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How close are you to being to your endgame? My system outline and I'm almost there.

Hey everyone,

 

I've really been working on upgrading and putting my system together for a few years now and I really think I'm almost at my endgame system. I hope when money allows to add a ds audio w2 or 003 cartridge and energizer but that's truly my last goal. 

Just wanted to share a system update that’s been a long time in the making. Everything is finally coming together, and with the Innuos Zenith Mk3 arriving Tuesday, I’m feeling like this setup is finally reaching the level I’ve been aiming for—natural, musical, powerful, and emotionally engaging.


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🖥️ Digital Front End:
• Innuos Zenith Mk3 (arriving Tuesday)
• NewOnTech DAC07

I stream exclusively from Qobuz, and the DAC07 has been an impressive piece—clean, full, and musical without sounding clinical. I’m expecting the Zenith to be a big jump from the WiiM Pro I’ve been using. Everything I’ve read points to better flow, lower noise floor, and more organic presentation. Can’t wait to hear it in action.

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💿 Disc Player:
• Esoteric DV-50 Universal Player

I still love spinning SACDs and CDs occasionally, and the Esoteric handles those with authority and refinement. It’s built like a tank and sounds fantastic—still one of the better universal players out there, especially when fed into the DAC07.

 

🎛️ Preamp & Amp:
• Jeff Rowland Coherence II
• Jeff Rowland Model 8Ti

This pairing is magical. The Coherence II has a sense of ease and dimensionality that’s just addicting. Dead quiet, transparent, and rich. The 8Ti brings power and control with elegance—tons of grip and headroom, but never aggressive. They complement each other beautifully and really let the source shine.

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🔊 Speakers:
• EgglestonWorks Andra II

The Andras are stunning. Effortless dynamics, huge soundstage, and rich tonality. Vocals hang in space with weight and realism, and the bottom end is deep but never bloated. One of the few speakers I’ve heard that does scale, intimacy, and impact equally well. I've had magico s3's, focal 1038be and sonus faber sonetto v speakers among a lot of others over the years. Those were my last 3.

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💽 Analog Setup:
• VPI Aries Black Night Edition
• JMW-10 tonearm, TNT feet, upgraded bearing, Nordost tonearm wire
• Silver VPI clamp

I’m not playing vinyl as often right now, but this table has always impressed me. Gorgeous looks, black backgrounds, and excellent musical flow. Eventually I want to go for a DS Audio optical cartridge (w2 or 003)to take it even further.

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🔌 Cables:
• XLRs styled after Nordost Odin 2 (Chinese replicas)
• Wireworld Eclipse (early version) speaker cables

These have blended well with the rest of the system—clear and dynamic without sounding thin or over-hyped. They’ve let the character of the Rowland gear and Andras come through cleanly.

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🎧 Final Thoughts
With the Rowland amplification, the Andras, and the Zenith Mk3 landing this week, everything is clicking into place. The system has a rich, holographic sound with excellent weight and detail. Tonally balanced, emotionally involving, and easy to listen to for hours—exactly what I was after.

Would love to hear from anyone else running similar gear, especially Rowland or Eggleston setups. Always curious to hear what others have found with the Zenith Mk3 too.

Thanks for reading—happy listening!
—aj1735

aj1735
kerrybh
302 posts
 

You have assembled a great system and obviously done it very thoughtfully. Congratulations. I’m sure you will derive great enjoyment from the music. What is your room like in terms of dimensions and treatment? 
 

You really do have top-notch components in your system, and I congratulate you on getting where you want to be.

dtorc
56 posts
 

Nice work pursuing, and obtaining the kind of sound you want to live with! For me, it is more like I have reached a place where everything is "good enough." Humans are curious creatures, and I believe we are wired to be dissatisfied with what we have - it is probably a survival mechanism.  So, I think I have a very enjoyable system, good enough to investigate new music, and to feel very moved by the art. But then my brain says - "hmm - I've always wondered what omni speakers would be like in my room." And then I look up those cute little omni speakers from Decware. And that little itch starts up.

But truly, my system could be end game enough for me if I am able to let it. I really get a kick out of the good things it does. If I could just "Full Stop" after that last thought, it would be end game indeed.

aj1735 OP
13 posts
 

I guess you're right with the "good enough" statement for sure. That's how I feel about mine. There is plenty better out there than mine but I don't know if I would even buy it if I had unlimited funds. I really like what I have at this point and I like the sound signature of the whole system. Maybe a better dac at some point but I'll have to save for years lol my system is good enough and will especially be once I get the newer cartridge. I watch videos and read about the newest and greatest this or that but I think mine can hold its own and is plenty good enough for me. 

 

Next I'll work on finishing my room this winter. Right now my system is in an open basement. The whole thing is I think 32' wide and probably 40 feet from the front wall to the only wall behind my chair. I have it setup where it's about 15' wide and from the front wall to my head is probably 20' feet or so. The ceiling is about 8'10" and the right wall is sheet rock. The left side is all my record shelves to make a makeshift wall. The front wall doesn't have sheet rock yet. I have about 15 more sheets to hang at some point this fall when I get more time. The front is concrete with studs and mineral wool insulation with fabric over it. So like a whole wall of absorption which is not ideal. I know things will get better with some more reflections eventually and gain some soundstage width and depth when it gets finished up. The floor is concrete with a large thick rug in the center of the listening area. This winter the goal is to finish that last couple of walls and then start really finishing the whole thing with carpet and furnish like a really finished basement. I have to do everything slowly because the wife hates spending money on the basement and really hates everything to do with my stereo lol. 

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