Editors Choice Awards -Recommended Componernts

[rollo]

We have all read the Rags choices. What are yours in a price catergory. Say $500-1000, $1000-$1500, $1,500-$2,000,$3,000-5,000,$5,000-$10,000,$10,000-$20000,$20,000 and above.
              Pick a product line [Amp,Speaker,etc.] and category or two and let us know what you think is the best for the money.



rollo

[WEEZ]

I'm not entirely sure if the prices have changed enough to no longer fit the category; but for amplifiers in the $1000-$1500 range, my choices would include the following:

Solid State: Odyssey Statos; Musical Design D-75B Signature; Belles 150A Hotrod

Tube: Quicksilver Mini Mono; Jolida 302; Prima Luna Prologue One

WEEZ

[mdconnelly]

Hmmm, read it last night.... I don't recall seeing any of these and I would definitely recommend them...

McCormack DNA-500 amp
EE Minimax Phono preamp
Black Sand power cords
Grover ICs
ZYX Fugi MC cartridge

[Bigfish8]

Amps - In the Range of $3,000.00/pair would be Odyssey Stratos Mono SEs

Speaker Cables - $250.00/8' pair - Greg Straley Reality Cables

ICs -  Hard to beat Grover's latest black ICs.

Power Cords - Black Sands Silvers (you will have to spend at least double to better these PCs).

Preamp - ???

Source - ??? 

[bluemike]

This is a great thread

I'm new to the forum cheers 


I'm looking for an upgrade on my Reality cables -  all opinions appreciated

To chime in

Blue Circle Integrated  Reality Cables Electra IC  in the lowest category

[WEEZ]

Hi Mike!

(There's a cable ward here...you might get some responses regarding cables if you post there....)

WEEZ

[Bigfish8]

This is a great thread

I'm new to the forum cheers 


I'm looking for an upgrade on my Reality cables -  all opinions appreciated

To chime in

Blue Circle Integrated  Reality Cables Electra IC  in the lowest category

Welcome and I hope you enjoy AudioNervosa as much as I do.

Ken

[steve]

This is a great thread

I'm new to the forum cheers 


I'm looking for an upgrade on my Reality cables -  all opinions appreciated

To chime in

Blue Circle Integrated  Reality Cables Electra IC  in the lowest category

Hi Mike,

     If ic wise, I would personally suggest the Grover ICs. Don't know the price off the top of my head.

I do not know about speaker cables.

Hope this helps.

By the way, welcome to Nervosa.

[Ray Bronk]

This is a great thread

I'm new to the forum cheers 


I'm looking for an upgrade on my Reality cables -  all opinions appreciated

To chime in

Blue Circle Integrated  Reality Cables Electra IC  in the lowest category

Hi Mike,

     If ic wise, I would personally suggest the Grover ICs. I think you will like them better. Tonal balance is great and I know the soundstaging is much better. Don't know the price difference off the top of my head but I don't think the price is that much different.

I do not know about speaker cables.

Hope this helps.

By the way, welcome to Nervosa.

Hi Steve!

Well, I'm new here to.

As far as preamps go:

can't beat the TVC from Promitheus for under $600.

In the highen scale, I would have put in any of your preamps, along with the Supertech passive from Stan Warren. Both are in the 2000 dollar area. Nope, the Maudrite isn't as good as either of these, so I've been read.

Another bang for the buck, in kit form unfortunately, is Greg Ball's "simply Killer" amps. You can build one for about $800 to $1000.

Another Editor's pick would be the Life Force amps from Hugh Dean also down there in Ausi land.

That's a start.

Ray

[djbnh]

I like the Grover graphite ICs, and the Odyssey Extreme Monos. Also, think it's tough to beat the Jolida JD-100 CDP in it's price class; however, one would want to upgrade the PC and tubes, plus add a bit of isolation.

[_Scotty_]

Ray, I believe you are referring to the Superphon Revelation III from Stan Warren which is available as an active buffer with zero gain and is not a passive device.
Scotty

[bpape]

Accessories/Tweaks:
Ven Haus Audio Teflon and OIMP caps
Dynamat

Budget components
SqueezeBox 3
Oppo 981
Eastern Electric Minimax

Bryan

[shep]

Audio Nirvana: not for the faint of heart
Snakes= Grover's ic's and OCC solid core spk wire (short runs)
DIY madness= cdp heavily modified by Marantz (they are cheap to buy 2nd hand)
for those inclined to go this way, the DIYForum is where the hard core genious's hang out. A serious wealth of info and help. A MUST!
The total mod of the" Trends T-10 by M. Mardis is the amp (efficient spkrs a must) http://www.audiomagus.com/
but there are other alternatives in this "class". Great sound for peanuts.
speakers=MINE! http://www.crafty.nl (500 euros shipped anywhere was the last offer) Transmission Line;
For the hard-up the total budget comes to around 1200$ for high class sound. Ok it takes time and effort but that's a lot more satisfying than just buying off the shelf.
Otherwise I would always go second hand (from fellow members!) That AC classic 60 and the Maggies 3. would be a divine place to start.

[rollo]

Hey Ray,
                 Nice to see you here. There is another site besides AC. Tell the ACers all about the Nervosa. No bullshit over here.
                 As you all know, my short stint with Promitheus ended on a sour note. The partnership did not work out. However in all fairness the TVC is a great product for the money and should be include in The Editors Choice. Only the dual mono though at approx. $625. If you have low input SETs and a CDP with more than 2V output it could be bliss. Could use a bit more weight and authority IMO but for the money it deserves its place. Boy that was tough to say but whats fair is fair.

rollo

[steve]

Wish I had thought of that djb. The Odyssey Extreme Monos sounded excellent in the system I heard them in.
 
As far as a more expensive system, I liked the new Belles Reference 350A and SP technology continiums. The amp had not a brash bone in its body.

Hi Ray. Welcome to the forum as well.