HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?

Through many years of purchases and upgrades. I don’t think you are ever really done, you just reach a level of satisfaction with what you have and the list of upgrades and wants is much less.

Well, best components that money can buy. For example, I put a dozen of the best reviewed resistors in a selector switch, and put it in place of the gain resistor. Then chose the best - it was nude Vishay, VAR series, hands down. So every resistor in the signal path is VAR, and that includes the volume control, which made the vc a bit pricey - about 1K - but it's way better than what you find in quarter million pres - IMO.

Air bearings in three dimensions from New Way - they call them thrust bushings. Couldn't buy the platter I wanted, so it was machined from a 13" cylinder of cast iron. Platter mat is 1" of charcoal; 45kg including the record weight.

I just decide on the maximum I can afford, and build to that. It's always been enough to buy the best components, even if I have to make them myself, like the caps.

I'm retired, so it's only time.

@terry9 Serious stuff! I saw your air-gapped caps. Any more info on your components?

Incremental steps. Appreciating each piece, upgrading it, seeing the design limitations, and making my own air bearing turntable, tonearm, phono/pre, main amplifiers. I am now making my own ESL's, buying everything off-the-shelf that I can.

I thought that if Mr. Carter can make his own furniture in retirement, then I can make my own audio system. 

Sold my late mother's house.

The journey involved building the house of stereo first and foremost. Then spent five years figuring it out. Otherwise it was easy lol. 

Getting involved with the audio business got me off the typical merry-go-round of buying and swapping well reviewed mid-fi stuff that I was never particularly happy with. Working for Merlin and Paul Heath Audio gave me exposure to a much higher level of equipment, and insights to some of the more affordable sleeper gear.

Before long I had a Lazarus tube preamp, modified B&K ST140 amp (Distech), and a nice big pair of Merlin 4 speakers that brought me into a much improved resolution and sound quality.

Bobby Palkovic from Merlin inspired me to start building my own speakers. After designing, building, and selling several models, I finally settled on a pair that I’ve kept and loved since 1989. Around that same time, I was given a Dynaco 70 tube amp that my uncle built from a kit in 1964, and discovered that it mated really nicely with my tube preamp and speakers. Those components still comprise the core of my system today.

Another Dynaco 70 tube amp got added to the mix, so I could use them in a vertical bi-amp setup. In 2020, I added the VTA circuit board mods to amps, the Lazarus has been refreshed/modified a bit, and an active crossover has been added below 80 hz to the system. Any other changes have been refinements, and I absolutely love how the system sounds.

Read all about it here in Virtual Systems.

For me it was through upgrading my equipment over time.  I decided to move from a home theater setup to one focused on music.  Went from integrated equipment to separates which made it easier to upgrade.  I’ve been working on it for about 3 years and I’m very happy with the sound, ease of use and appearance.  I have a 2.2 setup with a streamer, DAC and CD player.  I never got back into vinyl after moving on to CDs years ago.  I will keep on tweaking my system because to me it’s a fun part of this hobby.  I’m enjoying my musical journey and my music.