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Outstanding brands?

Just learned that zanden when set up correctly is simply one fine system.
What other brands could be considered to be in the same league.
My idea of a fine system is one that I get lost in the music and feel as thought the instruments are there positioned in front of me like in the concert hall. With the bass sounding realistic, and the air surrounding the instruments. Playing symphonic music is one good way to challenge the system, but I also listen to jazz, rock, brazilian, big band among others. As my system has gone through changes the sound has improved and each genre proves to be exciting.
Experienced a-goners know as we get closer to a realistic sounding system our ears get better we hear deeper into the soundstage and realize it is still a recording, but there are times for some reason or other there are moments that what we hear sounds damn real. The recording plays a big role no pun intended, just picked up some mercury's and london's, and it is an eye er ear opener to say the least.
In the end it is all about the music, the equipment is just a means. I still appreciate my car system and work place radio, but in those cases I am filling in the missing nuances and details.
pedrillo
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mapman
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I think the innovative technology and resulting sound of the MBLs alone makes the brand distinctive and outstanding in certain ways that of course will not appeal to all. My only qualm is that this stuff is very expensive and beyond the means of even many audiophiles.

OHM, though similar in its sound in many ways, is a different case. Here, the emphasis is on making good sound, omni or otherwise, affordable to many not necessarily via major new innovations (the WALSH driver concept is a good 40 years old already) but through ongoing refinement of the original design and offering cost effective upgrade paths for anybody who owns any pair of OHMs. Its a very blue collar approach to delivering good sound to the masses.
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mapman
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I'd have to toss Audio Research in there also IMHO.

I recently acquired my first piece of ARC tube gear and have been extremely pleased with the sound.

Plus, this is another company that has been around for ages and offers customers upgrade paths for most everything as I understand it.

To me looking out for customers via service and support in addition to delivering good value products is a big part of any outstanding hifi brand.
karelfd
476 posts
 
What other brands could be considered to be in the same league.

I am perfectly aware it is difficult to judge the viability of such assertion with regard to lesser known brands. But knowing ARC and MBL to a certain extent, mentioned as league references here, I am clear in my own mind that Tidal Audio must be mentioned.

Not a complete one-make system - Tidal doesn't manufacture sources - but perfectly matched, "out-of-the-way" amplification and speaker systems as lifelike as they come (imho of course)

One occasion for some to get better acquaintanced with Tidal will be the 2009 Münich High-End where I believe they will show the Sunray speakers with Preos and Impact mono amps (the announced source is Swiss made Audiostone Pythagoras table with Thales tonearm)
fplanner2000
616 posts
 
I second VAC gear for sure being in "the same league", if not one of its own. With the right associated gear, very capable of transporting you to another time and place. It is now happening in my listening room on a daily (and nightly) basis and I couldn't be happier.

Associated gear is Esoteric, Synergistic Research, APL(32-bit DAC) and VSA VR-7se's. VAC gear is Phi 2.0 preamp, 2 300.1 Phi amps in mono configuration.
wavetrader
260 posts
 
"The recording plays a big role no pun intended, just picked up some mercury's and london's, and it is an eye er ear opener to say the least."

I agree, have recently purchased several London phase 4 recordings. A recording this well done "gershwin" takes the "recording" out of the expeience and puts it in another dimension. Of course as others here have pointed out,my VAC 140's have alot to do with this illusion of being there. This illusion btw is more common in my system than not,thank god.
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