Brands you’ve admired, but never yet tried

**Mike** · June 15, 2018, 07:10 AM

What are some brands you’ve admired, but haven’t yet tried?

For me, it would be Conrad Johnson. Always been a fan. I’ve had a SS amp of theirs, but that doesn’t count.

**Music Fiend** · June 15, 2018, 07:44 AM

QUAD ESL speakers.

Very curious to listen to these as I love Maggies.

**Mike** · June 15, 2018, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Music Fiend

QUAD ESL speakers.

Very curious to listen to these as I love Maggies.

Ooh, yes. I must concur.

**Ritmo** · June 15, 2018, 07:50 AM

As I thought about this topic, frankly, not that many brands. Below is an updated list:

- Conrad Johnson - always liked their preamps
- CH Precision
- Quad - really like how they reproduce music, specially the piano
- MSB - tour de force digital
- Avantgarde - could be my last speaker, really
- Zellaton

**GSOphile** · June 15, 2018, 07:51 AM

MSB
Rockport

**aKnyght** · June 15, 2018, 07:52 AM

air tight, yamamoto, kurashima, thoress, and new entrant: bandwidth audio

**matt_zak** · June 15, 2018, 08:02 AM

Electronics: Shindo, Burmester & BAT
Speakers: MBL, Tannoy, Avantgarde

One of the best systems I've ever heard was BAT & Avantgarde.

**asindc** · June 15, 2018, 08:25 AM

Magnepan
Tidal
MBL
Koetsu

**rrwmd** · June 15, 2018, 08:42 AM

Gryphon
BAT
Conrad Johnson (though never cared for the champagne faceplates)
Tannoy
Magico

**Alpinist** · June 15, 2018, 09:04 AM

Components:
Dartzeel
Nagra
Conrad-Johnson
CH Precision

Speakers:
MBL
Rockport
Magico
YG Acoustics

Ken

**nc42acc** · June 15, 2018, 09:33 AM

Mike I think this should be.
"What brands have you lusted after but couldn't afford to try"

**CPP** · June 15, 2018, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by nc42acc

Mike I think this should be.
"What brands have you lusted after but couldn't afford to try"

I whole heartily agree. Most every brand listed Yes I have lusted after, but can't afford during these retirement years. Just higher priorities these days.

**jdandy** · June 15, 2018, 10:24 AM

Gryphon
Audio Research
Conrad Johnson
VAC

**Mechnutt** · June 15, 2018, 10:45 AM

Conrad Johnson tops on my list, although I too am not a fan of the champagne face plates.
Tidal Speakers
Bricasti DAC
MacIntosh
Quad ESL
Harbeth
Vinnie Rossi
Atma-Sphere I heard their preamp but not their amps
Wilson Speakers
Avantgarde

**KeithR** · June 15, 2018, 11:54 AM

Viva - I've wanted to try a Solista for over a decade, if not only for the looks.

**Kuoppis** · June 15, 2018, 01:34 PM

Not tried at home or owned:

Constellation
Baetis Audio
MBL
Lyra

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**Audiophilehi** · June 15, 2018, 10:49 PM

For me in no particular order and keeping it somewhat realistic:

Audio Research
Magnepan
VTL
VAC
Shunyata
B&W
Sonus Faber
Revel
Conrad Johnson
Cary

**UltraFast69** · June 15, 2018, 10:50 PM

MSB
Aavik
Tidal
Audio Research

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**BlueFox** · June 15, 2018, 11:23 PM

The only thing that might interest me are DACs. So that would be Berkeley, MSB, maybe Lampizator, but not really interested in 19th century tube technology. The thing holding me back is the Lumin works so great, and eliminates a digital IC, and a power cord. That is at least a $5K savings.

**KeithR** · June 16, 2018, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by BlueFox

The only thing that might interest me are DACs. So that would be Berkeley, MSB, maybe Lampizator, but not really interested in 19th century tube technology. The thing holding me back is the Lumin works so great, and eliminates a digital IC, and a power cord. That is at least a $5K savings.

MSB w/ renderer costs you $20 for an ethernet cable.

**BlueFox** · June 16, 2018, 12:40 AM

What. It doesn’t require a power cable or an interconnect cable to the transport?

**Mordante** · June 16, 2018, 04:14 AM

The list would be near endless

Turntables
Dr Feickert
Pluto
Reed

Carts
VdH
ZYX
Ikeda
Koetsu

Electronics
Zanden (A while back I heard Magico S5 mkII and Zanden Classic line amps, first time I really heard Magico speakers sound excellent)
Nagra
Gryphon
Vitus
Accuphase
Luxman
Kondo

Speakers
Wilson
Magico
Stenheim
Marten Design

I'm sure I'm forgetting many others. Most of these brands are well outside my price range. Some have no dealers near me etc.

**FDPDK** · June 16, 2018, 05:04 AM

Speakers.

Wilson Audio
Magico

Amp.

Audio Research
VAC
Boulder

DAC

Bricasti
MSB Select Dac II

Thats just what i had in mind right now.

**João Miguel** · June 16, 2018, 06:08 AM

Hi, new in the forum. For me it would be:

Amplification

VTL
PrimaLuna
Conrad Johnson
Gryphon
Audio Research
Pass Labs
Plinius

Speakers

Boenicke W11 or 13
Shahinian
Dynaudio Evidence
Wilson Audio

Digital

dCS
Veracity Audio

TT

WTL
Dynavector
Rega RP10

**a.wayne** · June 16, 2018, 07:08 AM

Constellation , Boulder, NAT, Lamm ....

**RDSChicago** · June 16, 2018, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by FDPDK

Speakers.

Wilson Audio
Magico

Amp.

Audio Research
VAC
Boulder

DAC

Bricasti
MSB Select Dac II

Thats just what i had in mind right now.

Flemming, interesting that you being in Europe are intrigued by our American brands while us here in the USA are often intrigued by your European brands, ie, Gryphon, Lampizator, Zellaton, Boenicke, CH Precision, Goldmund, Raidho etc. Maybe we find the brands from another continent more exotic than what’s made around the proverbial corner?

**Mike** · June 16, 2018, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by RDSChicago

Flemming, interesting that you being in Europe are intrigued by our American brands while us here in the USA are often intrigued by your European brands, ie, Gryphon, Lampizator, Zellaton, Boenicke, CH Precision, Goldmund, Raidho etc. Maybe we find the brands from another continent more exotic than what’s made around the proverbial corner?

Very well said. And I agree. It is indeed interesting.

**Kingsrule** · June 16, 2018, 09:31 AM

Cello Preformance II
DartZeel 468
SGM EVO Roon core

**Swisstrips** · June 16, 2018, 11:20 AM

Joe’s not allowed in this thread

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**cmalak** · June 16, 2018, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Swisstrips

Joe’s not allowed in this thread

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He wouldn’t be able to answer anyway as he’s tried every brand out there

**Sean** · June 16, 2018, 01:49 PM

Focal
Magico

Accuphase
Octave
D’Agostino
Conrad Johnson
Audio Research
Soulution
Pass

Transparent

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**Mordante** · June 16, 2018, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by RDSChicago

Flemming, interesting that you being in Europe are intrigued by our American brands while us here in the USA are often intrigued by your European brands, ie, Gryphon, Lampizator, Zellaton, Boenicke, CH Precision, Goldmund, Raidho etc. Maybe we find the brands from another continent more exotic than what’s made around the proverbial corner?

I have never understood the attraction of Lampizator. It is a top end brand without dealers. I understand that Schiit can do well without dealers most of the products are very affordable. Their cheapest DAC is close to €2500 and there is no way to try listen to it before you buy it. How can that work?

**Mike** · June 16, 2018, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Mordante

I have never understood the attraction of Lampizator. It is a top end brand without dealers. I understand that Schiit can do well without dealers most of the products are very affordable. Their cheapest DAC is close to €2500 and there is no way to try listen to it before you buy it. How can that work?

Ah hum....

https://suncoastaudio.com/product-tag/lampizator/

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**Mordante** · June 16, 2018, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Mike

Ah hum....

https://suncoastaudio.com/product-tag/lampizator/

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In Europe

**aKnyght** · June 17, 2018, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by aKnyght

air tight, yamamoto, kurashima, thoress, and new entrant: bandwidth audio

addendum: as long as the operative word here is try (not buy): kondo, ongaku 211 integrated.

**pdub** · June 17, 2018, 09:33 AM

Interesting ...no cable, rack, tweak or acoustic brands mentioned yet.

Except Transparent

**Penthouse-D** · June 17, 2018, 11:40 AM

Soulution, Constellation....

**tube-vds** · June 17, 2018, 11:54 AM

some of the old ones: tandberg, sansui, nakamichi, marantz...still love that old stuff.

**Pallen** · June 18, 2018, 06:07 PM

Art Loudspeakers (from Scotland)
Verity speakers
Boenicke speakers and isolation stands/racks
Zanden preamps
Conrad Johnson preamps
Thrax Phono Stage & Power amp
Dohmann Helix 2 Turntable
Viva Audio

**SuperDave** · June 18, 2018, 06:10 PM

Other than Magico, the rest of my list is difficult to properly demo.

Kondo
Koda
Magico
Tidal
Schnerzinger

**Sean** · June 20, 2018, 02:20 PM

Knocked ARC and Transparent off the list - impressed with their performance (and synergy). Those ARC 160M’s sound and look awesome.

Originally Posted by Sean

Focal
Magico

Accuphase
Octave
D’Agostino
Conrad Johnson
Audio Research
Soulution
Pass

Transparent

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**octadyndude** · June 20, 2018, 08:10 PM

Ha - I don't want to try anything. I've spent enough (yeah famous last words) but I really mean it this time

**octadyndude** · June 20, 2018, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by Sean

Knocked ARC and Transparent off the list - impressed with their performance (and synergy). Those ARC 160M’s sound and look awesome.

The Octave with black box or super black box is also super impressive.Biasing output tubes is super simple so hot glass swapping is never a problem. Add in all the protection features and it's really a bargain IMO.

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**Paul** · June 20, 2018, 08:23 PM

Whatever the brand my rich audiophile friend has ..... I.e Mike , Joe ,Jock etc

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**matt_zak** · July 4, 2018, 08:08 AM

Thinking about this more, here are some other companies I've always admired and would love to try someday (in no particular order):

Unison
T+A
Constellation
Rosso Fiorentino
Siltech
Nagra
FM Acoustics
Rockport
Dynaudio
Transparent

**asindc** · July 4, 2018, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by asindc

Magnepan
Tidal
MBL
Koetsu

TW Acustic
Raidho
Joseph Audio
Lyra

The lists above are of brands I have had significant listening experience with, just not in my own system.

Brands I haven’t heard much, if at all, but through reputation intrigue me:

Burmester
Gryphon
Constellation
D’Agostino
Ansuz
MSB
Air Tight

If a brand is not listed here, I’ve either owned it, heard it in my own system, or it doesn’t appeal to me for a number of different reasons.

**Kingrex** · July 4, 2018, 11:27 AM

I'm surprised at all the people mentioning CJ. It's good gear and affordable as used. I have seen the ET5 for $5k or so reciently. That's a good pre. Amps even less for SE models.

I also hear "I want to hear it first". That is a tough nut. A subject unto itself.

**puroagave** · July 4, 2018, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Kingrex

I'm surprised at all the people mentioning CJ. It's good gear and affordable as used. I have seen the ET5 for $5k or so reciently. That's a good pre. Amps even less for SE models.

I also hear "I want to hear it first". That is a tough nut. A subject unto itself.

i think its relative to when you entered this hobby, i've owned a half dozen CJ pieces including the Premier One and Seven preamp. Three decades ago CJ was a right of passage into audiophiledom and on the very short list if you wanted tube gear (ARC being the other).

Thread: Brands you’ve admired, but never yet tried