HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?

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.