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While mktg screams and hollers about Vid, the sonix can be improved beyond reproach without comment. Thank TV!
Formats and audio trends come and go, but some components are timeless. What component have you changed least often in your system?
I just can't seem to get the Ayre V3 amplifier out of the system. New Wilson-Benesch Act One speakers and Circle turntable, Linn Ikemi CD player, Benz Ref Copper cartridge, Kimber Select 3033's, Cardas Gold Cross interconnects, Lucashek phono section, AirTight ATC-2 and Tascam cd recorder have all shown up during its tenure. Oh, there are better amps, including Ayre's newer and bigger ones but it still pleases. They've rebiased it a couple of times, making it a bit "sweeter," but the manufacturer has now moved on to other models. One of these days.... but it's going to take a lot of money.
I have only had three turntables since 1981, and one of those is a Rotel that I owned for 19 years! Turntables seem to be more readily upgraded than other components. In its time, the Rotel had cartridges from Grado, Goldring, and Shure, it was also improved by replacing the original captive signal lead with a van den Hul cable. A dealer who loved this particular type of turntable was a contributing factor in its longevity. (Patrick at Duratone Hifi in Canberra.)
I still have my Denon TU-720 from 1983. It has servo lock on a PLL design with a quadrature detector. Totally pre-digital. It actually locked onto the signal, not hoping the station doesn't drift. It has a dial, not a read out. I will keep it as long as we have free FM broadcasts. (I might keep it just to remember "old school.") Except on some Sundays and around Christmas, I rarely turn it on. LPs are always more satisfying. It does glow in the dark a lot nicer than my Sota Comet, though.
Cables. I bought mine in 1996 (Audioquest Lapis X3 interconnects and Argent speaker cable) and, since then, have heard numerous others in my system. Although all have been considerably more expensive, none have improved the sound. I'm not sure whether cables are "components" or accessories, though, so I must also mention my Basis turntable/Rega arm/Benz-Micro pickup combination, purchased in 1997. Same storynothing new sounds any better and everything new costs more. I can afford the extra outlay, but I also hate to waste money by paying for equipment that doesn't get me closer to the live experience.
Everything, last time I change my computer and audio cards, as well as my cassette tape recorder, made new speakers, add a digital EQ, instead of the Klark Teknik, and wired everything with Gotham cable and Neutrik connectors. Polarized all the electrical circuits at home/office/studio, bought a new electrical regulator/filter and no-breaked everything. I can measure and hear the difference a lot. A to D and D to A got a lot better, processing grew a lot, my tapes are going 24b/88.2KHz, muy speakers and room EQ ar MUCH better, and the hum went down 20+ db. Not bad for 5,000 Dollars, . . . so far.
I have a Nakamichi BX-300 cassette deck and it's been the best sounding deck even after a bunch of idler wheel replacements. I don't listen to it as much but it's the oldest and most reliable one. Guess it's true, they don't build 'em like they used to!
I bought the B&W800s soon after they were released. As they were an excellent speaker, I saw no reason to change. Then Dan D'Agostino of Krell fame, wrote a white paper on exactly how to actively biamp them. WOW, what a difference. I have yet to find anything under $75,000 that sounds better.
I hope I can still call myself an audiophile even though I've owned only four turntables in my 40+ years in this hobby. That's one per decade! Amazing. My current Well Tempered Reference will probably be with me until the end. Long live vinyl