"Trickle up" theory

If I listen to a state of the art system and my toe doesn't start tapping and my knee beebopping, I know something is wrong. This was a common occurance in years past at high end showrooms. Today, I experience this less and less. Of course, it is about PRAT or whatever you want to call it.

When I must put on my critical listening ears for setting up a new piece or for evaluation sessions I'm not enjoying myself. I find concentrating too much on all the details takes me away from the music. Sometimes though, I find I can't concentrate on the details and get swept away with the music. That's when the magic is happening. It happens more frequently these day than in days past. So, I'm both agreeing and disagreeing with you. I believe that the potential to put together a SOTA system that retains the basic attributes you alude to is higher today than at any time before.

This thread hasn't gotten into the good and the bad of the high end component world. I'll offer some recommendations for gear that is world class and keeps the soul of the music intact. I don't know for sure but I think these pieces could be inserted in nearly any system and retain these characteristics. They are: Berning amps, Supratek preamps and Ridge Street cabling.

I'd like to thank Vetterone for introducing me to these lines. The Supratek is simply to die for. Biggest bang for the buck piece I've listened to in over 35 years in this hobby.

Twl deserves a big thanks for his post. In part, his references to his Berning amps (Micro ZTOL & Holy Grail) were influential in Vetterone's purchase of the ZH270's. He also speaks wisely about crossover free drivers.

Regarding the Supratek line of preamps there is a thread here at Audiogon about "The best preamplifier deal of the century" or something similar. It has over 600 posts. A Syrah, which has a phono stage that will handle ANY cartridge, runs about $2600 plus shipping from Austrailia. This price includes a remote. Maybe someone would be kind enough to post the link to this thread. The website can be found at www.supratek.biz.

I really enjoy my own system because it excells at providing enjoyment with the vast majority of my software. I don't suffer from the "can't stand the recording quality of that LP" syndrome. By inserting the Supratek preamp and the Ridge Street cables into my system all the previous attributes were retained BUT the realism (insert all the audiophile language you want) took a quantum leap beyond anything I could have imagined.

In fairness I must say that there are probably a handful of cable manufacturers of the caliber of Ridge Street, and together these folks may be responsible for much of the improvement I'm hearing in general. I've never been one to praise high priced interconnects until this revelation. It's real and hopefully will trickle down to the average DIYer someday.

Some of the benefits of high priced stuff can be enjoyed by a handy DIYer. Sistrum platforms are wonderful pieces. Making your own, well designed racks and incorporating their Audio Points and Micro Bearing material is a logical route for the frugal minded audiophile to take. Some discussion regarding design of home made pieces that would reap the rewards of using the points and bearing material would be appropriate. Perhaps Twl would provide a primer for such a project.

Anyone have any experience with Transcendent Sound OTL amp kits? These seem to be worthy of consideration and fall within my humble finances.