Your reference system?

My Reference system:

Technics Sl1200G turntable. ZU/Denon MC cartridge
McIntosh C2500 Tube Preamp
Sony HAPZ1ES Music Server
Esoteric UX3 SACD/DVD Audio Player
McIntosh MR88 Tuner
McIntosh MC302 300wpc power amp
Golden Ear Triton Reference Speakers
Shunyata Hydra 2 and two Hydra 4 power conditioners
Shunyata power cords (various)
Acrolink PC, Interconnect and digital cable
Groneberg Quattro Reference Interconnects
Twenty amp circuits (2)
Shunyata ac receptacles.
Solid Steel S3-3 And S3-5 Audio Racks

With spelling/punctuation corrections...
A better question: What IS a reference system?
My definition: A reference system is one that I know so well, that has played all of my important music and makes me confident that if I hear distortion, I know it is embedded in the source medium and not being caused BY the system.
Thank you.

"To me a reference system is one I have heard that is worth trying to emulate."

Grundig Studio RPC 500

Grundig Studio RPC 200


I apologize, but that is the answer.

Not sure how much use this maybe as an answer but the only "reference"system worth worrying about for me is mine.

Even if I hear a setup in a shop that deeply impresses I am always thinking, well ok but what might it sound like in my room, playing my music?

So I just keep plodding along trying to assemble the best I can.

But since I moved to Maggie's, I now consider it a great reference point for sure.

The Infinity IRS V system at PS Audio is definitely a reference system. (if you haven’t heard it, take a trip to Boulder so you can listen to it.)

But at home I need to make do with what I have, which is:

JRiver Media Center running a room correction filter in the integrated DSP engine

An Oppo Sonica DAC

MiniDSP 4 X 10 HD crossover

three Stereo Amps (Aragon, Adcom, and Pass Labs)

A set of Infinity RS1b speakers

plus a pair of KEF B200 drivers in three-tube transmission line cabinets for mid bass couplers

plus an Infinity Modulus Servo controlled subwoofer.