Good for you. My system is always getting there, I think. However my house of stereo setup takes it to another level. If you check it out, you can see I also run the Innuos ZENith mk3. With my setup, the USB connection is a huge step down from running it via a DDC I2s connection. The USB is like a heavy veil in comparison. Of course I have multiple add-ons along the line with different dac/equipment so no clue how it would perform in yours. You're not done, take my word lol.
How close are you to being to your endgame? My system outline and I'm almost there.
Hey everyone,
I've really been working on upgrading and putting my system together for a few years now and I really think I'm almost at my endgame system. I hope when money allows to add a ds audio w2 or 003 cartridge and energizer but that's truly my last goal.
Just wanted to share a system update that’s been a long time in the making. Everything is finally coming together, and with the Innuos Zenith Mk3 arriving Tuesday, I’m feeling like this setup is finally reaching the level I’ve been aiming for—natural, musical, powerful, and emotionally engaging.
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🖥️ Digital Front End:
• Innuos Zenith Mk3 (arriving Tuesday)
• NewOnTech DAC07
I stream exclusively from Qobuz, and the DAC07 has been an impressive piece—clean, full, and musical without sounding clinical. I’m expecting the Zenith to be a big jump from the WiiM Pro I’ve been using. Everything I’ve read points to better flow, lower noise floor, and more organic presentation. Can’t wait to hear it in action.
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💿 Disc Player:
• Esoteric DV-50 Universal Player
I still love spinning SACDs and CDs occasionally, and the Esoteric handles those with authority and refinement. It’s built like a tank and sounds fantastic—still one of the better universal players out there, especially when fed into the DAC07.
🎛️ Preamp & Amp:
• Jeff Rowland Coherence II
• Jeff Rowland Model 8Ti
This pairing is magical. The Coherence II has a sense of ease and dimensionality that’s just addicting. Dead quiet, transparent, and rich. The 8Ti brings power and control with elegance—tons of grip and headroom, but never aggressive. They complement each other beautifully and really let the source shine.
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🔊 Speakers:
• EgglestonWorks Andra II
The Andras are stunning. Effortless dynamics, huge soundstage, and rich tonality. Vocals hang in space with weight and realism, and the bottom end is deep but never bloated. One of the few speakers I’ve heard that does scale, intimacy, and impact equally well. I've had magico s3's, focal 1038be and sonus faber sonetto v speakers among a lot of others over the years. Those were my last 3.
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💽 Analog Setup:
• VPI Aries Black Night Edition
• JMW-10 tonearm, TNT feet, upgraded bearing, Nordost tonearm wire
• Silver VPI clamp
I’m not playing vinyl as often right now, but this table has always impressed me. Gorgeous looks, black backgrounds, and excellent musical flow. Eventually I want to go for a DS Audio optical cartridge (w2 or 003)to take it even further.
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🔌 Cables:
• XLRs styled after Nordost Odin 2 (Chinese replicas)
• Wireworld Eclipse (early version) speaker cables
These have blended well with the rest of the system—clear and dynamic without sounding thin or over-hyped. They’ve let the character of the Rowland gear and Andras come through cleanly.
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🎧 Final Thoughts
With the Rowland amplification, the Andras, and the Zenith Mk3 landing this week, everything is clicking into place. The system has a rich, holographic sound with excellent weight and detail. Tonally balanced, emotionally involving, and easy to listen to for hours—exactly what I was after.
Would love to hear from anyone else running similar gear, especially Rowland or Eggleston setups. Always curious to hear what others have found with the Zenith Mk3 too.
Thanks for reading—happy listening!
—aj1735
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Really nice system @aj1735 and definitely post some pics we do love ogling each others gear. |
@gkelly I hope it's going to be that kind of experience. I'll eventually get to the cables but that can be my play around time after I get all the major components done and purchased. I've never really played around with different streamers much. I had a microrendu before with roon and then the wiim. So I'm hoping this is that kind of experience and just another check off the list of gear. I really think that's where I'm going to be. I can always make a second system again for my daughter to play with and enjoy buying and selling for it but this main one is pretty good right now. I'm actually playing some right now and just smiling. |
Looks like you will be in need of one of these along with https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?product_list_order=price_asc&q=Ether%20net https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=Power%20cable&product_list_order=price_asc |
@tomcarr thank you. It really is pretty good feeling to not be wanting everything better. I've had my esoteric dv-50 universal player player the longest and I've never really had any urge to get something different. It works great, sounds even better and I even like the looks of it. Lol then my vpi aries turntable I've had the next longest. It's been the exact same way with it as the esoteric. It's plenty good enough for me and I'd have to spend a good amount more to try to get much better. So I haven't even thought about different tables because again mine works great, sounds great and I love the looks of it too. The the Rowland coherence ii preamp and bps along with the 8ti are pretty new in the system but I love them I don't think I can or even could get much better than those. My newontech dac07 came in a trade to replace my old mytek Manhattan ii dac as kinda a short term piece but I really enjoy it. Yes there are better ones for sure but it sounds very natural and musical in my system without any analytical edge and that was even streaming from the wiim pro. So I think the dac is plenty good for some time. Then the innuos zenith mk3 should be from everything I've read, just the perfect fit into the system. So with all of that, I really don't have any urge or reason to want more. I would like to get a used ds audio w2 or 003 cartridge and energizer. After that my vinyl will be plenty good enough. Right now I am using an old denon 103r with an old project phono box ds phono stage that I've had as a spare foe a second system. Right now the vinyl sounds pretty good even with that.
I have watched some videos and read some things about people being at the end of their journey. It really makes sense to me Might as well have time to enjoy other things and just be happy to listen to some music when you have time. |
PS- @aj1735 Very nice system OP! |
I’ve been end game for a long time, as I am not one for constant changing of brands/components. My system is essentially the same as it was twenty-five years ago - only the front ends have evolved. I’ve been happy to stick, but the game changes every once in while. Along comes some new development that pushes the envelope. I do the upgrades that I can afford, but don’t sweat about the ones that are beyond me. It doesn’t matter that I’m no longer keeping up with the cutting edge in respect of power amps and loudspeakers or even the turntable. I’d be content to live with the sound quality that I’ve got now for the rest of my life. |
Probably close in theory but in reality I’m always looking to try something different just because so practically the game will continue to go on to some extent for as long as I am able to play. I do have hifi gear all around the house just to provide multiple places to have fun listening but will likely sell some of it off at some point as part of overall downsizing. I have managed to reduce my total investment in this stuff however in recent years by better managing price and bling as influences in my buying decisions and focusing mainly on how things sound, enabling more cost effectiveness in achieving my ultimate sound. |
I'll try to get some pics posted after the zenith mk3 shows up tomorrow and I get it all together. I'm just hoping to get some extra time to actually listen and enjoy it. We have horses and the kids are always busy wanting help with them. Seems like in the summer I don't get into the house after work and the barn until after 10pm usually. Just always something to do outside in the barn with the horses or cows after working all day. I definitely start feeling it more as I'm getting older lol |
I have not changed anything in the living room system for 20 years aside from styli, some "rolled" tubes and drivers and a few new runs of the "same" speaker cable due to cat damage.
Next step is a simple SS setup with the same TT and CD deck and more conventional speakers (if I ever get around to it).
DeKay |
I have reached endgame and I did that last year on my first send with speakers after endgaming my portable audio stuff @aj1735 |
I guess you're right with the "good enough" statement for sure. That's how I feel about mine. There is plenty better out there than mine but I don't know if I would even buy it if I had unlimited funds. I really like what I have at this point and I like the sound signature of the whole system. Maybe a better dac at some point but I'll have to save for years lol my system is good enough and will especially be once I get the newer cartridge. I watch videos and read about the newest and greatest this or that but I think mine can hold its own and is plenty good enough for me.
Next I'll work on finishing my room this winter. Right now my system is in an open basement. The whole thing is I think 32' wide and probably 40 feet from the front wall to the only wall behind my chair. I have it setup where it's about 15' wide and from the front wall to my head is probably 20' feet or so. The ceiling is about 8'10" and the right wall is sheet rock. The left side is all my record shelves to make a makeshift wall. The front wall doesn't have sheet rock yet. I have about 15 more sheets to hang at some point this fall when I get more time. The front is concrete with studs and mineral wool insulation with fabric over it. So like a whole wall of absorption which is not ideal. I know things will get better with some more reflections eventually and gain some soundstage width and depth when it gets finished up. The floor is concrete with a large thick rug in the center of the listening area. This winter the goal is to finish that last couple of walls and then start really finishing the whole thing with carpet and furnish like a really finished basement. I have to do everything slowly because the wife hates spending money on the basement and really hates everything to do with my stereo lol. |
Nice work pursuing, and obtaining the kind of sound you want to live with! For me, it is more like I have reached a place where everything is "good enough." Humans are curious creatures, and I believe we are wired to be dissatisfied with what we have - it is probably a survival mechanism. So, I think I have a very enjoyable system, good enough to investigate new music, and to feel very moved by the art. But then my brain says - "hmm - I've always wondered what omni speakers would be like in my room." And then I look up those cute little omni speakers from Decware. And that little itch starts up. But truly, my system could be end game enough for me if I am able to let it. I really get a kick out of the good things it does. If I could just "Full Stop" after that last thought, it would be end game indeed. |
You have assembled a great system and obviously done it very thoughtfully. Congratulations. I’m sure you will derive great enjoyment from the music. What is your room like in terms of dimensions and treatment? You really do have top-notch components in your system, and I congratulate you on getting where you want to be. |
And pretty satisfied here I rarely feel the need to upgrade but may occasionally get the itch to hear something new. Next step is a pair of hornspeakers currently being built for me and after that I may be pretty much done.