Any piece of equipment you currently dream of ?

Recently auditioned a Simaudio Moon 791 preamp /DAC/Phono. Absolutely amazing. Would love to upgrade my Moon 390 to this state of the art  component. This is a big jump in sound…and in price.

Esoteric Grandioso.

In about 2008 I purchased an Esoteric X-03SE, and was amazed at the improved SQ by every measure compared to the Sonic Frontiers DAC. 

In 2021 I switched to the K-01XS with another quantum leap in SQ.

Perhaps the Grandioso would do the same!

For me, in the not so distant future, a man-cave that isn’t your typical man-cave. It would be a stand-alone small cabin-esque structure that has a largish (20x20) room with shelving for my books, a writing/drawing desk, a few comfortable lounge chairs and my hi--fi system set up front and center, along with shelving for my vinyl and CD collect. Attached to this would be a workshop that I use to fiddle around in working on my bikes and doing woodworking projects.

As for the hif-fi gear - a modest upgrade for a modest me to some Vandersteen 2ce Signature III or Dynaudio Evoke 50 speakers and an upgrade of my mid-fi integrated amp to a much better integrated amp or pre/amp set-up. I haven’t decided on the integrated upgrade yet. But I have shortlisted the following: Heaven Eleven Billie Mk3, Rega Elicit Mk 5, Musical Fidelity M5Si, or Hegel 190.

@bipod72

I love your description of your workshop.

However, wouldn’t woodworking be dusty affecting the hifi?

I am curious how you decided to add the Billie and the Hegel 190 to your list. I am interested in both and I wonder if I could pick your brain. (They are outside of my budget so whenever they hit the used market)

I imagine the Hegel and the Billie to be very different. I too have Evokes and a pair of Vandersteens. (courtesy of Mr, @tomic601 )

@grislybutter Well, I plan to have the two independent of each other but under one roof and the workshop would have its own dust collection and mini-split. I primarily use hand tools (because they're more affordable than tons of power tools) but also I enjoy the manual labor aspect. 

As for the Billie and Hegel, I'm intrigued by the Billie's typology of the tube pre-amp while the Hegel is certainly more neutral. I've seen a few used Hegel 190s and they sound great. I haven't heard the Billie so that would be a true leap of faith. 

Of the Evokes and Vandersteens, do you have a preference between the two?