What was your best Hi Fi purchase this year?

Naim NAIT 3 (pees all over my Rega Mira 2000)
Ortofon 540II (to replace (sob sob) my broken Dynavector 10x4Gold - it's not too bad a replacement either - not AS good, but not far behind)
Pioneer DVD-656A (OK OK, so it's AV, but it's been pure class since day 1 in the performance stakes)
Sennheiser 580 headphones - lovely.

...and then there was the Bush MT-T2 turntable I "hired" from Argos while my Ortofon 540 was fitted to the Rega. It got stuck at random and the motor could be heard in a different county, but it actually didn't sound as horrific as one might think... I only had to live with it for 24 hours though

__________________________
Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;
Strike the bell and bide the danger
Or wonder, till it drives you mad,
What would have followed if you had.

Second hand refurb Hi Cap (£450) to go onto a CD5. Bloody hell! I never knew there was so much in there.

I've spent too much money on too much equipment over too many years. This has to be the all time sonic bargain at my price level. I also bought an external PS for my valve amp and had it refurbished. Similar improvement for a higher price - but round earth doesn't count in here! I PROMICE to give naim serious consideration when my Audio Innovations rig blows up for the last time (boy can it make some loud noises!). Can I stay here until then?

Cheers

Harry

A completely Naim-serviced(2003) NAP 160 for 350 pound.

Rob.

XPS2 for my CDX2. No further comment - The music speaks for itself.

A 62, Hi-Cap and Newly serviced 250 (all Chrome bumper) from a dealer for £950. The 62 didn't sound as good as my 32-5 so I sold it on.

a replacement cable for my Etymotic earphones, so I could use them again.
Had forgotten how fabulous these are. I use them for about 2 hours every day and the sound is great. You can also listen as loud as you like and no-one else hears a thing.
I don't know how anyone can live without them.

XPS2 to add to my CDX2. Another country altogether and I haven't even got separate spurs yet. Roll on 2004.

Chaps

The CDS3 is without doubt a revalation. I play it for a few minutes each morning before going into the office just to listen to it. It is just too good to describe.

If I look back over my Hifi time, the best upgrade was adding a XPS to the CDX. That really did the business as they say.

I strongly urge you to buy a CDS3 because you are not hearing your CD's properly without it.

Regards

Mick

Records, more Records.

Box set's of Shostakovitch String Quartets by the Borodin Quartet and the Fitzwilliam Quartet.

Tchaikovsky Symphonies - Oslo Philharmonic conducted by Mariss Jansons.


Tchaikovsky Symphonies 4,5 and 6 Yevgeny Mravinsky - Leningrad Philharmonic.

I think I managed to get through the whole year without buying any hi-fi kit, which is probably a good sign!

Regards
Steve

Erm...?!?
Only done two things this year and they both turned out to be cool..
CDX2 - gave my system bass quality I didn't think was capable from SBL's (also brought soundstage/more PRaT etc in no small measure)
Mains spurs - this is turning out to be a no brainer. For realistically less than the price of a flat-cap the improvements well justify the outlay already and it ain't warmed up yet!

have a good one....!

andy c!

Second Hand and in excellent condition CDi having caught the "Hifi Bug".

The differences between the CDi and my old Sony CD Player are rediculous. I am convinced that I saw the CDi pick the Sony up and chuck it out of the window before delighting me with its sound.

A bargin at £600.

1. New house complete with fab listening room.
2. Dedicated ring main for the system.
3. Headline 2.

Er.....

AV2/NAP175
then
CD5
then
Hitachi 42" Plasma
then
CDX2
then
282/200/NAPSC/Stageline/B&W 805's
then
NACA5 (for the final purchase of the year.



Steve.

quote:

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Originally posted by HTK:
Second hand refurb Hi Cap (£450) to go onto a CD5. Bloody hell! I never knew there was so much in there.

Cheers

Harry

---

I second that.

regards

Richard S

A 552 and alot of music!

Hermann

2003 was the year I converted to Naim. I could not be more pleased with all of my purchases. Purchases included: 200, 202, PSC2 and Stageline. All of these pieces sound great, IMO represent great VFM, and helped me to enjoy music like never before. 2004 wish list: Naim cd player (CDX2 if I can swing it somehow).

Happy holidays and great listening!

MBM

An Acoustic Signature TT, with a dynavector xx-1 cartridge, reasonable price with unexpected performance.

2003 has been a good year for me:
a Fraim, then a 52+SC to replace the 82+2*Hicap and finally a pair of 135s (not planned, but a good opportunnity arised). )


Best upgrade: despite (or maybe because of) all the fine kit, this shall be my DIY stageline (done using old 322 boards) powered by a Hicap left off from selling the older kit.
Big music, and what I've feared has arrived, vinyl front end better than CDS2

Merry Christmas
Jean-Marc

A £28 Din/2xRCA interconnect cable from Flashback and a small increase on the electricity bill.

The first forced me to sit and listen to the music instead of using it as background musak while I browsed. Then I left the system on and it has come strangely alive. Free loaned CD's from the local library suddenly stand around in stacks waiting to be listened to! I've bought a few too. I'm listening to stuff I wouldn't normally consider enjoyable. Don't tell anyone but I sat right through my wife's black Metallica album with the wick turned UP and stupid grin on my face! YEAH!!

Nime

Everyone has the right to be wrong.

Counting what I expect to get just in time to qualify (Dec 27th is "collection day" for the last 2 items):
That will mean I shall have upgraded by buying
CDX2
Then 282 w. 1 HiCap
then 250 mk2
and now finally
Fraim
& Supercap.

Said goodbye to my 112/150 and now the HiCap in the process.
BUT
I have been delighted by each addition and reckon the whole will be greater than the parts (once I get the goddam Fraim level and burn in the supercap)

2004 will be a year to listen rather than spend, he said with toungue firmly in cheek.

Geoff

GEOFF

Best buy this year(Naim)Black SNAICS 4 and 5.
Best buy (other) 82'ing my Arcam CD72T (CDP)
Freeby - moving my AV kit away from the Naim boxes.

Howard

Planar 9. Mmmmmm. And lots of records.

PS James - What are those speakers? Look like external crossovers too...

Tim

MSB link DAC 3 for my Rega PLanet CD. really brought the enjoyment level up. Sort a finnishing touch. Also 62/140 and a hicap this year so a good year considering I only most my stuf I have had for a decade or more.
Ken

Easy.

A CARY CAD 5500 Valve pre and CARY 2A3pse Valve power.

£3.5k for £500.00 secondhand and rebuilt as well.

5W of pure enchantment.

I wish i could afford a pair of 805 211SE.

I beleieve Santa is bringing a modestly priced t/t and valve disc stage. Cant wait.

regards david