1. Many years ago (30?) I heard the original Apogee speaker at a HiFi show in London, monster Krell amps playing Steely Dan's Gaucho "Hey Nineteen". I can still remember the sound today, as good as it gets, I thought.
2. Fast forward to December 2014 and I heard this system (Magico Q7 speakers and Solution electronics) at a HiFi store in The Netherlands:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/2c-hifi-epiphany-worlds-best-system
Now, that was a revelation, definitely as good as I am ever going to hear!
3. A step down from the above, at about 1/25 of the cost, is a TT system I assembled this year. Turntable is a Michell Engineering GyroDec (full plinth, not the SE version) with an SME IV tonearm and Clear Audio Maestro V2 Ebony cartridge. Preamp is a McIntosh C50 with a McIntosh MC275-MK VI tube power amp. The whole system sits on a custom made Core Audio plyKraft 3L stand. And now for the really interesting bit; speakers are a pair of fully refurbished Gale GS401A's. For those of you not familiar with Gale speakers here is a link:
http://www.vintagegale.com/index.php
See my previous post on this system:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/second-system-that-sounds-and-looks-spectacular-i-am-there
I could not be happier with this system and certainly have no plans to change it. So overall, at a sensible budget, this is the best system I have ever heard and it looks stunningly beautiful IMHO. Best of all, it is mine!
2. Fast forward to December 2014 and I heard this system (Magico Q7 speakers and Solution electronics) at a HiFi store in The Netherlands:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/2c-hifi-epiphany-worlds-best-system
Now, that was a revelation, definitely as good as I am ever going to hear!
3. A step down from the above, at about 1/25 of the cost, is a TT system I assembled this year. Turntable is a Michell Engineering GyroDec (full plinth, not the SE version) with an SME IV tonearm and Clear Audio Maestro V2 Ebony cartridge. Preamp is a McIntosh C50 with a McIntosh MC275-MK VI tube power amp. The whole system sits on a custom made Core Audio plyKraft 3L stand. And now for the really interesting bit; speakers are a pair of fully refurbished Gale GS401A's. For those of you not familiar with Gale speakers here is a link:
http://www.vintagegale.com/index.php
See my previous post on this system:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/second-system-that-sounds-and-looks-spectacular-i-am-there
I could not be happier with this system and certainly have no plans to change it. So overall, at a sensible budget, this is the best system I have ever heard and it looks stunningly beautiful IMHO. Best of all, it is mine!