Equipment Most Lusted After?

[jazzpiano]

:cool:Hello,

I always enjoy reading people's 'Desert Island Picks' for music since they are usually much more personal and interesting, not like a 'Greatest Books of the 20th Century' list where some critic is trying to objectify greatness, always has "Ulysses', Faulkner, etc. on it. Or, ditto movies w/ 'Citizen Cane', 'Rules of the Game', blah, blah... Not that these aren' t great, they're just not alot of fun to read. In this spirit, I wonder if there's any interest in posters listing their favorite recordings? Any and mixed genres.
Also, I think it was on this site where I read about how someone had lusted after a Dynavector tonearm for years and finally got one. Is there interest in a thread where posters list the equipment they've lusted after, maybe the first bit of kit they really got excited about? have yet to own? sold years ago and regretted it?...

Best,
Barry

[Darren]

Hi Barry,
Lets do the lusted after equipment one!

[Barry]

Well as another Barry, I'll go first; thought the list is quite long:

The Dynavector DV505 arm.
Yet to be achieved

Audio Technica AT1503 III arm.
A professional arm with which I would like to try out one of my EMT cartridges

SME 3012R or SME M-12.
For the same reason as the above

Ortofon AS-309S.
Another 12" arm, again for the same reasons

Breuer Model 8 pickup arm.
I have a sample of the Model 5, so am aware of the superb bearings on Breuer arms



Ortofon SPU cartridge.

AKG P8ES cartridge.
Had one once, loaned it to a friend who claimed to have "lost it"! It was a dammned good cartridge and I would like to hear it again.

B&O MMC20CN cartridge.

Decca Mk IV or an SC4E cartridge.

Decca (London) Reference cartridge.



The Electrocompaniet "The Two Channel Amplifier" (with preamplifier).
Yet to be achieved, though I have tried a home-made copy of the power amp in my system

The Radford STA15 (or for that matter, any Radford valve design).
Yet to be achieved

Mark Levinson ML-2 monoblock power amplifiers.
Yet to be achieved,=; though I have, and use, three Mark Levinson preamps

FM Acoustics FM240 preamp.
Still looking for one of these Swiss preamps to become available on the second hand market

Goldmund Mimisis power amplifier.
Completely DC coupled throughout, again these Swiss made amplifiers are as rare as hen's teeth

Nagra CDP CD player.
I have a Nagra reel-to-reel tape machine, so am aware of the superb quality of Nagra products - I just can't afford the £10K required to buy these machines



Studer C37 reel-to-reel tape machine.
All valve - a classic studio recorder Came close, but decided that I wouldn't use it to its full capability, plus the problem of getting hold of spare parts

Studer B62 reel-to-reel tape machine.
Same as the above



Bowers & Wilkins DM3 speakers
Have a pair of DM2a speakers, but the DM3s are what I really want.

[Thing Fish]

With my limited knowledge and low expectations I would like to achieve the following -

Amp - Quite honestly a good pair of croft tweaked Quad II's.

Speakers - some Tannoy Lancaster's.

Deck - A really tricked Garrard 401 in a slate plinth.

Tape - Revox B77

[michaelhigh]

Hi Barry,
Lets do the lusted after equipment one!

I usually go for strictly vintage gear (budget-driven), but if we were playing the cost-no-object game, I could go crazy with mbl this and Kuzma that... I'd definitely settle for the following if I could win the audio lottery: Starting with analog front end, I'd choose the Clearaudio Champion II, with its plexiglass good looks, on to Wilson Alexandria II speakers, and a compliment of new model McIntosh components including MC2K monoblocks, MC-2300 Preamp with phono stage, and MCD1100 CD-SACD player, plus every HD Tracks recording into perpetuity as they become available on HDD. That, my friends, would satisfy me as much as anything, as long as the desert island had 5 dedicated circuits for clean AC! If I were the only source, I wouldn't have to worry about mains tweaks, that's for sure!

[jazzpiano]

Thanks for picking up the ball on this. I forgot some of the choice items on Barry #1s list. I used to work in an audio shop about 30 years ago that sold the Levinson ML2s. Never could afford them but used to hook them up to Rogers LS3/5as in the store and it was like the instruments were cut out w/ a scalpel from a deep black background - amazing! Also, I've always been very curious about the Electrocompaniet 25 watt Class A amp. I guess for myself the high drool factor items have always been:
- Reel-to-Reel decks in general, and Revox, Tandberg, Denon specifically. There's just something about reel-to-reel... think I'll eventually have to get one.
- Radford or Leak tube amps. If these ever come up for sale here in the states they cost a packet.
- a Garrard 301 or 401 or Thorens TD - 124. As above.
- Those beautiful, vintage large British floorstanders by Tannoy or Wharfedale
- Rogers LS3/5as: like a moron I sold my pair in the early 80s because I didn't think they filled my small room w/ enough sound ???
- various tonearms: Alphason, Syrinx, Morch
- and a budget item: I don't know, but I've always thought the little Myst integrated amp made in Scotland was a cool item.

I'm sure there's others I'll remeber after I hit "post", but we'll start here. Right now I'd say my most lusted after kit would be the large, vintage full-range Tannoys w/ a low-powered Leak or Radford.

Best,
Barry

[MartinT]

Thanks for that suggestion, Barry (jazzpiano). I've moved the thread here as being more appropriate.

The person who lusted after a Dynavector arm all his life and finally got one was me :eyebrows:

[MartinT]

So...

Dynavector DV507-II pickup arm
Got it!

Hashimoto HM-7 step-up transformers
Got it!

Shelter Harmony cartridge
I don't yet have what I'd call an ultimate cartridge

PS Audio PerfectWave P10
I know how good my Powerplant Premier is, and the P10 would be the ultimate for my system

[John]

Here are a few that I would love to own
Speakers Beveridge
TT No need to lust after anything any more
Cartridge London (Decca) Reference
Phonostage Nighthawk is small in size but powerful in performance a true giant killer
Perhaps a top of the line Audionote DAC
Amp A really nice 300b monoblock

[jandl100]

As a dyed-in-the-wool boxswapper, I tend not to lust after specific equipment, but just investigate and hopefully enjoy what happens to come along that takes my fancy.

There are some exceptions though, of course! ...

- MBL speakers - got 'em.

Umm, that's it actually! Everything else is subject to change. :)
... I'd defo like to try a Decca/London cartrdige sometime, now I come to think about it.

[WOStantonCS100]

There's so much great gear out there. One could build a good number of systems with totally different gear and all would sound wonderful. Nevertheless, I'll keep it short.

Magneplanar MG 20.1's
I spent several hours listening to these when a co-worker invited me over to listen to some Ozric Tentacles as well as some LP to CD transfers I brought with me. They were freakin' unbelievable.

Definitive Technology SuperCube Trinity Signature Powered Subwoofer - OR - Velodyne Digital Drive PLUS 18 18" Subwoofer
Extreme overkill for music listening; but... :eyebrows: ...for the times when low, just isn't low enough.

Dynakit Mark III monoblocks (modified)
My current "Plan B" option if my SAE goes down, isn't a great one; so, hopefully, I can find the time to build these next year.

George Stantschleff Audio Lightspeed Attenuator MKII
...as a replacement for the gain controls on my SAE, which would no longer be present on the Mark III's.

[hifi_dave]

All my 'lusted after' gear is vintage. Stuff I couldn't afford back when it was current.

I've now managed to collect most of it and bagged a Crown DC 300A on E-Bay yesterday. I really, really wanted one of these when it was first imported but couldn't even dream of raising the cash, so I downsized my lust to a DC 150 but even that I couldn't manage.

Now I have a DC 150, DC300A and the IC150 pre-amp.

I'm a happy bunny..:dance:

[Ammonite Audio]

I'm quite surprised at how few bits of equipment I find myself genuinely lusting after:

Lyngdorf Millennium Mk IV Amplifier
Lyngdorf Millennium ADC
Avalon Indra or Time speakers
Some really suitable cabinets for my Tannoy MG 15" drivers (already working on this)
Audio Note M9 Phono
A Really Good MC SUT
Some nice Stax headphones with valve energiser

[colinB]

Ortofon 2m black and a good power supply for my Technics please Santa.

[Beobloke]

My lust list is a mile long, but taking the top candidates from a few categories:

TURNTABLES

Thorens TD-224
Nakamichi TX-1000 or Dragon CT
Yamaha GT-2000
A Northwest Analogue Slate Plinth for my 301!

ARMS

SME V

AMPS

Melody Pure Black 101d Preamp and KT88 Monoblocks

SPEAKERS

Leak 3090
Mission 767
Hartley Concertmaster V
ADAM OSS, or Tensor Betas, or even Tensor Gammas!

[Reid Malenfant]

Interesting :) I guess i could say i lust after some stuff I'm simply never going to own, simply because I'll never have the money :eyebrows: Krell MRA, MRS & a pair of Wilson Audio Grand Slamm...

But in reality all I want is to get my new subs & speakers built ;) I'd like to get the six monoblock amplifiers built that i have in the pipeline to, oh & the new centre speaker & surrounds :lol: Also a 45A dedicated spur rather than 27A.

What I lust after is in my grasp, I just have to get on with it :rolleyes: Time & space is going to dictate when things come together, not cash as i have just about everything i need...

[MartinT]

Also a 45A dedicated spur rather than 27A.

I kick myself that Barretts had just finished building my house when I viewed and bought it. Pre-build would have been the ideal time to put a serious high current spur into my music room. As it is, the only thing I could do was replace the double socket on the ring mains with an MK unswitched one. I might investigate replacing the circuit breaker with a Russ Andrews treated one, though.

The usual caveats apply: don't play with mains unless you are a qualified electrician.

[tannoy man]

First of all is a very large room and no neighbours, and
an EAT Forte with Fidelity Research Arm and a range of different carts.
Then
Audio Note Japan, Ongaku

Marantz Model 7 and 9

Radford Monoblocks

Vitavox CN191

Shindo Latour or maybe a full Shindo system or
a complete Audio Note Japan System, but what about Tannoy Autograph.
I'm confused but I KNOW I WILL NEVER SELL MY TD 124 OR STA 25

[Darren]

OK, here we go. Kit I would almost kill to own:
Speakers:
Infinity IRS
Apogee Scintilla and Reference
Wilson WAMM
Magneplanar Tympani iv
Townsend Sir Galahad
Amps:
Krell KRs monoblocs
Audio Research SP10
Conrad Johnson Reference Range
I'll have to have a think about front ends but I'd love to hear the top single ended Audionote system

[vencel]

TT:
Goldring GL99
Garrad 301 (Shindo version)
Thorens TD-124 (Schopper version)

AMP:
modified Quad II
Kondo
Shindo

CARTRIDGE:
Sony XL55Pro
several others to try

CABLE:
Kondo
Auditorium 23

SPEAKER:
Klangfilm
Schultz TH-315
Rullit
Altec 755A

DAC:
AudioNote
Fikusz

[Rare Bird]

B&W 'DM70' Standard version

[StanleyB]

B&W 'DM70' Standard version
If you had only mentioned that a few months ago :doh:. I part exchanged a DM70 and a Thiel CS2.2 set of speakers a few months back to help out a hard up friend. The DM70 was snapped up by a mate for peanuts, who has since sold it on for a handsome profit.

[Barry]

B&W 'DM70' Standard version

Much nicer loking than the Continental version.

Acoustically, both versions had the usual problem in matching a dipole radiating electrostatic unit with a monopole radiating bass enclosure.

[Rare Bird]

Ive heard these twice now regardless of your issue i still lust for them, shame Stan!

[Mika K]

Hmm, nice subject for Friday evenings listening.. ;)

TT:
Shindo Garrard 301 with SME 3012
Thorens Prestige
Goldmund Reference

AMP:
EAR Yoshino 912 preamp and 509 monoblocks
Kondo Ongaku
Shindo Vosne-Romanee preamp with Cortese poweramp
Dynavector DV-3000 Gold preamp
Dynavector DV-8100 mono blocks

CARTRIDGE:
Too many nice ones to try.. ;)

STEUP:
Kondo
Auditorium 23
Silvercore

CABLE:
Kondo
Auditorium 23

SPEAKER:
Siemens Klangfilm Bionor
Shindo Latour
Ocellia Calliope .30

CD:
Marantx CD10
Rega Planet

[vencel]

As I see we have similar taste :-)


Hmm, nice subject for Friday evenings listening.. ;)

TT:
Shindo Garrard 301 with SME 3012
Thorens Prestige
Goldmund Reference

AMP:
EAR Yoshino 912 preamp and 509 monoblocks
Kondo Ongaku
Shindo Vosne-Romanee preamp with Cortese poweramp
Dynavector DV-3000 Gold preamp
Dynavector DV-8100 mono blocks

CARTRIDGE:
Too many nice ones to try.. ;)

STEUP:
Kondo
Auditorium 23
Silvercore

CABLE:
Kondo
Auditorium 23

SPEAKER:
Siemens Klangfilm Bionor
Shindo Latour
Ocellia Calliope .30

CD:
Marantx CD10
Rega Planet

[Haselsh1]

A Nottingham Analogue Hyperspace with its own arm and a classic Kiseki Blue cartridge. Oh, and a pair of Audio Note AZ-2's.

[Mika K]

^^ Yep, needed just slight modifications an that's it. Actuall the DV amps are the most critical part as those are really something.

"The Dynavector DV-3000 Gold. Manufacturer year 1979, total production of around 125 pieces. Finished in the baby blue hammer tone finish. The same finish as the original Dynavector DV-505 tonearm. A true dual mono pre-amp."

http://www.tubeaudioproducts.com/EBAY/dv3000gold/dv1.jpg

:)

[MartinT]

Mika, a friend of mine had the Dynavector dual mono valve power amps, also finished in hammer blue. One of them blew an output transformer and I never found out whether he had been able to repair them. They looked and sounded superb but I've not been able to find out anything at all on the internet about them.

[Mika K]

Have also once heard system including that one. Naturally the other stuff had the quality also present but still it was nice piece of kit ;)

[RobHolt]

Trio LO7D

Big McIntosh amps - MA6600 would be nice.

VDH White Beauty MC cartridge

[Tarzan]

Simple for me...... a big Audionote system or on the VFM front a Virtue Audio Sensation M901 t Amp with a Piano M2 cd player:).

[aquapiranha]

Klimax DS, big amp, Westminsters. Sorted.

[Macca]

I've not got much of a lust after list as I have heard very little high end. Tannoy Canterburys would be on my lottery win short list for speakers though. I'd like one of those Revox linear trackers too, just for how they look - nearly bought one a couple of years ago on the bay.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I'd like to try some of very highend Audio Research valve stuff + some exotic horn speakers.

[The Grand Wazoo]

A fair bit of old stuff like:

Radford MA15 power amps
Eico pre/power amps
Levinson ML2 power amps
Kenwood Supreme 1 amp

As for modern things, some of the big Accuphase amps would keep me busy for a while, I should think.

[Pete The Cat]

Exposure XVI monos.

I'm not fussy.

Pete

[worthingpagan]

a decent pair of headphones (attached to Samantha Fox :eyebrows:)

[Wakefield Turntables]

a decent pair of headphones (attached to Samantha Fox :eyebrows:)

Shes a rug muncher mate!

[southall-1998]

Townshend Rock Reference.

[macvisual]

A pair of 'Dali Megaline' speakers - utterly jaw dropping sound!!