In Reply to: highest value component in your system posted by gkirkos on May 5, 2015 at 09:31:17:
After owning "lower value" components that sound better, I no longer play the price=value=sonic-nirvana game. The lists below are far from complete as I've owned several more pieces over the years. These stand out in my mind.
Pricey pieces that I truly enjoyed that I would probably still own if I had my dedicated listening space:
- Spread Spectrum Technologies Ampzilla 2000 2nd Edition Mono blocks
- Manley Neo-Classic 250 EL34 Vacuum Tube Mono blocks
- Pass Labs X150.5 Stereo Amp
- Krell KSA-50S Stereo Amp
- Cary SLP-05 Vacuum Tube Linestage*
- Pass Labs XP-10 Linestage
- Aesthetix Calypso & Calypso Signature Linestage
*Best sounding linestage I have ever had the pleasure of owning.
Pricey pieces that I replaced with lower cost items that sound much better to me:
- CJ Premier 11a tube amp -> [AES/Cary SixPac Mono blocks]
- Aesthetix Rhea phono -> [Rogue Ares phono or PS Audio GCPH phono]
- ARC VSi-60 Integrated amp -> [Rogue Cronus Magnum Integrated or Ayre AX-7e Integrated]
- Luxman DA-06 DAC -> [PS Audio NuWave DAC or Oppo HA-1 DAC]
- Wavelength USB Brick DAC v3 -> [PS Audio NuWave DAC or Oppo HA-1 DAC]
My list of over priced complete duds. Not for me:
- Bryston 7BSST2 Mono blocks
- Mark Levinson 383 Integrated Amp
- Fanfare FT-1A Tuner
- Krell KAV-2250 Stereo Amp
My current downsized home office setup:
- Rogue Cronus Magnum KT120 vacuum tube integrated
- Ayre AX-7e solid-state integrated amp
- PS Audio NuWave DAC
- Oppo HA-1 DAC / headphone amp
- Mac Mini + Audirvana Plus music server
- iPad Remote Controller
- Tannoy Definition D500 Speakers
- Grado RS1e headphones
- Sennheiser HD650 headphones
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Follow Ups
- I no longer play the value=price game.... - AbeCollins 11:36:45 05/05/15 (2)
- RE: I no longer play the value=price game.... - mbnx01 11:42:39 05/05/15 (1)
- RE: I no longer play the value=price game.... - AbeCollins 16:21:44 05/05/15 (0)