Hi-fi that changed the world.....or transformed your system

gets my vote.

It's effect is fundamental and cannot be be replicated by spending the same money on black boxes.

LP12 for me, too, combined with a demonstration of Heybrook HB1s and many other speakers at Pro Musica in Chicago in 1984.

The dem taught me that some components just make me listen, and those are the ones to buy. Other components, which may be objectively better than the ones I listen to, make me want to ask questions. John Schwatrz strikes again.

Incidentally, John told me several times that I should buy an ARO. I finally did, and he was right - besides the LP12, the ARO was the single most important contribution to musical insight that I've ever bought. John doesn't approve of my buying used equipment from private sellers, though, with reason.

The LP12 was simply a revelation. I thought my Thorens 165C was as good as the AR and Rega - later AB comparison confirmed that - but a simple LP12/Basik/yellow cartridge was just plain satisfying , and it iss soemthing f a prereq for the ARO.

Phil

Still my best ever single upgrade. This beast gave me dynamics, PR&T, tune, soundstaging and sheer musical enjoyment in the biggest single leap. Everything else I have done to improve my system was in smaller steps giving me more of the same.

Not bad for £900 (I got a 10% discount for buying it at the Chester Show 2000. Mine is the one that was in the Densen/Ruark CL20s room.)

The QS Ref was big too - I couldn't believe that a rack could make such a difference!

Then you have those subtle improvements like the Music Works ensemble - they make other upgrades worhwhile in the long run.

Regards,

Steve.

The proof of the pudding...

[This message was edited by Steven Toy on MONDAY 24 June 2002 at 04:40.]

Under the LP12 when I had it: Mana
My DNM preamp.
Nordost SPM interconnects.
A dedicated spur.
My VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine (hah!)

All of these gave back more musical enjoyment than they cost. Other significant improvements include:

Neat Petite/Gravitas speakers.
Mana custom stands under above.
QS Reference rack over Mana 6-tier.
Replacing fuses with bigger ones (seriously - ask Roy!)

...and lastly, although I've yet to reap significant rewards, Cara 2.1+ will probably end up on this list as an excellent way to sort out your room and positioning.

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

quote:

---

Originally posted by Top Cat:

...and lastly, although I've yet to reap significant rewards, Cara 2.1+ will probably end up on this list as an excellent way to sort out your room and positioning.

_TC '..'_
"_Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..._"

---

So how's it going with Cara ?... I used 2.0 and I'm really pleased with results. The funny thing is that iteratively it came up with a solution that Evelyne would have suggested instinctively

Peter

Hi Peter,

Progress is slow due to not having enough time to play with it (and inflexibility on 'er indoors' part) but I am sure it will be very useful when I get a chance to do things properly.

Pity the materials' definitions provided aren't all that comprehensive...

TC '..'
"Girl, you thought he was a man, but he was a Muffin..."

Leaving equipment aside, the four best are:

RPG Foam; Mana; Mains Spurs; Joints.

Alex

.

cheers

Nigel

A life changing product, easy

My ACR Eckhorn horn loudspeakers.

Utterly breathtaking performance.

I love em to bits.

regards david

Well Tempered Reference, simply the best source I have heard, regardless of format


Goose

poops all over Fraim, oh and 15A fuses !!!

naheed...

Mains fuses (getting rid of them) along with associated mains upgrades)......gives true meaning to the over-used term "high end"

Laurie S