HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?

@calvinj wrote:

I want to know for those who have arrived got their best system together. What is the story behind how you ended up with your gear

Some 10 years ago I started to resaddle into a different approach with speakers that are high efficiency and at least partially horn-loaded, with the initial intention to use low powered SET amps in conjunction with these. While the combo of all-horn speakers and SET’s offer a sonically alluring and extremely well-sounding solution, I slowly veered into a different direction with dedicated horn-based subs, large format pro segment horns, direct radiating mid bass section, SS amplification (eventually class A/B) and outboard active configuration.

Macro parameters were then sought with proper height of acoustic center, smooth power response at the crossover between midbass and horn section above (i.e.: sameness in directivity pattern here, which requires of the mids/tweeter horn to be large to control directivity that low), relatively unrestricted LF extension down to 20-25Hz, virtually unlimited macro dynamic envelope for effortless reproduction at every desired SPL, optimizing the amp to driver interface with active configuration, and finally taking advantage of a high quality digital crossover/DSP for use with horns and the requirements here for delay settings, steep filter slopes (to keep the horn sections within their safe and sonically best operating range), filter notches, PEQ’s, etc.

From this physically and acoustically appropriate framework, which is a requirement for me in whatever form or shape a specific setup would take (but which is still somewhat dictated due to these requirements), there’s a fairly meticulous tweaking process that’s ongoing. There are no severe bottlenecks in my setup as is; a some 10-12 old ref. model DAC/preamp that’s still excellent sounding compared to new iterations, a high quality DSP, great studio amps and cabling (mainly Mundorf silver/gold), and high quality pro drivers. Dedicated, some 50 year old JBL Alnico tweeters will be implemented over the next month or two.

.. and will you be happy for a long time with it.

Most surely, already have been for some years now, and it will only be better in the following years with further tweaking and smaller modifications here and there. Whatever changes may come down the road will be in keeping with the overall philosophy as outlined above.

@phusis  quite the story. Learn all you can. Get the most out of whatever gear you can get your hands on. Use what you have learned through the fullest and enjoy. 

@everyone I have so much more to share. I got into the business side by happenstance. I was allowed to hear the supreme high end early. I had long auditions of equipment that I initially couldn’t afford. Then eventually I out myself in a position to by some of the best stuff.  I got lucky with the Gato Fm6 speaker which is a hidden gem in audio. 14k sounds like a 40 to 50k quality speaker. My Infigo gear rivals the best in the business from a design and performance standpoint. I like instrument heavy music with losts of layering detail and transparency. My system does it in spades. I wouldn’t trade my system for anything 2 to 3 times the price of what I have right now because it’s built on performance not perception. Sound and sound quality over everything.  It’s engaging and I’m over the moon happy. 

All who wander are not lost, but if you don’t know where you are going…any…road will get you there. 

@mksun Lovely system you have in a beautiful room - enjoy !

@noromance naked laser trimmed Vishay = happiness 

This crazy hobby is a journey and no a destination.

unless you are one of the rare/select very top net income oxygen breathers, participation in this hobby for the rest of our forum masses is pegged as “good-as-I-can afford, for now,,,”

Sure …we attend the audio shows  and we wistfully fantasize about an upgrade to the 7 figure rigs with their eye-watering price tags. This is costant tension with that pesky reality check of household budgets,

its been a five decade progressive ride for me with four current systems.

i am solidly content with staying put with my current “A” system, in the context of it empirically being high-end  “good ” in general at its price point , AND  contemporaneously “good enough” at my advanced age without an insatiable lust for further major wallet  draining upgrades.