What is Your End Game System?

@ronboco , can you post any details or tips? Thanks

@lalitk , thanks for asking, YES, I'll post it over the week end, thanks for asking.

I have a home theater, a man cave system, and a desktop. I also use DTS Play-Fi for multi zone audio in other rooms.

You can get a Porsche Cayenne and an end game immersive audio Auro 3D sound system as a package deal:

@overthemoon , your system looks awesome, love the attention to the power cables and conditioner . What is that white panel on the left wall, a room treatment?

What is interesting to me is some of these replies helps me look at different "goal posts". I agree with the end game is an internal or subjective experience. An end game home theater is different than an end game headphone rig.

I don’t have and never tried an all tube analog system, after reading that post by @o_holter now I want one, is that strange?

I had a desktop system comprising JBL 230 speakers, nice, but not an end game speaker. What I lusted for were Gallo Strada II speakers on custom Mapleshade stands. I decided to change the amp I was using on the speakers from a Parasound Zamp to a classic Carver AV505 amp that had more power. WOW! The soundstage blew out from left to right and floor to ceiling. Then I see the Gallo speakers on Audiogon with the stands at a great price. I was about to pull the trigger but couldn’t because I was enjoying the current setup so much. I don’t know that it is "end game" but certainly good enough that I didn’t want to change anything.

My listening satisfaction reached almost capacity when I upgraded my room treatments (with the help of Anthony Grimani, Wilhelm Van Balen and The Dubstage studio owners) and upgraded my room correction to the Pro version of Audyssey. Since then it just seems right to my ears. Not "perfect" but just right.
I am curious about an all analog tube based system, also about getting a McIntosh streamer but not because I am not satisfied with what I have now. 

@rpeluso Beautiful! That looks end game, what type of music do you listen to?

Thanks

@rpeluso @urbie @yyzsantabarbara for sharing the details of your end game systems. I can see how all of you squeezed every last ounce of performance by the details you posted. It wasn’t a simple "plug and done" off the shelf approach. Much testing and retesting went into it.

If any of you knew when you began your build what you know now, what advice would you have for others who are either starting a build or in the middle of one?

@ronboco , wow, you have my respect, talk about passion for a build. You are like the "iron chef" of system building. What advice would you want to share for someone just starting out?

@lalitk , that is a true statement and you can see it in the systems posted here, all seem to be a result of meticulous comparisons and testing.

@yyzsantabarbara , this is a very interesting answer, I am starting to see that end game systems posted here seem constructed with great attention detail, like yours. Thanks for the tip about fiber optic cables, I am using HDMI and will try it :).

@lalitk I was referring to your comment about all of us having unique systems, not cables :)

I added my 9.2.7 home theater system to my profile if anyone is interested.

I have not gotten much into headphones but enthusiasts build end game system in headphone rigs too.

@holmz , great point about putting it together thoughtfully. When I initially invested in higher end gear I bought what I felt was the best fit for my needs because I new it would likely be a lifetime investment. I have made two major upgrades since being in this hobby. One was going from surround sound to immersive audio and investing in a new processor and height channels. The next was when I upgraded my room treatments for a new listening room. Buy once, cry once as they say :).

I'll see if I can upload my measurements in my profile later.

@ghdprentice , photos posted, thanks for asking. I'll see if I can post some frequency response measurements too later.

@mikelavigne , OMG, your system makes the systems at CEDIA seem entry level. I noticed you use Auralex T-fusors in the front, did you fill them with rockwool of polyfil? I use the Geofusors on the ceiling You must get room service all the time because I would not want to leave that room once I sit down. Your vinyl collection is incredible. The Equitech power panel is inspiring, might as well treat the source right?

What would you have done differently when you started your journey if you knew then what you know now? Any advice for those starting their end game build?

@ghdprentice , awesome pics in your profile. Your headphone setup looks incredible with those big tube amps. I see you went with a tasteful Persian rug that doubles as room treatments, nice. Of the systems you have posted which one gets the most use? If you could only keep one component of all your systems which one would you keep?

@overthemoon , as long as you have a 30 day return with your investment it is fun to try. If I were starting over I would do the room treatments before anything else, then the power conditioners, and then the IC's. When I did my build I did those in reverse order and that was a learning experience.

@pvmike , I like it, might as well set the bar high right? 

@creditingkarma , thanks for posting your journey (so far :) I think most members here can relate that each time you move up on the adio ladder the next rung takes a combination of budget and experience. A journey that takes some people decades you seemed to accomplish in a sprint. If someone were just starting out what would you share you would do differently if you knew then what you know now?

Personally, I focused on components first, IC;s second, power conditioning/cords third, room correction software fourth, and room treatments last. If I were starting over I would do the room treatments first. I got the process to really dial in the room watching a video by Anthony Grimani and he was even nice enough to exchange e-mails to help implement.

FWIW, I just added the before and after calibration measurements of my system in my profile/virtual system if anyone is interested. The calibration software was the paid upgrade for Audyssey Pro license and the necessary calibrated mic which is on a totally different level than the software and mic that comes with the unit when you buy it.

The closest I have gotten to a custom built room was moving from a condo where you can never "unleash the beast" to a house where noise complaints aren't an issue. In the back of my room I have too much open space but found moveable acoustic panels and other work arounds that were the best compromise I could find. That will be a great goal though, to move up to a custom built theater/room.

@mglik , are you considering monoblocks for the Quad 57’s? I am not an amp expert but the reviews on the Van Alstine DVA M225 monoblocks seem to say that it hits way above its price. It has a preamp that is designed for it, the DVA Digital preamp.

"Gentleman, start your engines": :)

@chiadrum , first, welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story in this thread. Man, it must be great to get what you want jumping right into the hobby. There are many members that have a lot of experience with tubes (not me though) :). Klipsch are typically very efficient speakers and that is a good formula for some of those tube amps with lower power. Do those Cornwall's need a lot of space?

I have a Klipsch Gate streamer that I use in the kitchen paired with an active speaker and a great Klispch integrated amp called the Powergate. Both are part of my DTS Play-Fi whole house audio setup. They are more entry level products and still sound great. Congrats!!

@jerrybj , congratulations! I am noticing in this thread that attention to the details is important. May I ask which network switch you chose? That is something I am currently shopping for. Can you please post your system and some pics in your profile? Thanks

@rvpiano , it might seem like luck but at some level your gut must known that amp would be a sleeper. Nice  job!

@rvpiano , can you post your system in your profile? Like to check it out, Thanjs

@rvpiano , my bad, it didn't load properly first time I looked. Those speakers look like they must throw a huge soundstage. I have seen those Tritons in a lot of reference systems in the by lines of reviewers. Same with the Cambridge streamer and Benchmark DAC. How long did it take to assemble everything and dial it in? Looks like every component is at the top of Stereophiles recommended list. Nice job

@phusis ,wow, that is an end game. I knew those were theater speakers the second I saw the pic and I have seen pics before where members put them behind a screen, built into a wall. Your setup doesn't hide them but has them stand up and salute, nice. I know how it goes with "final" touches as there is always room for something to squeeze a little more. Do you take measurements? Thanks for posting.

I have been thinking about an "endgame" headphone system and considered trying to match cans with an amp. I have always liked Sony so they made it easy by building what they are calling their own end game system, "Sony Signature Series":

The culmination of a lifetime’s pursuit of audio excellence, Signature Series products transcend the limits of high resolution sound, achieving an unparalleled listening experience.

I bought the headphone amp/dac/pre and will see how it performs as a DAC and a 2 CH preamp in my home theater before getting the matching cans.

Thanks @chaskelljr2001 

I just saw some JBL Synthesis Array in Ferrari Red on Agon that were $14K new for about $5K, amazing end game speakers too.