Most eye opening audio purchase in the last few years?

**jadedavid** · October 20, 2016, 04:07 PM

Thought it would be interesting to hear from others that have added that one special piece of audio gear that has transformed their system.
Mine was a Lampizator DAC.
While most of my upgrades in equipment have truly been upgrades (instead of disappointments) the insertion of a Lampizator DAC was truly a game changer in my system.
What was it in your system that truly made you sit up and say WOW?

**Kuoppis** · October 20, 2016, 04:09 PM

Nice question: Just recently bought the Grandinote Celio phono stage. I think it is a remarkable product, especially for the money.

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**CPP** · October 20, 2016, 05:16 PM

Lumin, it just does music right

**Mike** · October 20, 2016, 05:44 PM

My Avantgarde's.

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**joeinid** · October 20, 2016, 07:29 PM

For me, the Ayre MXR-20's did the trick. Love them.

**BlueFox** · October 20, 2016, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by jadedavid

What was it in your system that truly made you sit up and say WOW?

I probably did that for every piece in my current stereo, and that includes power, and cables.

Originally Posted by CPP

Lumin, it just does music right

Yes. I got mine about 2 years ago, and I have had zero urge to upgrade or buy something new since then. I just listen to music now.

**Dpod4** · October 20, 2016, 07:51 PM

The one that took me by surprise from eye opening perspective was goldfinger statement v2 cartridge going on spiral groove sg1.2 table. Didn't realize vinyl could sound so transparent and open and big. Second equally big but less surprising was switching to Maggie 20.7. Kept trying to get box speakers that sounded like Maggie's. Easier path was just to just buy the Maggie's.

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**astrotoy** · October 21, 2016, 03:20 AM

My reel to reel tapes (400 reels 15ips 2track, including 72 1/2" tapes) and R2R tape recorder and tape prepro. (Newest one is an Ampex ATR102 with a Doshi 3.0 tape prepro). Second place is a now 15 year old Pacific Microsonics Model Two ADAC.

Larry

**a.wayne** · October 21, 2016, 04:01 AM

400 reels ..!!!! Wow storage and up keep must be a task ....

**bzr** · October 21, 2016, 05:08 AM

2013 Soulution 520 preamp, 2014 2 Wilson Benecsh Infrasonic Generators, 2016 Aria 2 server.

**burau34** · October 21, 2016, 06:19 AM

Ypsilon Aelius mkii and Raidho D3

Tapatalk kullanarak iPhone aracılığıyla gönderildi

**hifidelitea** · October 21, 2016, 06:30 AM

CH Precision C1 and D1, Shunyata Sigma power cords , Gryphon VIP Reference power cords and Interconnects.

**Dguitarnut** · October 21, 2016, 07:28 AM

Sennheisers HD-800 headphones which got me back in this hobby. I remembered what I was missing...........

**still-one** · October 21, 2016, 08:32 AM

The Denali.

**Alpinist** · October 21, 2016, 09:01 AM

Vandersteen 7 Mk2 speaker and M7-HPA monoblock combo. It changed my listening world.

Ken

**jdandy** · October 21, 2016, 10:18 AM

Esoteric K-03 CD/SACD/DAC in the studio system. Like it so much I bought a second one for the living room system. Not only is the transport heavenly to listen to, digital sources through the DAC are remarkable. Color me a happy camper.

**harri** · October 21, 2016, 10:33 AM

MSB. Revolution in digital. I always thought that analog LP has an advantage, but now I am not sure anymore.

**the professor** · October 21, 2016, 10:41 AM

Tape deck

**Bachtoven** · October 21, 2016, 12:59 PM

PrimaLuna Premium Dialogue HP amp. I've always owned solid state amps, but this tube amp has made such a massive improvement in the realism of my system.

**Jim Smith** · October 21, 2016, 01:00 PM

Western Electric speaker cable.

**asindc** · October 21, 2016, 02:20 PM

Going from Martin Logan Vantages to Martin Logan Spires. Much bigger jump in sound quality than I imagined.

**bzr** · October 21, 2016, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Jim Smith

Western Electric speaker cable.

Jim, does it have that vintage sound about it?

**still-one** · October 21, 2016, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by Alpinist

Vandersteen 7 Mk2 speaker and M7-HPA monoblock combo. It changed my listening world.

Ken

I heard those for the first time at RMAF a couple of weeks ago. Very, very good.

**kimurastanley** · October 21, 2016, 05:03 PM

ASI liveline grand stereo and preamp

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**kzhtoo** · October 21, 2016, 06:19 PM

Magico S3 and Ayre KX-R.

**FDPDK** · October 23, 2016, 02:46 PM

came from a Bluesound Node, and to Lumin T1, what an amazing difference.

**Jim Smith** · October 23, 2016, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by bzr

Jim, does it have that vintage sound about it?

LOL!!

Exceedingly involving musically, for between 10 to over 100 times less than 'audiophile-approved' cables.

IMO, they do require relatively high efficiency speakers to do their thing...

**Jazzhead** · October 24, 2016, 01:12 AM

Trinity DAC / pre ... Great great combo !

**tube-vds** · October 24, 2016, 02:30 AM

my turntable and buying records.

after many years of (digital) frustration, now I have fun again in hearing music from my hifi.

**XV-1** · October 24, 2016, 07:41 AM

Simple. Thales Simplicity II tonearm.

Provides life, transparency, purity and tangential tracking. Huge step up from the Graham Phantom in every respect.

**bzr** · October 24, 2016, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by XV-1

Simple. Thales Simplicity II tonearm.

Provides life, transparency, purity and tangential tracking. Huge step up from the Graham Phantom in every respect.

I knew you liked it but didn't realise it was that good.

**XV-1** · October 25, 2016, 03:46 AM

Originally Posted by bzr

I knew you liked it but didn't realise it was that good.

It sure is Kev. Quite a few Airforce One users out there.

I would love to hear one on a AF2, NVA or Kronos

**Melbguy1** · October 25, 2016, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by XV-1

Simple. Thales Simplicity II tonearm.

Provides life, transparency, purity and tangential tracking. Huge step up from the Graham Phantom in every respect.

The best tonearm i've ever heard is the Swedish Analog Technologies (SAT) tonearm. Just incredible insight into the recording, though not cheap! The Thales would offer a lot of musicality at a more approachable price. I also like the Reed tonearms.

**XV-1** · October 25, 2016, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by Melbguy1

The best tonearm i've ever heard is the Swedish Analog Technologies (SAT) tonearm. Just incredible insight into the recording, though not cheap! The Thales would offer a lot of musicality at a more approachable price. I also like the Reed tonearms.

I saw the SAT at this years hk hifi show.like a more massive sme. Way above my pay grade.

It would be an interesting comparison as the SAT still is a pivoting tonearm with the associated two null points and higher tracking error depending on alignment. The Thales is near tangential, with a maximum tracking error of 0.0006%.

**Melbguy1** · October 25, 2016, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by XV-1

I saw the SAT at this years hk hifi show.like a more massive sme. Way above my pay grade.

It would be an interesting comparison as the SAT still is a pivoting tonearm with the associated two null points and higher tracking error depending on alignment. The Thales is near tangential, with a maximum tracking error of 0.0006%.

The SAT arm sounded incredible on the AF1 I auditioned! That was an a-b comparison with a Graham Phantom Supreme arm w/ identical Air Tight Supreme carts. But yes, way above my pay grade as well. The Thales arm seems to offer great bang for the buck. I think i'd still have to have a 2nd Reed 3P arm with a nice Cocobolo arm for fun

.

**BruceLet** · October 25, 2016, 09:35 AM

Pass 350.8 amp. It brought my Salon 2s to a whole new level.

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