I upgraded my TT, preamp and monoblocs to better versions of the same items. Those replaced items make up the second rig (with the addition of digital.)
Whats in your second system?
Just curious as to the people who like myself have many thousands "invested" in their main system with all the latest tweaks, cables etc and also have a second or even third system.
Did you assemble that with the same love and care and dedication and costly tweaks?
Or did you throw something together from bargain bins or indeed your old leftovers and then sat back and thought...Wow this sounds really good!
And if so did that get you thinking on the main system...lol.
My second system cost way less than the speaker cables on my main system but I am constantly shocked at just how nice it sounds for such a no frills setup.
Linn Classic all in one
Tannoy 2 ellipse small floorstanders
20 year old (at least) Jensen 50w 8 inch sub.
Monster Cable 12/2 speaker cable bare wire ends.
Home brewed power cord just cos I had it laying around.
The Linn just sits on top of a chest of drawers with the Tannoys flanking the chest either side and the lil sub sitting behind the chest.
And it sounds darn good tbh!
Did you assemble that with the same love and care and dedication and costly tweaks?
Or did you throw something together from bargain bins or indeed your old leftovers and then sat back and thought...Wow this sounds really good!
And if so did that get you thinking on the main system...lol.
My second system cost way less than the speaker cables on my main system but I am constantly shocked at just how nice it sounds for such a no frills setup.
Linn Classic all in one
Tannoy 2 ellipse small floorstanders
20 year old (at least) Jensen 50w 8 inch sub.
Monster Cable 12/2 speaker cable bare wire ends.
Home brewed power cord just cos I had it laying around.
The Linn just sits on top of a chest of drawers with the Tannoys flanking the chest either side and the lil sub sitting behind the chest.
And it sounds darn good tbh!
111 responses Add your response
My secondary system consists of: McIntosh MA6600 200wpc integrated amp McIntosh MCD 301 SACD player McIntosh MR-85 tuner Sony HAP-Z1ES music server Golden Ear Triton One speakers Full loom of Groneberg Quattro Reference cables Furutech E-TP80 Power Conditioner Furutech E-TP60 Power Distributor I purchased all 3 McIntosh used from Audio Classics. The rest of the items were purchased new. To be honest, I get much more pleasure from this system than my main system which cost me 2 1/2 times as much as this system.. |
Just Grado headphones and computer. It sounds terrible but it's okay for youtube listening. Oh yeah, I put $14 shielded power cord on the computer, big difference, both audio and video. Thinking about adding $300 Oppo dac/headphone amp and Audioquest usb cable. I've been thinking about it for two years and keep thinking. |
I have about $5K tied up in my second system Rega Brio R integrated amp Unico CD player Parasound Zphono preamp Technics GR 1200 Turntable Omega Super 7 speakers I listen to this system a lot. The Omegas really make it for me. The larger single driver system give a real in room quality to the music. Rich |
Yes to the love and care. No to the costs. :) My second system is my PC/bedroom system. Consists of a Logitech Squeezebox Touch, NAD D 3020 integrated and my own custom speakers. Also added a 5 GHz extender/converter because normal Wifi in this apartment is terrible, and the Touch does not do 5 GHz. In a very serious way, this involved a lot of hacking and tweaking to make it work right. My desktop speakers: https://speakermakersjourney.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-lm-1-bookshelf-version.html Best, E |
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When I have a component that I really like and can't bear to sell it I pass it on to my second system. I've also added a few new components to my second system over the years. Second System Allnic T-1500 300B Integrated Amp Conrad Johnson Classic SE Preamp Conrad Johnson Classic Sixty SE Amp Class D Audio SDS-470C Amp Sonic Frontiers SFT-1 Transport Yamamoto Dac Montana EPX Speakers Townsend Super Tweeters Magnum Dynalab MD-106T Analog FM Tuner |
some really nice sounding second systems here that a lot of people would be proud to call their main system. I really like the idea of hanging onto older well loved equipment and using to piece together another system. Unfortunately most times I have upgraded the only way I have been able to afford to upgrade was to sell off the older pieces to make funds available to offset the costs. This is a regret in some areas for sure as I know there are speakers and amps I really really should have liked to have kept! |
My second system consist of a Yamamoto HA-03 headphone amp a pair of Audeze LCD 2 headphones W/ Cable Pro cables, PS Audio power wedge, Silnote Reference power cords, Audioquest Colorado interconnects and for source a redbook only Theta dac, Acoustic Zen MC2 digital cable and Cabridge CDX transport. This system is very revealing and satisfying, only bad thing is you lose track of time. |
In my home office I have a pair of Adam F7 Active Monitors driven by my laptop via an upgraded 3.5-RCA Cable made by Take Five Audio. My intent was to use them to play music softly while working, but they sound so darned good I’ll also use them for fun listening sessions when I don’t feel like powering up my main rig. |
I truly wish I had the means to have kept some early pieces. But it is what it is and for the money spent on my second system I am very happy. One advantage to it, is its location in a vastly superior acoustic setting than my main system. This is a position that hopefully I will reverse next year with move to a new house and can actually have a choice of a dedicated listening room. |
OP--some of it started out with "leftover" stuff that was upgraded, didn't pass WAF, or new stuff that I just wanted to try out. Stuff is in flux trying different combinations, but, right now: 2d. Cary DMC600 Oppo 95 Bluesound Node 2 Music Hall Ikura Cary SLP98p Cary CAD211fe Canton Vento Reference 5 3d. Cary DAC200ts Bluesound Vault 2 Schiit Freya NHT x2 Wall Audio m50 PSET mb Spendor s3/5r2 SVS SB13 ultra 4th Cary 306.200 (using DAC only) old Samsung universal player Sonos Connect Cary SLP03 Cary CAD200 Salk HT3 Not as much "care" in tweaks, tube-rolling, cables, etc. as things move down the line. Always something to play with, and usually can find a place for something. Hoarders rule. One day will likely sell off a bunch of stuff and concentrate on just two or three. |
My second system was previously my first system; Conrad Johnson MF2550 SE amp Conrad Johnson ET3SE preamp with upgraded EAT tube Musical Fidelity M6CD Onkyo 7070 CD PSB XB speakers (soon to be upgraded) / Sub Cub subwoofer $5,400 total cost or about 35 cents on the dollar by buying used. Better sound on female vocals, too. |
PC via USB and Yamaha CDR 651 via optical to Emotiva XDA 2 DAC to Emotiva Basx 300 Amp to KEF Q100 speakers Sony BDP S6700 via HDMI to Onkyo TX SR 373 AV receiver for SACD playing through Polk RTi6 speakers and to XDA DAC via coaxial to the BASX 300 to the KEF 100s Project Debut III with Ortofon OM 10 cartridge through Cambridge 640P phono Pre amp to the Onkyo av receiver to the Polk RTi6 speakers I switch the speakers between the set ups and listen to the different format combinations Small 10 x 12 music and home office room. |
I upgraded my TT, preamp and monoblocs to better versions of the same items. Those replaced items make up the second rig (with the addition of digital.) Forgot to list it! Garrard 401 with 12" Jelco 750 and Ortofon MC3, Croft 25 phono/pre, EICO HF 35 monos. Sony CD. Laptop. Clear Day cables. Spendor SP2/2 speakers. |
I recently made a complete changeout of my office system. Before:
After:
I'm almost a bit sad about how much better it sounds, and the thought of giving the original system to my nephew feels like giving away a family pet. :-) Anyone else ever have those feelings? |
I have a secundary system in my study at home: Harbeth P3ESR as desktop speakers refurbished Quad 405/2 amplifier Emotiva Control Freak plus some additional inline attenuators as volume control. ODAC usb DAC Computer as source for streamed music. I have the speakers on IsoAcoustics desktop stands to get the tweeter up to ear height, and to reduce bass reinforcement from the desk surface. Even so, there still was a bit of a bass boom from the desk and I cured that with a REW equalization curve for the Equalizer Apo installed on the computer. There is one definite upgrade in the not too far away future and that is a quieter (preferably fanless) computer. The other would perhaps be a little subwoofer. Before I do that, however, I first want to experiment with the subwoofer from my main system, to see if my study is large enough to handle deep bass. In any case, the sound is already very good indeed for a smallish room. |
I also have a very simple but nonetheless pleasant tertiary system in the bedroom: Wharfedale Diamond 9.0 speakers Ava Maestro 50 amplifier (with optical input) Chromecast Audio as an optical digital source. The amplifier is a very small and completely digital affair with an auto on/off function as its main virtue. It sits out of sight, tucked away in a wardrobe. It is turned on by a signal from the Chromecast, and is usually turned off by the TuneIn sleeptimer on the Chromecast. Unfortunately Chromecast does not have a native sleeptimer - that functionality has to come from the app for the streaming service. TuneIn has one, but Spotify e.g. does not. The amplifier is about 2x25 watt, and that is enough, but only just. I also tried it with my (insensitive) Harbeth P3ESR speakers, but it was not really powerful enough to drive those well. But I am quite happy with the more efficient Wharfedales - they are mostly used to listen to late night talk radio. But even for some casual music they are by no means offensive. |
My current second system is a ridiculous hodge-podge of leftover components that makes no sense (the digital front is is 10x the speaker price, so taking the full Linn approach here), but hey, if you've been an audiophile long enough ... Accuphase E-406V integrated amp Emm Labs DCC2 DAC / Preamp MacIntosh MVP-881 Blu Ray Usher BE-718 Speakers Purist Aqeuous, Silversmith cables Its an AV system, but sounds pretty decent for where its set up (not an audiophile approved location) |
My bedroom system: Speakers: Kef LS50s Amplification: Creek Evolution 100a Integrated Amp w/ Ruby DAC module Sources: Chromecast Audio (digital in to DAC) Old Pioneer CD/DVD player for CDs TV / DirecTV FM Tuner built into Ruby Module Occasionally move a VPI Nomad turntable to this system but it doesn’t live there normally due to space limitations. Wanted to try the LS50s after reading all the amazing reviews and loved the small footprint and great flexibility/connectivity of the Creek w/ DAC module considering the limited space. Considered adding a subwoofer but the wife won that coin toss so instead the bedroom got an upholstered chair...it doesn’t add much to the sound quality but does make for a nice spot to enjoy the music. |
I have a 15' X 13' library or whatever it's called as a part of my bedroom. Like lak, it gets whatever's not currently in the main system: Jadis Orchestra Reference integrated Jadis Defy DA30 integrated Quicksilver 8417 monoblock power amplifiers Dynaco ST70 X 2 stereoblock power amplifiers VTV Ultrasonic preamplifier AES AE3 DJH preamplifier Dynaco CD player Consonance SACD player Sony SCD333ES SACD player Technics SL7 turntable Fried Valhalla (C satellites with O subwoofers) system Fried Studio V Fried A/6 Fried Beta Coincident Digital Master satellites w/Troubass subwoofers |
@bubba12....................... I have the Triton References which are truly wonderful, but I do not get to listen to that system very often (maybe once a week), as now that wife and I are both retired, she is always in the living room either watching TV or on her tablet. Hence, enjoying my secondary system on the second floor of the house more. |
A pair of YG Carmel speakers, First Watt M2 amp, BAT VK51se preamp, Esoteric S50 cd/sacd player with external word clock, and a Sony HAP streamer. I also have a First Watt J2 amp, Pass Labs preamp, and Magnepan 1.7 speakers on reserve. Largely a collection of great gear that was replaced by better gear in my main system. Cardas wire everywhere. |
My main system resides in a dedicated room in the basement and is used for serious listening. The secondary system is in a common living/entertaining area on the main floor. I like it to be unobtrusive. It features original Sonus Faber Guarneri Homage speakers driven by a Sonos Connect amp and a small Rel sub. Source is Tidal streaming and files on a NAS drive. It sounds surprisingly good and looks pretty cool too. |
My second system is in my BR and consists of: Luxman L505ux intergrated Harbeth P3 ESR Audioengine b1 (for steaming, DON'T Judge) ;) Audeze LCD X + Nordost Heimdall 2 headphone cable Admittedly, i have on occasion questioned how much i've invested in my main system because of how good my second system sounds, but then i'm snapped back into reality when all things are considered (room size, media type, aesthetics, etc.) |
2nd system in my home office Micro Seiki BL-90 TT w/Benz Micro LP cartridge George Wright Wpp 100c Phono with WPM 100 STEP UP Shiit Freya pre w/vintage 6sn7 tubes Mcintosh Mc275 vi amp B&W 805S Monitors Shunyata Power conditioner and power cords (entry level) heats my office by day lights up beautifuly at night lot of fun rolling tubes |
It’s not how many different systems you have it is what you DO with the different systems you have. While I have more than one audio setup, I have just one system where the PRIMARY purpose is to sit and focus on listening to music. It is located in a room dedicated to listening. I have a sweet spot in my primary system. My primary system brings me immense pleasure. My secondary system is located in a large living room with an adjoining kitchen. It’s purpose is to provide good sounding music while I am mainly doing something else like cooking, reading and generally moving around. I do not have a sweet spot in my living room. My attitude with my secondary system is it only needs to be "good enough" while my primary system needs to be the best I can achieve given what I currently have or am willing to add to it. I think I would go nuts if I had more than one primary listening system as my main system takes all my audiophile attention as it is. For me, having two primary audio system would be like having two wives. |