What's your best purchase this year?

[AshleyK]

Anyone got any AV products that they bought this year that they're particularly pleased with?

Something that you've wanted for ages and finally have or just something that made a real difference to your system or maybe even something so cool that you just had to have it?

[ummagumma]

The best (and only) purchase this year was an HRT Music Streamer. After trying wireless products unsuccessfully, this little DAC works a treat with my current setup. One day, a dedicated PC/Mac based system with a decent DAC would be nice but in the mean time the HRT does the trick.

[Neil]

Well I bought an entirely new system this year so can I say everything?
Although I think the CS600 amp is probably the best thing.
Then again my new dac could be....

[T110]

Tough choice. A close call however I think my Pioneer TX9800 Tuner. Closely followed by the Rega Apollo.

[deadc]

Has been pretty much a full 'over-haul' for me in 2011 and a resurgence in my interest in hi-fi also! Pretty sure the Usher's were at the top of my slippery-slope of spending. Just blew everything wide open. Big-up's to RC's speaker wires and the Dynavector P75 too.

Ben

[sirAndy]

Yeah, pretty much a full overhaul for me this year too.
I've bought :
Spendor SP2/3 speakers
Trichord Dino phonostage
Well Tempered Record Player
Benz Micro ACE MC cartridge
Rega Apollo CD player
Audioquest 'King Cobra' interconnects

My best purchase would have to be the Benz ACE because, along with the excellent Dino, it really opened up my vinyl pleasure, even when it was on my old P3-24.
The Spendors are definitely top of the list too. I know I'm not getting the best out of them with my little Arcam (though it really is a great amplifier), so a new amp has to be on the cards for 2012! And hopefully it will have valves...........

My best bargain of the year has to go to the AQ King Cobras (1meter length). I spotted them on Trade Me one afternoon, just listed, with a Buy Now of $1. I wrote in the comments/questions to seller that I was going to hit Buy Now but I realised he'd probably made a mistake and I'd understand if he wanted to cancel and re-list. The seller emailed me after I'd Buy Now-ed and said yes, sorry he'd made a terrible mistake, he'd had a really shitty week and very sorry but would I take them for $10 instead. Naturally I said............. "yes".

[Andrei]

This is an easy one for me: The Oyaide DR510 Co-axial cable. This was only $US 170.00 plus shipping from Japan. The specs were all there: 5 nines silver, good connectors etc. Generally the Japs focus on what I regard as the most important feature of cables - the quality of the material, the copper or silver. I replaced a Nordost co-ax and had one of those gushy moments that reviewers love to write. No, my life did not change but there was a clearly audible improvement in the clarity of the music.

http://www.oyaide.com/ENGLISH/AUDIO/pro ... pg532.html

[Mr Orbe]

Expensive year all round really... The new TRI TR-MC1 SE Reference Step-Up Transformer probably made the biggest leap in quality to the front end of the system... closely followed by the Benz Micro Wood SL. But the real mouth wide open moment has be the Kondo KSL-Vz II Silver Interconnect... between the SUT and the phono stage. Going to be a diet of old shoes and garden insects until I can afford to get another.

[tkr001]

Hmmm, new preamp, power amp, source, interconnects, rack.....Whats the best? I don't know, I like them all. Next year maybe new DAC and thats about it. Said that last year too

[glennb99]

For me it's the Sonus Fabers. They sound and look wonderful. But it was also the good time spent auditioning various speakers and having SWMBO along with me as she has a great ear. This has also meant that she's comfortable with me 'upgrading' various items in the future - and spending some money on vinyl.
The Benz Wood and Moon phono stage haven't been played yet - their spot is taken up by a Xmas tree right now. So they will be in the running for the best purchase of 2012! Although the boys from Turned On Audio will be tempting me again I'm sure ....
Cheers, Glenn