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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 17:22:04 GMT
The end of the year is here again. But its also the end of another decade.
What was the worst gear you owned/heard during this decade?
For me...
2010
Net Audio Modded Quad 405, fitted with MK3 boards. Sounded average at best.
Tag Mclaren PA10 Preamp.
Electrocompaniet PSF1 Speakers. The bass was strongly bloated cloying over the mids/highs.
2011
Arcaydis SM35C Speakers. Clinical/Flat.
11 Ohm Rogers LS3/5a Speakers. Sorry, I just don't understand the LS3/5a sound.
2012
Fully serviced Croft Series V Poweramp. I don't get the hype.
Croft Micro Basic 25. I don't get the hype.
Modded and pimped up Sony PS1. The sound was pretty much average. I've heard cheap NAD CD Players sounding far more engaging.
2013
Sansui AU-101. Rubbish! Nait 1 sounds way better IMO.
Eclipse CD-101. Flat and brittle sounding.
Some expensive Avalon Speakers. Boring!
One of those Lector CD Players, that retailed for nearly 7k. Overpriced!
Raysonic CD-138 CD Player, rolled with pricey NOS Mullard's. Nothing great.
Albarry Passive Preamp. Waste of money.
Tannoy System 600/800. I just couldn't understand them.
2014
Royd Sapphire. Nasty peaky treble. Couldn't listen beyond 10 min.
2015
Sugden CD21 Series 2 CD Player. Very expensive for what it is.
2016
Roksan Kandy KC-1 CD Player. Just another cheap CD Player living inside a pretty case.
Sugden Masterclass HA-4 Headphone Amp. Very overpriced.
The rest are long forgotten and history now.
What about you guys?
S.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 19:46:27 GMT
I probably can’t even remember half the gear I’ve had, let alone the year. Maybe if I try and do it according to category.
Vinyl:
I tend th have had most decks several times and therefore none have been bad per se. My biggest disappointments were the Townshend Rocks, which I just find stifled and badly made these days.
Tonearms? Any 3 point mount Rega. They are trash.
Carts? Sonus Gold Blue. Dismal. Limp and weak sounding
CD:
Rega Apollo. I’ve heard more human sounding robots.
Maranta CD80. The “Nitro Mors” of CD
Beresford Caiman 2. Thin and lacking power. Dirty sounding too.
Amps:
Musical Fidelity MA50. Waited so long to hear them and they were just plain boring.
NVA A80s. Dull as ditchwater and the worst NVA I’ve ever owned.
Ion Obelisk 3x/Xpac1. Strident and nasty.
Puresound A30. The emperor really did have his todger out.
Speakers:
Neat Gravitas. Awful, truly awful.
Ruark Swordsman. Thick and dull.
SD3. Just wanted to turn them off. No redeeming qualities at all.
Royd Minstrel. The worst speaker Royd ever made. Every song sounds like it’s performed by dwarves, too.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 19:50:12 GMT
Jesus, you guys get through some gear.
I just buy stuff I like the sound of, and keep it!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 19:56:26 GMT
Forgot to mention.
2019 - Puresound A10. What a Sh#t sounding amp! The vintage Leak Stereo 20 will musically embarrass the A10.
S.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 7, 2019 20:16:04 GMT
Rothwell SUT. Really didn't work in my setup
Pick any Decca Cartridge
Lounge Audio LCR phonostage.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 20:22:36 GMT
I either have really low standards, or I just don’t listen to enough gear.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 20:24:40 GMT
What's a rothwell SLUT and can I have one please ? 😛
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Post by macca on Dec 7, 2019 20:31:37 GMT
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Post by macca on Dec 7, 2019 20:33:32 GMT
I've had a load of kit over the last ten years, the only thing I would say really disappointed me was a Sony TAN 55ES power amp.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 22:22:20 GMT
Oh, how could I forget: Any headphones not made by Grado.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 23:01:20 GMT
I've been using my 325's this week.
They are bloody good aren't they ?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2019 23:31:51 GMT
The only thing that springs to mind that I've actually owned (albeit very briefly) is a Sugden Masterclass integrated amp. I took an instant dislike to it, and couldn't understand how it got such rave reviews. Some speakers I auditioned about five years ago failed to impress. Oh, and some ridiculously expensive equipment at the Bristol hifi show, the name of which escapes me.
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Post by antonio on Dec 8, 2019 6:06:59 GMT
Jesus, you guys get through some gear. I just buy stuff I like the sound of, and keep it! That's the way I've always purchased hifi equipment, strangely it does seem to work. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2019 18:23:20 GMT
The Audio Technica AT95E was utter shite. I was expecting a giant killing thing of beauty after all the bollocks I'd read on many hifi forums instead I got a muffled rusty nail even the K9 which it replaced excelled in comparison.
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Post by pauld on Dec 8, 2019 23:51:44 GMT
I probably can’t even remember half the gear I’ve had, let alone the year. Maybe if I try and do it according to category. Vinyl: I tend th have had most decks several times and therefore none have been bad per se. My biggest disappointments were the Townshend Rocks, which I just find stifled and badly made these days. Tonearms? Any 3 point mount Rega. They are trash. Carts? Sonus Gold Blue. Dismal. Limp and weak sounding CD: Rega Apollo. I’ve heard more human sounding robots. Maranta CD80. The “Nitro Mors” of CD Beresford Caiman 2. Thin and lacking power. Dirty sounding too. Amps: Musical Fidelity MA50. Waited so long to hear them and they were just plain boring. NVA A80s. Dull as ditchwater and the worst NVA I’ve ever owned. Ion Obelisk 3x/Xpac1. Strident and nasty. Puresound A30. The emperor really did have his todger out. Speakers: Neat Gravitas. Awful, truly awful. Ruark Swordsman. Thick and dull. SD3. Just wanted to turn them off. No redeeming qualities at all. Royd Minstrel. The worst speaker Royd ever made. Every song sounds like it’s performed by dwarves, too. Interested by your comments on the Beresford Caiman II, Andrew. Did you just use the stock power supply that came with It? |
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Post by pauld on Dec 8, 2019 23:57:12 GMT
Naim NDX, a complete shocker of a Streamer, disappointing in every way.
QED Silver Anniversary speaker cable. If you like the sound of someone scratching their nails down a blackboard you’d love this cable, but not for me.
Naim A5 speaker cable - lasted only a couple of months. Gave the QED a serious run for its money as possibly the worst cable I’d ever heard and it was 10x the price.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2019 1:34:59 GMT
Nothing bad I have purchased, heard plenty elsewhere I did not like, and surprisingly very little I would bother to throw money at.
Have had basically the same kit since the beginning of the decade. Apart from a speaker build three years ago, which did lift the bar. See no need to mess with something that still puts a smile on my face.
To me it is more about the emotional connection to the music, than wringing the last amount of heaven knows what out the kit, throwing money away, and chasing my tail.
If it sounds good then it is good, why mess with it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2019 6:24:32 GMT
I probably can’t even remember half the gear I’ve had, let alone the year. Maybe if I try and do it according to category. Vinyl: I tend th have had most decks several times and therefore none have been bad per se. My biggest disappointments were the Townshend Rocks, which I just find stifled and badly made these days. Tonearms? Any 3 point mount Rega. They are trash. Carts? Sonus Gold Blue. Dismal. Limp and weak sounding CD: Rega Apollo. I’ve heard more human sounding robots. Maranta CD80. The “Nitro Mors” of CD Beresford Caiman 2. Thin and lacking power. Dirty sounding too. Amps: Musical Fidelity MA50. Waited so long to hear them and they were just plain boring. NVA A80s. Dull as ditchwater and the worst NVA I’ve ever owned. Ion Obelisk 3x/Xpac1. Strident and nasty. Puresound A30. The emperor really did have his todger out. Speakers: Neat Gravitas. Awful, truly awful. Ruark Swordsman. Thick and dull. SD3. Just wanted to turn them off. No redeeming qualities at all. Royd Minstrel. The worst speaker Royd ever made. Every song sounds like it’s performed by dwarves, too. Interested by your comments on the Beresford Caiman II, Andrew. Did you just use the stock power supply that came with It? Yes just the stock one. It was so far off what I’d consider “good” and also horribly built, there was no incentive to look further. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2019 14:25:29 GMT
A moving coil cartridge.
Let me be more specific.......
Any MC cartridge.
The whys and wherefores may need a new thread......!!!
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Post by pauld on Dec 9, 2019 16:52:23 GMT
Interested by your comments on the Beresford Caiman II, Andrew. Did you just use the stock power supply that came with It? Yes just the stock one. It was so far off what I’d consider “good” and also horribly built, there was no incentive to look further. Fair enough, I am surprised, but then I don't care how something is built as long as it sounds good which I guess is an area we are different. The stock power supply is pretty naff, if you added one of the Dorado super cap power supplies you'd be surprised how much difference it would have made. |
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Post by dsjr on Dec 10, 2019 21:07:15 GMT
Glancing at Paul D's dislikes chucks up an interesting one, namely the NVA A80's. That's THREE different people who don't know each other claiming it sounds dull and not that wonderful. I'll add that every time I was demmed a set at Sidcup, one or both blew up in front of me!
Rega own-make MM cartridges - as bad as I always remembered them - the AT91 based carbon is better in many ways and that ain't saying very much.
Many Dynaudio speakers which clinically analyse the sound.
Harbeth C7-ES3 which is the polar opposite of the Dynaudios - full-fat mid bass totally dominates the rather nice mids available.
Funk modded LP12 - ruined the LP12 strong bits, but added nothing of its own that I could see.
Small floor standing Kudos model - absolutely terrible screechy things.
Sugden integrated - like a thick blanket thrown over the speakers - A21SE I think, but a more expensive but vaguely similar amp from Sugden sounded rather better.
I have to say it - NVA Cube 2's - EDIT - Lord knows I tried, but I don't like omni's and the sound from these confirmed it, despite positive vibes at the time I've been reminded of! I did like Cube 1's and the larger Cubix models though in the right room.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2019 21:20:32 GMT
Icon Audio Stereo 20PP.
It did nothing desperately wrong, but was certainly the dullest sounding EL84 amp that's come my way. The Leak Stereo 20 is a revelation by comparison.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2019 22:16:36 GMT
Another one coming back to memory.
2018 - The AudioQuest Nighthawk Headphones. I've had a couple of these. Some of the most terrible sounding transducers my ears has ever heard. They have this awful 'honk' shouty sound. Must be some kind of coloration. Very unwanted indeed!
S.
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Post by dsjr on Dec 11, 2019 7:27:13 GMT
Icon Audio Stereo 20PP. It did nothing desperately wrong, but was certainly the dullest sounding EL84 amp that's come my way. The Leak Stereo 20 is a revelation by comparison. The larer icons were a lot better, especially the models with coppery top plates. |
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Post by firebottle on Dec 11, 2019 8:53:21 GMT
Lounge Audio LCR phono stage.
In its stock form it had distortion and rolled off bass.
Very weird design choices in the circuit, driving the 600 ohm LCR network with a very small value of coupling capacitor, so incorporating bass boost in the preceding (first) stage. Mental.
Much better performance with corrective modifications.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2019 10:20:51 GMT
Glancing at Paul D's dislikes chucks up an interesting one, namely the NVA A80's. That's THREE different people who don't know each other claiming it sounds dull and not that wonderful. I'll add that every time I was demmed a set at Sidcup, one or both blew up in front of me! Rega own-make MM cartridges - as bad as I always remembered them - the AT91 based carbon is better in many ways and that ain't saying very much. Many Dynaudio speakers which clinically analyse the sound. Harbeth C7-ES3 which is the polar opposite of the Dynaudios - full-fat mid bass totally dominates the rather nice mids available. Funk modded LP12 - ruined the LP12 strong bits, but added nothing of its own that I could see. Small floor standing Kudos model - absolutely terrible screechy things. Sugden integrated - like a thick blanket thrown over the speakers - A21SE I think, but a more expensive but vaguely similar amp from Sugden sounded rather better. I have to say it - NVA Cube 2's - absolutely awful and lord knows I tried! Last time I auditioned a deck with a Rega cartridge it sounded pretty poor (20 yrs ago). Doesn't look like they have been changed much. Had the original R100 (Supex?) in the 80s and it sounded great. For some reason Michell are now always using A21SE for show dems? Tried the Cube 2s and can't get totally satisfactory sound. Adding a very powerful amp helped. I don't see how any NVA amp can drive them properly. I think they likely work better near field with lowish ceilings. Mine will be up for sale soon. Luckily I didn't pay the normal price. For that money (£1200) I bought some floorstanders that blow them away. Luckily I have rarely bought anything that sounded really bad. Had some uninspiring amps in the 70's, a Rotel amp and Pioneer SX 535 receiver. Blown away by a NAD 3020. |
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Post by dsjr on Dec 11, 2019 14:25:49 GMT
I still have a R100 with good tip and it's good if not neutral (response tilt). The current 'version' of it is the Sumiko Pearl, which used to be very similar as I believe it shares the design.
I've been reminded about my posted positive vibes about the Cube 2's when I had them at home and reported elsewhere. Thing is *for me,* long term, the 'totally different presentation' just got to me eventually, although some people THRIVE on this way of reproducing music I know. Larger models not so much of an issue for me and I may have said that before.
I'll crawl back under my stone now.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2019 15:53:18 GMT
I still have a R100 with good tip and it's good if not neutral (response tilt). The current 'version' of it is the Sumiko Pearl, which used to be very similar as I believe it shares the design. I've been reminded about my posted positive vibes about the Cube 2's when I had them at home and reported elsewhere. Thing is *for me,* long term, the 'totally different presentation' just got to me eventually, although some people THRIVE on this way of reproducing music I know. Larger models not so much of an issue for me and I may have said that before. I'll crawl back under my stone now. I concluded a combo of ceiling height and listening position may be the problem (large room). Since the bass/mid is upward firing I found I used more volume to get an impact. May go in the office if they don't sell. On the positive they are clean and unfatiging but they seem fairy low efficiency with a limited headroom if you push them with a lot of watts. Law of physics kicks in with box size. Hence likely why you like the large models more. Considering what's available out there (new and used) they are not quite the bargain some think at full retail. They did open my eyes as to how my Missions smoothed over detail and percussion instruments are very well portrayed. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2019 16:58:33 GMT
I still have a R100 with good tip and it's good if not neutral (response tilt). The current 'version' of it is the Sumiko Pearl, which used to be very similar as I believe it shares the design. Also related to Clearaudio and Shelter MM's if I recall. |
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Post by sq225917 on Dec 11, 2019 17:47:15 GMT
Notice the correlation between not liking kit and buying kit. Lol. I wonder if the list would be as long for diyers...
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