After fifty years… amazing. What high end audio can be.

@bluorion

Great story about your fun vs reference system.

About ten years ago I had assembled what I considered to be my retirement system. I called it my reference system… because it was so good… but also because it revealed so much. I really enjoyed it.

I always wanted to own a 300b amp. So, decided to upgrade my heardphone system, which I did, big time. It became detailed but warm, natural, and musical.

Then I would listen to my main system and it just wasn’t inviting like my headphone system. I loved listening for about 45 minutes and then get bored. This was not a crappy system. Audio Research Ref 5 preamp. Pass x350 amp, Sonus Faber Olympica 3 speakers. Far less analytical than earlier versions of my system. But it was missing the warmth and musicality of my headphone system.
 

So, I did a bunch of upgrades (basically getting me to the system you see now) to all tube stuff. Reference system gone… seductive natural, musical and detailed system that I no longer get tired of listening to. If I listen to it for three hours, I am always thinking… just one more tune. 

The interesting thing is, I did not loose detail… it just isn’t stuck out in my face. In my reference system the venue stuck out… it was hard not to instantly think about the mastering or the recording quality. With the new system the details are all there, but you have to listen for them if you wanted to hear them. Then I would go to the symphony and realized, that was exactly how they were presented in real acoustical space. What would lead is the music… warm, rich, and inviting from a black background. From the symphony and from my systems now.

This may have nothing to do with your systems. Or maybe it does.

For me, I am very analytical and let my analytical side pull me a bit too much towards greater detail and the more obvious and easily identifiable parameters of sound and overlook rhythm and pace and mid-range bloom that give the sound musicality.

@ghdprentice 

I look forward to hearing your system for the third time.

Truly, about the best and most effortless I have heard in 50 years.

The effortlessness is clearly its forte. Easy to just listen and enjoy.

I have heard systems 2 or 3 times the price that were incredibly detailed and lovely but lacked that ease and were trying.

Believe it is true that your space and set up are, perhaps, your most significant “component”. Although, I think your all ARC front end and amp characterizes the essence of easily digestible SQ. Combined with your beautiful SF speakers.

Over almost 50 years, ARC has advanced the art of tube technology to a place of musicality and reality unique in this industry.

Hearing your system and following advise of others, I bought an ARC Ref 80S amp to run my Quad 57s. While not achieving your level of sound, I did hear drama on vocals I have not heard from any other amp. I am still thinking of going all ARC.

Now I continue trying different amps to push my Quads, I will never forget the sound I got with the Ref 80S and, especially, your system.

Thank you Mike. I always appreciate your comments and look forward to seeing you soon.

@ghdprentice As for my reference system, I started going through different gear about 3 years ago---I played around with NAD, Bel Canto, Modwright, McIntosh, Naim, Focal and a few others but ended up getting a Luxman 505uxii integrated, Dynaudio Special 40s, REL sub. Streaming through a Marantz ND8006 and a VPI TT. I also upgraded the ICs, speaker cables, added a power conditioner and so on.

Since I had my left over gear (Denon PMA 757, Canton Karat 200, Tekton Lore Reference, B & O TT, Denon cassette deck) I decided to create a 'fun' experimental system that was more vintage. Then I bought a Ifi Zen DAC v2 and added it to the Denon---switched speakers to the Tekton Lores. Results were very nice. Then decided to check out a demo class A Sugden A21 and got a Bluesound Node just before the holidays and so far I'm really loving the synergy of this second system. I'm starting to feel like I'm moving over to the high-sensitivity, low watt clan.

It's all subjective but my ears seem to enjoy system #2. I may try moving the VPI to the Sugden since it has a phono stage. I even tried the Dyns with the Sugden---but I prefer the high sensitivity Tektons for some reason. Now I'm wondering what  Heresy IVs sound like with the Sugden---apparently, they also have great synergy too. My journey continues. 

Nearly 70, and 50 years of audio experience, as a music lover and listener. A HiFi store owner, formally trained acoustical consultant, systems design architect and engineer, live sound engineer, home theatre enthusiast, and audiophile.  Besides the wild ride, my career has given me exposure to the vast and varying scope of requirements as well as evolving technologies and classical tools used to meet those requirements. Every case is unique, and every client as well. If nothing else I have learned that there is no single right way to succeed in any of this. A lifelong commitment to continual education, deep understanding of the guiding principles, technologies, and a love of music - all types - has helped me separate the wheat from the chaff, and build successful systems for the enjoyment of my clients, and myself. Perhaps my hearing isn't what it once was, but along with other skills, learning to listen critically still helps me hear into the system, and into the music. And from that I still get great joy. I still feel that twinge of excitement when the needle hits the vinyl, a Pavlovian cue, I suppose.