Has anyone found Audio Nirvana?

I don't think we ever "reach nirvana", but I feel I'm getting much closer. In the past I've owned a lot of different, fairly upscale equipment (ML ReQuest, Mirage M3Si, Levinson 27.5, Jadis Defy7 MkIV, VTL MB150's, Theta GenVa Balanced, ARC and Theta Transports, MIT and Transparent cables and interconnect, various ARC line stages and preamps). My current system consists of Avalon Eclipse speakers, Manley Designers Ref 240 mono tube amps, ARC LS15 linestage, MSB LinkDAC3, Pioneer DVD transport, Synergistic Sig#2/Sig#3 Shotgun cable, Tek-line Balanced interconnect, Tek-line digital cable, dedicated 20 amp outlets (no separate audio ground yet), Synergistic AC Couplers, Powerwedge 114. I know my front-end is not on par with the preamp/amp/speakers, but it is making music as I wait out the format war for awhile. In fact, I am much happier with the sound of my system today than I was with my Theta Data Basic/GenVa/LS15/Jadis Defy7MkIV/Avalon Eclipse system! The Manley amps, along with the Avalon Eclipse speakers provided the two greatest improvements/revelations I've ever had in my quest for audio nirvana. I've also just had the Manleys upgraded to the latest transformers and MIT MusicCap capacitors. Another revelation! I am confident that as I make improvements to the front end of my system, audio nirvana will be near at hand. IMHO, it takes a fair-to-alot of experimentation to match your equipment to what moves you about music. I am there! The remaining improvements will merely add the last ounce or two of realism.

I have a split personality. The equipment junkie side of me will always want something else. The music lover side is usually pretty happy with the way things sound right now. My system is Monitor Audio 50, REL Stadium (2), Pass electronics, RPM/Benz phono, Revox FM, Sony/Sonic Frontiers CD, Revox and Nakamichi tape, Discovery and OCOS wire, PS Audio power conditioners, SolidSteel w/ BDR stands and various RoomTune products. I'm a junkie, but I admit it. I'm always looking for another fix.

What a great question.I have wondered the same and can relate to the previous response about the "equipment junkie" inside myself. There is alot of great equipment out there and I have sold equipment I wish I could get back. There are nights where I have met Audio Nirvana but for some reason it goes away the next time I listen, which is probably all psychological. To me one of the great things about the hobby is hearing the different equipment offered. Also what might be one persons Nirvana won't move another. It comes down to personal taste for you and the synergy that each component in the chain does for each other. I am waiting for the day when Nirvana hits and stays. I have tried many different amps from tubes to solid state/Speakers: cone drivers,ribbons,electrostats and many different cables and cd players and have to say there is alot of great stuff out there that have different strengths. It comes down to personal taste. Sorry for the rambling but I know on the whole I am having a great time in search of Nirvana. Thanks to the internet also for it has opened our world to realistic prices to demo the equipment out there without losing a fortune. Enjoy!

Not yet, but getting closer. My equipment... a frosty beverage and my Legacy Focus.

AS GOOD AS IT GETS!!!! Multi fold improvement when I added Avantgarde speakers to BAT, VK-60 amp, VK-50SE pre, Sony super CD player and dCS Delius D/A. Nordost top of the line cables. Result is music that is ALIVE with smooth ultra detail. I'm in process of up-grading power cords, possibly the new Black Mamba. Check out the Avantgarde, even their smallest eclipses speakers 4 times the price. Happy hunting.