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New to Audiogon. selling my whole system

EVERYTHING. I've never done this before. It's time to start fresh. I'll soon be posting everything as I learn to use this site. I have everything from Proac Supertowers to studio 100's to studio 1 mk2 to Quick silver monos and full function pre with all MIT wire to Stax Lamda's to two Onyx integrateds etc...

Not sure how much I'll fetch for everything, but I've been listening to everything from 15k speakers to the newest integrateds. I have found a few dealers who have been ultra helpful and very nice. Many years ago I met Richard Vandersteen at Stereo Unlimited in SD and fell in love with the 'new' 2's. After a 4 year stint driving the USS Kitty Hawk, I moved back to CT and set out to finally get my new system. I sold off my moscode amp, CJ pre and Polk 10's (Sandy Gross' design) and found a Vandy dealer in RI> I became close friends with the owner and we are still in touch even though he's been closed for years. I walked in with my wife prepared to walk out with Vandy's and a new amp. Instead I walked out with the Supertowers, Quick mono's and his personal pre amp.

I have loved this system for many years and have had new drivers put in and it sounded even better. Problem is, my new wife needs a remote so I had to buy an NAD integrated. I still love the speakers, but I was told to check out the new D series of Proacs. I was led to Audio Connection and John (he posts here). I went in to audition the Pro Ac's and they were nice, but I wasn't blown away as what I have is still pretty darn good. Then John told me to listen to the Vandy's along with the Ayer 7x integrated and a cheap Music Hall DAC.

Keep in mind, I had recently heard the Focal BE line, Paradigm Signatures, B&W (never have liked them), Dynaudio, PSB T I think it was, Wilson, Dali and the list goes on. Nearly all the contenders (I"ve left some out). I have head the NAD Master series and the new NAD 390 digital. I heard the Krell, etc....

I never expected to have one system blow me away, but it did. I was in SHOCK and still am as it's the reverse of the last time. I really wanted to hear the Hegel integrateds as they have a nice DAC built in, but they aren't out yet. That said, the Ayre would be hard to beat. I like John's approach in that he puts systems together and we have similar ears. He carries the lines I have and have had other than the MIT I have been using (770 MH CVT and shotgun etc..) I also didn't think the Audioquest would impress me, but again, I was dead wrong.

I read reviews, but nothing beats listening. NOTHING. I think the Vandy Treo's , ayre 7x integrated, Music Hall DAC and Audioquest with those DBS deals are the way I'm going to go as soon as I'm able to share some great stuff with folks.

I look forward to reading more threads in the forum as it seems like a nice community.

I wonder how many have been in my boat (starting fresh for the first time after all these years)? Any stories to share?
ctsooner

Showing 8 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
I do think a lot of MIT wires I read about these days may be overpriced, at least new.

I use inexpensive older Terminator line ICs I picked up used for not much. These are worth the money I would say.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
" I do know that once you get into the DBS line of AQ, it's HUGE for a quiet noise floor.
"

Well, yeah, I'll confirm that my noise floor in my room where it matters the most is pretty much dead quiet. AQ cv6 with DBS (two 12' runs picked up for ~$300-$400 used on ebay as I recall) are in play there. So I can say at a minimum that they do not hurt. The sound in there overall is more than I could have ever asked for and I am a very happy camper.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
I have audioquest cv6 wires with dbs devices. They work well and I like them but not sure I hear any difference with dbs devices. Can't hurt though.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
I use audioquest and MIT. Also DNM. Each has their unique traits to recommend them. Like most audio stuff.

Its kinda silly to suggest any of these is inherently superior to the others.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
I view wires as tweaks. A relatively inexpensive and easy way to fine tune the sound when needed. As such, its hard to say one works better than another in any particular case with various gear, even if overall, some may be "better" than others.

With certain combos of gear, some wires may prove to be better than others in general.

Audioquest and MIT I have heard do not sound the same. No doubt about that. MIT is probably for more unique applications in general perhaps. OVerall, I might prefer Audioquest. Not enough data points for me to judge conclusively. I have only heard certain combos that I could uniquely identify. I may like DNM the best overall of teh ones I have heard. I also use Harmonic TEch truth link. Another unique sounding wire that might work best for some. HT is probably most similar to Audioquest of these I mention, maybe better.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
I have the first Mercury Living Presence box set which includes several fine recordings featuring Janos Starker and yes, these in particular as well as many of the other MLP recordings are quite special in the miking techniques and attention to sound quality payed as early examples of SOTA hifi stereo recordings that hit the mark in delivering a 3-D holographic presenation with which one can easily locate players in the soundstage. THese were made back in the early glory days of stereo hifi recordings in the late 1950's when such things were quite novel and sound quality was a marketed product as much as the music itself.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
BTw, just read that Starker just passed away earlier this year.

http://www.amazon.com/forum/classical%20music?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx2O5YQ79OVJBUQ&cdThread=TxK3S97EYXDJA6

What a talent! I strongly recommend anyone interested in classical music who may have never heard him pick up a recording or two and give it a try.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,860 posts
 
I read in his NY Times obituary he was apparently quite a talented character!
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