard the 303/33. What does it sound like compared to the 405/45? Is it more detailed?

 

[the record spot]

I hear the 33/303 is quite a warm and detailed listen; quite powerful too given its' age. OK, it's not going to trouble a Krell, but from memory the reviewer was quite surprised at how good the combo sounded (and I've never heard either alas so can't say how either sound!).

 

[Thaiman]

Personally I think "sound per pound" best hifi product is Marantz 63KI cd player. It will fit in to a system that cost four times as much and doesn't sound out of place.

 

[Anton90125]

Quad electrostatics speakers (original) or a Rogers A100 amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, I'm thinking (very funnily) of Project's turntables, because they seem to have introduced many new people to the ups (and big downs) of vinyl...good on you Henley!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Anton90125"]
Quad electrostatics speakers (original) or a Rogers A100 amp.

[/quote]

I have a Rogers A100, T100, T75II and MCP100 I love the amp to bits (very nice inbuilt phono stage)...

If it's got to be best ever I would have to say 2 things jump to my mind.

For Digital :- the combination of Pink Triangle Cardinal Transport, Da-Capo DAC and DC power supply for DAC. It is a very special combination (HDCD filter recommended)

For Analogue :- I always loved the Nottigham Analogue Hyperspace.

Other bits I rate some of the classic sugden class A amps or the Audio Inovations Valve stuff was really good at the price they sold.

John

 

[John Duncan]

Well dur

 

[John Duncan]

But less importantly, and for varying reasons: the Wharfedale Active Diamond (25 years before its time), the Rega Planar 3 and RB250, The B&W 802D, Michell Gyrodec, Proac Tablette Reference 8 Signature, Primare A30.1............

 

[gpi]

Preferably two of them.