What was your first high-end component ever?
- Thread starter Calvin
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Jim Smith
Member
I lived in the Boston area back then, so Alan Goodwin was my dealer. Originally in his store in Harvard square, and then out of his apartment until he established his (then) new store in Waltham.
The Duntech's were great speakers, but a real pain to move. I ended up moving to three new homes after I bought them, and when we decided to move yet again the new house just didn't have a space that would fit them, so I sold them for a song.
But the product in this collection I most regret selling was the Cello Audio Palette. That was just an amazing piece of gear and there really isn't a modern replacement. I actually sold it back to Alan in exchange for some other gear, even though I was living on the opposite coast by then.
CPP
Active member
So very true Jim.
PierreB
Member
Batty
New member
In 1986 I purchased a Townshend Elite Rock mkII, Mission Cyrus 2 and PSX and a Pair of Heybrook HB2Rs.
Previously I had a Pioneer SA520 and Garrard DD130 can't remember what speakers.
I still have the Rock, upgraded the amp to a Copland CSA14 in 1995 along with the Heybrooks upgrade to Castle Howard S1s. (still have the castles).
CSA14 upgraded to CSA29 in 2016 which I still have, also have a DIY first Watt M2X and B1pre, B1korg pre also.
I have DIY Elekit TU8500 valve pre too.
A pair of Lenehan LK1 kit speakers and a clone of VAFs SW19 subbie.
Previously I had a Pioneer SA520 and Garrard DD130 can't remember what speakers.
I still have the Rock, upgraded the amp to a Copland CSA14 in 1995 along with the Heybrooks upgrade to Castle Howard S1s. (still have the castles).
CSA14 upgraded to CSA29 in 2016 which I still have, also have a DIY first Watt M2X and B1pre, B1korg pre also.
I have DIY Elekit TU8500 valve pre too.
A pair of Lenehan LK1 kit speakers and a clone of VAFs SW19 subbie.
Feanor
Member
I guess I'm not entirely sure what "high end" means -- maybe different things to different people. But to me it means an expensive component usually from a prestigious maker.
Taking that definition my first "high end" was probably a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp, ($3500 new, but I bought it used). My second was, by that standard, a Pass Labs X150.5 amp, ($5500 new, again, bought used). Even these wouldn't be high end by some people's standard.
I sold on both these units, the Sonic Frontiers years ago, the Pass quite recently. In its place I bought a VTV Purifi stereo amp -- rather far from high end, but it has better transparency and dynamics than the Pass.
Ironically UPS is soon delivering me another Sonic Frontiers Line 1. I bought this mostly for nostalgia reason; it remains to be seen how well I like it pair with the Purifi amp. If I like it, I'll keep it and sell my Schiit Freya +, otherwise I'll be selling another SF Line 1 nine years after the first.
... But WAIT ... going back to the late '70s I suppose my actual "high end" components were a Phase Linear 400, a terrible, terrible sounding amp, and a APT Holman preamp, a really nice pre and one of the few components I really regretted selling.
Taking that definition my first "high end" was probably a Sonic Frontiers Line 1 preamp, ($3500 new, but I bought it used). My second was, by that standard, a Pass Labs X150.5 amp, ($5500 new, again, bought used). Even these wouldn't be high end by some people's standard.
I sold on both these units, the Sonic Frontiers years ago, the Pass quite recently. In its place I bought a VTV Purifi stereo amp -- rather far from high end, but it has better transparency and dynamics than the Pass.
Ironically UPS is soon delivering me another Sonic Frontiers Line 1. I bought this mostly for nostalgia reason; it remains to be seen how well I like it pair with the Purifi amp. If I like it, I'll keep it and sell my Schiit Freya +, otherwise I'll be selling another SF Line 1 nine years after the first.
... But WAIT ... going back to the late '70s I suppose my actual "high end" components were a Phase Linear 400, a terrible, terrible sounding amp, and a APT Holman preamp, a really nice pre and one of the few components I really regretted selling.
Last edited:
CPP
Active member
It was the Marantz 140 amp, the 3200 pre and the 125 tuner.
I still have them.
So COOL !
stereogeek
Member
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2018
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I bought my 1st system in 1972 for about $740. It was a 40wpc Pioneer receiver, PE turntable with a Stanton 681EEE cartridge and Large Advents with the utility cabinets. I was working at a plant nursery putting peat and dirt into plastic bags and securing them with zip ties. I was paid 2 cents per bag so you had to fill and zip tie a whole bunch of bags to make $740. Funny story.....The delivery driver for the nursery called in sick one day and the owner needed a yard of peat delivered. He asked me if I knew how to drive a stick shift. I lied and said yes so he sent me on the delivery. I had watched him and his son drive that van ( 3 on the tree ) many times so I kind of knew what to do. I got there, made the delivery and got back without messing up. I graduated from filling bags with dirt to the new delivery driver that day as they let the other guy go......lol.
bluegrassphile
Member
I received a 35 watt per channel Sylvania receiver for my HS graduation in 1968. It was accompanied by two Sylvania 10" "air suspension" speakers, a Gerard turntable and Sony reel to reel recorder
About 10 years later I purchased a Sansui AU20000 integrated amp. Six JBL L-166 Horizon speakers, Fisher cassette player/recorder, Kenwood FM tuner, Sansui manual DD turntable with Stanton cartridge, an ADC programmable, remote control turntable/changer, dBX compressor/expander, Gerard turntable snap and pop remover, Pioneer 4 channel/2 channel modular reel to reel recorder.
And my current system was purchased about 40 years later (2020). As you can see in my signature the new system is much simpler since my only source is streaming.
About 10 years later I purchased a Sansui AU20000 integrated amp. Six JBL L-166 Horizon speakers, Fisher cassette player/recorder, Kenwood FM tuner, Sansui manual DD turntable with Stanton cartridge, an ADC programmable, remote control turntable/changer, dBX compressor/expander, Gerard turntable snap and pop remover, Pioneer 4 channel/2 channel modular reel to reel recorder.
And my current system was purchased about 40 years later (2020). As you can see in my signature the new system is much simpler since my only source is streaming.
My first High Fi components were a Yamaha 2010 integrated amp, Cerwin Vega S2, Nakamichi 680z, and a pair of Signet ath headsets.
Now my first real high end setup was a Classe DR6 preamp, Classe DR10 bridged monos, Martin Logan Sequel IIs, and a Mitchel Gyrodec SE with a Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge on a Sumiko modified SME 4/4.5 arm.
Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk
Now my first real high end setup was a Classe DR6 preamp, Classe DR10 bridged monos, Martin Logan Sequel IIs, and a Mitchel Gyrodec SE with a Sumiko Blue Point Special cartridge on a Sumiko modified SME 4/4.5 arm.
Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk
About 35 years ago I placed a "Large Loudspeakers Wanted" advert in a local newspaper and received a reply offering a pair of what turned out to be Westrex 2326A studio speakers. I paid £20 for the pair not knowing anything about Westrex. A bargain I thought.
The seller asked if I was interested in the rest of the system stored in his garage. It turned out to be just about the best equipment available when he bought it in the early 60s. It consisted of a period "hifi cabinet" from Imhofs containing Garrard 301 turntable with Shure M212 pickup arm, Ferrograph high speed tape recorder (?Model 420), Acoustical Quad 22 control unit, 2 x Quad II amps and Quad FM tuner. I thought the aking price of £25 was reasonable so bought the lot. An expensive day parting with £45 - several week's salary at the time!
Most of this stuff is still well known but the Westrex and Shure arm seem rare beasts so I'm wondering if anyone has any first-hand knowledge of them. The M212 was the only item not manufacturered here in the UK and it cost twice the price of the next best arm at the time - the SME 2012. The arm was fixed vertically so the stylus was mounted in a small "snake head" that was raised by pressing the button on the arm. A fiddly job but this quirky mechanism seemed to work OK. When not in use the arm was kept against the upright post by a small magnet.
Peter
The seller asked if I was interested in the rest of the system stored in his garage. It turned out to be just about the best equipment available when he bought it in the early 60s. It consisted of a period "hifi cabinet" from Imhofs containing Garrard 301 turntable with Shure M212 pickup arm, Ferrograph high speed tape recorder (?Model 420), Acoustical Quad 22 control unit, 2 x Quad II amps and Quad FM tuner. I thought the aking price of £25 was reasonable so bought the lot. An expensive day parting with £45 - several week's salary at the time!
Most of this stuff is still well known but the Westrex and Shure arm seem rare beasts so I'm wondering if anyone has any first-hand knowledge of them. The M212 was the only item not manufacturered here in the UK and it cost twice the price of the next best arm at the time - the SME 2012. The arm was fixed vertically so the stylus was mounted in a small "snake head" that was raised by pressing the button on the arm. A fiddly job but this quirky mechanism seemed to work OK. When not in use the arm was kept against the upright post by a small magnet.
Peter
