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

I just use common sense to build my system.

1)Budget and size the newest speaker for your room with approval from your wife.
2)All solid core silver wire - Silver is the best metal conductor known to man. It's cheap with NO-name brand.
3)Tube or SS amp must be more power than the speaker max rating - All music will sound good instead of tweaking to get better.
4)Buy the latest DAC with asynchronous inputs only. Music will sound better if the timing is correct to speakers.

Most important of all - Never mix your cables or amp/preamp or tubes with different manufacture or generation.

That was before then...

11-17-03: Thesaint519
The best system that I ever built is still very much under construction. But, listed below is my current system w/ the future upgrade list in tow:

- Levinson 390S
www.marklevinson.com

- Levinson 33H
www.marklevinson.com

- PS Audio P1000 Power Regenerator w/ 20A High Current Ultimate Outlet
www.psaudio.com

- Revel Ultima Salons - Piano Gloss Black w/ Aluminum Sides
www.revelspeakers.com

- Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack w/ Apex footers (4 shelf version)
www.grandprixaudio.com

- Grand Prix Audio F1 Carbon Shelf
www.grandprixaudio.com

- Synergistic Research Resolution Reference X-Series XLR w/ active shielding - Interconnects
www.synergisticresearch.com

- Synergistic Research Resolution Reference X-Series w/ active shielding - Speaker Cables
www.synergisticresearch.com

- Kimber SC-VU s-video cable
www.kimber.com

- Spike Spotters - spike/floor interface
www.spikespotters.com

Future upgrades:

- Levinson 40 Audio/Video console
- Levinson 433 (3 channel amp for center & surrounds)
- 46" - 60" LCD HDTV
- Revel Ultima Voice Center Channel Speaker
- Revel Ultima Embrace Surround Speakers
- Revel Ultima Subwoofer
- PS Audio Ultimate Xstream Power Cable (for the 433)
- Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack w/ Apex footers (two shelf base)
- Richard Gray Substation (for the 33H's)
- Synergistic Research Master Control Center

That was then...

- Wilson Audio Sashas

- Lamm M1.2 Reference Mono amps

- dCS Delius

- dCS Purcell

- Richard Gray Power Company 1200S

- Transparent Audio Reference XLR ICs (MM1)

- Transparent Audio Reference Spkr Cable (MM1)

- Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack w/ Apex footers (4 shelf version)

- ReQuest Media Server (5,000 songs & 300 Movies)

- SRA VR-series IsoBase for each Lamm mono

- Spike Spotters - spike/floor interface by Cerimax
www.spikespotters.com

Future upgrades:

- Lamm L2 Reference Preamp
- HRS SXR isolation rack
- Transparent Audio Reference upgrade for all cables to XLMM2
- Transparent Audio Reference XLMM2 RCA IC for the Lamm L2 (already purchased in preparation for the L2 arrival)

This is now...

- Wilson Audio Sashas

- Lamm M1.2 Reference Mono amps

- Lamm L2 Reference Preamp

- Meitner MA-1

- Richard Gray Power Company 1200C

- Transparent Audio Reference XL RCA ICs (MM2)

- Transparent Audio Reference XLR ICs (MM1)

- Transparent Audio Reference Spkr Cable (MM1)

- Meridian Sooloos Ensemble Music Server

- SRA VR-Series IsoBase for each Lamm M1.2 mono

Future upgrades:

- SRA Ohio Class XL2 IsoBases for each Lamm M1.2 mono
- SRA Scuttle 3 Isolation Rack - 4 shelves
- Transparent Audio Reference upgrade for all cables to XLMM2
- Kaleidescape Cinema 1 movie server
- Wilson Alexia speaker system

Dynaco Stereo 70; PAS preamp; JBL Lancer 99s; Girard table.

I have to say that I'm VERY happy with my system as it stands now. Does that mean I may not change something and muck it up? Nope. But for now I'm really not longing for anything. It's extremely simple, but it does all I need it to do.

Source: Esoteric DV-50
Preamp: Levinson 326s
Amps: Parasound JC1's
Speakers: Aerial 10T's
Cabling: Audio Magic
Misc: Two 20A circuits, one amp on each. I also have the preamp on one and the Esoteric on a separate 15A circuit. I noticed a significant improvement when I upgraded the power.

Future: More than likely an external DAC and a server of some sort, but for now the Esoteric is more than holding it's own against the other players I've auditioned lately. Are they better, yes - but to really take it to the next level we're talking a 5 digit investment which I'm not willing to make.

I have lossless FLAC music ripped from cd's and music I purchased from HD tracks, I am using Macintosh MX 121 processor, Krell S1500 7 channel power amp, 7.1 SYSTEM, B&W 802D speakers for front and center, Monitor Audio for side and rare channels, Crystal and Audio Quest for interconnect and Tara Lab for Speaker cables. I am using JRiver to play this music from my computer, which resides on Lenovo Q180 small foot print PC with build in HDMI which is connected to my processor via this HDMI. I don't know why but I feel that this PC is the least expensive equipment I have, and is the weakest link in my entire system. There is nothing wrong with the system. But, it always bugs me that I can improve this weak link. I like the fact that while playing music I can see the album cover and track information on the monitor. But still I am curious to know, if possible, how can I improve the sound quality. Since I have a Mcintosh processor with built in DAC, I don't want to add another DAC (by the way I tried using Moon DAC, it was no-ware close to Mcintosh MX121, ended up selling it on eBay). I am not even sure, while using HDMI port does better sound card matters? Or can I enhance any thing in my system to improve the sound quality or am I looking for unrealistic Majic? When I purchased this system, my friends were so surprised from the money I spent, there first question to me was "Does singer comes out of these speakers to sing for you?" I guess that's what I am expecting, I believe I am missing those emotions that we get from live performance.