Curious what other people have in their systems that’s a total sleeper. Mine would have to be a pair of Pioneer S-Z9. They were released circa 2008 bundled with a pioneer network integrated amp. Original MSRP was $1800 USD for the system. I ended up buying these off Canuck audio Mart new old stock (sealed in the original boxes) for $200 Canadian shipped.
They actually were a collaboration with kef, with the drivers originally starting off as 7th Gen UniQ drivers but use TAD (also owned by pioneer) carbon/Plastic/ injection molded matrix cones (3 layer) to improve cone stiffness and dampening, Instead of the molded ridges kef uses on there poly drivers. They are pioneer cast aluminum baskets as well. Crossover also appears to use high quality brands on the caps.
They are very well built, piano gloss finish, 21 pounds, and have a frequency response of 36hz-50khz!! Seriously I have never heard bookshelf speakers this size that go so low!
They are 4ohm and only rated for 50 watts RMS but I’ve been using them at my computer with a bel canto s300i (300 watts RMS into 4ohms) and they sing!
Maybe not when new but these days…
California Audio Labs Delta transport and sigma II tube DAC. Odd cast aluminum chassis, maybe 5 inches wide and very deep, they dont fit with anything dimensionally. Very appealing circuit boards, handmade feel, and well regarded.
Not very well known AFAIK, and from a small California town I’ve been to, so they have some sentimental value I suppose? They got bought out and quashed so whatever was made is all that’s left.
My other gear I think is fairly on the rare side are my Acoustat medallion equipped model 3 electrostatic speakers, and my Yamaha MX-1 amp. Harder to find but not terribly obscure in both cases. Power hungry and powerful, respectively. Bought as a pair, the yamaha now powers my Polk SRS SDA speakers instead of the electrostats. The polks are are somewhat obscure. I buy used stuff so end up with neat finds.
That’s the best I’ve got. 👌