Brands you don't think twice about buying

What are some brands whose products you don't hesitate to buy? I mean that in two ways:

1. You know their product is well built, reliable, and is pleasant to use repeatedly (i.e. you're not going to get ripped off.)
2. You have no regret about buying it, because their products are best-in-class, so you don't have to spend time fretting about buying something else. (i.e. there aren't any other better choices other than niche/boutique options).

What I don't mean:
1. Their products cost the most
2. Their products are perceived as luxury.

Here are mine:
1. Apple
2. Bowers and Wilkins
3. McIntosh
4. Canon
5. Rolex, maybe Omega

 

Yamaha

 

Apple
Sony
Panasonic
Yamaha

 

None. They all have duds somewhere along the way, whether it's build quality, sound quality or anything ergonomic. Some are better than others I guess. I mostly trust gear from Bryston, Dynaudio, and a couple others.

 

Sticking to audio gear:
Marantz
Yamaha
Technics
Audio-Technica
NHT

 

In the days when I was buying cassette decks, Technics. Equipped my Dad with (almost) a full Technics system. it was good stuff.

TV, VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray etc. - Panasonic all the way. Never bought anything else since the late 1980s, apart from a Pioneer that was needed for SACD and DVD-A.

Audio recorders; Tascam.

 

Acura
Honda
Schiit
Michelin
Buffalo Trace Distillery
Christian Louboutin <-- Makes me a winner with the wife...
Apple
Dewey's Pizza
Tabasco
Spyderco

 

Ortofon

 

back in the 80's -Carver...

 

First Watt

 

6. Vintage Leica Rangefinder Cameras
7. Vintage Guild Guitars
8. Steinway Pianos
9. Vintage Hammond Organs
10. Vintage Tannoy Loudspeakers
11. Vintage Klipsch Heritage Loudspeakers
12. Vintage EV Loudspeakers
13. Vintage Altec Lansing Loudspeakers
14. Vintage Mercedes-Benz Automobiles

 

McIntosh
Audio Research

BillWojo

 

With apologies that this is going to sound like a total homer post...

SH Forum album reviews; specifically "best version of Title <x> on Format <y>."

Whenever I'm going to buy an album digitally or on vinyl, I consult with this forum via google search and it has so far never led me astray. Sometimes it takes some digging and every now and again a leap of faith after reading between lines but by and large, the versions, masterings and formats recommended in our Music forum cannot be beat.

For the more tangible side of the hobby:
Dynaudio
Anthem
SVS

May not always be "best" but these brands have consistently excellent performance, reliability, and aesthetics IMO.

 

Lexus: Their customer service/appreciation is so good that it made Mercedes treat their customers as if it was a privilege for MB that they were there not the other way around.
Audio stuff:
Yamaha
McIntosh
KEF
Technics

 

Benz Micro
Schiit
Belles
Magnum Dynalab
Paradigm
Marantz
Rotel
Luxman
Kimber
Acoustic Sounds
Ortofon
Rega

 

Crosley-)

 

Clearaudio

 

Things I could buy without hesitation;
NAD

Things I should hesitate buying but don't;
Tsingtao
Sobranie Black Russian's

 

Harbeth loudspeakers
Vintage Thorens turntables
Martin Guitars

 

McIntosh
Harbeth
Yamaha
Luxman
Rotel

Non-audio:

Seiko
Honda & Toyota
Toro

 

Cavalli Audio headphone amps.

One of my regrets is not buying a new Cavalli Liquid Crimson headphone amp when it was on sale for a week during an audio show. I put it in the online shopping cart. And didn't pull the trigger. I will forever have missed that opportunity to buy a dream amp that ended up being produced in more limited numbers than I expected. It's now an amp that is difficult to find used because so few were sold new. I should not have thought twice about buying it when I had it in the shopping cart. Lesson learned.

 

Benz Micro
Excel
Empire
Thorens
NAD
Linn
Ortofon
Velodyne
Tannoy
ELAC
PS Audio

Guarnari
Stradivari
Hoyne Brewery
Burrowing Owl winery
Tree Cannabis products
Arizer Vaporizers
Como Valley Cheese

 

Cyrus, ART, Omega and Rega

 

You honestly don't believe Rolex is perceived by most people as a luxury purchase?

 

I've owned three of those five brands for over 20 years each. Now, I wouldn't buy any of them again.