Owners of "Giant Killers"?


We often read of folks who have heard "Giant Killer" products: amps, preamps, digital sources...

We also often read about products that are tried, and are "excellent and worth the audition", but are not chosen for the listeners's system because of a better product.

I'm wondering how many Audiogoners actually own a "Giant Killer"?

Has someone heard a component that offers great value, but beyond the dollar value offers perfomance that has truly been good enough to replace the "Giant"?
tvad
Spica TC-50 in my second system, love that midrange smoothness this is the system that I come to relax.
i just sold it,dynaco cdv-pro hdcd tube cd player,this thing smokes just about everything else ive heard,it killed the shanling t100 tubed player real bad.

for the little cash required to try one of the dynaco cdv-pro cd players i whole heartedly reccomend this player to all,for $600 or less it smokes anything ive heard costing 5 times as much.

mike.
P.S. Marko, you might want to update your system description since the Theta DAC is still listed.
There are three in my system. Wright modified Bitstream dac, Theta Data II, and Atma-Sphere S-30.
I recently upgraded to the "Q-tip" brand of q-tips, truly a "Giant Killer." After using the more common Walgreens house brand, these "classic" q-tips have taken my system to another level entirely. High frequencies shimmer and decay without a trace of grain, the bass firmed up, and the midrange became almost holographical in its ability to reproduce a live performance in my listening room. The improvement is on the order of upgrading both components and speakers. Best tweek I have ever used. Better than the much balyhooed and much more expensive Bybees, and almost as good as two bottles of California cab. ;>)