What's your favourite hi-fi separates brand and why?

[plastic penguin]

I think Leema are hard to beat at their respective price points: amps and phono stages are superb. Not heard their CDPs or now defunct speakers.

Pity more people haven't heard the brand.

 

[Al ears]

I think Leema are hard to beat at their respective price points: amps and phono stages are superb. Not heard their CDPs or now defunct speakers.

Pity more people haven't heard the brand.

I would agree.
And they are Welsh!....
Speakers, like many amp manufacturers, were obviously not well accepted.
Stick to what you're good at would be my advice. Too many good companies have disappeared when they tried to diversify too far.

 

[plastic penguin]

I would agree.
And they are Welsh!....
Speakers, like many amp manufacturers, were obviously not well accepted.
Stick to what you're good at would be my advice. Too many good companies have disappeared when they tried to diversify too far.

Indeed. When Rega is mentioned I often think turntables.

Odd thing about Leema is they started out making speakers, as both Lee Taylor and Mallory Nichols were sound engineers at the Beeb, yet their amps have taken the limelight.

Funny old game, Saint.

 

[matthewpianist]

Mine is LEAK, or perhaps more fairly IAG. I love the LEAK CDT and Stereo 130, and have come back to them after having trying nearly everything competing with them. Beautifully made, a good balance of features and outstanding sound quality, all with big retro appeal.

IAG products are very well thought out and always beautifully packaged - something that quite a few manufacturers don't do well enough. IAG have also done a brilliant job of sharing technology across their brands whilst successfully maintaining the historic characteristics of those brands. I've had experience of Wharfedale, Mission, QUAD, Audiolab and LEAK products under IAG's ownership and its an incredibly strong portfolio.

 

[nopiano]

Favourite across all their products: ATC
Favourite I no longer own: Krell
The favourite I still own: Sonus faber
Favourite (mostly) affordable brand: Marantz
Favourite I’ll probably never own: Wilson Audio

All because of their sound and engineering prowess.

 

[Al ears]

Favourite across all their products: ATC
Favourite I no longer own: Krell
The favourite I still own: Sonus faber
Favourite (mostly) affordable brand: Marantz
Favourite I’ll probably never own: Wilson Audio

All because of their sound and engineering prowess.

I would certainly agree with Wilson Audio, always fancied their Duette 2

 

[Whato what what]

Mine is LEAK, or perhaps more fairly IAG. I love the LEAK CDT and Stereo 130, and have come back to them after having trying nearly everything competing with them. Beautifully made, a good balance of features and outstanding sound quality, all with big retro appeal.

IAG products are very well thought out and always beautifully packaged - something that quite a few manufacturers don't do well enough. IAG have also done a brilliant job of sharing technology across their brands whilst successfully maintaining the historic characteristics of those brands. I've had experience of Wharfedale, Mission, QUAD, Audiolab and LEAK products under IAG's ownership and its an incredibly strong portfolio.

I have a Stereo 20 and have to say it is one of the most astonishing amps I've ever owned or heard.

Despite being now 60 years old there is nothing I've heard which is better. Different presentationally, yes, but better, no. We really haven't advanced all that far when an amp of this age sounds so amazing even compared against modern amplifiers.

Leak have the beautiful ability to remove themselves and all that's left is music. Nothing else in the room, but an artist and a song and you. Just heaven.

 

[matthewpianist]

I have a Stereo 20 and have to say it is one of the most astonishing amps I've ever owned or heard.

Despite being now 60 years old there is nothing I've heard which is better. Different presentationally, yes, but better, no. We really haven't advanced all that far when an amp of this age sounds so amazing even compared against modern amplifiers.

Leak have the beautiful ability to remove themselves and all that's left is music. Nothing else in the room, but an artist and a song and you. Just heaven.

The nice thing is that IAG has respected those qualities found in the original LEAK designs, despite being thoroughly modern inside those vintage looking cases. Your description of the Stereo 20 fits my experience of the Stereo 130 very well.

When I was studying for A-level music back in the 90s, we listened to set works on vinyl using a Garrard 401 turntable with LEAK Stereo 20 amplifier, and it was always a wonderful experience. That has always stuck with me, and was part of my attraction to the new LEAK products when they were first announced.

On the subject of progress, I have a little Sansui AU-2200 integrated from 1975, and it sounds as good as any recent/current affordable amp that I've heard.

 

[JoeSoap]

Naim Audio. Top of the game for decades and still doing it well.

For real world budgets, Rega. Same reasoning as Naim Audio.

 

[record_spot]

Cambridge Audio, Acoustic Energy, AVI, Kenwood, Sansui, Thorens, Fisual, Sony.