Your greatest high end audio purchase!!!


My audiophile journey has extended to over 40 of adventurous sonic delight. Over the coarse of my over 40 year journey as an audiophile, like so my others, I cycled through a multitude of speakers, amps, cables, etc,. Now that I’m an old guy, I’ve pretty much settled on my "End-Game" audio system for the long haul, primarily because I simply love the way it sounds, and also because, at this juncture, I no longer have the will, nor do I have the desire to continue the crazy (but fun) merry-go-round of audio components in and out like I did in years past (my spouse and my wallet thank me). When I look back on all the high-speed audio gear that I’ve owned down through the years, and after giving it much insightful thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that, after everything was said and done, my beloved Revel Salon 2 speakers were my overall most pleasurable and greatest purchase of all. What was yours?

kennymacc

Showing 2 responses by dorkwad

I was in the right place at the right time being only 2 hours away from a very special pair of VMPS RM40 BCSE speakers w/ bookmatched rosewood veneers and was THE pair of speakers Marty DeWulf of Bound For Sound had for a few years as his reference speakers to judge all others by.  This was just after Brian Cheney passed and John Casler was helping the Cheney family sell off all the VMPS speakers and parts so help their family.  They are among the finest speakers Brian ever made and I've now had them for about 9 years.  With a couple additions from Krissy, the 2 things I think they needed small improvement on--the loss of some highs as you stand up when listening and occasional bottoming out on loud and deep bass transients are now a moot point.  This version is 260 lbs of joy per channel but I'm a big guy and lifting my end with another on the other end and we have moved those up stairs and down several times.  I've had many different very good speakers to challenge them with, but I'm always amazed when I return to the 40's at how great they sound.  

A very close second would be the TRL DUDE preamp that I became the 3rd owner of several years ago.  I did 2 major tweaks to it which made it even more authoritative and the chassis more substantial.  When I got the first set of NOS hand picked tubes from Andy's Vintage in Michigan, they were the final addition making the DUDE really come to life.

The other piece was the Modwright Sony 5400 Signature Truth CD/SACD.  Dan Wright blessed me with this after I owned a MW Sony 9000 as the first great CD player I'd owned, and then a MW Sony 9100.  I've done several worthwhile tweaks to the 5400 which has transformed it into an even more super deck.

 

Bob

I have a well broken in TJN Lenco Reference MkII turntable going very soon. It will have been refinished by Jean Nantais with a couple of additions on it. Looks wise, it is spectacular with a mostly natural finish with a couple coats of lacquer on it. I have been doing most of Jean’s Home Depot upgrades and mods over the years with a couple even Jean doesn’t have. The sound has been very good when all is operating such as now. I think I’ve done about all I could do with my DIY build. I’d like to experience what one of Jean’s best designs can do with the music. His Reference TT will be on another level and when combined with my Origin Live Illustrious Mk3 and Charisma Reference Two cartridge with Andy Kim’s upgraded retip of a microridge stylus and boron cantilever, along with my newly upgraded Whest 30se Pro, should provide some extreme listening pleasure to all my albums. We shall see in about a week or two. It will most likely be a keeper for the rest of my life if the sound mirrors the looks and takes my analog up a notch or two, maybe more.  This could be right up there with my other best buys.