Vote

While mktg screams and hollers about Vid, the sonix can be improved beyond reproach without comment. Thank TV!

Can't do better than the Music Reference RM9 with Chinese 6550 output tubes at under $7500.

Those damn Synergistic AC chords. They're big, stiff, and ugly as hell, but man, do they work.

Vinyl is still as relevant as ever for me and the Walker TT is a virtual rock of Gibraltar and performs at the highest level after nine years. Where to go up from here?

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.

Still happy with a Linn LP12 and an Alphason HR-100S arm, circa 1982.

My Audio Research SP-11 has never left what I consider to be my fine chain of stereo (yes, two-channel) components. It's that good.

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.)

Very infrequent turnover in my system generally means that, when one thing changes, like the speakers, everything changes.

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.

My Aragon 2004 amp is of late '80s vintage. However, that is on my hit list to change next. Want to go tube integrated amp.

I've had my tuner (it's an old receiver) for almost 30 years. I've had some speaker cables for over 20 years. My preamp and amp are 13 years old, no plans to change them.

Continue to use Messers Michaelson & Austin power amp (TVA 10).

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 story—nothing 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.

The digital source, but I don't know why. I guess bigger changes have been made to my system in othe places, namely amplification changes because of speaker changes—one follows the next!

A Hafler preamp I built years ago.

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.

Still have my B&W 801 S3s and they still sound fine to me. As I get older and my hearing gets worse, I start thinking maybe they will bury me in the speaker cabinets :-) Could it be my last pair.....

Stayed with my VPI TNT for almost 20 years, simply upgrading from time to time. Analog is timeless!

My Linn Sondek will celebrate its 20th birthday this year. After the Lingo upgade, I can't see any reason to replace it without winning a really big lottery.

Speakers stay the longest, but most of my stuff is "old." I find that if I spend more for better equipment I don

From acoustic speakers up to high-efficiency horn drivers (5-way with two subs).

I've had a YBA Integre DT since 1997. Everything else has changed.

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!

A pair of old Kenwood amps. That's right, Kenwood—they were the hot ticket in their day.

The KEFs just keep me happy. It's been 12 years. They continue to sound so natural and the soundstage is perfect. The kind of speaker you can live with and never get tired of (kind of like my lovely wife).

My Acoustat 2+2 speakers. I have done some parts upgrades, though.

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

My preamplifier was upgradeable. And it is still competitive. Since I've moved a lot, the speakers has often changed. In two weeks, I'll move again...