What’s your latest high-end audio purchase?


What’s your latest high-end audio purchase?  It can be cables, tweaks, components etc.  Also, please share why you purchased, what it replaced, and any additional tips and insights regarding your purchase.  
 

I hoping for this to be enjoyable and educational, so please be civil of other’s opinions and choices.

kennyc

I’ve always wanted to give Magnepan a try, so I’m starting at the bottom. I have a pair of the new LRS+ on order… delivery anticipated around March 2023.

Ok so just came across some incredible Tungsram, NOS 12ax7/ecc83 that might not be high-end, but that make my high-end lineatage play like I've never experienced before. Have run through, Sovtek, Mullard, Telefunken, Genalex and now these Tungsrams and they are breathtakingly good. Still amazed by how incredibly a 60yo tube can play. I liked all of the ones mentioned (maybe not the Sovteks) but the others are/were each VG. Just not otherworldly like these absolute gems!

I brought  a pair of western  electric  124 clones home yesterday  and played with them half the night. Anyhow line magnetic  built these with new old stock  western electric  transformers in them. I am running them directly  from the krell kps20i and using the volume  control on the monoblocks. Like them better in the tetrode  setting over the triod setting the speakers likely  need the extra power. Very classic  tube sound really enjoyable  to me. This has caused some extra work changing  speakers around the power piggies are going to go on the high powered tub system  and they way I have it setup is going into my bedroom. Really happy.

@bgross

Ok so just came across some incredible Tungsram, NOS 12ax7/ecc83 that might not be high-end, but that make my high-end lineatage play like I’ve never experienced before. Have run through, Sovtek, Mullard, Telefunken, Genalex and now these Tungsrams and they are breathtakingly good. Still amazed by how incredibly a 60yo tube can play. I liked all of the ones mentioned (maybe not the Sovteks) but the others are/were each VG. Just not otherworldly like these absolute gems!

tungsrams are absolutely top tier old stock tubes, made in hungary on old telefunken/siemens tooling, closest thing one will find for those desiring the crystal clear, airy sound of real deal old stock telefunkens

always distinguish the modern day russian tubes being sold under the old brand names vs real deal ones from the ’60-80’s - as you have experienced in your case

@jjss49 so I purchased them locally from the audio estate of one of the most knowledgeable and respected tube-gear lovers I'd ever met. I've had them in a box with other tubes from his estate for over a year and never had the time to dig in and see what was there. When I finally did I was pleasantly surprised to find these wrapped in layers of foam and in their own smaller box labeld "top of the world mom" - couldn't imagine what would be inside but it was the Tungsrams. Immediately tested two (A) right off the bat and stuffed them in the Calypso. Let the system warm up for an hour before sitting down for 1st impressions. They were/are amazing. The clairity & openness far outperformed the Fisher branded Telefunkens I was using prior and they are fabulous too. These however added color and vibrancy where the others seem to play in marvelous black and white. Anyway all the cheesy superlatives aside. Im super impressed with the Tungsram 12ax7 and clearly understand why the previous owner valued them above all his other tubes. 

Received and have been listening to my new amp, a Parasound JC5, which is my first 'proper amp'. It really has opened my eyes to how much improvement a well engineered amplifier can bring across the board and I'm loving it.

 

Eventually once I get the electrical side of the house squared away by updating the electrical panel and adding dedicated lines, I'll be able to pick up some Pass x260.8s. But for now, the JC5 is making me very happy.

@bgross  it is interesting  how big of differedifferences  that can be had with tube rolling. I have been surprised  at the difference s that can be had. I am relatively  new with tubes 

So don't really consider myself a tube roller. Never fuss with my tube amp - new stock Genelex GLs in the KT88 and EL84 slots. They are tried and true. I have a tube DAC as well and want to play around with that at some point. See where the 12au7/ecc82 magic lives. The preamp/lineatage tubes make the most impact sonically. Not sure anyone would debate that but its what I find anyway. So for now, I'm my instance, I've reached the top of the 12ax7 summit. Going to enjoy these for a while and get off the wheel. 

Naim Uniti Atom headphone edition DAC streamer headphone amp. Added to Belles Signature integrated amplifier, Vandersteen VLR CT speakers with Vandersteen Sub3 subwoofer, Feickert Woodpecker turntable with Thomas Schick tonearm, Shelter cartridge, Audio Research PH-7 phonostage. Very happy.

ARC Ref75SE and LS28.  Done with upgrades. Very happy with this combination.  

Just disconnected my Pass Labs Xono, and X1 line stage. Will put them up for sale.

They served me well for several years.

Purchased an SST Ambrosia 2000 2nd Edition full preamp.

Took about 20 days to settle in, and now sounds better than any preamp, I have ever heard.

Very warm, rich, quiet, and extremely detailed sonics. All I could ask for, and more!

I have a new, very realistic sounding, collection of CD/SACDs, and LPs!

My "end of life" preamp, that I will take to my grave.

 

Used Red rose r3 monitor speakers, I’ve been desiring this Speakers for yrs and they showed at good price, to add to my Speakers collections. Used Tyr  Nordost  1 Speakers cable, I heard them at Axpona lin the technic room and I like them.

Recently purchased a Cary Audio SLI-100 that replaced a Cary Audio SLI-80 signature model that served me very well for the last 8 years and I may sell. Both great sounding amps, but the SLI-100 definitely adds some special sauce. Clean, powerful and warm. Cary Audio made their name in tubes and it shows.

Whammerdyne DGA-1 Stereo Amp: pair of NOS Sylvania 2A3 power tubes; a NOS Amperex BB 6DJ8 input tube; and the optional wider band output transformers. 4.3 watts of excellent power!

Kinki studios EX p-7 SS.preamp. bought slightly used.About 200 hrs on it now.Sounds wonderful.Now i can listen to tube or SS.Very laid back sounding for a SS preamp,and dead quiet.

 

2 class D Orchard Audio StarKrimson Ultra boards.

I will be using these in a stereo setup with a LINEAR power supply, 1000 VA toroidal + 160 amp 0.8 volt forward voltage drop rectifiers + 200,000uF of filter capacitance with XLR inputs.

I should be finished building the whole thing in the next 4-5 weeks (not too much time in my hands).

@cakyol sounds like a nice build, share some pictures when you are done.

Bought a Schitt Freya+. I liked it, but thought it sounded kinda thin when compared to a modified Aragon 24K SP I have (even with NOS tubes). So I picked up a Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 modified with V-Caps and had it further upgraded by Parts Connexion.

SFL-2 will pair with the SFT-1 and SFD 2 Mkii I inherited from my dad. Going in a system with a pair of Magnepan .7's powered by a set of Aragon Palladium 2 monoblocks.

Looking forward to getting the system set up in a dedicated room. Even though I have some newer stuff, I think I'm a big fan of modified/upgraded 90's gear LOL

2 weeks ago, a Lumin T-2. Amazing piece, completely changed my listening experience.

cat_doorman
 

coulda been worse.  I woke up one morning to find that I had bought a Cessna 170B the night before!

Elekit TU8600S with upgrades, WE 300Bs.  Paired with McIntosh preamp and Altec Valencias.  Bedroom system.  We used it for background music in the past with a Powernode 2i in the past.  Now it’s an order of magnitude better sounding, fine enough for critical listening.  I absolutely love it, especially with the Altecs.

A power cable upgrade - helped fill in sound stage / added sense of power, and a shiny new Xeon processor for my now dedicated streaming PC.

A real - whoa ... whoa ... whoa - moment. Going from a powerful Laptop with good sound - tone / detail to more defined soundstage / bass / detail - hi thru lo - but the sense of power is remarkable. Between the power cable and chip it seems like I also gained ~ 15 db in headroom ... the brute force of the added 12 cores is unmistakable.

I for one would be interested in how the dedicated streaming box @sns develops ...

Today 9/23 I purchased a McIntosh MA 352. It’s not replacing anything. I just wanted to own a Mac piece. I am keeping my Pass 250.

SVS SB300 subwoofer. I just got it today it’s not even set up.  I just now downloaded the app. I did plug it in and try it. Pretty good so far. It does need adjustment though. It replaces a Focal sub6. 

Second pair of KEF R3 speakers, which I intend to configure as a line array with my existing pair and dual Martin Logan 1100X powered subs with ARC.

@audihifi I'm really interested to hear more about your experience using the Declare SE84UFO2.1 with the Schist Freya+ ... I have a Freya+ now and am on the long waitlist for a SE84UFO2.1 -- fully modded but for the XLR option. Do you recommend adding that hefty option, or staying single-ended?  Any experience you can offer would be most appreciated. Thank you ~