There may be others, but two come to mind:
Quad electrostatics -- How can any audio hobbyist in good standing never owned a pair? I remember decades ago being impressed by their natural musical presentation. But something always held me back -- lack of lower bass, not suited to the wide variety of music I listen to, poor reliability reputation (justified or not), and finicky component matching. That was first with the 57 ESL then with the 63. Some years later I heard the 2912 present one of the most realistic recorded jazz performances I've heard, but by then I was retired and they were priced beyond my budget.
Brown Electronic Labs amp -- The BEL amp is lesser known but held a strong reputation for years. Well, not with everyone who heard it. But as I came to learn too late, they could be sensitive to the load presented. Not that they might fail, but in terms of providing their top performance. Many who owned them claimed they really did combine tube-like sweetness with SS power and bass control.
At least I did hear several versions of Quad ESLs, I never heard the BEL so just remained curious about their many raves.
"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - M3 lover 10:35:17 05/27/21 (68)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - mulveling 13:29:49 06/24/21 (0)
- A dedicated listening room - Ozzie 18:49:59 06/6/21 (1)
- Probably the best answer here - M3 lover 09:45:50 06/12/21 (0)
- Klipsch La Scala speakers - tketcham 05:52:00 06/3/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - Schurkey 20:16:31 06/1/21 (0)
- Koss Model 1A electrostatics, triamp-able! Nt - geoffkait 09:20:48 06/1/21 (0)
- Apogee Diva - DrChaos 09:15:02 06/1/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - mondial 18:18:47 05/31/21 (0)
- ESS Heil - Craiger56 09:19:50 05/31/21 (0)
- REL Precedent FM Tuner - lokie 06:56:26 05/31/21 (0)
- the Onkyo amps with the big meters - Green Lantern 18:30:08 05/30/21 (0)
- classic audio component wish I'd owned - hifitommy 15:22:40 05/29/21 (0)
- Quads are certainly nice, but.., - E-Stat 15:12:47 05/28/21 (4)
- Kimber's Sound Labs - M3 lover 14:32:11 05/29/21 (3)
- Bummer! - E-Stat 16:42:35 05/29/21 (2)
- Not to be critical, but - M3 lover 05:49:15 05/30/21 (1)
- Not a problem - E-Stat 06:08:56 05/30/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - Phil_S 12:34:45 05/28/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - svisner 10:26:28 05/28/21 (0)
- Saul Marantz pre, power amp, and tuner - Feanor 08:48:40 05/28/21 (0)
- Quad ESL 63 - Gary 08:05:11 05/28/21 (0)
- Several large silver faced 1970's era receivers - AbeCollins 07:15:47 05/28/21 (6)
- I went down that rabbit-hole with integrated amps... - Chuck 04:21:53 05/29/21 (5)
- Sansui 717 - M3 lover 14:28:30 05/29/21 (0)
- RE: I went down that rabbit-hole with integrated amps... - AbeCollins 10:52:56 05/29/21 (3)
- Interesting - E-Stat 06:42:36 05/30/21 (1)
- RE: Interesting - AbeCollins 17:35:54 06/2/21 (0)
- that is a nice-looking receiver, indeed. And, yes, the Luxman looks drew me in - Chuck 15:22:42 05/29/21 (0)
- David Fletcher's MDC-800 "The Arm" tonearm ... - reelsmith. 06:51:57 05/28/21 (2)
- Here ya go..... - viridian 20:14:08 05/28/21 (1)
- Thank you ... - reelsmith. 07:57:36 05/29/21 (0)
- RE: The big TOTL Infinite Slopes that ruled Hollywood Sound in the Eighties nt - B. Scarpia 03:51:58 05/28/21 (0)
- Tannoy Dreadnought - b.l.zeebub 01:50:06 05/28/21 (1)
- Dreadnought.. awesome name... would have been perfect if it was made by Fisher. -t - The Killer Piglet 05:51:49 05/28/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - D960 00:56:59 05/28/21 (0)
- Quad Electrostatics - Daveslater 22:03:31 05/27/21 (0)
- Nakamichi Dragon - Bill the K 22:00:59 05/27/21 (4)
- Nakamichi Dragon Turntable. (NT) - Kal Rubinson 12:56:25 05/28/21 (3)
- RE: Nakamichi Dragon Turntable. (NT) - Bill the K 00:33:14 05/29/21 (2)
- RE: Nakamichi Dragon Turntable. (NT) - Todd Krieger 01:43:51 06/3/21 (1)
- RE: Nakamichi Dragon Turntable. (NT) - Bill the K 06:55:57 06/3/21 (0)
- Spectral components before they went to closed loop systems. (nt) - Jonesy 20:07:15 05/27/21 (3)
- +1 (but I don't know what you mean by "closed loop") [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 09:30:33 05/28/21 (2)
- RE: +1 (but I don't know what you mean by "closed loop") [nt] - Jonesy 15:41:54 05/28/21 (1)
- Thanks! [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 15:49:21 05/28/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - hahax@verizon.net 19:40:33 05/27/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - DKL 17:54:18 05/27/21 (0)
- Wadia 7 Transport, 9 Decoding Computer......... - Todd Krieger 16:17:14 05/27/21 (0)
- Tannoy Westminster Royal - Jay Buridan 15:27:41 05/27/21 (2)
- RE: Tannoy Westminster Royal - Don Reid 09:46:07 05/30/21 (0)
- Awesome choice. - srdavis2000 18:11:15 05/27/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - fstein 15:17:15 05/27/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - timothywas1@comcast.net 15:10:03 05/27/21 (0)
- Yes, Linn LP12 and IMF TLS 50 - BillH 14:43:36 05/27/21 (1)
- RE: Yes, Linn LP12 and IMF TLS 50 - Daveslater 00:14:28 05/28/21 (0)
- Great choices! - viridian 14:27:14 05/27/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - 6bq5 14:07:37 05/27/21 (0)
- still have my 57's - Story 13:13:25 05/27/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - G Squared 13:05:16 05/27/21 (1)
- I own the Ohm F back in the day - Feanor 08:38:42 05/28/21 (0)
- These... - musetap 12:59:53 05/27/21 (0)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - Sondek 11:05:22 05/27/21 (5)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - tinear 12:43:45 05/27/21 (4)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - Sondek 17:07:24 05/27/21 (3)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - tinear 06:07:12 05/28/21 (2)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - Sondek 08:24:48 05/28/21 (1)
- RE: Is there a classic audio component you wish you'd owned? - tinear 13:18:00 05/28/21 (0)
- Owned the BEL for 6 months. Loved it. But... - tinear 10:50:22 05/27/21 (0)