What Combinations of Components Have You Put Together That Sound Good?

What is amazing to me is how elevated the speaker's performance is compared to years ago. I continue to be impressed by how "flexible" a speaker's sound can be based on the ancillary components and cables. The truth is that is takes dozens of rigs to gain a holistic sense of what a speaker can actually do. When a hobbyist has the occasion to take a speaker that is well-loved and elevate its performance several times, that is imo High End enjoyment, as of course, the experience of hearing music through it is so gratifying, so enriching. 

Well so far it’s my best yet. Though I know my room needs serious acoustic treatment.
Pass Labs xa25
LTA microZOTL pre-amp
Schitt Yggdrasil - most recent build.
Dynaudio Special 40’s
Tripp lite hospital grade 6 outlet surge protector. No conditioner. 
Switch with a variety of mid tier IC and PC.

*L*  The majority of the things I collect and ic together? *L*
At least, until it doesn't....*shrug*
Much like anyone else here responding to the query....;)

I think we all in general let our ears do the walking 'n talking....*S*
Ones' 'disposable income' sets the upper limits to varying degrees, as noted by the descriptions....

Hardware from Audio Research and speakers from Magnepan have had a long and happy relationship.  Before they "broke-up" and Wendell went from AR to M, this was a combo that was even marketed together.

I have this system, and I have yet to hear one that is substantially better no matter HOW MUCH MONEY you spend.

Both companies have much newer products today, and I am not saying they retained their synergistic qualities, but you owe it to yourself to LISTEN to a system composed of those items that is set up correctly in a room that is properly configured before making a buy decision.

It may not be your cup of tea, but at least you were exposed to as good as sound system as you will ever find and can decide what you like and don't like about it before moving on to whatever YOU like IN YOUR ROOM, of course.

Cheers!

Verging on vintage- A highly modified Rotel RCD 991 (Burson discrete Op Amp replacements, Dexa clock, higher grade audio caps in signal path, etc by Parts Connexion, Canada) to ARC Ref 3 to modified McCormack DNA 1 (SMc Platinum Ultra with Plitron transformer etc.) driving Thiel CS 3.6 speakers. Running dedicated AC line to AQ Niagara 1000 with Shunyata Alpha HC power cables and AQ Columbia XLR interconnects. Characteristics of this system are low noise floor and good dynamics with nice soundstage and good frequency balance. Pieces work in harmony having good impedance match between
pre and amp and amp is able to fill heavy current requirements of Thiels. Purchased every piece used over many years on a teacher paycheck. It would seem that the CD player is the weakest performer, but I have tried others that cost 2X or 3X without any great improvement. Hoping to score a used Hegel Mohican to compare in the future.