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There may be others, but two come to mind:
Quad electrostatics -- How can any audio hobbyist in good standing never owned a pair? I remember decades ago being impressed by their natural musical presentation. But something always held me back -- lack of lower bass, not suited to the wide variety of music I listen to, poor reliability reputation (justified or not), and finicky component matching. That was first with the 57 ESL then with the 63. Some years later I heard the 2912 present one of the most realistic recorded jazz performances I've heard, but by then I was retired and they were priced beyond my budget.
Brown Electronic Labs amp -- The BEL amp is lesser known but held a strong reputation for years. Well, not with everyone who heard it. But as I came to learn too late, they could be sensitive to the load presented. Not that they might fail, but in terms of providing their top performance. Many who owned them claimed they really did combine tube-like sweetness with SS power and bass control.
At least I did hear several versions of Quad ESLs, I never heard the BEL so just remained curious about their many raves.
"The only cats worth anything are the cats who take chances. Sometimes I play things I never heard myself." Thelonious Monk
Follow Ups:
Tube amps:
Heathkit W6 monos, Marantz model 8B or 9 tube amps, Eico HF22 monos
Tannoy Speakers:
Westminster, GRF Autograph, Kingdom, Churchill "V"
I wish I'd kept my Sony MDR-R10 and Qualia 010 headphones.
And sometimes I wish my SOTA in gorgeous Koa wood (originally a Star III, now a Nova V) was a Cosmos.
NT
At least on rethinking that would be my #1.But thanks to everyone who responded. Many interesting answers.
"The only cats worth anything are the cats who take chances. Sometimes I play things I never heard myself." Thelonious Monk
Edits: 06/12/21
After hearing these speakers one night at an audio store, with The Beatles' "I Am The Walrus" playing really LOUD, I wanted them. At the time I was a starving student and then my starting salary wasn't conducive to buying them, so my dream never materialized. Probably a good thing because my hearing has been damaged enough as it is. :-)
Edits: 06/03/21
Phillips LHH1000 Two-box CD player.Theta DSPro III.
Legacy Audio Focus 20/20
Magnepan 3.6R
Edits: 06/01/21
Nt
plus modern DSP correction
audio research SP3 preamp and audio research D150 power amp . It was possible for me to buy them during the early 2000's to add to my audio research amp & preamp collection . But when I was able to sample they're REF gear , I slowly sold my collection to upgrade to their newer gear.As good as their vintage models were , the newer gears sounds better.
As a young man in the '70s I remember these could put on a party.
Would be fun to audition a restored set now.
when I was stationed in Japan early 80s the PX carried most of the Japanese brands: Nakamichi,Kenwood,Yamaha,Akai,Denon,Marantz- you name it.The Onkyo's with the big meter (M-5xx series) were always an eye catcher and sounded pretty good.
The Onks, Naks, Yammy's were always a bit out of my salary range so I settled with a Marantz and then later Sansui.
Edits: 05/30/21 05/31/21
well, i did own Rogers LS3/5As and wish i'd never sold them, but i would have loved to own Dahlquist DQ10s on stands driven by a Hafler 500.
i couldn't keep them but sold for a friend, a Randall Research modded pair with the aforementioned Hafler 500. THAT amp is the one to own...for me. the DQs actually made the best bass come out of those speakers that i ever heard. it did the same for my Fried Model RIIs.
...regards...tr
make it a point to hear one of the larger (seven to nine foot tall) Sound Lab models.
While they require power, they do not have to apologize for
bass nor output capability.
If you're really a power user, you can use them in arrays with their controlled directivity. Google "Ray Kimber RMAF Soundlab" to see the huge four channel
system he used to demo his recordings for many years.
Saw that system at Vegas CES one year but they were having problems and didn't get it operating right while I was in the room. A bit of a disappointment.
It was visually overwhelming!
"The only cats worth anything are the cats who take chances. Sometimes I play things I never heard myself." Thelonious Monk
If memory serves, they only used double 922s in that much smaller space.
A single pair of the steel framed 790s works well in my 26x15 room.
Hey E-Stat, I know you are a pretty savvy audio guy. So I was surprised to see you apparently have your turntable in that small alcove in the front wall between your speakers.
Isn't that space subject to heavy build up of bass waves? I had my turntable on a shelf within a 5' alcove. Initially it was at the far right where the arm and cartridge were close to one side wall. I discovered bass buildup near that sidewall so I moved the turntable to the mid-point along the shelf. That made a noticeable clean up of response with vinyl playback.
Your alcove is so narrow I wonder about that, and potential impact on the electronics there too, although that should be to a lesser degree.
"The only cats worth anything are the cats who take chances. Sometimes I play things I never heard myself." Thelonious Monk
with table in the dormer. There's also one at the far end of the room.The stats are angled and fire into the corners where a small forest of bass traps is found. The room's dimensions are close to the golden ratio and provide exceptionally linear response in the Schroeder frequencies. Placement was fine tuned via measurements. The massive spring suspended VPI isolation platform I've used since the 70s has also been very effective at its job.
Edits: 05/30/21
Garrard 301
SME Tonearm
Grace F9E
Citation II
Threshold FET 10
VOT
Altec VoT.
I always wanted a McIntosh tube amp, and managed a 240 some years ago. I haven't heard anything I like better, particularly with Wharfedale's.
They were all just a little before my own first interest in hi-fi -- I couldn't have afforded them any way. So sad.
Dmitri Shostakovich
I've never had a room large enough to do them justice. Otherwise I'd have found a way to own these wonderful speakers.
1970's - 1980'sPioneer, Kenwood, Marantz, Sansui, etc.
Edits: 05/28/21
First, I got a Sansui AU-717 to match my TU-717 tuner (both black, not silver). The AU-717 is a beast of an amp, and a real beauty. Then I got a Yamaha CA-810 and matching tuner, both silver-faced. Not as much power, a little sweeter sounding.
Then... oh, my. I stumbled onto a refurbished Luxman L-110, an amp that I had lusted after for years. Silver face-plate, beautiful rosewood case, a reputation for seriously high-end sound. I couldn't say no, and bought it on the spot. It's now the center of my office system, and I love it. Clear as a bell, super-detailed, sweet, punchy, expansive soundstage. Although almost 45 years old, it still sounds like a true audiophile amp. $995 list in 1978 is $4k today! It completely outclasses both the Sansui and the Yamaha in looks and sound quality. It's a classy beauty of an amp. I still have the other two, just for looks. My wife thinks I am becoming a hoarder.
Back when that was a current product I had to downsize my system. I didn't think much of Sansui but read a few good reviews in British mags. So I picked one up at a local discount house and matched it with a pair of used Maggies. With an inexpensive Rotel DD turntable and Shure cartridge that was a surprisingly good sounding budget system.
"The only cats worth anything are the cats who take chances. Sometimes I play things I never heard myself." Thelonious Monk
I Googled images for your Luxman L-110. Very nice! For me, I'm thinking more along the lines of a large Pioneer receiver like the The SX-1050/1080 or SX-1250/1280 or similar, but they're pricey now. Just dreaming!SX-1280:
Edits: 05/29/21
Never went down the receiver path.
My one and only Electrophonic T600 receiver was acquired in '70. That was followed two years later by an AR integrated and in another two years, moved to H-K Citation 11/Crown D-150. What I really wanted then was an SP-3a but was outside that teen's budget. Had to wait another seven years before acquiring an SP-6. :)
I had a late 1970's Kenwood integrated amp that was pretty decent. I bought it off a guy who was down on his luck so I got the package deal that included his JBL L-100 speakers.I don't recall the Kenwood model number but I loaned it to a friend while he was away at college and never got it back.
P.S. As you know, they reissued the old JBL L-100 speakers. I never thought the originals were that great.
Edits: 06/02/21 06/02/21
I must confess that what got me down the path to getting the Luxman was its looks! I saw one in a tech's shop and thought, man, that is one nice looking amp. Then, after lots of research, I convinced myself that I wanted one for the sound quality. (ahem) Fast forward several years, and I walked into my local tech's shop and, holy cow, he had just finished work on one and was putting it up for sale. I asked how much, thought about it for approximately 15 seconds, and bought it on the spot, even though my usual rule is: wait a day, and let reason prevail. Mostly, it does. In this case, I couldn't take the chance. ;)
When I worked at Take 5 Audio in CT we sold this arm with VPI, SOTA and Oracle tables. I've always wanted one.
Like others here, I've always wanted a pair of Tannoy's, but they are just too large. A roommate in college had a pair of Cheviots ...they were wonderful.
I'd take a pair of Allison Ones though.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
Link below:If memory serves - and I am getting older, that arm was fabricated by a British firm called KB Tools , which also made the Mission Mechanic and several other top of the line arms. Maybe the Alphason as well. Getting old.
Edits: 05/28/21
I just bought a new (quite old) table.
I think I'm done.
I hope I'm done.
I really want to be done.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
There's no virtue in being old,
it just takes a long time
Less than 10 pairs made. Was offered a home edition in walnut once but had neither the time to pick them up (3000m round trip twice) nor quite the money. I regret that now.
KP
I was also dreaming of the Quad ESL 63 after I listened to them in the early 80s. An then I did the best thing I ever did in my audio life: I bought a used pair for less then 1K Euro in Paris about 5 years ago! They work very well and - contrary to what many say - are not difficult to drive or to position. And the sound in the room is everywhere the same - there is no sweet spot whatsoever! I am happy....
In the UK we have the HiFI Wigwam show where members bring there own kit to a hotel for others to here. About 40 rooms of a large variety of kit. Standout speakers for me have always been Quads, single and stacked closely followed by classic, not modern, Tannoys
Edits: 05/28/21
I would have had so many better hours of listening to music
Bill
The Absolute center system!
Bill
"The Absolute center system!"
From what I remember, this turntable "centers" eccentric LPs.......
Yeah. It steadied the sound. Felt stable. All at a friend's, sadly not at my place.
Regards
Bill
nt
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Ah, sorry. "Closed loop" was a term we used often in the printing industry. So essentially a tightly calibrated system with predictable results.
Not uncommon for any company like Spectral to suggest using their components as a complete system, but once they aligned with MIT Cables for specific interconnect interfacing, it just got too proprietary and expensive for me.
So the newer products are out of my reach. But I wish I had the chance to try the older ones in home at the time. Not just listen at the dealer.
Cheers!
Jonesy
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Useless basically now especially where I livebut a Marantz 10B tuner. Just looking at the hand to hand wiring is beautiful enough to desire it.
And The IMF Monitor MK2, my first love of a super speaker. Hard to believe it only cost $2000 in the 70s which isn't much even with inflation today.
The latest Infinity Reference System would be nice :)
Still, the best sounding digital source I've ever experienced.
The resale value of these items is insane......
By the way, I briefly had a BEL 1001 MkII amplifier..... I thought it was nothing special.
I own the poor man's version -- 215 DMT II.
"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields
Regardless of how pretty and sexy she is I would tell this lady to get her gritty shoe heels off my Tannoys.
I dream of an America where a chicken can cross the road without having it's motives questioned.
I wasn't even aware of those- probably way out of my price range, but I would take that whole package.
Klipschorns
Eggleston works andra 1
Or the Mirage M1si
Had ability to purchase the Andra from Audio Consultants but went in a different direction.
Also the M3si but chose my OM 6 with no regrets.
Ive got most of my wants covered otherwise.
Regards,
/// Tim W. ///
Two components I lusted for in the Seventies. Still do when it comes to the IMFs.
I would agree with you on the IMFs. I am actually very glad I got a Thorens 124 second hand in the 70s and never got an LP12. They appear to be primarily a pension scheme for Linn dealers. By not having one I've probably saved at least £40,000 over the years.
Mine would be sooooooo easy. Electro Voice Patricians or JBL Hartsfields, or better yet, since we are dreaming, both please.
I would still love to hear a REL Precedent tuner
or a Day Sequera-
there are also a few TTs - Versa, SOTA...
lots of cartridges -
I could list some amps - but they are not that compelling to me
as for speakers - I have some Quad '57s and have heard the '63s - prefer the '57s and getting ready to tune up a pair for sale and a pair to keep - I think...
Would have loved to hear the IRS V....
but I am ok not...
Happy Listening
gifted from my Uncle when they needed big time repair and updating 40 years ago. I recently spent the last year dialing them in with 2 woofs and 2 subs xover below 100hz, no biamping and totally balanced top to bottom sitting in the sweet spot. I have EQ but it's usually flat and used only when appropriate.
I had pair of Acoustat 3's and sold them to a guy 30 years ago who loves them and still has 'em. Had some other planars too.
Usually anyone who has owned a system with stats will tell you there are many times that you become captured in the performance and the world melts away like it's suppose to. I've also had horns for years and they don't do it in the same way. They are long gone.
Thank you Peter Walker, THE MAN.
I wish they were better looking.
Gsquared
I have long regretted selling them when I did.
Dmitri Shostakovich
Not from that long ago... out of production... V.1 would have been nice, too... but never the space or moola...
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
I loved the sound of Quads too, but had many of the same reservations as you.
I solved all those by buying and restoring a pair of directly driven Acoustats. I plan to be buried with them.
Curious: did you ever compare them to Martin-Logans? I've never heard Acoustats.
I'd heard ML's a couple of times before I got the Acoustats. So long ago I couldn't tell you the models. They sounded really good, but at the time I was still deeply into my Vandys with Counterpoint amps, and wasn't seriously considering a change.
Not too long after hearing the MLs, I got hooked up with the gentleman that rebuilt my servo amps on these very boards. Discovered we weren't that far apart, him in OKC and me in DFW. I got several extended listening sessions with his personal Acoustat setup. After one of those sessions, on the drive home, I decided it was time to move on from the Vandys and into a pair of Monitor IVs.
Directly driven, full-range stats are a real treat. Plus, the Acoustat panels are virtually indestructible and last forever (possibly). My panels were made in 1980 and still as new. There's some pics in my gallery if you're interested.
Awe-inspiring system in a properly-sized room. If you're still in Dallas, I've come to know a fellow inmate who's also a Brisketeer...
I appreciate a good brisket as much as the next guy, but my real weakness is pork ribs. It's nearly impossible to throw a rock around here without hitting a bbq joint. The original source for John Madden's six-legged turkeys he used to award after the Thanks Giving Day games in Dallas every year came from a place right up the street from me. BBQ is everywhere.
I'd love to have a room for my Acoustats that was ~6' longer than what I have, but we make do with what we have. In many respects my setup is like listening to headphones without the headphones. Near-field listening to stats can be a very immersive experience.
If ever you're in the KC vicinity, shoot me an email. Many, many KC BBQ places are first-rate and all the best are pork meat providers. I tried Memphis, NC, GA, SC--- but the ribs 'round here are special.
I was in my "nervosa" state-of-mind so Pass amp called, then Accuphase, then Conrad-Johnson, etc. Loved them, too, but fecklessly.
Had a friend with the Quads. Enjoyed the sound, immensely, but that bass-shyness was a non-starter for me, though I otherwise enjoyed the sound. Later, I got Martin-Logans panels (w/dynamic woofers) and was a happy camper--- for a few years (Piega, Sonus Faber, Merlin, and others called).
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