HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?

For me it was through upgrading my equipment over time.  I decided to move from a home theater setup to one focused on music.  Went from integrated equipment to separates which made it easier to upgrade.  I’ve been working on it for about 3 years and I’m very happy with the sound, ease of use and appearance.  I have a 2.2 setup with a streamer, DAC and CD player.  I never got back into vinyl after moving on to CDs years ago.  I will keep on tweaking my system because to me it’s a fun part of this hobby.  I’m enjoying my musical journey and my music.  

Read all about it here in Virtual Systems.

Getting involved with the audio business got me off the typical merry-go-round of buying and swapping well reviewed mid-fi stuff that I was never particularly happy with. Working for Merlin and Paul Heath Audio gave me exposure to a much higher level of equipment, and insights to some of the more affordable sleeper gear.

Before long I had a Lazarus tube preamp, modified B&K ST140 amp (Distech), and a nice big pair of Merlin 4 speakers that brought me into a much improved resolution and sound quality.

Bobby Palkovic from Merlin inspired me to start building my own speakers. After designing, building, and selling several models, I finally settled on a pair that I’ve kept and loved since 1989. Around that same time, I was given a Dynaco 70 tube amp that my uncle built from a kit in 1964, and discovered that it mated really nicely with my tube preamp and speakers. Those components still comprise the core of my system today.

Another Dynaco 70 tube amp got added to the mix, so I could use them in a vertical bi-amp setup. In 2020, I added the VTA circuit board mods to amps, the Lazarus has been refreshed/modified a bit, and an active crossover has been added below 80 hz to the system. Any other changes have been refinements, and I absolutely love how the system sounds.

The journey involved building the house of stereo first and foremost. Then spent five years figuring it out. Otherwise it was easy lol. 

Sold my late mother's house.

Incremental steps. Appreciating each piece, upgrading it, seeing the design limitations, and making my own air bearing turntable, tonearm, phono/pre, main amplifiers. I am now making my own ESL's, buying everything off-the-shelf that I can.

I thought that if Mr. Carter can make his own furniture in retirement, then I can make my own audio system. 

@terry9 Serious stuff! I saw your air-gapped caps. Any more info on your components?

Well, best components that money can buy. For example, I put a dozen of the best reviewed resistors in a selector switch, and put it in place of the gain resistor. Then chose the best - it was nude Vishay, VAR series, hands down. So every resistor in the signal path is VAR, and that includes the volume control, which made the vc a bit pricey - about 1K - but it's way better than what you find in quarter million pres - IMO.

Air bearings in three dimensions from New Way - they call them thrust bushings. Couldn't buy the platter I wanted, so it was machined from a 13" cylinder of cast iron. Platter mat is 1" of charcoal; 45kg including the record weight.

I just decide on the maximum I can afford, and build to that. It's always been enough to buy the best components, even if I have to make them myself, like the caps.

I'm retired, so it's only time.

Through many years of purchases and upgrades. I don’t think you are ever really done, you just reach a level of satisfaction with what you have and the list of upgrades and wants is much less.

After 50+ years, I’m almost there.  I’ll be sure to let you know when I’m there.

Many years of listening to different systems . Attending axpona yearly as well.Three systems that really I end up basing my systems were the Borensen c1 set up and Wilson and Dan Agostino gear combo this year. At CEs Westin Hotel in Chicago it was the Austin Acoustic set up. All three set has the musicality and live performance.My systems needs a little upgrade to sound like the three systems I mentioned in a small set up I have.

Skhong 78 and Mike Lavigne system are also amazing systems that I heard that was uploaded by Skhong 78 in YouTube.My one set up sound more like Skhong78 my other set sound more like Mike Lavigne system in a very SMall way.Even on YouTube this two systems you can hear the greatness of this two systems.

The systems I mentioned above are way too expensive to have it. But you can learn from them and applied it to our humble average system.

Calvinj this is a very good thread you posted. Thank you.

@terry9 Thanks for taking the time to expand a little on your components. I use Vishay VAR in the input of my tube phono stages and agree they are superb. (47k load, 1k stopper)

It's hard to credit that a few resistosr can make such a difference - but it does.

Calvinj I would also like to give credit to those who mentor me on this hobby on  how to put a system , and teaching me how to listen to music especially classical.This are all very important aspects to learn.iam happy on what I have now. Are they dream systems ? No they are not. I just enjoy them.

HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?

 realizing that only knowledge can provide dream sound...

I won the powerball.i wish enjoy the music

Refi..

Spend enough money so the next step up is either financially or logistically impossible. 

What CHAYRO said...

"Spend enough money so the next step up is either financially or logistically impossible." 

It started over 35 years ago.  Had little money, so I would work to earn enough to buy the highest ranked equipment in Stereophile that I could afford. Mostly class C, maybe B.  I had three boys and the house was too noisy for any serious listening, so the hobby went on the backburner for many years. 

We moved about 3 years ago and I now have a better listening environment and no noisy kids (occasionally Grandkids).  I now have more disposable income and my components had aged.  I began the process of upgrading everything starting with speakers.  Then dac, then amp, then preamp.  A second upgrade of dac and various cables throughout the process. I'm at a happy spot.

Final touch is a new Salamander rack which delivers next week.  I'm still using a $100 rack that's 30 years old. 

with me at 73 yrs old it started in 90's and purchasing first set of speakers from Bryn Mawr Stereo and going back and forth 3 times until salesman realized I was serious about speakers and needed up with Mirage M3..and had them for 23 years..And buying 4 Solid State Amps from 90's till 2019...Then saw a ad for Raven Audio and I know from speakers you can not listen in showroom and come home and hear what your heard in showroom with acoustics of your home..So did the 45 day trial and never heard so much musical details in music from any solid-state I owned previously..And my old Mirages needed to be replaced and tried Raven Audios Speakers.. This was a whole new world of sound for me... So since 2019 I have steeped up from a Black Hawk test Amp to Osprey owned for 5 yrs to recently purchased the Reflection and Corvus Speakers and I am set for rest of my listening days ...Wish You well into your finding your  musical happiness..

Do any of us really have the end game dream system? At least for me, it's an endless upgrade. Every tweak leads to yet another tweak, or new part. Feel like our systems are just a moment in time, are always evolving. 

My system started very modestly, mostly at the time interested in the overall look to fit the room. After a couple months, sound became much more important, the deep dive started with searching for the next best piece, and so on and so on. 

My system today, will not be the same system next year. But very happy with my current system, but always looking for "more".