What Makes your System Special?

I’ve had a number of systems over the years: at least 3 different 2-channel setups in 1st house; casual 2-channel system in TV viewing area of this 2nd house; and a series of ever-changing gear in home office which has a complicated desktop/nearfield system (on 5th or 6th set of powered monitors/or speakers here).

In all that time, I had 2 systems that really nailed the heart of the music: big Vandersteen 4s in 1st house (tube amp on mids/upper & SS on subs); and the vintage but so good sounding KEF 103.2s on the desktop now. They both bring out heart & soul of music, all the different genres I listen to.

I never expected the KEFs would so easily dethrone my really excellent previous fave, the ATC SCM12 Pro passive monitors. But the KEFs locked in from day-1. I shouldn’t be surprised. I heard these ~35 year old 2-ways back in the late ’80s (my college roommate was given a pair when he graduated med school). And I had heard the very impressive, musically satisfying larger KEFs in audio salons back then.

In my experience, it’s a happy accident when one stumbles over a system that just locks in with music and satisfies the listener...

Enjoying the sound of Pass and Maggie's.

All of the road trips and untold hours finding and fixing old Altec parts. Turntable from Czech Republic, cabinets from Austin Texas, horns from Vietnam, speakers from high in the Ozarks, trips to Bill at GPA in Oklahoma City. Tubes from Canada, Crossovers from Washington.  We have been all over the place picking up parts one thing at a time as the system evolves. There’s a story and a reason for each purchase. The kids understand not to put it in the dumpster when we kick off.