Which Brand Have You Owned for 20 Years?

[tomaz]

Which brand of audio component have you owned continuously for 20 years?

Does this pertain to the same component -- or to a series of components from that brand -- over the course of 20 years?

Thanks to Kingrex for suggesting a thread on this topic.

Treshold. Conrad-johnson. Jeff Rowland. Garrard. Nakamichi. Sony. Rotel. Audio Physic. Mirage. Been using continuously interchangeably or in different setups.

 

[mtemur]

I have learned the hard way that loudspeakers that measure flat like this tend to sound too bright on most recordings. What you ideally want is a gently sloping downwards response. Of course what I find bright you may not. It’s a subjective impression.

I’m a long time fan of electrostatic loudspeakers for 35+ years since I heard the Quad-63 in 1990, and I find the discontinuity between drivers in moving coil dynamic speakers a bit too jarring for my tastes. If your ears are not daily tuned to phase true crossoverless electrostatics, you might not be as sensitive. The on-axis measurement doesn’t tell the whole story. You need to look at off axis measurements where the change in directivity between the different drivers can cause response problems.

A lot depends on the size of the room. The Virgos are a small loudspeaker that might work fine in listening rooms in which it can move enough air. In my 6000+ cubic foot room, it would have difficulty.

Quad speakers are excellent, but like all electrostatics, they lack the impact and energy that cone speakers provide. This absence of punch significantly detracts from a lifelike sound and is a dealbreaker for me. I certainly don’t only focus on bass when I said impact, energy, lifelike sound.

 

[Audiohertz2]

Quad speakers are excellent, but like all electrostatics, they lack the impact and energy that cone speakers provide. This absence of punch significantly detracts from a lifelike sound and is a dealbreaker for me. I certainly don’t only focus on bass when I said impact, energy, lifelike sound.

Well all panels lack percussive energy like cones , the really good ones ( linesource) will get close and bring their advantages over cones except in the bass area..

 

[Dasign]

My Apogee Duetta Signature speakers which I am the original owner (completely rebuilt, ribbons + ext. Xover). Considering the price of actual speakers, my refurbished Duetta are such a deal and just sound fabulous. Very happy that Clarysis Audio has continued improving the original Apogee designs of ribbon planar speaker.

Also used different Classé Audio gear (DR-7 preamp, DR-9 amp, CAM 600 monoblocks) which are a great match with my Duetta’s.

 

[Richard Austen]

Wharfedale Vanguard (E-70 upgrade) since 1991 is the oldest
Cambridge Audio CD 6 (1996) - The LCD gave up the ghost but it still works well.
Antique Sound Lab MG Head (2000)
Sennheiser HD 600 (2000)
Audio Note OTO Phono SE (2003)
Audio Note K/SPe (2003 - sold in 2003 for AN J/Spe (kept for 13 years - sold them to buy AN E/LX 2016 sold in 2019 to buy AN E/SPX AlNiCo) - rebought AN K/SPe ~2020) Also bought AN AX Two in 2012 So a bunch of their speakers for 20 years.
Marantz surround sound receiver 2004 just reached 20 years.

 

[marslo]

JM Lab ( Focal ) Point Source 5.1 monitors ( purchased in 1994 ) and Cairn Fog 2 Soft cd player ( around 2000) - still in my second system with Wireworld Oasis 5.2 biwire.
Home Cinema 9.1 system based on B&W 6 series speakers.
I still have but do not use Polish made Tonsil Mildton speakers and Daniel turntable from my first real hifi system , middle 1980’.

 

[audiobomber]

I have owned the same vintage power amplifiers for over thirty years; Meitner Museatex MTR-101 monoblocks and two Meitner STR-50 stereo amps. All have received the Reliability and Plus upgrades from Museatex (John Wright). I was told by John that my 101 monoblocks were originally owned by Ed Meitner.

Meitner MTR-101

"The MTRX class-A/B monoblocks ($130,000/pair), which output 1500W into 4 ohms and 3000W into 2, were designed as an homage to Meitner's previous Museatex MTR-101 monoblocks."

EMM Labs' Mighty Amps

So accustomed am I of associating Ed Meitner's EMM Labs with digital reproduction that I almost missed his first amps for the company. The MTRX class-A/B monoblocks ($130,000/pair), which output 1500W into 4 ohms and 3000W into 2, were designed as an homage to Meitner's previous Museatex MTR-101...

www.stereophile.com

 

[Zero000]

Martin Logan's 17 years. Bettered by bespoke Apogees.

Michell turntable 37 years. Recently the on/off button broke. Apart from that it has been flawless and looks more nicely built than the current builds from them to my eyes in a way I don't seem to be able to express easily. Just a very, very good product from the now quite long gone John Mitchell, who I spoke to a few times at the Bristol Hi-Fi show over various years.

Geezer.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I'll let you know in another decade.

 

[hopkins]

I have owned Etymotic earphones for just about 20 years, two different models over the years.

 

[Lagonda]

I'll let you know in another decade.

You can tell us now Marc, those Zu's are not going anywhere !

 

[ravenacustic]

Revel Studio Loudspeakers, Threshold T-200 Amplifier, Hovland HP-100 Preamp.

 

[Charles S]

McIntosh since my childhood over 60 years ago.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Lloyd

Myles has Goldmund amps.

No I am using the new Soulution 312 stereo amplifier.

 

[LL21]

No I am using the new Soulution 312 stereo amplifier.

Hi Myles. Long time no speak…great to hear from you. I respect that you are a reviewer…but any listening notes about your decision to go from long-term CJ to Goldmund to Soulution would be welcome.

Have you heard the the ART 88 or the ART27a by any chance? I have to imagine they are pretty special.

 

[treitz3]

Welcome back, Myles. It's been a while....

Tom

 

[KPC]

For audio, cannot get more “Realistic” than Radio Shack

 

[mxxer]

Linn LP12 since 1986.
Rotel CD player since 2003.

 

[jeromelang]

Pass Labs
X350 since 2003, still in use
X2.5 since 2004, sold 2012
Aleph Ono since 2003
XP20 since 2012
X350.8 since 2024
Aleph P since 2024
Xs150 coming in December2024

Dan Anagnos' design loudspeakers (now Sonoma Acoustics)
SS-M7 (under Sony), since 2001, sold 2016
SS-M9ED 1st pair (under Sony), since 2003, occasionally used for surround channels
SS-M9ED 2nd pair (under Sony), since 2012, currently still in use
SS-M9ED 3rd pair (under Sony), since 2012, currently still in use
Sonoma Acoustics R3 coming in February 2025