The BEST system you've ever built !!!!


What is the best system that you have ever put together , from source to speakers including cables ??? After all the swaps and auditions I'm looking for the final "aahhh, that's the ticket" sound to you and what components took you to Audio Nirvana. {This is a survey of actual auditions, not what you read in a magazine} THANKS,
krellpower1
Great thread, for some reason I like it better than the virtual systems.
Speakers: Martin Logan Monolith IIs modified with Focal 12" drivers
Amps: Mark Levinson 20.0 Reference Monoblocks for panels and Krell KMA 160 monoblocks for bass
Crossover: Bryston 10B, balanced, 125Hz 24dB per octave
Pre-amp: Mark Levinson 380S
D/A: Mark Levinson 36
Transport: Mark Levinson 37
Phono Stage: Sonic Frontiers Signature w/ NOS (Siemens & Brimar) tubes
Turntable: VPI MK 3
Tonearm: SME IV.Vi
Cartridge: Van den Hul, the Frog
Cables: Audioquest Lapis and Diamond interconnects, except phono cable which is Siltech. AQ Sterling and Clear (4 foot runs) speaker cable.
Power cables: Most I've made with Hubble plugs, outlets, and 10 gauge stranded wire. Source power cables have 14 gauge stranded wire and dedicated EMI/RFI filters.
Power: Dedicated 220V stepped down to 110V via toroidal transformer (2 live poles at 55 volts out of phase to cancel noise).
Room: Dedicated 17 x 18 (not really rectangular) with built in bass traps.
Equipment rack: built into the wall, supported by wall joists rather than the floor for isolation. Turntable is similarly mounted to a wall mount stand of oak rails and granite top.
This system also has a theater, but I won't go into that unless someone asks. It's take a long time and many upgrades to build this system--and I'm still making changes. Judging by how long this thread has been open, some of the early responders have probably upgraded as well. One of the biggest improvements was the built in bass traps and the power. If you are ever building a dedicated listening room, I can't stress these two things enough. $$ per performance is amoung the best I've encountered.
Abstract7, Would you mind giving me more details about your house wiring set-up? I am getting ready to re-wire my listening room and would like your layout in more detail. I have read other threads on this subject,but would like to hear yours in more detail....You can email me direct if you want......Thanks
Krellpower, check out Albert's earlier posts on this thread as well, he had quite an elaborate wiring setup, as I recall.
Dunlavy SC-VI's, VPI TNT 3.5 Turntable, VPI JMW Memorial 12.5 arm, Grado Reference Cartridge, VPI SDS Turntable Speed Controller, Audio Research PH3/SE Phono Stage, BrightStar Big Rock TNT Platform, VPI 17 Record Cleaning Machine, Theta Data III CD/LD Player, SigTech AEC2000 Digital Room Correction System, MSB 24/96 A to D Converter, dCS Purcell Digital to Digital Upsampler, dCS Delius Digital to Analog Converter, DAL ULC Balanced Interconnects and DAL Z6 Speaker Cable, Kimber Select Phono Cables, XLO Reference Digital Interconnects and Speaker Wire, PS Audio Power Plant 300 with Multiwave (2), Theta Casablanca Pre Amp/Surround Processor (with digital outs and a “black box” external analog volume controller), Bryston 7B Amplifiers, Grado Signature Headphones, Headroom Headphone Amplifier, Acoustic Innovations Wall Panels, RPG Skyline Diffusors , ASC Tube Traps, Acoustic Innovations Cinema Chairs, Room Tune Deluxe Justa Racks and Salamander Designs Synergy Equipment Racks.

This system has been built over the last 20 years, one piece at a time. I have purchased no new "stuff" in quite some time. All "effort" goes into fixing the room which is far and away the best return on time and money (and buying vinyl). Still never heard anything that sound like this at any dealer or any show. (room size is approx 16x24x9(
this was about 5 years ago. Let's start with the weakest link a enlightened audio T 700 universal disk transport using AT&T glass output into genesis time lens using Illumanatti d60 aes/ebu to Wadia 27 digital converter to XLO signature cables into Conrad Johnson premier eight amplifiers to biwired XLO signature wires to Dunlavy V speakers. All components upon bright star big rocks. XLO type 10 power cords into dedicated 20 amp circuits. Roomtunes really helps Room acoustics. A tip about Dunlavy speakers upgrading the speaker binding post to Cardas rohidium posts really make a considerable difference. I sold the complete system for $12,500. If the person I sold it to is reading this I would gladly pay you $15k to buy it back. contact me please.