What was your first high-end component ever?

Calvin

Calvin

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It's kind of interesting to follow someone else's audiophile journey from their first high-end component to the present day.

Mine began with a B&O Turntable system decades ago. This was safer than continuing to sneak time :ninja: on my father's McIntosh System (turntable, reel to reel, etc. - it was nice ...) when he was at work.

Some years later we went with a Krell Int with B&W 802s (in cherry) and a Sony ES SACD. A set of Grado Headphones joined the package as well. We had a few multi-channel systems thereafter that NEVER fully satisfied my two-channel craving ....

Now we're patiently waiting upon the delivery of another two-channel system.

Whether long or short, what's your audiophile journey been like?
 
Calvin said:
It's kind of interesting to follow someone else's audiophile journey from their first high-end component to the present day.

Mine began with a B&O Turntable system decades ago. This was safer than continuing to sneak time :ninja: on my father's McIntosh System (turntable, reel to reel, etc. - it was nice ...) when he was at work.

Some years later we went with a Krell Int with B&W 802s (in cherry) and a Sony ES SACD. A set of Grado Headphones joined the package as well. We had a few multi-channel systems thereafter that NEVER fully satisfied my two-channel craving ....

Now we're patiently waiting upon the delivery of another two-channel system.

Whether long or short, what's your audiophile journey been like?
Click to expand...

You asked from first component to present day. A whole system was the beginning, in 1990:

Cambridge CD-3 CD player
Stax SRM-T1 tube headphone amp
Stax 'Professional' electrostatic headphones
Siltech cables

One and a half years later, I switched to a speaker system, with then my third CD playback system (Meridian 602/606) and Audio Innovations Second Audio parallel push-pull triode monoblock amps, powering Ensemble Reference monitors. I kept the amps for 26 years (going through heavy modifications and supplement with BorderPatrol MB external power supplies) and the speakers for 25 years (re-foaming in 2005).

Development of my system:

CD playback:
Cambridge CD-3 > Meridian 208 > Meridian 602/606 > Wadia 8/12 (kept for about 20 years) > Berkeley Alpha DAC2 (with switching to Simaudio Moon 260 DT CD transport after the Wadia 8 gave up) > Schiit Yggdrasil DAC v1 > Schiit Yggdrasil DAC Analog 2

Amps:
Audio Innovations Second Audio monoblocks > Octave RE 320

Preamp:
diverse passives > Pass B1 (buffered) > Octave HP 700

Speakers (all monitors):
Ensemble Reference > Reference 3A MM DeCapo BE > Reference 3A Reflector

Subwoofers:
REL Storm III (purchased in 2000) > JL Audio F112v2

Cables:
Ensemble/Siltech/MIT > Monster Audio Sigma 2000 (IC/SC) > ZenWave Audio D4 interconnects / SMSG speaker cables (digital AES/EBU cable, MIT)

Room treatment:
Tube traps/ sound panels/ SubTrap, then window plugs, then ceiling diffusers (all ASC), absorbing panel from Acoustics First. Changing through diverse carpets.

***

Now I'm essentially done. While I have regular exposure to other kinds of systems, I will always remain a monitor/sub guy. I can hardly envision any more meaningful upgrades within this type of system that I have, except perhaps the DAC. Yet given how spectacularly it performs -- it really came into its own with the preamp upgrade --, there is no hurry, i.e. not within the next few years. Good on my wallet, I have other things to take care of. Don't be surprised if I have the same DAC five years from now, or longer.
 
Magnepan IIc, ca 1986 or thereabouts. Driven by a Bryston 3B and Kinergetics KDC-20 CDP, the one with a built in volume control--cutting edge digital for the day until the Cal Audio Labs tubed CD player debuted a few months later.
 
I had lots of lower end stuff including Dynaco-Heathkit-Hafler that my brother built. My first entry into HE was Hafler 945 and 9180 with Mirage M790s. Then I bought Dynaudio 82s, a Sound Valves 101i, and a Stratos+ amp.

I later lucked into my VAC-Counterpoint-Clearfield setup for a steal.

My first true HE purchase was my new Luxman I got 3 weeks ago.
 
New 25 watt MacIntosh MC225 that replaced a Dynakit amp. Circa 1960. No kidding!
Added a C20 pre-amp and a second speaker and a stereo cartridge so we could have stereo. My new wife footed the bill. Some time later I let her choose new speakers. She chose Roger's LS3/5a's which we had for 36 years. Our used Cotter preamp's power supply eventually got noisy after running 24/7 for 36 years. Mitch Cotter was right when he said his gear was built to NASA standards.

We paid $450 for the LS3/5a's and I sold them in an hour for $1K (could have got $2K). I bought the Cotter pre-amp used and not working. After repairing it and using it for 36 years I sold it for $1,000.

I lost my wife of 56 years recently and went crazy buying audio equipment. I didn't enjoy it so I sold off most of it and bought a modest Naim system. I did fall off the wagon when I bought a Naim ND555 streamer/DAC.
 
WOW those are some nice systems AI M.; puroagave; Shadowfax and Leatherneck. AI M. you seem to have the longest journey detailed so far. And Leatherneck with the system I’m fixing to receive I will be near the end of my journey as well – but do still intend to get some Magico M3s and higher end Shunyata cables and possibly a turntable setup – the boss and I are still discussing it. Purogave, Bryston is some very nice gear. The Maggies must sound incredible with them. And Shawdowfax, Luxman is incredible. Mike is delivering a Luxman D-08u SACD to me soon – hopefully real soon.

Time to go celebrate a birthday. Post later.
 
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Calvin said:
WOW those are some nice systems AI M.; puroagave; Shadowfax and Leatherneck. AI M. you seem to have the longest journey detailed so far. And Leatherneck with the system I’m fixing to receive I will be near the end of my journey as well – but do still intend to get some Magico M3s and higher end Shunyata cables and possibly a turntable setup – the boss and I are still discussing it. Purogave, Bryston is some very nice gear. The Maggies must sound incredible with them. And Shawdowfax, Luxman is incredible. Mike is delivering a Luxman D-08u SACD to me soon – hopefully real soon.

Time to go celebrate a birthday. Post later.
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I actually began in 1954 when I was a Marine going to a Navy electronics school on Treasure Island. I met sailors who were building their own audio amps. My wife and I bought the Mac gear in 1960.
I had Maggies with Bryston gear but my wife made me get rid of the Maggies, too big. I had always wanted some Naim gear back in the day and decided to finally give it a try by buying a Naim Supernait 1. I was so impressed, I sold off all my Bryston gear and went with Naim.
My dream system back in the day was Naim/Linn/Spendor. I now have Harbeth as my BBC thin wall monitors instead of Spendors.
 
Leatherneck said:
I actually began in 1954 when I was a Marine going to a Navy electronics school on Treasure Island. I met sailors who were building their own audio amps. My wife and I bought the Mac gear in 1960.
I had Maggies with Bryston gear but my wife made me get rid of the Maggies, too big. I had always wanted some Naim gear back in the day and decided to finally give it a try by buying a Naim Supernait 1. I was so impressed, I sold off all my Bryston gear and went with Naim. My dream system back in the day was Naim/Linn/Spendor. I now have Harbeth as my BBC thin wall monitors instead of Spendors.
Click to expand...

I still own a bevy of "chrome bumper" Naim gear from back in the day (Nait I, Nac-32.5, HiCap, NAP-90, NAP-110 and NAP-160) I've owned all of the classic Spendors (BC-1, BC-3, SP1/2, SP100 and 15 ohm LS3/5a) and I still own and use two LP12s. I've gone through my Harbeth phase as well, all good...life could be worse.:lol:
 
Leatherneck said:
I actually began in 1954 when I was a Marine going to a Navy electronics school on Treasure Island. I met sailors who were building their own audio amps. My wife and I bought the Mac gear in 1960.
I had Maggies with Bryston gear but my wife made me get rid of the Maggies, too big. I had always wanted some Naim gear back in the day and decided to finally give it a try by buying a Naim Supernait 1. I was so impressed, I sold off all my Bryston gear and went with Naim.
My dream system back in the day was Naim/Linn/Spendor. I now have Harbeth as my BBC thin wall monitors instead of Spendors.
Click to expand...

Naim is some very nice equipment. Mike and I discussed Naim when I was considering a new system. I know Mike really enjoys it. Admittedly though I've heard them spoken about often, I don't know much about Harbeth speakers.
 
My first "High End" piece was a Nakamichi deck, and then soon followed by KEF 104aB speakers, back in the '70s.
 
RGR model 5 power amp, citation 25 pre, Kef R105/3 speakers(speakers I kept 25 years). I went thru multiple combo's of amps and pre's before finding a Krell kav 300il really pulled the sound together.
 
puroagave said:
Magnepan IIc, ca 1986 or thereabouts. Driven by a Bryston 3B and Kinergetics KDC-20 CDP, the one with a built in volume control--cutting edge digital for the day until the Cal Audio Labs tubed CD player debuted a few months later.
Click to expand...

Mine was the predecessor to the Maggie II, the Maggie 2167-F (glad they changed the names of their models) bought almost a decade earlier. I probably still had my big Pioneer receiver and Dual turntable with Shure cartridge. The Maggies replaced my old AR-5 speakers bought when I first came to grad school in California (Go Bears!) in the late '60's.

The Maggies lasted until the end of 1979, when our daughter who was not quite a year old was beginning to learn to walk. One day, I heard a big crash. Our daughter had been trying to stand up using one of the panels of the Maggies for support and instead pulled it down. Fortunately, neither she (who is now 40) nor the Maggie were any the worse for wear. They were in the classifieds a couple of days later (remember those?) and replaced by some Thiels which had a much lower center of gravity.

Larry
 
Not exactly "high end" but I owned a 35 wpc Sylvania receiver and 2, 8" Sylvania "air suspension" speakers. A couple years later my parents purchased a 50 wpc Sylvania receiver and 2, 10" Sylvania "air suspension" speakers, for a HS graduation present. This was circa 1968.

Ten years later, after my wife and I were married, we purchased a much more high end system...Sansui AU 20000, 170 wpc integrated amp, 6-JBL L166 Horizon speakers (4- upstairs and 2-downstairs), manual DD Sansui TT with Stanton cartridge, Fisher cassette deck, Kenwood receiver, ADC programmable TT, Gerard click and pop remover, dbx 128 expander/compresser, Pioneer reel to reel tape machine.
 
There's some great systems being spoken about here. Small or large, and some maybe not rated as high end now, but all of us had a beginning - and at the time they were GREAT. Back in the day I had a Sony Walkman and thought I'd arrived...:scholar:

Keep the systems coming ...
 
My first higher end unit was Kenwood KA-3300D. Kenwood occasionally put out higher end gear, just to show they could, the 3300 series was such a series with matching tuner (only FM) and CDP, I acquired all 3 eventually. To my knowledge this KA-3300 was the first integrated amp to feature a built in DAC, circa late 80's.

Prior to that my financial situation kept me to only receivers.

With the 3300 series I bought Infinity Kappa 7's.

I did keep that for some years but the love of hi fi and having some money, or, good credit, led me to try different avenues of hi fi down the road.

It all started when the DP-3300 CDP broke and no parts to fix it. I bought an Arcam Alpha 9 CDP. Then my excuse was wanting an amp with remote, this led to Krell integrated and CDP, and upgreaded within. A 180 to Conrad Johnson separates, I had an EAD transport and Audio Note DAC, a CJ DAC, T+A CDP, Levinson #512 SACD.

I tried some thing after CJ, Threshold, Audio by Van Alstine, ended up with Pass separates, then eventually to where I'm at now which has me very satisfied. It is worth noting I kept a Coda CSX that I rotated in and out of my Pass set up.

After the Kappa 7's I had Dynaudio Contour T's center and mains, forget the exact model. Then Revel F52's and now my JBL. Somewhere in there I had Zu Audio, it was back with the CJ amps, for a short.

I've had other things in my system to try but this is long enough :)
 
I got a Magnavox suitcase stereo recorder player with speakers in 1962. It saw me through college. A friend had a component system he bought overseas while in the Navy. University bookshelf speakers, Teac reel to reel and Sansui receiver. Even at that humble level I could easily tell it was much better than my suitcase setup.
So, I then bought a used Eico tube integrated, Garrard 40B turntable, Shure cartridge and a pair of Utah co-ax speakers in boxes I built. Exposure to better systems resulted in following setups being better.
 
Apogee - Duetta Signature Loudspeakers (circa 1989)

I really liked those speakers and it took 20+ years to find something to replace them with when I did let go of them.

While not the hardest Apogee load to drive, they tended to eat many amplifiers alive back then and until I could afford an equivalent amplifier, I (ab)used an Adcom 555 (thank you Nelson Pass) to drive them.
 
laynesaddiction said:
Apogee - Duetta Signature Loudspeakers (circa 1989)

I really liked those speakers and it took 20+ years to find something to replace them with when I did let go of them.

While not the hardest Apogee load to drive, they tended to eat many amplifiers alive back then and until I could afford an equivalent amplifier, I (ab)used an Adcom 555 (thank you Nelson Pass) to drive them.
Click to expand...

I owned Duetta Sigs around the same time. I started with Rowland Research Model 3s (great amps) and moved the up the Krell range starting with a KSA-80B.
 
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