In 2017 I moved from a 6-box Naim kit to a 2 box Vitus. The improvement was extraordinary. The icing on the cake is the move just this summer from B&W to Boenicke W13 speakers, the sound these make makes me melt. And it is a lifetime set-up, no need for any more upgrades, tweaking aside. Oh, and the semi active bass drivers in the speakers have full dsp so my bass boom has gone. Heaven.
Listening to music is now such an amazing experience. The space, the holographic sound, the weight of the music (with no boom) the natural, live sound. I smile whenever I sit down and crank it on.
I am am so happy with my HiFi, it's simply perfect. |
I apologize. I was being a sarcastic snobby audiophile. You are exactly right about the Nils Lofgren reference... |
Ease of use and good clean, dynamic sound. Right now it’s a Made in Japan Panasonic portable CD player and naked Grado SR 80 Headphones. I suspect the clean, dynamic sound is a product of eliminating AC power, power cords, speaker cables, interconnects, fuses, and transformers. I also save $$$$ and real estate.
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Right now, I’m most happy with my listening space - a dedicated medium-large, comfortable room. With just a modest amount of treatments, it adds no character of it’s own to the deep, wide stage that my little Maggies present. On good recordings, the instruments and vocals are and stay where they belong. Wither I’m standing or sitting in the sweet spot, right or left of the sweet spot or even lying down, everything stays fixed where it belongs. Since I do a good deal of listening at night, with very low lighting, my black Maggies, quite literately, do disappear.
I have to disagree with Wolf - even in the afternoon, in good light, the maggies call no attention to themselves and I find myself paying attention only the the instruments and vocals that take their place on a stage that extends behind and well beyond the speakers.
My main 2 way system:
Magnapan 1.7 - speakers
Rogue, Cronus Mag. II - integrated amp
CA Audio Labs, CL-10 - CDP
Thornes, D-105, with Audioguest, B-100M - TT and MC cart.
Silver Streak - ICs
Ted’s Excellent - Integrity 8 - Speaker cable
Jim
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Our current system reproduces musical content differently -- contingent upon the source material -- which is gratifying.
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I forgot to list: ADS Sub 10 to fill out the bottom 20 - 50 HZ
Jim
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Having finally moved into the rumpus room after all of the kids have left for other pastures, I am really enjoying my vintage Klipschorns in a suitably sized room. Amp is a vintage Mullard 10 watter, front end is an Antipodes streamer/server running Roon and Tidal through a Denafrips Pontus DAC. It has never sounded better! Next week, I'll swap out the Khorns for my Zu Soul Superflys which should be fun. The best thing about the rumpus room is that my wife can't hear the music from anywhere else in the house unless she wants to.
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My father returned from a tour of duty, with the Army, in Korea, in 1965. He brought home a Pioneer receiver, Sony reel to reel deck, Garrard turntable and Pioneer speakers. As a 12 year old, I was hooked for life. Over the next 50 years, he often apologized for contributing to my addiction. This has always been more than a hobby for me.
I have been fortunate, in that I have been able, over the past few years, to upgrade my system to the point where I have very few, if any, days where my system sounds like crap.
At the end of the day (I’m not quite yet retired), other than family, my system is the best stress reliever in my life. I can’t imagine not having it.
Aerial Acoustics, Audioquest, Bryston, Chord, Dynavector, Esoteric, Liberty Audio, SME.
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Mine is versatile enough that it's really good for HT, and (with a quick switch of speaker cables) at least decent for 2 channel.
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That I wake up looking forward to spending more time listening to more music, every day. And I do. |
Andynotadam:
Well, if you're going to be snobbish about it........Nils Lofgren is a pretty good bucket to pull the snob out of.
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On the technical side, I just finished putting together a complete system (vinyl, streaming, cds) and I'd have to say my favorite thing about my new system is the sense of timing it brings to the music. Specifically, my Focal 1028be speakers are the first speakers I've ever heard where I can hear what other audiophiles called timing and I could never figure out what they were talking about. Now I get it!
Emotionally, My favorite part of my system is my Audio Sensibilities Signature Speaker cables. They are the size of a baby's leg and sound great and make me smile at their absurdity each time I look at them. I'm in love.
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@hartf36:
You are correct, sir!!! |
Elizabeth , this might sound silly but i’m also retired and have had the time to research and buy all new equipment for the first time since the late seventies. The researching itself I find very engaging.
While awaiting my new Magico A3’s speakers to arrive my new stuff is sitting in boxes or half unpacked (Luxman 507uX II integrated amp, VPI Classic II SE turntable, Ortofon 2M black mm cartridge and a newish Marantz SA8005CD player I actually have been using). I’m enjoying just seeing all this fine equipment in the house and anticipating how well it will sound. I’ve only dreamed of having this kind and quality of equipment before.
I’m also enjoying communicating with you nice people here on Audiogon, while I research and get advice on the next purchase. Currently that’s cables and interconnects. The anticipation of completing this system is almost as much fun as actually listening to music on it will be. It’s kind of like the night before Christmas for kids.
I’m fortunate enough to have built a house in the county far enough away from neighbors so I can play music as loudly or softly as I wish. That’s really a blessing and part of the motivation to live here. So I’m sorry your neighbors rain on your parade a bit. Of course there’s a lot to be said for city living too, which I’m acutely aware of when I need to travel six to ten hours for a demo or purchase.
Sorry I didn’t catch your thread a few weeks ago. Take care now,
Mike |
I would say for me what I like the most is the location. I really love and appreciate the fact that I have a dedicated room. In the past my system has been in more common areas of the home but now I have a place where I can listen without concerns. This has really enhanced the experience for me. |
Skyscraper, about 4 years ago I did the same. Give yourself some time to sort things out. I went form 1985-2014 with little in the way of audio. Still have my first album purchase, The Bob Seger System from 1970, played it the other night. You're going to love it.
Look up Balanced Power in the forum, it helped me quite a bit. |
In fact, what I like most about my system is that there are so many much better systems. It gives you a sense of perspective. It also amuses me that the best component in it is clearly Purist Audio Dominus power cord. It gives a foundation to whatever happens elsewhere. |
robcalderon4,
I hadn't thought of that, but it made me think. I am also very grateful for a dedicated room. I frequently read about other members who have to answer to their wives/husbands or partners concerning the appearance, location or volume of their system, and I don't have to worry about any of that.
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So many things I love about my music reproduction system, it would be hard to name just one. One thing I really appreciate is the ability to discern vocals/ and actually hear the lyrics and the emotion behind them. This is a BIG plus for me. |
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@jwrobin
I couldn't have said it better my friend.
Happy Listening!
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Luckily my system allows masking of the music's emotional content as I'm simply too sensitive to handle it. Also, regarding Kaitty, I just replaced my Grado SR80s with SR325e aluminums...amazingly mo' bettah, and stylish! |
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The best thing about the rumpus room is that my wife can't hear the music from anywhere else in the house unless she wants to"
That is truly a beautiful thing ianroger! I listen to music mostly at night and find that to be a nice feature. It wasn't always like that... |
Right now, I'm over the moon with my newly purchased and barely settled in Cerious Technologies Matrix speaker cables. WHOA. I'll also add a shout out to ROON.
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I agree with most of the above, I am not close to obtaining a retirement system nor have I had a speaker cable epiphany, but maybe someday these experiences will come my way. Now, and sorry to be so corny, the one thing I enjoy about my system that has not yet been mentioned is this: I greatly enjoy the fact that it is the the living embodiment of the skills and creativity and hard work of the engineers, designers, and craftsmen responsible for its existence.
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Thanks thosb. Almost makes me think we need a "Memorial Day for Audio Designers" Where we can remember and thank all those who's brainstorms gave us the equipment to have this great hobby.
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