What Does It Take To Surpass A SME V?

@lewm- it is an H3000 which I got from a guy in Texas named Porter, when he distributed the line in the States. I only roll the rectifier and my fav for my system voicing is a GEC u-52, another not so easy to find tube these days. (I did get a NIB metal base Philips-Miniwatt from Andy at VTS, it has marvelous bass-but is less airy in my system-in a different system it might be better- it’s now a grail tube). No, no feedback issues at all. (NB- the depth of field in the photo makes it look like that horn is aimed at the TT, but the horns are toed in just past the "plane" of the table and they are pretty directional). 

Audio clubs, formal or informal, are great. I was involved in one in NY back in the ’80s-- got to meet a lot of people who in turn shared their systems, swapped records and had fun. That’s one of the reasons--apart from finally meeting Albert in person after many years--that my recent visit to Albert’s was such fun. He has a regular listening group every week. We listened to a lot of different things (his Studer is gorgeous as was his selection of tapes), had some laughs and enjoyed each other’s company. It’s a great way to express and stimulate your interests in music, gear and all the "stuff" we seem to do in this pursuit. DC metro seems to have a fair number of audiophiles.

There are a few people I’m aware of here in Austin that have serious systems, but very little brick and mortar, which used to be another way to meet and hang-- the after hours demos, the friends you make in the hobby, etc.

Obviously, if you ever get to Austin, you are welcome to visit.

I used to hang around local emporia for audio, until I began to feel guilty about taking up space and not buying gear. Stopped going about 20 years ago, but that didn’t prevent most local businesses from failing. Tokyo is just the opposite; they still have wonderful stores and no one seems to care how long you loiter, although I do also buy stuff usually.

Still waiting to know if mijostyn has actually spent any time with a properly set up ET2, or any other linear tracker for that matter.  Hope you feel better mijo, some nasty bugs out there,  

@lewm I have had my fair share of visitors to experience my system throughout the years. This is a great side to having a enthusiasm and sharing it with likeminded individuals.

I am not a EE, I do Structure, but have avoided the EE Side of the enthusiasm, even when offered a one to one training by EE's I revere, I have not chosen to do the learning. The individuals who are EE's and I have a very long relationship with are expert, they do the math, the design and the construction of the working Prototypes and Working Models.

As I do not do EE, I have travelled to meet individuals who do work within this field, either as a highly adept enthusiast, through to HiFi Company Directors who are active in the Mainstream Marketplace.

These individuals are met as part of a Group of enthusiasts getting together and certainly not a Commercial Venture.

As a result of Commercially Organised Events, Forum Organised Events or by being Member of a Local HiFi Group, that is an assembly of various levels of EE expertise, enthusiasm and trade.

All the above adds up to one thing, I am not insular in my Enthusiasm, I am not locked away and limiting my experiences, I am knowledgeable of the works undertaken by others, I have regularly been demonstrated a Speaker, Power Amp, Pre Amp, Phonostage, DAC, TT, Tonearm, Cart', CDT/CDP, Lots of HiFi Foo and more recently streaming devices.

I get the opportunities to receive auditions of devices on systems I have become familiar with costing between £40K - £180Kish.

The Devices Demo'd or Systems being used, do not matter, what matters is that likeminded individuals get together and have Social Interaction, Banter, Food and Enjoyment, along with the Sharing in each others music tastes.

I would never listen to Choristers, Sea Shanty's, Obscure Orchestral Renditions, I do now, and am much the happier for it, there has been a few how have I deprived myself moments.

It is all about the music, the enjoyment of music and nothing else, equipment is a tool and means to an end.     

A Blown Out Bass or a Ear Shredding High Frequency are occasionally to be experienced from a New Addition to be demo'd. It does not matter, it is what it is, that's how the Music (which is the highlight was presented) and the next demo' is put to the test to see how it handles presenting another musical encounter.

I really do not obsess over equipment, it is a tool, I keep my ear to the ground, and do like to have a hands on experience of what equipment can do, but if it was not happening around a Cup of Coffee between friends, then it has no appeal to me.

As said on numerous occasions, I do most of listening to music in the home with my wife, and her go to device is Alexia, and indirectly that is where the bulk of my musical encounters are found and thoroughly enjoyed.

Putting on the Purpose Produced HiFi System is only a different tool, produced around a selection of different disciplines, to get the replay from a medium with a recorded information embedded. 

I dance to both the Purpose Produced HiFi and Alexia with equal gusto.      

Remove the bridge, less restrained, lots of discussions on this 2009.