Component(s) you would induct into a "Hi-Fi Hall of Fame"?

[Oddball]

Right, since science calls - would be something like this...a bit bigger drum and perhaps a blue bunny?

 

[xanalog]

OK Oddball now "funny bunny" is a technical term that needs explaining. ????

?

 

[Devnull]

Koss Pro4AA headphones, going strong for 45 years

 

[Robin L]

Koss Pro4AA headphones, going strong for 45 years

Speaking from experience, all I can say is "Ouch!".

 

[egellings]

Here are some older lists I had found in the past.

Hifi Choice:

1. Linn Sondek LP12 turntable
2. NAD 3020 integrated amplifier
3. Quad Electrostatic loudspeaker
4. Rega Planar 3 turntable
5. Pioneer A400 integrated amplifier
6. B&W Nautilus 801 loudspeaker
7. BBC LS3/5a loudspeaker
8. Marantz CD-63 MkII KI Signature CD player
9. Garrard 301 turntable
10. Wharfedale Diamond loudspeaker

German Hifi forum audio classics voting results:

1 Philips CD 100
2 Braun SK 61 Schneewittchensarg
3 Nakamichi Dragon
4 Revox B 77
5 Quadral Titan
6 Technics SL 1210 MKII/SL1200 MKII
7 Klipsch Eckhorn
8 Braun Atelier Last Edition
9 Revox A 77
10 Braun Atelier II
11 Yamaha NS-1000 Monitor
12 Sennheiser HD 414
13 Shure V 15 Type III
14 Dual 1219
15 Thorens TD 160
16 Quad ESL 57
17 Apple I-Pod
18 Luxman L 410
19 Bose 901
20 Beyerdynamic DT 990
21 SME 3009
22 Denon DL-103
23 JBL Control One
24 Braun L 710
25 Burmester Vorstufe 808
26 Sony CDP-101
27 Thorens TD 126
28 Infinity Kappa 9
29 Saba 9260
30 Yamaha Piano Craft Mini Anlage
31 Yamaha B 6
32 Onkyo T-9990
33 NAD 3020
34 Accuphase E-206
35 Stax SR-X Mk III | SRA-3S
36 Grundig Fine Arts Serie
37 Braun T 1000
38 Luxman C-02 | M-02
39 Linn LP 12
40 Braun R1
41 Backes & Mueller BM 20
42 Kenwood KA-907
43 Marantz 2270
44 Grundig Audiorama Kugelbox 4000
45 K&H FM 2002
46 Yamaha T 2
47 ACR Eckhorn
48 Dual 701
49 Dual 721
50 JBL 4315
51 Ortofon MC-20
52 Yamaha CT-7000
53 Akai GX-75 II
54 ASC 6002
55 Braun RT 20
56 |JBL 250 TI
57 Thorens TD 124
58 Yamaha C2 / M2
59 Dual 704
60 ESS AMT Boxen
61 Nakamichi 1000 ZXL
62 Revox B 780
63 Yamaha C4 / M4
64 AKG K 141
65 Backes & Mueller BM 12
66 Magnat ALL RIBBON 8
67 McIntosh MC 275
68 McIntosh MR 78
69 Shure M 75
70 Sony CDP-X 707 ES
71 Transrotor AC (von 1976 )
72 Arcus TL 1000
73 Dual 1224
74 Magnat ALL RIBBON 10
75 Marantz 2600
76 Mikro Seiki DDX-1000
77 Revox B 790
78 Accuphase E-303X
79 Infinity IRS Beta
80 Pioneer SX-1980
81 Quadral Vulkan
82 Revox B 760
83 Revox B 710 MK II
84 Revox B 215
85 Akai GX-75
86 Burmester Endstufe 911
87 Canton Quinto 540
88 Canton GLE 100
89 Infinity Kappa 9a
90 MB Quart One
91 Pioneer Spec 1 und 2
92 Philips CD 304
93 Sansui TU-9900
94 Wega Lab Zero Tuner
95 Yamaha A-700
96 Audio Technica AT 95
97 Bang & Olufsen Beolab 5000
98 Lenco L75
99 Mission Cyrus One
100 Philips CD 104
101 Revox B 285
102 Sony DAT 2000 ES
103 Tandberg TR-2075
104 Tannoy Westminster
105 Cabasse Albatros II
106 Denon DL-110
107 Denon DCD-1500
108 Dual 1009
109 Grundig Heinzelmann
110 Kenwood KT-917
111 Luxman C-05 | M-05
112 Luxman PD 300
113 Ortofon OM Einschuebe, alle Varianten
114 Pioneer CT 95
115 Pioneer A-27
116 Revox PR 99
117 Saba Hifi Studio Freiburg Telecommander
118 Sernnheiser Orpheus
119 Sony WM-23 Walkman
120 Tivoli Radio / Henry Kloss
121 B&W 803s
122 Dual 731
123 Dual 1228
124 Grundig Monolith 190
125 Kenwood KT-1100
126 Marantz PM 8
127 Naim Nait 2
128 Onkyo TA-2070
129 Sansui AU-20000
130 Spendor BC 1
131 Telefunken Mister Hit
132 Accuphase C-280
133 Bang & Olufsen Beogram 1200 turntable
134 Canton Ergo A
135 Dual 601
136 Dual 741
137 Kenwood MODEL 600
138 Manger Schallwandler
139 Mikro Seiki BL 91
140 Onkyo T-9900
141 Revox G 36
142 TDL / IMF Selbstbauboxen
143 Yamaha AX-1070
144 Aiwa Minianlage
145 Akai AM-95
146 Burmester CD Player 001
147 Dual 1019
148 Dual C-844
149 Grundig Mini Serie MR 100, MXV 100, MT 100, MCF ***
150 Grundig T 7500
151 Magnat MP-X 101
152 Mission Cyrus Two
153 Pioneer C-21
154 Pioneer M-22
155 Pioneer Blaue Serie SA-9500
156 Thorens TD 145
157 Yamaha A-500
158 Yamaha KX-670
159 Yamaha T 7
160 Akai GX-9
161 Backes & Mueller BM 6
162 Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 3000
163 Canton Ergo P
164 Denon PMA-1560
165 Dual CS 505-X
166 Infinity IRS V
167 Magnat Transpuls MX-088
168 Magnat MP-02
169 Marantz 10B
170 Marantz 2245
171 McIntosh MC 2300
172 Nakamichi ZX 9
173 Nakamichi RX-505
174 Ortofon T-30
175 Philips CD 850
176 Pro-Ject Pro Ject 1
177 Restek FM 3003
178 RFT BR 50 ( BR 100 )
179 Sansui G-33000
180 Sony TPS-L2 Walkman
182 Sony PCM F-1
182 Technics RS 1500
183 Telefunken TRX 3000
184 Quad II
185 Wega Concept 51 K
186 Yamaha MC-9
187 Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 1200 radio / amplifier
188 Dual C-901
189 Garrard 401
190 Grundig Sonoclock
192 Grundig XV 5000
192 Kenwood Kombination 700T, 700C, 700M
193 Magnepan MG III - 3.6
194 Marantz 1300 DC
195 Pioneer A-878
196 Pioneer Blaue Serie CT-F900
197 Revox A 720
198 T&A A2D
199 Tannoy Dual Concentrics
200 Telefunken Opus 2550
201 Thorens Referenzlaufwerk
202 Yamaha KX-690
203 Alpine AL 85
204 Bang & Olufsen Beolit 1000 transistor radio
205 Dual CV-1700
206 Dual 604
207 Dual 606
208 Grundig T 5000
209 Kenwood KA-1000
210 Marantz Esotec Serie
211 Marantz 2500
212 Marantz SD 9020
213 Naim 250
214 Onkyo Integra A-8850
215 Onkyo Integra A-8870
216 Pioneer Blaue Serie TX-9500
217 Sony DAT 670
218 Technics RS 1700
219 Transrotor Rotary
220 Yamaha K-320
221 Akai GX-F91
222 Akai AM-75
223 ASC 6000
224 Bang & Olufsen Beovox 2700 loudspeakers
225 Bang & Olufsen Beovox 3700 loudspeakers
226 Bang & Olufsen Beolit 400 transistor radio
227 Burmester Vorstufe 785
228 Dual 621
229 Dual 626
230 Dual 714
231 Dual 1249
232 Heliradio RK88 sensit
233 Hitachi CA / HMA 7500
234 JVC AX-5
235 JVC AX-1100
236 K&H VS 71
237 Nakamichi BX-2
238 Philips CD 303
239 Philips CD 880
240 Philips CD 207
241 Rema Toccata 940
242 Rosita Kugelanlage auf Trompetenfuss
243 Sansui AU-717
244 Sansui AU-919
245 Tandberg TCD-3014A
246 Technics RS-9900
247 Technics SB 10
248 Technics SA 1000
249 Telefunken M 10
250 Transrotor Delight

Is it a Hall of Fame when it has such a large membership?

 

[FrantzM]

Those are pieces of jewelry disguised as tape recorders.

Not sure I agree with that assessment
. They were tools. Nagra were prized by professional sound recordists. They were ubiquitous among journalists , cinematographers and scientists. The brand became the gold standard for mobile/portable high quality tape recorders
The brand devolved into the High End Audio segment although they seem to retain some involvement into other professional events non audio fields.

Peace.

 

[Palmer]

The Melco 3560, from the 70ies - before the Micro Seiki's...

 

[thewas]

Is it a Hall of Fame when it has such a large membership?

In the end its a is relative and subjective assessment, while yes, the voting list is large, in the end even 250 items out of ten-thousands produces is a top selection.

 

[egellings]

In the end its a is relative and subjective assessment, while yes, the voting list is large, in the end even 250 items out of ten-thousands produces is a top selection.

Didn't realize that there were that many contestants.

 

[mhardy6647]

Koss Pro4AA headphones, going strong for 45 years

Longer than that.

1971
source: https://www.alliedcatalogs.com/flipbook/1971_allied_radioshack_catalog_ver3.html
2025 - 1971 = 54
Preceded by the PRO-4A (of course!):

source: https://www.alliedcatalogs.com/flipbook/1967_allied_radio_catalog.html?fb3d-page=507
1967

Which, it goes without saying , came after the PRO-4:

source: https://www.alliedcatalogs.com/flipbook/1963_allied_radio_catalog.html?fb3d-page=448
1963

Speaking from experience, all I can say is "Ouch!".

Yup.
My main beef against the PRO-4AA
There's actually a pair of PRO-4AAA here... which I bought for our son (many) years back... and which he rather quickly, and wisely, replaced with some Sennheisers. The Koss headphones sound OK, but they are uncomfortable.

 

[xanalog]

Longer than that.

@mhardy6647's reply reminded me that there are a few [others] that should get honorable mention, in the *DOA-subsection of the Hall of Fame.
*Heathkits
*DAT recorders/players/tapes [e.g. SonyDTC-59ES, which really was not "ES" caliber]

 

[mhardy6647]

@mhardy6647's reply reminded me that there are a few [others] that should get honorable mention, in the *DOA-subsection of the Hall of Fame.
*Heathkits
*DAT recorders/players/tapes [e.g. SonyDTC-59ES, which really was not "ES" caliber]

I've got a MiniDisc recorder -- that counts, right?



PS Now don't all y'all be dissin' Heathkits!

 

[Chrispy]

Just makes me wonder how many more there would be candidates for the hifi wall of shame....

 

[Robin L]

@mhardy6647's reply reminded me that there are a few [others] that should get honorable mention, in the *DOA-subsection of the Hall of Fame.
*Heathkits
*DAT recorders/players/tapes [e.g. SonyDTC-59ES, which really was not "ES" caliber]

But, as regards productions of Classical CDs, DAT recorders were revolutionary. One could go to a remote location with everything they needed for a recording—microphones, stands, cable, microphone preamps/mixing board AND recorder—in a single pass. Made professional recording of anything involving just two channels much easier and more cost effective. I would place the Panasonic SV 3700 on the hall of fame list, even though it had more than a few drawbacks.

[mhardy6647] I've got a MiniDisc recorder -- that counts, right?

Nope.

 

[Snarfie]

Well designed Bass ports in general. TL design is my favorite. I'm still amazed how much my small IMF Compact II Monitors 55 years old produce such controlled deep lows.

 

[xanalog]

Great for parties, as a BYOM tool but was NOT great enough for this HoF!

Sony WMD-DT1

 

[Robin L]

Great for parties, as a BYOM tool but was NOT great enough for this HoF!
View attachment 462380
Sony WMD-DT1

Maybe not, but I found this a useful back-up recorder when recording concerts. I'm sure some CDs were issued using this as a source. The flaw, as with all DAT recorders, was the unfortunately high possibility of the tape getting tangled, along with the prohibitively high cost of repairing the recorders.

 

[mhardy6647]

Well designed Bass ports in general. TL design is my favorite. I'm still amazed how much my small IMF Compact II Monitors 55 years old produce such controlled deep lows.View attachment 462377

Had a pair of IMF SuperCompact II for a while - they were excellent.
I'd still have them, but the midrange surrounds were deteriorating, I couldn't easily source replacement surrounds, and so I swapped them for some camera equipment.

 

[Plan9]

B&O Beocenter 2200 for looks alone and humble, original Wharfedale Diamond for fun.

 

[Snarfie]

Had a pair of IMF SuperCompact II for a while - they were excellent.
I'd still have them, but the midrange surrounds were deteriorating, I couldn't easily source replacement surrounds, and so I swapped them for some camera equipment.

I'm m lucky the IMF Compact II does not have a foam ring but a steady ruber ring still in one piece after 55 year.