What are your favorite 'giant killer' pieces of audio equipment?

What audio equipment do you own or heard that puts the expensive gear to shame? Since price is relative it doesn't have to be inexpensive....just a great value. Don't forget cables. I have a few favorites.

Little Dot MK III Headphone Amp $ 250 - Gives my $3000 preamp a run for it's money (when used as a preamp).

Polk LSi9s $700 for a pair I have to keep telling people that the subwoofer is not on since these go very low for small speakers.

Emotiva XPA-2 Amplifier $600 (factory second)- my old amp couldn't handle my Polk LSi-9s 4 ohm load. The Emotiva doesn't break a sweat and sounds great.

Oppo BDP-95 $900 It's not cheap but it's a great value. I've got it hooked up to my home server streaming wav files and it sounds just as good as playing the CD version.

 

Oppo BDP-95
Squeezebox Classic

 

Having just bought one, I would agree.

 

I didn't get it last night already, what's that all about ? Why did you buy that machine ?
For DVD's ?

 

No, my main player has to go to the shop and I always wanted a player with SACD playback.

 

Ah, I see - makes sense with all the SACD's you own.
So the main CD Player (NAIM 555 ?) will be repaired ?

 

Citation II amplifiers. Citation I and Fisher 202T preamps as far as good bargains.
The MC240 is not cheap, but sounds better than the price would indicate.


Steve

 

PIONEER VSX-D1S A/V STEREO RECEIVER (1990/1993)





PIONEER PD-91 REFERENCE CD PLAYER (1987/1990)





PIONEER DV-09 REFERENCE DVD PLAYER (1998/2000)





PIONEER DSS-9 THREE-WAY LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM (1986/1990)








(the DSS-9 are the only components i don't yet own, and i hope to, someday...)

 

The old Optimus 3400 portable CD player. It was like stone soup—the sound would be better with an upgraded battery based power supply, it would work better with an outboard DAC, it would work better if, if, if.

But for $129.00 I had a world-class digital transport.

 

If it will work with your speakers, the MiniWatt N3. The earlier S1 is fantastic too.

 

"Giant killer " sounds like a fairy tail .

 

I have the Dot II+ which I am using as a preamp in my bedroom set-up. The sound is awesome, and yet from all I've read, the early production Dots aren't even in the same ballpark as the MK IIIs.
I thank you for bringing this to my attention. My wife, however, does not!

The XPA-2 is in my main 2.1 system driving a pair of 6 ohm Musical Fidelity OML-1s, and I wholeheartedly agree with you - power reserve galore, solid from top to bottom. While my speakers don't present much of a challenge, I have read anecdotes on other forums that this monster is unstoppable on a variety of designs.

 

I got my Little Dot MK III on Audiogon for $175..problem is they don't last long.

 

My Sansui G-7700 is a giant "Giant killer" the dimensions are 21" wide, 7" tall and 12" deep.

 

Wow...hope you wear a weight belt and lift with your knees when you move that sucker.

 

Ahh, I'm young (19) my back can take it.

 

Magnepan MMGs

 

Are you speaking of the Stewart Hegeman designed HK behemoth?
At 60-70lbs each, I'd say they are more like a back killer than 'giant killer'.

 

Black Cat Veloce 75 ohm cable.

Kimber Hero and 8TC cables.

 

I'll ad my lowly Pilot 602 tube receiver.
They can still be found dirt cheap, for the time being, at least. And everyone I know who's ever heard one, has been amazed, by this little 6bq5 wonder.

 

Technics SL-1200 turntable with Shure V15 Type V-MR moving magnet cartridge

 

The OP simply asked for fave giant killer equipment. Not numerous giant pictures of Pioneer components.

 

Any port in a storm.

 

My Onix Rocket speakers would qualify as they both look/sound great for the price I paid 5 years ago.
They've held up solidly even though I put them through some paces in my HT.

 

I'll counter with: Bose 901 MK-VI with EQ and 12" off the ground.