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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
aj1735 OP
13 posts
 

@tomcarr thank you. It really is pretty good feeling to not be wanting everything better. I've had my esoteric dv-50 universal player player the longest and I've never really had any urge to get something different. It works great, sounds even better and I even like the looks of it. Lol then my vpi aries turntable I've had the next longest. It's been the exact same way with it as the esoteric. It's plenty good enough for me and I'd have to spend a good amount more to try to get much better. So I haven't even thought about different tables because again mine works great, sounds great and I love the looks of it too. The the Rowland coherence ii preamp and bps along with the 8ti are pretty new in the system but I love them

I don't think I can or even could get much better than those. My newontech dac07 came in a trade to replace my old mytek Manhattan ii dac as kinda a short term piece but I really enjoy it. Yes there are better ones for sure but it sounds very natural and musical in my system without any analytical edge and that was even streaming from the wiim pro. So I think the dac is plenty good for some time. Then the innuos zenith mk3 should be from everything I've read, just the perfect fit into the system. So with all of that, I really don't have any urge or reason to want more. I would like to get a used ds audio w2 or 003 cartridge and energizer. After that my vinyl will be plenty good enough. Right now I am using an old denon 103r with an old project phono box ds phono stage that I've had as a spare foe a second system. Right now the vinyl sounds pretty good even with that.

 

I have watched some videos and read some things about people being at the end of their journey. It really makes sense to me 

Might as well have time to enjoy other things and just be happy to listen to some music when you have time. 

gkelly's avatar
gkelly
406 posts
 

Looks like you will be in need of one of these
https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?p=2&product_list_order=price_desc&q=Usb

along with

https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?product_list_order=price_asc&q=Ether%20net
and 

https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=Power%20cable&product_list_order=price_asc
I am sure that going from a WIIM to the Innuos will be a jaw dropping and then a _____ eating grin experience. Enjoy the music!

aj1735 OP
13 posts
 

@gkelly I hope it's going to be that kind of experience. I'll eventually get to the cables but that can be my play around time after I get all the major components done and purchased. I've never really played around with different streamers much. I had a microrendu before with roon and then the wiim. So I'm hoping this is that kind of experience and just another check off the list of gear. I really think that's where I'm going to be. I can always make a second system again for my daughter to play with and enjoy buying and selling for it but this main one is pretty good right now. I'm actually playing some right now and just smiling. 

jond's avatar
jond
6,042 posts
 

Really nice system @aj1735 and definitely post some pics we do love ogling each others gear. wink  And pretty satisfied here I rarely feel the need to upgrade but may occasionally get the itch to hear something new. Next step is a pair of hornspeakers currently being built for me and after that I may be pretty much done. 

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,556 posts
 

Good for you. My system is always getting there, I think. However my house of stereo setup takes it to another level. If you check it out, you can see I also run the Innuos ZENith mk3. With my setup, the USB connection is a huge step down from running it via a DDC I2s connection. The USB is like a heavy veil in comparison. Of course I have multiple add-ons along the line with different dac/equipment so no clue how it would perform in yours. You're not done, take my word lol.

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