The Greatest Hi-Fi Product of All Time

[DasguteOhr]

I believe the Marantz 9 amplifier seen at the back is a stronger candidate than ARC. I still remember how much I excited when I saw the newly made Marantz 9 amps in a hifi shop around 1999. Unfortunately they were beyond my budget.

Saul marantz created beautiful amps without question.
But I think a mcintosh 275 has gained much more world fame.


P.S a mc 30 or 60 sounds better now all can stone me

 

[mtemur]

Saul marantz created beautiful amps without question.
But I think a mcintosh 275 has gained much more world fame.


P.S a mc 30 or 60 sounds better now all can stone me

IMHO no mcintosh sounded better than a Marantz 8B or Dynaco ST-70 from the same era.

 

[Antonio66]

@godofwealth Any thoughts of getting the Quad Rupert stands, I have mine on 60cm wide x 45cm high wooden stools and there is a nice improvement in sq. Fantastic speakers by the way.

 

[PeterA]

in terms of a revolutionary product, I would nominate the Sony Walkman. Cheap portable audio for the masses. Apple followed.

 

[godofwealth]

@godofwealth Any thoughts of getting the Quad Rupert stands, I have mine on 60cm wide x 45cm high wooden stools and there is a nice improvement in sq. Fantastic speakers by the way.

I still have the Quad 57 stands designed by Sheldon Stokes, but they’re lying disassembled in my garage. I prefer to listen to my 57s on the floor, as Peter Walker intended. This is what Sheldon’s stands look like. When I bought my 63s in 1991 or so, I got different stands for them, but invariably the stands made them sound worse.




Robert Greene of TAS has written extensively about the issue of putting Quads on stands. There’s a tradeoff. You reduce the initial reflection from the floor, but you get a hole in the lower mid bass that makes them sound leaner. My 57s on the floor sound a little plump and overripe in the bass compared to my Quad 2805 and 2905s, but that’s part of their endearing “pipe and slippers” charm. They sound unusually full and warm at lower volumes compared to later Quads and many audiophile speakers that use rigid cabinets.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Those active Cabasse Albatros take me back several decades.
Listening to these play DSOTM (the album had just come out) was one of my most memorable audio experiences! We also listened to Deep Purple in Rock, child in time, full blast of course. Pre was an SRPP, don't remember which manufacturer. TT was Thorens 124 / SME 3012 / Shure (15 probably). Majestic sound, I still remember being transported.

I heard him again a year ago .Completely refurbished by Cabasse I have to say that it easily competes with new, very expensive speakers. one day he will be with me belongs on bucket list. majestic sound very good choice of words from you.

 

[godofwealth]

Here’s a stacked pair of Quad 57s on Mark Levinson stands. Price looks reasonable. Condition is unknown. I’d want to hear this in person. But it will visually dominate a small room.

Stacked Quad ESL57 Electrostatic Speakers on Mark Levinson Style Stands *READ* | eBay

<p>*Shipping via freight is available. Please contact me for more information if you cannot pick them up. Buyer will be responsible for all freight costs*</p><br /><br /><p>Stacked quad esl 57 electrostatic speakers on Mark Levinson style stands. Close serial numbers they have never been abused...

www.ebay.com

 

[Kingsrule]

Mark Levinson did it on his HQD speakers. He added ribbon tweeter and Hartley woofer to stacked Quads. I really would like to hear them.
View attachment 110674

I did hear them in this room.. Goodwins on Newbury Street...they were amazing

 

[Kingsrule]

For me the greatest was the HK Citation 11A preamp....it was an sonic revelation for me and after hearing it I was all in for a lifetime of audio revelation....

 

[godofwealth]

I did hear them in this room.. Goodwins on Newbury Street...they were amazing

Was that the same Goodwins that later became Goodwins High End now based in Waltham?

 

[Kingsrule]

Was that the same Goodwins that later became Goodwins High End now based in Waltham?

Yes

 

[Daverich4]

IMHO no mcintosh sounded better than a Marantz 8B or Dynaco ST-70 from the same era.

My older brother was studying Electrical Engineering @ Purdue and built me a ST-70 in 1973. Used it to drive a pair of AR 3a’s. Had that amp for a long time through a number of pairs of different speakers.

 

[LL21]

First off, has to be the LP. After all these years, still many people's favorite medium for quality music, despite all the innovation and technology.

Second, then I would have to say:
- IRS V. Some might even say SOTA by today's standards...even if not in all categories, certainly in some. I have heard the later Genesis Ones.
- Apogee [Stages, Full Range, not sure which the experts in Apogees might suggest...interesting to see Clarisys come forward all these years later]
- Audio Note Ongaku perhaps?

Third, then Time will tell:
- Sonus Faber Guarneri original, Extrema original or Electa Amator
- Zanden 2000P/5000S Digital
- Wilson X1/Grand SLAMM

 

[godofwealth]

Some additional candidates for greatest hifi product of all time. I’m restricting myself to stuff that’s still being made decades later.

1. Klipschorn loudspeaker: now on its 8th decade, the Klipschorn is the longest continually produced loudspeaker on the planet. Even today, the principles that governed its design are so forward looking that they stand out as a monument of brilliant design. These include high efficiency for low distortion; corner placement that allows placing them in smaller rooms; and an elegant finish that unlike most of the hideous monstrosities that pass for loudspeakers these days makes them far more attractive. Paul Klipsch, along with U.K.’s Peter Walker, remains the most creative American genius of loudspeaker design in my book.

2. Denon 103 moving coil cartridge: the Denon is the world’s longest continually produced moving coil cartridge and still revered by many six decades on. At a time when moving coil cartridges are climbing into the mid five figures, the Denon remains a bargain at less than $400. It’s no nonsense design coupled with a response profile that’s far more neutral than many of the obscenely priced cartridges with a rising top end makes the Denon a contender.

3. The Linn Sondek LP-12: Surely the greatest turntable of all time, continually produced now for five decades, the LP-12 remains a testament to simplicity and elegance. At a time when turntables are being produced that weigh in the thousands of pounds and need a forklift to move around, the LP-12 is based on the principle that high mass is not only unnecessary for making a good turntable, but can actually impede the sound. The LP-12 defined PRAT — pace, rhythm and timing — as the fundamental essence of good vinyl sound.

 

[SoundMann]

3. The Linn Sondek LP-12: Surely the greatest turntable of all time

You need to hear a TechDAS Air Force Zero some time.

 

[Another Johnson]

You need to hear a TechDAS Air Force Zero some time.

You need to hear a properly set up LP12. Tom O’Keefe or Peter Swain set ups are at the top.

 

[SoundMann]

You need to hear a properly set up LP12. Tom O’Keefe or Peter Swain set ups are at the top.

I've heard them.

 

[bonzo75]

Your post doesn’t play the link

 

[Puma Cat]

For me the greatest was the HK Citation 11A preamp....it was an sonic revelation for me and after hearing it I was all in for a lifetime of audio revelation....

That was my very first preamp, bought it from a friend right out of University.

 

[Puma Cat]

Rega Planar 3/RP3/P3...

My first Planar 3 was a revelation for me at the time.
Here's a pic of mine from when I got back into high-end audio for the second time, shown with my SME 3009/III

Would love to get a P10 at some point.