For me it was a complete move to tubes. I had a Melos preamp with telefunken 6922's and a VTL St-85 with winged c EL-34's. Had a Marantz 8260 cd + a PS Audio III dac. It all came together with B&W 804's in a relatively small 11 x 13 x 9 room. I had a wide / deep soundstage with a dead on center image. It really was excellent. For some odd reason I sold the B&W's . . . I think to buy a new refrigerator! What an idiot. Things deteriorated from there and I am currently rebuidling albeit with ss.
The BEST system you've ever built !!!!
What is the best system that you have ever put together , from source to speakers including cables ??? After all the swaps and auditions I'm looking for the final "aahhh, that's the ticket" sound to you and what components took you to Audio Nirvana. {This is a survey of actual auditions, not what you read in a magazine} THANKS,