In practice, Jadis. Own three of their integrateds.
In theory, Audio Note. Every time I hear their stuff, I feel like I'm closer to music than with most any other brand I've come across. While I own an AN CD player, given my enthusiasm, you'd expect me to go the whole hog. |
It's Proac speakers for me. |
I am not familiar well with many brands and have no addiction to any but I do like Lamm, Rowland, Nottingham, Purist Audio, Custom Power Cord Co. and better Nakamichi decks. |
Electronics wise I'm mad about McCormack. My absolute dream system would be all McCormack taken to the Ultra Platinum level. If possible all ICs would be McCormack Wonderlinks too. I'd have a McCormack Ultra Platinum SST-1 -> Ultra Platinum DAC-1 -> Ultra Platinum TLC-1 -> pair of Ultra Platinum DNA .5 or DNA-1 monoblocks depending on the speakers. That would be sonic heaven for me.
The dream system for the basement would be all Kavent. I have mostly Kavent in my main system right now and am very happy with them.
Speaker wise I'm addicted to KEF.
Subwoofers: Velodyne
Other amp favorites are: Nelson Pass Threshold, Pass Labs
Digital player favorites: higher end Pioneer Elite
I don't have exposure to the more expensive brands mentioned above so these are my addictions right now. |
When it comes to tubes, I'm a fan of old Amperex, Siemens & Telefunken... as well as new production SED power tubes.
When it comes to electronics, I enjoy and trust Aesthetix, McIntosh & Conrad Johnson.
I love my Harbeth M-40.1 speakers. I like & have owned many Dynaudio speakers (Audience, Contour & Confidence lines).
I avoid SimAudio, Musical Fidelity and YBA. |
verity
green mountain audio (I don't own GMAs at the moment, so perhaps I a rehabbed gma addict, but i still get the cravings) |
The common denomenator is my personal preferences.
Be it by advertising, appearances, sound, vibes, past experiences, breakdowns, using for many years, never hearing or seeing just feeling 'cool' or 'yuck', loving the sound, hating the sound,
endless variety of reasons.
Looking for a common denominator: only one: my preference. |
Marantz. Brought my first unit pre amp fifty years ago. Nothing can shake my Marantz addiction. Well, maybe Cayin, my latest addiction. But I still have many Marantz units, mostly the Estoric series. |
Some of the makes I swear by have already been lovingly mentioned, but these haven't:
Klyne
Apogee Digital
Stellavox
Well Tempered Labs |
Elizabeth,
Apart from your dislike, what is the commnon denominator for the brands on your last list, please? |
Not an addiction but, I really like the mid 1960's Sylvania JAN 6SN7 WGTA tube. I have not found a better sounding tube for my Rouge Tempest II Magnum, believe me, I've tried dozens of brands!! |
Well, addicated is way too strong a word in my case, but here are the manufacturers that I currently look to first when I get the urge to upgrade:
( ) = Equipment I currently own
Analog Equipment:
(Basis)
Brinkmann
(Dynavector)
EMT
Galibier
Koetsu
Triplaner
Electronics:
Atma-Sphere
ASR Audio Systeme
Audio Research
(Ayre)
EMM Labs
(Lamm)
(Resolution Audio)
VAC
Speakers:
Apogee
Avalon Acoustics
(EgglestonWorks)
Rockport
Sonus Faber
Cabling:
Jena Labs
(Nordost)
And yeah, I know, my cabling list is too short. But I just have not gotten too much into auditioning cables, even though I know I should.
My two cents worth anyway. |
Unfortunately the brand I am hooked on, Meadowlark Audio, is long out of business. Have owned 6 pairs of Meadowlarks and most recently got a good deal on a pair of Shearwater Hot Rods. I had a pair a few years ago but sold them when we moved. Loving them again, even more now that I have a room that accommodates them. |
Yes, definitely! I'm a fan of amps made by Nelson Pass, or any one who worked with him in the past, especially, Michael Bladelius. I also like Conrad Johnson, MBL, Basis, Benz Micro, Martin Logan, and Ariel speakers.... but all of it better be wired with TARA Labs RSC cables.
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Jensen caps, Arcturus tubes, Switchcraft plugs, Riken Resistors, anything by Screamin' Jay Hawkins or Hermes. |
I'm with you on the Aerials - love my 7b's...
Pretty hooked on my Classe stuff too.
Um, kind of a Linnie too, but don't currently have any of it.
I used to love my little Sima PW3000 integrated - that company is now Simaudio and I could see myself going back to that should the Classe ever die. |
Proac
Conrad Johnson
VTL
Tandberg |
Musical Fidelity
JM Reynaud
Vintage Tube - H H Scott
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I have to admit - Aerial speakers. Owned 5s, then 7b, then 6, moved away from the brand, now back to 5's. You'll have to pry them from my cold dead hands. Nothing matches an Aerial tweeter. |
And maybe the Krellians too!
Brands I am addicted to:
Conrad Johnson
Lyra
VPI
Harmonic Technologies
Thiel
Cambridge Audio
and
yes
Krell ;-) |
Elizabeth,
You'd better run and hide. The Linnies are gonna lynch ya :-) |
Brands i like:
MBL
Audio Research
Magnepan
Conrad Johnson
BAT
Bryston
B&W
REGA
Denon
Pioneer
Canton
SME
Lyra
Benz
Dynavector
Pangea
Kimber Cable
=========
Companies I love AND hate:
Sony
Counterpoint
Garrard
=========
Companies I once loved and now hate:
JB Lansing
Monster Cable
AudioQuest
=========
Companies i always disliked:
Bose
Krell
Grado
California Audio Labs
Harman Industries
Linn
Naim |
Vandersteens for me. From original 2Cs to model 3 upgraded to 3A and then to 3A Signature |
No although it would take a great no killer deal on something else to replace my Dynaudio C1's or Octave V70SE. OK maybe yes with those two. |
