I thought the Monitor Audio PL500 II would be my last speakers, but I'm looking into TAD and Vivid Audio as possible replacements.
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I don't know about "final", but I am happy with what I have and don't see changing anything in the foreseeable future. Main equipment: Classe CP800 preamp Classe CA2200 amp Emerald Physics 2.8 OB speakers Rythmik G22 Dual-opposed 12" sub Yamaha CD-S2100 CD/SACD Synergistic Research cables/fuses/etc... My go-to artists would be Rush/Yes/Pink Floyd/DeBussy/Beethoven/etc....lots of classical, but pretty much anything that's exceptionally recorded, especially on SACD. |
“I am afraid that I done, not because I have achieved what I want, but because I am now on a fixed income which does not allow me the luxury to upgrade the way I used to when I was gainfully employed.” What is the situation with your room? Do you have a dedicated listening room? Are you free to modify it with room treatments? If you can do a little handyman level work there’s a lot that can be done to upgrade through room acoustics on a modest budget. I’d be happy to steer you in a good direction |
I am afraid that I done, not because I have achieved what I want, but because I am now on a fixed income which does not allow me the luxury to upgrade the way I used to when I was gainfully employed. I would like to add vinyl, bit I probably never will. I should have upgraded my B&W 805s back in the days that I could have afforded to, and if I ever make another upgrade, that will probably be it. The rest of my system is a Maranzt SA10, my last and possibly final upgrade was a Cary SLP 05 (that I did spring for "The Ultimate Upgrade"), a Cary V12, and an ancient M&K sub augments the B&Ws. |
@calvinj : Will you be adding a Method 7 preamp to your system? Can it be ordered as a line stage only? Jeff |
My system has remained essentially unchanged since late 2015 - it is my final system. The only changes since then are as follows: 1- added a McIntosh PS112 subwoofer - free to me from a friend 2- new phono cartridge (old one wore out- I had it around 20 years) 3- added a music streamer- 4- added a Marantz model 20 tuner- that was free as well
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My system consists of these components SIM audio p8 preamp SIM audio w8 amplifier soon to be upgraded to the new 861 amplifier Esoteric P10 transport Wyred4sound 10th anniversary DAC Monarchy audio up sampler MonitorAudio platinum 200 ll Speaker wire: Neotech the Sahara rectangular copper OCC wire Interconnects: Neotech the Sahara XLRs Power cables: Neotech The Grand rectangular copper OCC I will be rewiring my speakers internal wire with 14 gauge OCC signal crystal wire next year when the warranty runs out, I did that with my monitor audio gold G4 and I got a 10 to 15% improvement right across the board in everything so I'm expecting about a 20% improvement with the platinum. |
I am done for now. I doubt I will change anything until forced to do so by technology. My system is in my profile. The speakers are from my previous CD-based system, but the electronics are fairly recent, and the speakers really sing now that each driver is being driven by its own amplifier. I love the system and do not wish to change a thing. I am listening to Blue Train right now, and I feel like I am sitting in Rudy Van Gelder's studio, right in front of the band. Not an inveterate tinkerer, I am more interested in the destination (music) than the journey, though I have enjoyed the journey as well, mostly thanks to an outstanding dealer (Joe and Mike Heusi at TIMBRE in Houston). "Go to" artists from a SQ/system perspective include VOCES8, the Telarc organ recordings of Michael Murray, Chick Corea "Touchstone," and anything recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, and about 27 others. |
@tbick so true here I am ear happy with my system and still wanting more! Tapping the ear vein! |
My final system which I listen to for hours everyday consists of the following: Custom Klipsch Cornwall Speakers in East Indian Rosewood Pass Labs 60.8 monoblocks Pass Labs XP-32 preamp Thorens TD-124 Don Sachs tube phono amp Dual 701 IFi Phono amp Cambridge Audo CD Transport Blue Sound Anniversary Node streamer Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC Pioneer TX 6500 Decware Sarah tube amp (on order) |
Embrace the healing power of AND. Cheap speakers AND expensive amps. Eminent Technology LFT 8 speakers. Despite being in production since the last century and (glowing) reviews in Absolute Sound, Stereophile AND the Audiophiliac, the LFT 8 remains under the radar. The current version LFT 8 C for Charlie costs 4500 United States Dollars per pair. They need big power to wake them up and a big room to get them away from the walls in back so the sound waves can propagate in both directions. Properly set up the entire listening room becomes a sweet spot. For the technically inclined, the LFT 8 is a quasi ribbon planar speaker. The mids and tweeters are made of a metal conductor etched onto a mylar panel making more active surface area than an IRS V. These are mounted in a steel frame an inch thick AND there is no cabinet like NO cabinet. A lot of money is spent fighting the physics in a box speaker to make the box inert. If you do away with the box, you save that money while getting fabulous sound. There is no voodoo to planar speakers. It's just having the physics on your side. OK the LFT 8 is a hybrid with the bass driver housed in a box. A planar that would go that low would be too big. The coloration from the box doesn't seem to be as crucial in the bass. In fact the vibrations from the box are designed to be part of the sound so don't try to dampen the box. HSU subs. Adding a sub makes the higher frequencies sound fuller. Manley Labs 500 monoblock tube amps. A good output transformer costs money. There is just no way around that. NBS Black cables cost more than the things on either end. I just shut my eyes as I write the check. There is a magical synergy between the LFT 8 speakers and the Manley amps and the NBS wires. You will be transported to the Musikverein and hear the Vienna Philharmonic in all its glory. The preamp is the discontinued Manley Wave. The CD player is the discontinued Nagra. The record player is the current Oracle 6 with Eminent Technology 2 arm and Benz Gullwing cartridge going into a discontinued Super Lumi phono stage. The tape player is the discontinued Studer A80. There's a discontinued Oppo for playing Blu Ray audio. And a current PS Audio transport and converter for playing SACD. A very up to date Nagra HD X and Taiko for streaming. It's the System That Time Forgot. You don't have to be all new or all old. You don't have to be all expensive or all cheap. Use what works. Karl Richter's recording of Bach's Mass in B Minor. Richter recorded the Mass several times. I like the one with a picture of Christ on the cover but they're all good. Actually any recording by Karl Richter is good. But not to everyone's taste. https://youtu.be/ShYiihooSa0?si=d7ZkSFSRipj-hHvh Bob Dylan and The Band playing Blowin the Wind recorded live at the Fabulous Forum. Eat your heart out metal fans. This is the heaviest track ever. https://youtu.be/Xgjhna90fSk?si=p9fnajtLVKMjP6sa Glen and Willie Funny How Time Slips Away Oh! The poignancy of Glen audibly fading away into Alzheimer's. Just to see the look on those grizzled faces. One honk from this man and the rafters will shake. Waiting to pounce on a used Esoteric K1X SACD player. Just to have the transport which is carved out of a single block of metal. |
I’ve spent 35 years trying to recreate any live Jerry Garcia performance in my living room that could imitate just some of the energy from the stage of whatever recording. Its always gotten better, every five years or so, and now I’m "there". Going sailing soon due to age, so some land based games and quests have to be called "good enough." T+A DAC 200 > McIntosh C500T> McIntosh MC-601 Monoblocks > B&W 802 D3 with each havng a REL Gibraltar G1 MKII behind it. I enjoy the gear and hobby side quite a bit, built all my own cables, except the USB and Kimber Speaker cables. Listen too all kinds of stuff, anything really except recent "op" music. Jambands I guess make up 60% of it.....Always digging through the "complete" Grateful Dead Library (every show ever recorded, including many soundboards. Almost every Widespread Panic show up to 2001. Since 2010 been on the Phish wagon due to their exceptional playing, writing, and their insane live sound (best I have ever heard). What they’[re doing these past couple of years live is off the freakin’ hook. Really digging Billy Strings, Gov’t Mule (and all the old Allman Brothers live shows). Older stuff, plenty of Reggae on weekends, Little Feat (love Lowell George)...just due to the exceptional sound quality I’ve rediscovered via HD FLAC and DSD I’ve been hoarding all the old remasters of blues and jazz artists, sort of a discovery process for me as there is so much material out there to dig into to. Next to actually cranking the system to "11" I just as much enjoy researching older recordings and then trying to find the best versions, loads of fun and there’s a group of friends who join in the search. We don’t give a crap about arguing about power cables and tubes, just friendly ribbing to step up the system! Thanks for the bandwidth, remember is just all about fun! |
@jacobsdad2000 fun in the hobby comes first for me. I totally understand. But the minute I can’t freely talk audio I’m out of it all. I enjoy it immensely. I’m listening right now. Lol.Not gonna let one person or situation steal my joy. I’m in this hobby cause I love it not because I have to make a living at it. I have lived a blessed life. I don’t have have to shill on forums. I just wanna learn and enjoy. |
@calvinj I hear you, that’s to bad. I have friends in the industry and they just stay away from these forums for that reason. |
@jacobsdad2000 man I post here to relax and get away from the serious work I do as a lawyer. I love the hobby. I have built some great relationships in it. I don’t care to argue. I’m posting as an audiophile just like everyone else. I try to learn more each day to make my listening experience better. I have not one time in this post pushed the equipment that I sell. That’s not the purpose for this forum. I will push my equipment at upcoming shows. But this post is what I like to do off work. Learn as much as I can and engage with my fellow audiophiles. I will continue to do that. Audio is a hobby first. Side job second. Full disclosure. That guy is hell bent on some kind of revenge for a perceived slight. That’s his issue not mines. I’m going to be posting a lot and most will have nothing to do with the brand I work with. So I’m not going to always bring that up. Just my two cents my brother. |
@coltrane1 I CAN DIG IT! |
Grimm MU1 streamer/Lampizator Horizon DAC-preamp/Gryphon Antilleon EVO amp/Rockport Cygnus speakers/Shunyata---Altaira ground system--Everest power cond--all cables are Omega or Sigma V2. 4 Synergistic purple fuses. (subs are Mini Marty roundovers with 18 inch B and C drivers, MiniDSP SHD room correction and crossover with PS Audio M700 monos-frequency is just 30 to 16hz, mains signal does not go through the MiniDSP, subs "tuck in" under the Rockports. Tuning done by Deer Creek Audio). I listen to Boz Scaggs and the 2 live concerts from Jackson Browne. I use the live Browne tracks as I can hear more and more of the audience coments as my system improves. I know this is an odd choice, but what was some mumbles 5 years ago I can now understand almost completely. |
I’m old school. But my system is ever evolving. I dig listening to vinyl most. My electrostatics are still serving me well. No sub needed. In fact, I recently sold the sub because it wasn’t being used. I swap between tube monos and solid state Class A monos, but mainly tubes. I use a dac and cd transport only occasionally. Kudos to having a passion for Ahmad Jamal! A heckuva player and band leader! My passion is for Miles, and Wes. I’m still stuck in the 50’s jazz scene. Great thread ! |
For sure if i win lottery i will buy a 50,000 bucks new audio system...😁😊 Not because i need it , i dont need it at all , my days are filled with music on my well embedded 700 bucks modified headphones or speakers dual system , then unique headphones and unique speakers because modified for the best and i had passed then with them over the minimal balanced acoustic satisfaction threshold... I am lower than the optimal balanced acoustics satisfaction threshold, but being on the minimal treshold dont means that timbre of instruments are unnatural, nor means that i lack bass (50 clear hertz on speakers and 25 hertz on headphones ) no more than i lack anything in spatial characteristics of sound nor in immersiveness ... Then upgrading with a 50,000 bucks system , thanks to the winning lottery, does not means that i need it now to experience audiophile experience at all ... Why ? Because before this upgrade i learned acoustics and i learned how to embed my low cost system mechanically electrically and acoustically ... I suffered all my life listening music , because of bad sound , even owning one of the best speakers in the world , the Tannoy dual concentric ... Why ? Because before retirement i never learned acoustics basic science nor anything about embeddings working controls and "tweaks" (which are secondary additions to embeddings controls ) ... I was convinced by marketing and reviewers that in audio only money can talk loud ... I was ignorant ... I am no more ignorant .... I dont need a 50,000 bucks system by frustration because the 700 bucks one is bad or defective, it is not ... The upgrading will not be a SOLUTION but only a cherry on an acoustic cake i control at will and it will be another costlier synergetical system because now i know what is electrical and acoustical synergy ... Acousticians dont care about the audio design price if the audio design is synergetical and relatively good , and they not how to put any good audio system at any price on his corresponding moon for sure , a 700 bucks system dont compete with a 50,000 one... But the two can be stellar in their own way ... |
Like @mahler123 said, this is my final system until it isn’t. And I listen mostly to Jazz, so I can’t pick just one artist. |
@almosthome i think the company with my fm6 model went after the high end speaker market. They made the fm30 and fm50 after my model. The fm6 is an exceptional speaker. It shares traits of a 30k gamut speaker that I think the designer of the gato had a hand in before he made the fm6 when they started gato. It is truly a gem. I have attempted to replace it several times but the costs seem to be 22-25k to get the same level of performance. My speaker retails at 14k. I paid around 11k 8 years ago. I’m never selling it. |
I have one main system and also 2 1/2 other systems consisting mostly of gear that used to be in my main system. The main system has been static for several years and I see no prospect of needing to make any changes. Wilson Maxx2, CJ Premier 14 pre, CJ Premier 11a power, VPI TNT V/SME V/ Koetsu Urushi/Vendetta SCP2-D phono, and digital streams to a Moon 280D DAC |
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@dentdog whats in your system |
@arafiq I get what you re saying but this is personal. The only reason it got brought up is because the guy has a personal issue with me. Not being altruist at all. If someone is trying to sell you something yes let them know. I’m not trying to sell you anything in this post only ask your opinion and experiences. So if I post about music do I have to mention Infigo. No. I’m not going to. It is what it is. Enjoy the journey and leave the personal stuff to be personal. Let’s get back to the post. I’m an audiophile first. Was one before infigo will be one after infigo. It is what it is. |
@carlsbad2 you speak truth. Why do I have an itch to try borrenson speakers or a raidho? But that could throw off all the synergy I have in my current system. One other thing is I have not only chose gear by price. Yes the system is pricey but design is also important. My gato designer used to design for Gamut so I took a chance on the gatos and haven’t looked back |
@ozzy +1 If someone is going to mention a product on this forum that they also happen to sell, regardless of context or intentions, the ethical thing to do is to let people know. Not sure why the OP simply won''t acknowledge something as simple as that. None of us were born yesterday ... we can read between the lines you know ;) |
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@mulveling I didn’t want this thread to be about being a dealer of anything. @ozzy brought it up. I wanted to know what people had. Why they liked it? How long they had it? How they got to this point and more importantly what was the reference music tracks they used. I didn’t try to sell people anything on this thread. I could have said that we allow demos etc I didn’t bring that up here. I just talked music and journey that’s all. Thank you for understanding. The truth of the matter is he knows I will not say much because I do work for a company. So he feels like he can say anything he wants without repercussions. I run my own firm outside of me being an audiophile or dealer so it doesn’t matter to me. Thanks for understand ing |
@calvinj I was just pointing out the bias against you by Ozzy. That is his deal, I do think that dealers should disclose their affiliation in the forum. The administration here should update their terms of service. Personal IDC as I am not buying anything anyone is selling on these forum pages. I think it is weak marketing and they should pay for ads. There are a few dealers here that cross that line, not you to the best of my knowledge. I am going to move on from this conversation. |
@everyone I did the thread for the reasons of finding out what gear folks have cycled through. What music that they use as a reference and how they got there. If I came in here gushing about the equipment asking people to try it etc.That’s one thing but I’m not. So I post as an audiophile. If I’m trying to seek you something or get you to try smthg I will always be upfront. I’m asking about your journey THATS ALL IN CAPS |
@jacobsdad2000 look. I’m not trying to sell anything in this post. I’m a dealer for infigo. I’m not asking anyone to buy anything in this thread. It is about audio. Personal issues aside I even mention that I am in the posts. This discussion is about systems and journey and music not about @ozzy He has personal issues that have nothing to do with my posts. |
I've known Calvin for several years...I've met his family and he was nice enough to take my wife and I to dinner on his dime. Calvin is a honest person, but it's easy to post stuff on forums without truly knowing the person you're trying to disparage. After owning several cables in my system, Calvin sent me Infigo's Signature XLRs to try in my system. I purchased them and Calvin told me that Infigo was coming out with speaker cables as well. It took longer than I anticipated, but Calvin eventually received some demo speaker cables and sent them to me. I preferred my Clarus Crimson speaker cables and returned the Infigo speaker cables. I honestly believe someone didn't like that it took so long for Calvin to receive the speaker cables...which was out of his control and that someone else received them prior to him. It's so silly it's laughable. |
I don’t have a horse in this race, but .... I like this forum because, for the most part, it allows enthusiasts to share their opinions about gear without ulterior motives. Of course, dealers are also audiophiles and have every right to participate. But if you’re going to mention a product which you happen to sell, then it’s ethical to also state your affiliation upfront. If anything it will enhance the dealer’s credibility. Carry on please. |
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