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

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.

@falconquest 😀

Thank you @curiousjim , @kennyc ​​@jtcf ,@panzrwagn and others for your kind words.

@bluorion  Thank you for sharing your recent journey. It can be really fun. One of the real challenges is to identify and put a name on the characteristics that really make a system satisfying to you. That is the real challenge for folks that pursue this  long termed like @panzrwagn. It can keep one captivated for a long time. Enjoy your pursuit of the high end.