Systems over $100k

Yes, by any metric it’s over 100.

Last several years have been a constant push & pull between "done for now", "ever evolving", and "I want to try a new toy". I can’t say that will ever change!

Every major component sounds distinctly different in this system - so I’ve ended up collecting a few different preamps, a few different amps, many cartridges and SUT, lots of tubes, etc. Some combinations are definitely better than others, so I’m focusing on optimizing around the best of those and trying to settle on a "best" combination for all music genres, hopefully for a while. Presently what's holding that up - I have one combination which is a bit lacking for harder rock & heavy metal, but sounds best on everything else 😬

I’m not interested in those that try to oversell acoustic treatments. The gear is what’s most important to me.

Your question reminds me of the 3-part one that got me banned from /r/askreddit: 

What is the most valuable thing you own,  

What's your address, and  

When are you most likely not to be home?   

People posted some great answers until a mod made it clear that doxxing is no laughing matter. Bet they're a lot of fun at parties. 

@mulveling you definitely need to make it sound great for metal! What do you need to change for that? Very nice system. I think you should try the Audio Physic Cardeas with the VAC amplification. 

System price is absolutely no indication of system performance. I do not think it is any easier to build a good system if you have a lot of money to throw at it. I would also include the room as one of the components. If you place great equipment, well set up, in a terrible room you get a terrible system. 

I will be done when I can not imagine better sound. 

@infection

@mulveling you definitely need to make it sound great for metal! What do you need to change for that? Very nice system. I think you should try the Audio Physic Cardeas with the VAC amplification.

Thanks! The VAC preamp & amp combination is what saps just a bit of the adrenaline and drive for heavy metal but wins outright on all other music. Any breakup of the 2 units can absolutely slay with metal - for example, VAC 200iQ amps paired with ARC Ref 6, or the VAC Master pre paired with either Phison A2.120SE or Rogue Apollo Dark amps. It’s just the VAC pre & amp pairing which lags specifically on stuff with a very fast, hard and driving beat. The full VAC stack is extremely smooth and beautiful sounding, but not quite as clean / punchy / driving and impactful in bass as the other 3 combos I mentioned. Well, to be fair, when a power metal song slows down a bit (Avantasia, Magnum) the VAC stack shines again! Kevin Hayes of VAC is literally a wizard of voicing components, nobody else can do what he does, but I don’t think he listens to any metal 😅

Honestly I wish I could flip a switch to one of the other combos for just metal and harder driving rock. That would be sufficient! But even if there is a truly transparent switching mechanism, I lack the floor / rack space to pull it off.

All of the cartridges and SUTs I like can also do heavy metal well - no issues there.

Several years ago I heard an Audio Physic with VAC in the chain (Renaissance III preamp, though I forget what amp). I forget which model, it looked similar to the one you mentioned but slightly smaller. It had the cone tweeter, a couple of front facing midrange drivers, and side firing woofers. Yeah, it was a gorgeous sound - absolutely amazing soundstage and imaging. I was kinda smitten. Unfortunately my dealer stopped carrying them.