All-time Favorite Audio Gear

[zowie]

Stereophile recently ranked the 100 most important components of all time. Putting comments about that aside, what are head-fi-ers all time favorite audio gear?

Probably the best sounding piece I've owned were Quads, but when it comes to total enjoyment, nostaliga wins out: the V-M Commander.

 

[zowie]

(Attachment didn't come out the first time)

 

[kentamcolin]

I had a pair of Dahlquist DQM-9 speakers, and they were sweet. That was probably almost 20 years ago and I still remember how good they sounded.

 

[redshifter]

it'll never be in stereophile, but my recently nuked dd9 walkman is one. titanium body, dual quartz motors, deck quality playback, best headphone amp in a portable i've ever heard (better than the d777 pcdp), hybrid gumstick/aa battery slot, and it is one sexy walkman.

 

[zowie]

hm. would have thought this would be an interesting thread.

 

[OneMalt]

Back in 1979, my wife bought me a Pioneer CTF-900 cassette deck. Man, I loved that thing...3 heads, blue fluoroscan meter, all the bells and whistles! I had a lot of fun with it and made some great recordings (all from vinyl...we're talking pre-history here). After about 3 years, I traded up to a Kyocera deck. Biggest equipment mistake I ever made and I've regretted it ever since.

EDIT:
Wow! I can't believe I found a picture of it:

 

[chadbang]

Since we're talking nostalgia and love. I loved my very first piece of audio equipment like mad. I got this Craig reel to reel (my brother got one, too. same model) when I was 8 years old in 1966 in Hawaii. I played with it to death. Recording my favorite songs from the speaker of an AM radio, singing songs, doing little plays and "secret agent" surreptitious recordings! I was hooked on electronics from then on!

 

[mecano]

A Nakamichi DR1 deck I had many years ago. Exemplary machine and super sound

 

[joelongwood]

Over 30 years ago:

Dynaco Stereo 70 amp/PAS 3x Pre/FM3 tuner
AR Turntable
AR5 speakers

Of course, I still have them.

 

[zowie]

Quote:

Originally posted by joelongwood Over 30 years ago: Dynaco Stereo 70 amp/PAS 3x Pre/FM3 tuner AR Turntable AR5 speakers Of course, I still have them.

I still have three of those, two in active use.

 

[kentamcolin]

Are those AR-"M"5 (holographic) speakers? If so, I have those now and would be curious how you use them - placement, sources & amps.

 

[pigmode]

But here's one of my fav peices of audio gear...

 

[timoteus]

All-time Favorite Audio Gear

I would have to say the Kenner Close 'N Play turntable just because it got so many kids hooked on music and gear at such a young and impressionable age. Not since has a component had such a huge impact on the lives of so many.

 

[chadbang]

opps, double post

 

[chadbang]

Zowie and joelongwood, I've been looking for an inexpensive preamp. How is the Dynaco PAS-3? I know it's tubed which would be a lot of fun to hear (I have solid stage. You had the same preamp Joelongwood, the Citation 21.) Do you think its worthwhile to track one down?