The BEST system you've ever built !!!!

I found this thead as I was just looking to see if I could find the very first post here on gon, the earliest I could find was 1-23-99 on setup for linn lp12. Anycase in response to this thread the best system I have ever assembled is the one I have now which consists of: Vpi classic, 10.5 Vpi arm, Denon 103r cartridge, JLTI phono stage, Calypso Aesthetix preamp, Simaudio w-5 amp, Merlin speakers. I can't recommend this system any higher than I am, the whole system together that is, finally the speakers disappear so well and timbre is natural sounding I am done upgrading until I hit the lotto.

mfa preamp a-2 i believe
michell hydraulic reference transcriptor table w/fluid arm
win strain guage cartridge w/transducer box
kenwood L09 300w. mono blocks
maggie IIIa's rebuilt to 3.5's but original x-overs
kimber 8tc speaker wire
fulton & kimber ultraplate interconnects

2nd table is a pioneer 530 DD w/signet tk7e cartridge

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.

For me, it just ended (temporarily LOL) with the addition of an analog rig.

Components:

Clearaudio: Performance SE w/ Satisfy Carbon Tonearm, Talismann V2 MC cart, Balance Plus phono pre.
PS Audio Perfect Wave Transport and D/A
Mark Levinson No. 380S Pre-amp
PS Audio Power Plant Premier power regenerator
Pass Labs XA-100.5 Class A monoblock amps
Wilson Audio Watt/Puppy System 8

Interconnect:
Siltech MC4-80 Inevitable link (XLR) from D/A to pre-amp and pre-amp to power amps.
Kimber KCAG for phono-pre to ML pre-amp

Speaker Wire:
Siltech LS-110

Power Cords:
PS Audio: AC-12 for power amps, AC-10 for D/A & Transport, AC-5 for power regenerator.

ATC 25; benchmark DAC, Wadia 170, iPhone4