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Post by John on Nov 20, 2014 9:17:02 GMT
In my time I have bought one or two bits of equipment that really had not worked in my system and/ or room The musical Fidelity XP 100 Pre A very fruity sound with no real clean detail certainly had its own sense of colour to the sound (this was the first pre I ever bought) Jamo Concerts 8 Not bad just the treble was very hard to tame and spent far to much money trying to sort out. Also missing a good bit of bass but great Mid |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 20, 2014 10:00:40 GMT
Helius Aureus arm: terrible manufactured quality, could never get rid of the stiction in the bearings. Piece of crap.
PS Audio GCPH phono preamp: not a great component on account of too much noise and hum at normal listening levels.
That's it, most of my purchases have been successful.
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Post by John on Nov 20, 2014 11:46:01 GMT
I had the ps audio phono stage for about a week got my money back on it as was spiking in my system bloody horrible phono stage
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Post by Sovereign on Nov 20, 2014 11:58:51 GMT
Nothing really, there was equipment that I shouldn't have bought due to not being able to afford it when I was younger, but all purchases have been good and enjoyable
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 20, 2014 13:14:03 GMT
Surprised at PS Audio
Assume they sorted that
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Post by MartinT on Nov 20, 2014 13:26:21 GMT
I think it wasn't one of their core strengths, it uses op-amps and the hum cannot be removed no matter the grounding arrangements. Not a memorable design.
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Post by ChrisB on Nov 20, 2014 14:32:22 GMT
The only clunker I ever bought was a Cary power amp (I forget the model). I spent almost as much having it repaired as it cost me in the first place. When it was working, it wasn't a bad amp, but it wasn't exactly stunning. I swapped it for a phono stage.
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 20, 2014 15:13:03 GMT
I don't really regret buying anything as each purchase, good or bad, has brought me closer to the sound I want from my hi-fi.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 20, 2014 15:18:24 GMT
Thinking about this......
Everything from before the big step up upgrade - apart from my Isobariks
Wish I'd had somewhere near this sort of sound quality years ago
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 20, 2014 15:44:59 GMT
Glass half empty mode - Everything before the current setup  Of course I would never have got here without it all. Glass half full mode - It's been a great journey and I've learned a lot. I suppose if I had to pick one single piece of kit it would be the Copland CDP - CDA 823 - expensive bugger! It seemed good at first but it's DVD searching times were annoying and it was clearly equalled in SQ terms by any old Transport and a Bereford DAC! After that I got the DPA Enlightenment DAC which although a decade older was so far ahead it was a joke! |
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Post by John on Nov 20, 2014 15:59:26 GMT
I think the DAC has moved on a long a lot in terms of SQ I look at something like your Najda and how well it works with USB whilst also doing DSP. The Caiman, Cunas and DDAC also over amazing value for money hard to say what is better as they been in very different set ups but all are very cost effective
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Post by speedysteve on Nov 20, 2014 17:05:49 GMT
Yes, I was sceptical to Najda until I got it home, built it and compared it. Every bit as good as the DPA Enlightenment, and as you say it does so much more - Has the be the best value / most versatile bit of kit I have - but that is another thread (Best / most versatile kit you have owned  |
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Post by Paul Barker on Nov 20, 2014 22:29:04 GMT
PS Audio preamp
EAR MM phono stage
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 21, 2014 8:22:51 GMT
Glass wrong size, colour and shape mode ! The problem was me, not buying right. Working through mains cables and interconnects, upgrading all the way was fine. Forums have been a great tool for me |
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Post by AlanS on Nov 21, 2014 10:27:00 GMT
Tellurium Q Black Sheeper cable. Teach me to ignore reviewers, amature and semi pro.
Very poplular for a while
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Post by Sovereign on Nov 21, 2014 10:49:58 GMT
Tellurium Q Black Sheeper cable. Teach me to ignore reviewers, amature and semi pro. Very poplular for a while Interesting as I thought it was a great cable. What did you replace it with? |
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Post by AlanS on Nov 21, 2014 11:37:35 GMT
Tellurium Q Black Sheeper cable. Teach me to ignore reviewers, amature and semi pro. Very poplular for a while Interesting as I thought it was a great cable. What did you replace it with? Good old Van Damm 4mm. Less Fi more enjoyment |
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Post by Sovereign on Nov 21, 2014 11:42:15 GMT
Interesting as I thought it was a great cable. What did you replace it with? Good old Van Damm 4mm. Less Fi more enjoyment Interesting, I really like the TQ Black, I also really rate NVA LS6 Some time after christmas I'm going to make some of my own cable and see how that fairs. You never know |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2014 15:02:52 GMT
I have no real regrets.
I may have bought equipment in the past which may not have been the best, but it was all (and still is) based on a budget.
It has been an interesting journey, and I have learnt quite a bit along the way. I still have lots to learn, and I am bound to make a few more equipment choice mistakes.
This is why I now favour try before you buy, as you get a good chance to audition the equipment in your system, in your listening rooms.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 21, 2014 15:19:04 GMT
This is why I now favour try before you buy, as you get a good chance to audition the equipment in your system, in your listening rooms. I completely agree, the only place to evaluate a new component is in your system with your music. |
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Of course I would never have got here without it all.
