Hi Glasgow,
This may not answer your specific question but I still hope it helps. I attended a Chicago audio society event and the system was this:
Sonus faber Amati Futura speakers.
Kubala Sosna Emotion speaker wires and interconnects.
Mark Levinson 432 stereo amplifier
some homemade preamp from a guy named
Harry Paller was introducing to the public which was the reason for the event
this preamp had a retail price of $2500.00 and
was solid state and when it comes to preamps I’m
a died in the wool tube guy.
source was an Esoteric CD player that sold for $5000.00.
I was very familiar with all the gear with the obvious exception
of the preamp and let me tell you.
That system was spectacular. It was one of the best systems I have ever heard and the audio store hosting the event was owned by one of my closest friends and I hang out at his store a lot and have had the opportunity to hear a lot of gear. Until that day, I NEVER fully realized how good that Levinson amp was. It truly made me realize that that amp was a giant killer. At the time the retail on that amp was $8000.00. 400 wpc into 8 ohms and 800 into 4 ohms so it will drive any speaker on the planet. I was most shocked at the beauty and the musicality of that system. It was simply mesmerizing! Guys are usually not listening closely and talking to the guy sitting next to them and this was a packed room, at least 50-60 guys and when the music was playing NO ONE SAID A WORD!
Scot
