Who will survive? One last table til I die.

Gregadd,
Excellent and well-argued post, at least when I read it through my many-colored glasses. ;-)

Suttlaw,
Glad to hear the Airy2 is breaking in well. The choice between it and the Airy3 really is a matter of system synegy and taste. If it gives you ample dynamics then it's presumably a good match for your system. Since your tastes are, "unencumbered by any surplus of technical knowledge", I presume that leaves them free to like what sounds most musical without other prejudices. Sounds like a short path to enjoyment to me. You are living the life!

Suttlaw: you might want to consider the Aerial SW-12.

Dear Gregadd: You, like me, have to learn a lot on all those issues.

****" Every component in every system either adds or subtracts something to or from the signal. "****, I agree with you, but that is not the issue:

***" The tube amplifiers can't do it, it is impossible by the physics laws), only can function like an equalizer sound reproducer. All the tube amplifiers change their frecuency response with the changes in the impedance of the speakers and this speaker impedance ( normally ) change with the frecuencies,...."***. The problem with the tube electronics is that these changes are really great against the same issue in SS electronics ( read the frecuency response of tube amplifiers in the tests that Mr. Atkinson ( Stereophile ) do to any amplifier. And that tests is with a constant impedance ( he always use resistors at 8-4-2 Ohms ) that is far from reallity because the impedance of the speakers is always changing. Try to find the review of that Wavac amplifier that send you back 350,000.00 and you and any one can understand what I'm talking about. ). By any standard the tube electronics are the greatest equalizers in the audio world ( I'm not talking here if you like it or not, that is other issue ).

******" Every component in the chain is extremely important, things reproduced properly in one component can be easily lost in another."****, I agree with you, thats why I write:

**" I think that almost all of us have a duty: take care for that the signal sound reproduction be the less degraded signal in our system. "*** The tubes electronics ( at any stage in the audio system ) are the links that degraded more the signal in an audio system ( other than: room and speakers ). You have to know, too, that the tubes function like " signal generators ": the tubes create harmonics that does not exist in the original signal and the problem is that you can hear that harmonics through your audio system.

****" Solid state guys always try to hide behind accuracy. "****. First than all I only be in favor of music and the best technology ( at least for today ) for the music reproduction is: SS electronics, I always be with the technology that can give me the " best " for the music reproduction: when you can understand this then you will be near to the MUSIC.

The problem with many people in this forum is that you never hear a SS based audio system that was build with care and for people that really cares about music. Yes I know that many of you already hear very very expensive ( SS based ) audio system that does not like you: but you don't like it not because the SS electronics but because the owner of that audio system do not really cares about: MUSIC REPRODUCTION or maybe there are no good sinergy on that system. Till you can have that experience it will be very difficult that you can understand of what I'm talking about tubes or cartridges. I'm not against the tubes: I'm in favor of music, I take around 20-30 hours each month for to listen live music. How many hours do you or any of you take hearing live music each month?. I appreciate that all of you give and answer to this question.

Regards and always enjoy the music ( not our system ).
Raul.

Dear Steve: About the phono cable I recomended: Analysis plus Silver Oval, hard to beat at any price ( 100-150 hours for break-in ).
For the phono stage, stayaway from the Steelhead: use step-up transformer internally that degraded in a high way the critical signal that comes from the cartridge.

For the subs: I know very well the Aerial and I respect to Mr. kelly like a speaker designer ( I use an old Kelly speaker design ), but you have to go for the manufacturer that really knows about subwoofers: Velodyne.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Raul,so what SS amp/preamp/phono do you have?