For me going back 10 years I switched from a CD player, that died, to using Dacs just two and I still use the 2nd Dac (once it returns from being refurbished). New speakers in that time frame also and a new streamer. Also cycled through lots of cabling. And I just a few months ago had to replace my 20 year old amp, with a different 20 year old amp. So yes pretty different but more an evolution than revolution.
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In my main system only the Quad ESL 63 main speakers, a modified Michell Orbe SE turntable (with updated arm and cartridge), and MD FM tuner remain. The rest is new and improved.
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I was already in the process of turning from ribbon / planner speaker systems and a very details up front sounding system (I called “reference”)… to more natural musical sounding system. So ten years ago I had: ARC preamp and Phono stage, Pass x350 amp, Sim Moon DAC + external power supply and Sonus Faber Olympica speakers.
With this in place… indicating to me that i was the right path forward I swapped or upgraded all components to Audio Research Reference. With that incredible DAC in place… upgraded my streamer several times from a MacBook to the flagship Aurender and speakers to Sonus Faber Amati Traditional and upgraded my turntable from VPI to Linn. By an order of magnitude the biggest sound quality improvement I made in the last 50 years.
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Now that I think about it, my whole system has changed to a much better one in the last ten-twelve years. Got rid of Dynavector Contour 5.4's, and custom built Tannoy HPD 315's, have fairly recently bought the last, and best tube amp I will have (a 3C24 amp built by Paul Birkeland).
I just bought the biggest improvement I've ever experienced, a Herron VTSP 3/A 360 r2 preamp, it's brought me to the promised land (it's there if you can find it). I built a Garrard 401 turntable with Dyynavector 501 arm, it serves me well with a Modwright SWP 9.0 SE phono stage and Audio Technia ART9 cartridge.
Even with my 75 year old ears, my system is about as good I've heard anywhere, so I am very pleased these days.
Regards,
Dan
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Circa 2012: Naim UnitiServe server, Decware ZLC DAC, Manley Jumbo Shrimp preamp, Mahi Mahi mono blocks, Decware Silver Stix speaker cable, Decware ICs, Merlin monitors on Sound Organization 24” massed stands. All equipment on Quadraspire SVT stand. Appropriate PCs and power conditioning upgrades.
Circa 2022: Naim Core server, Weiss 501 DAC/preamp, Nordost Valhalla 1 digital cable, Wireworld Eclipse 8 Silver IC to ATC 40As with Gaia footers, equipment all on Quadraspire Reference X stand, Decware power conditioner.
You decide.
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Only preference for SET amps and high efficiency speakers has remained over the long term. Not much remains of my system from 10 years ago, some IC's, power conditioner, dedicated listening room and AC lines. Sometimes I wish I could time travel, compare my system from all those years ago directly to present system.
I have long kept audio journal, looking back at entries up until around seven years ago I see I was one frustrated audiophile, revolving more than evolving. Still, all that circling round was learning experience, couldn't have arrived here without those experiences.
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The majority of my audiophile journey has been in the last ten years. I still have almost all of my original gear (speakers, SACD player, subwoofer, and home theater receiver), but have had several stereo amplifiers along the way with my current Pathos being the keeper. In the last year I've fallen down the black hole of tube rolling and cable upgrades (e.g. power cords and interconnects).
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10 years ago, I had a Jolida tube integrated (EL34) and Jolida tube CDP, with Silverline SR17.5 monitors.
I upgraded the integrated to SS Wells Majestic and replaced the CDP with a Sim 260D transport feeding an Aqua LaVoce S2 DAC.
Last spring, I put components on Symposium Svelte+ shelves and Rollerblock Jr's. Last fall, I upgraded my integrated to a Hegel H390. The latter was a huge step up in resolution and bass control. The Wells made the lower mids sound veiled and that veil is gone, now. The Hegel enabled the Silverlines to show, for the first time, just how good they are. It was as if I got a free speaker upgrade when I bought the Hegel. That took me completely by surprise. I don't see ever replacing the Hegel.
There have been cable upgrades along the way, as well.
My next anticipated upgrade will be replacing the Sim transport with a Jay's.
I am constrained by not having a dedicated room but all in all, I'm very satisfied with the steady improvement of the system.
At some point, I'd like to demo some higher-tier DACs but I can't afford to do so anytime soon.
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Among my challenges for the past 10 years has been a love of home theater as well as stereo and little money to do either well.
Ten years ago I had a Theta Casanova, I went through trying an Onkyo and Emotiva to upgrade/replace it but both were fails. I finally settled on an Oppo 7.1 out BD player with a Parasound stack. P7 + A21 and miniDSP for the center and subwoofer.
That led me to experimenting with Class D monoblocks which I really liked, but to make a long story short, I'm now running a Luxman integrated right next to an Anthem MRX 540 receiver, along with a Mytek DAC. I couldn't be happier.
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Well ten years ago I had actively biamped Maggie 3.3 with moon W3 amps Theda transport and DAC. Krell KPa phono stage an argon aurum pre amp and Linn lp12. Lashed up with transparent wire. Same lp12 now an audio research phono stage. Sonic frontier transport and DAC. An Ayre k1xe. Still lashed up with transparent wire but most of it a level or two higher. And harbeths being driven by Levinson 33 monos. I went from a McIntosh Marie tuner on the main system to a mr71 McIntosh. So a basic change piece by piece. I really liked my old system as well as my new one. They are just different presentations. I now have all tube sources on the front end with solid state after that. My secondary system is the opposite solid state front end and tube preamplifier and tube monoblocks. Both systems are fun to listen to but paint a different picture to the music.
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If your system hasn't evolved in the last 10 years, you likely wouldn't be spending time here. Or you're broke.
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I have 7 more system than I did 10 year ago bring total system to 11. 5 system primary tube some single end I have Class a solid state and ab and have 2 digital amp one on Viking yacht. I in Japan buying big horn system now. my mind and body evolve I stronger and better look my ear more mature like 24 karat gold and my libido drive lady crazy all over world they no resist the package.
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10 years? Very little remains. Only the in-wall speaker cables and amp are still in the system.
Added network switch, streamer, USB digital to digital converter/reclocker, Dac, speakers, interconnects, USB cables, coax cables, linear power supplies, power cables, fuses, grounding boxes, isolation footers.
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After a prolonged period of stagnation, in the last less than 2 years, I replaced three '90s vintage pieces of digital separates with a SA10, and my Cary SLP 90 I had owned since '99with a SLP 05. Yes, it has evolved, but it was way overdue.
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The only thing that has remained a constant in the last 10 years,is the room.
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Best Audio Sale Story Ever Occurred about 10 years ago.
A young European guy wanted to buy my whole system from me. Custom Conn organ tube amp, Nakamichi BX125, Rega Planar 3, Yamaha int amp used as a preamp, Celestion 100 speakers and my audio rack as I was about to get separated and was starting over in life and audio. The only thing he left me with was my Creek CAS-3140 tuner.
This young man showed up on a frigid evening dressed to the hilt with a 3 piece suit, ascot, and pocket watch and 2 suitcases in his hand that looked like machine guns.
He explained he was a violin teacher and with the cold weather, he simply could not leave his violins in the car.
After 30-45 minutes of talking, he paid me and we loaded up his car. Afterwards, he gave us all a private concert for about an hour right in the living room.
About a month later, he wrote me a hand written letter (using a wax seal to seal the letter - classy) telling me just how much he was enjoying the audio gear.
What an enjoyable experience.
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Hmm - Let’s see - what’s changed in the last 10 years
- Refined my phono rig
- completely REBUILT my 1981 Rega Planar II over about 20 years
- The biggest upgrades came in the last 10 years
- Upgraded to an Audiomods Tonearm about 10 years ago
- upraded to a Soundsmtih modified Denon DL103 about 6 years ago
- purchased a very nice Simmaudo MOON Phono stage LP5.3 RS about 7 years ago
- Upgraded my Digital Rig
- Got rid of the Apple computer and Apple TV that I originally used for streaming
- transferred all CD’s to a NAS drive
- Bought into the Bluesound product range so I can stream via Ethernet from NAS drive and Amazon Prime with the least amount of hassle
- Upgraded from a NAIM 5i (MkII) to a Bryston B135
- didn’t like having to upgrade the power caps after only 10 years use
- Upgraded all of my cables to...
- Interconnects that use Solid UP-OCC Silver wires
- Speaker and Power cables that use Solid UP-OCC copper wires
- Upgraded all cables to Helix "Air" cable geometry
- I now use cable risers
My Gershman Acoustics Sonogram speakers ($4000CDN ) are the only thing that has NOT changed in the last 10 years - mainly because I am yet to find a speaker that sounds significantly better - i.e. other than the $35k Avantgarde Acoustic Duo loudspeaker, which are a little too large for my room - and my budget.
- The Avantegarde’s are the last thing on my wish-list
- Just waiting on that lottery win 😎
That’s it !!!
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