How prevalent are 2nd systems? My sense is that a fair number of folks have a 2nd system. I put together a very nice bedroom system- NAD 316 bee V2, Node (n130) and Wharfedale Diamond 12.2 on Monoprice stands. Cabling is DH labs (IC), Supra (speaker) and Audioquest (pc on Node). Frankly, I’d have been thrilled as a teen to have a system that sounds as good as my bedroom system
Everyone needs a second system for the hand-me-downs from the first system.
I had the makings of a second system, but lent my stand mounts and stands to a good friend who’s been letting me build diffusers at his cabinet making factory.
Some of you may know that I used to build speakers for a designer in Australia.
When I got confirmation that Mike my former boss would create a new design that I could build, I was happy to give the mighty little speakers to my local audiophile friend, with no expectation of return. Where I live, raised trucks and guns are the main hobbies, not many audiophile in West Texas I’m afraid.
I’m waiting for the latest design to finalise so that I can make some two way stand mounts here in Texas, and I will use my current ML2 as hand-me-downs for a second system to replace the (Oh, I’m so going to lose credibility here) Bose speakers in my lounge room servicing the TV.
twoleftears is right, repurposing equipment is a great idea.
My second system is at the opposite end of the room from my first system.
It contains the items I used full-time in the day bur are so iconic I cannot get rid of them: Simon Yorke Zarathustra (16 built); Zeta arm (said to have belonged to Ken Kessler (because the mounting screws were torqued too tightly); Ortofon Anna (because it is too massy for the lightweight Aeroarm in my first system; Krell KSA50 (Krell's first product); Audio Research SP10 (because...); Audiostatic ES200s I amongst the first good 'full-range' electrostatics.
Still a great system as when it was my main system from the 80s to 1998.
Full time 5th wheel RVing though stationary during all out end to end and top to bottom remodel including systems. Cheap, reliable and easy on the ears but gets it on in this little space very well.
Into audio all my life but family, racing cars and bicycles, etc... took most all my funds so audio was always on a budget but still very good. I did have $25k and hundreds of hours into a car audio system(s) at one time and it was far better than most here might imagine as most have never heard anything near what is possible, only a few shops in the country new how to do it right, mine was DIY of course as most everything I ever do is.
Most recent:
"Living room" KEF line array on side walls, Harmon Kardon BDS2 blue ray receiver(better sounding that it might seem) Arc Audio 12" Black Line sealed sub, Dayton 1kw class H amp.
Kichen, above range hood, one of several BT speakers so my wife can hear better while cooking as she spends hours a day doing up wonderful food.
Bedroom, Tablet and of of the BT speakers.
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New project, major work to make it fit including redesigning woofer section of main speakers. I used this setup in the house before we went RVing and always wanted to use it again so out of storage and major work then likely best sounding RV I will ever hear:)
Living room, Edgarhorn sliimlines with huge mil spec oil filled caps, foil inductors, Fostex horn tweeters. Fully upgraded Baby Sophia amp. (undecided components include either 83SE or build a very compact media server, BD player. Sub will be either two sealed ID 15's or one folded horn 15 or the Arc 12 folded horn. Dayton amp as above or build in Dayton amp of the same rating)
Living room second system for general listining, Martin Logan sound bar, audio sourced from TV(Qobuz) laptop, tablet, media system, etc....We usually leave the sub off when using the sound bar as OK that way for general listening.
Kitchen, looking at various higher grade BT speakers.
Bedroom, same as above or another Martin Logan sound bar and use the tablet for Qobuz.
I’ve got four! A main Mac system with MC500 amp c2300 pre VPI turntable D150 and Tannoy Churchill’s. Two vintage Mac systems (one with mc30 s, and a mc240) the with two turntables one ar-xa and thorens td 165 that I’ve restored and modified! The last one is in the bedroom surround sound with a mc152 and marantz AVR. Sonus Faber Venere with the mc30s, and custom restored JBL L100s with the mc240. I’ve got too much but it’s fun!
Technically I don’t have a 2nd system running in concurrent mode or in two separate rooms. The reason is simple: I have got a nice sound treated room for dedicated audio and video viewing. It is hard to find another space in the house to do proper sound treatment for the 2nd system.
Having said that, I do have 3 pairs of speakers (B&W 705 S2, Herbath C7ES, B&W 702S2) and 4 units of amplifiers in rotation every few month (Hegel H20, McIntosh MHA 150, Benchmark AHB 2, and Parasound Halo A23+). After many years in this hobby, I have paid enough tuition to learn that you can never have a perfect system for every types of music you hear, so mix / match and rotations are fun and necessary :)
I do keep the upstream components fairly stable (Technics 1200 turntable, Rotel CD player, Hi Fi Rose network streamer, Gustard & Denafrips DACs feeding into PS audio BHK preamplifier).
I have 3 systems. My two channel is in my listening room and has the expensive stuff. I have Home Theater systems in my living room and basement with decent mid Fi equipment. I too would have been thrilled with either of those systems in my younger days
Hello Zavato! I have 7 systems in my home (and a very tolerant wife). The big rig is a 5.0 suttpund sound systen in the living room. A 5.1 surround sound system lives in the den. The master bedroom has a 2.1 package, the doube office has 3 systems 2.0 and a pair of 2.1, the Studio also has a 2.0 and 2.1 system. Yes, I'm an audio enthusiast! The studio rigs have open reel tape, cassette, and phono capabilities. I am able to demonstrate just about any aspect of audio to newbies and am active in encouraging folks to experidnce the value of having good sound in their homes. Primary sources of music are CDs ripped to a computer, Amazon Prime streaming, TV and FM stations. PBS music show are often compressed, but BBC programs often have excelent sound, particulariy the Attenborough nature programs. Happy Listening!
Main system is in my office/lounge and second system is in the entertainment room/hangout area of our house.
Main System Innuos Zenith with Phoenix USB, Mola Mola Tambaqui, Technics SU-R1000, Parasound JC1+’s and JBL L100 Classis 75’s (speaker shopping now) with Dual JL Fathom 13’s. Benchmark HPA4 and Focal Stellia. Teac TN-5bb with cadenza blue MC.
Second System: Innuos Zen, Musetec 005, Technics SU-G700MK2, Azure 851w monoblocks, KEF LS50 Metas and dual Kube 12b sub’s. Sony TA-ZH1ES Sony Z1R headphones. Cambridge Alva TT
Looking forward to hearing the new Alta Audio Adam speakers, but need a Reference Speaker for my maim system.
I've got two besides the main system..A guest bedroom system with a vintage Pioneer receiver and Celestion Ditton speakers and a very modest HT setup in the family room - Old Audiolab integrated, Polks, Sony Blue ray.
My second system is in our finished basement,aka The Pit. Currently running a First Watt F5, Promitheus TVC, Hornshoppe Great Horned Heils, April Music DAC, Bluesound Node 2, and an Onkyo C-7030 (running thru the DAC)
2 systems here. 3.0 HT for TV in living room. Tube amplified vinyl/cd/tuner system for music in spare room. Don't know which is second system, one used more, one better sound...go figure.
Garage system is all Bottlehead SETs, phono pre and line pre. Speakers are Madisound BK-16 with super tweeters and Mirage sa-8 sub. Ready-made stuff are a Thorens 316 mk2, a Node 2i with outboard power supply and NAD 5100 cd.
Back up garage system is a Pioneer sx-2500 receiver (1971) with JBL L14 speakers (1978) and NAD 5425 cd.
I do have a 2nd system in my study. It is built around a Luxman L507uX integrated amplifier, Dynaudio Contour 20 bookshelf speakers, a Metronome CD player, a Chord Qutest DAC, a Zen Mini streamer and LPSU. This is a contrast to my main system which is tube based. I also have a basic 3rd system in in study for the desktop, which is built around a set of LEF LSX speakers and a KEF subwoofer which connect to my PC via Bluetooth. Am looking to change my 3rd system soon too (as soon as the devil and angel on my right and left shoulders finish their discourse) 😅
2nd, 3rd...got em. i switch my stuff around a lot cuz i dont plan to keep it all but im not sure what i want to hang on to yet. i like it all, but i dont need it all.
second system is conrad johnson PV8, rega planar 3 w/ sumiko blue point #3 HOMC, focusrite scarlett 2i2, soundtech power amp, adcom GFA-535 amp, and a pair of halford loudspeakers margaritas.
Main is analog only. Office is digital only. Living room Tube CD player with 3 pair of hand me down speakers. And bathroom is a very cool Meridian F80 Ferrari designed Radio/CD. Office is a very high end tube DAC only 44.1 and nice Theta Compli transport. And Schitt Dac for computer source. But the main system is medium ultra high end with beautiful Woodsong Garrard 301, AGD amps, Atma-Sphere pre and Tetra 606s.
Had a mid-fi secondary, Rogue Sphynx, Totem Skys, vintage Onkyo Integra cp-1057 t/t. Sold amp and speakers and went all vintage as it wasn’t for critical listening. Turns out, sounds pretty good.
I have a bedroom system but no music player, it's for TV only. Can't stand built-in TV speakers and can't be bohthered with "sound bars". I have an extra NODE lying around but I don't really care to listen in my bedroom, and if I did I would probably use my FiiO DAP.
2nd system in my beach home. It’s not the biggest room so went with Paradigm Persona B speakers and an Anthem STR Integrated. Streaming through an Innuos ZEN Mini MK3.
I have a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. Do I need professional help? Btw, with lumin streamers, I can sync them all and pump too many watts to count through our house!
I had two separate systems of high-$$$ equipment. My "main" system was the one I listened to 90% of the time. I had great equipment that I replaced originally but couldn't bear to part with some of the pieces, so I made a 2nd system. After two-years of barely using it (used it mainly for background music while working from home) it was a shame to let this stuff sit, so I sold it and have never looked back. While if you can afford to have really good equipment in multiple areas of your home that may be nice, however I've found that for most of my listening enjoyment, my reference system is what pleases me. And... When I sold the 2nd system pieces, I had more discretionary $$$ to purchase upgrades or additional pieces to enhance my reference system listening experience.
Four systems if we count the AV system, all in house. I think the idea came from the TAS days when there were upstairs, main room, and basement systems discussed in reviews.
It is useful for keeping items that may turn out to have unexpected synergies, and to have a variety of rooms to enjoy with music.
Selling off bits of systems now and then allows me to raise funds for the next round of mucking about. Or a nice bottle of something, Cheers.
HT 5.1 channel system - Rotel pre-amp, Rotel 5 channel power amp, Velodyne sub, Oppo Blu-Ray player, Wharfdale towers, center channel, and bookshelf surrounds.
Secondary 2 channel system - Rotel Integrated, Linn Ninka towers, Oppo DVD, Cambridge Audio DAC
Office / Computer system - Marantz DAC / Headphone amp, Klipsch “the Fives” powered speakers, Beyerdynamic Headphones.
I rarely get rid of old gear and repurpose them in other systems elsewhere.
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