HOW DID YOU END UP WITH YOUR DREAM SYSTEM?

I have a great speaker. But I started to pay way more to source, amplification and cabling that didn’t take anything away from the music. 

@everyone. I think your speaker is important.  But I learned to focus on the sources and quality amplification and cabling that does not impede the sound. It’s cool to have a great speaker but if you feed it with junk you will,get junk. 

My system is a shell of what it use to be in the past.  I had to have the best or close to it.  So I was always chasing the next speaker, amp, preamp, or NOW let's get an integrated amp, WOW how about those tube amps, on and on and on - till I finally realised that I spent a lot of money chasing but never enjoying... I got married late in life and all of a sudden I enjoyed my wife more then my system(s)  and the happiness was different  - so I have a little system, play my CDs through bookshelf speakers not worrying if my power cable can or should be upgraded, or speaker wires ---- rather I listen to music and share my past with her realizing that my little system brings me to the place I want to be ... Happy New Year To All - smerk

@squared80 wrote:

By first understanding the science of sound; not spending exorbitant amounts of money on boutique power cords, speaker wire, amps, etc. ...

+1

I would add, or rather clarify the area of physics and acoustics with speakers as an extremely important aspect to be conscious about and be a guide in acquisitions; get the basics right, and then start the process of fine tuning. The former isn’t necessarily expensive, but combined with the latter aspect is time consuming to get to a point where the right choices and results are made.

Time (and experience) is gold, as they say, as well as an open mind and a dose of "anarchistic" spirit to counter much of the marketing BS, business mechanisms, vanity and a sense of status flaunting. With speakers, what needs to be done needs to be done, and it usually isn’t pretty, rarely small in size, or doesn’t necessarily cater to expectations or preconceived notions of "you get what you pay for." Instead, form follows function, or rather it should, and not the other way ’round.

The problem with current states is that "the basics" don’t mesh well with the illusion and gospel of constant technological advancement and interior decoration demands. It’s not good for business - you can’t sell the next "evolved" piece of gear if it isn’t sprinkled with a unique company profile, claims of sonic heavens, new "groundbreaking" materials or design approaches and what doesn’t stay within an accepted physical size.

It’s a balancing act of eyeing that which needs to be done, prioritizing the different areas accordingly and the expenditure required. Some gear, like DAC’s and preamps, I find I won’t get by with "mid level" stuff to wring out the sonic potential I’m looking for. If one can’t afford it, buy used gear - there’s a lot to be saved here, and even older ref./top level components more than hold their own against new mid level ditto. Great amps can be found for a manageable price in the pro studio segment, besting much more expensive varieties in the typical "high-end" arena, not least if they’re configured actively. Again, if price is (still) an issue, buy used. The same with speakers; the pro segment holds gems of speaker solutions that actually abide by physics - if one can accept their physical appearance and larger size. Bearing in mind one isn’t scared away by uninhibited dynamics and a physicality of presentation that by some is deemed "exaggerated."

... that don’t actually change the sound AT ALL but feed into snake oil marketing that is killing this hobby.

Cables, decoupling/coupling etc. do change the sound, but it’s how they change the sound and what to make of it and balancing it all out with the rest of the setup and acoustic particularities. What’s clear to me here is that price is not (as much) a factor being that different or no solutions can be required in different contexts.

or years, my audio journey revolved around home theater systems. But at some point, I realized I wanted something more intimate, something that could truly immerse me in the magic of music. So, I took the plunge and shifted my focus entirely to a two-channel system.

It all started with an Italian ensemble—Unison Research electronics and Opera loudspeakers—paired with a DAC from Cary Audio. The sound was lively and enjoyable, but over time, I began noticing its limitations. It was like sipping good wine but knowing there’s a richer vintage out there.

The turning point came when I added my first turntable, a Michell Gyro SE. That humble addition cracked open a door to a new world of possibilities. I began exploring further, replacing my speakers with Magico S3 MK2s and upgrading my electronics to a full Luxman 900 series setup, while still holding onto the trusty Cary Audio DAC.

A few months later, my system evolved again. I added another Luxman M-900u power amplifier for bridge\mono-amping and swapped the turntable for a Brinkmann Bardo, complete with a Brinkmann Eddison II phono stage. The depth and clarity were thrilling, but something still felt incomplete.

That’s when I turned my attention to acoustics. I reimagined my room, repositioned the system, measured the space, and treated it with acoustic panels. The results were transformative—like adjusting the lens of a camera to bring everything into sharp focus.

Over the next year, my system matured. I kept the Luxman 900 series preamp and power amps, added a Luxman D-10X for CDs, upgraded to an MSB Premier DAC fed by a Melco N1, and took my turntable to new heights with the Brinkmann Balance. Each addition brought me closer to the sound I dreamed of.

Eventually, I moved on from the Magico S3 MK2 speakers, upgrading to the S3 2023. Then, less than two weeks ago, I reached a new pinnacle with the S5 2024.

Every change has been a revelation. Each new piece of equipment has uncovered layers of musicality I hadn’t thought possible, drawing me deeper into the artistry of sound.

This journey has been more than a hobby—it’s been a passion, a pursuit of perfection. And with each improvement, my excitement only grows, as if the music itself is thanking me for the effort.