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

Regarding best solid state amps; any comments on Pass Labs vs Mark Levinson?

I think I am almost there with my system, although I fear that audio nirvana is really a journey, and never an end game.......

I currently have a Lexicon MC-1 processor, Krell KPS28c-cd player, Sony dvp-9000es dvd player, Magnum Dynalab Etude FM tuner, B&W Nautilus 801 as main L/R speakers, Nautilus HTM-1 as center speaker, Matrix 801 Series 3 as L/R surround speakers, Krell KAV-1500 5-channels @ 300watts/channel amplifier for the main L/R (bi-amped) and center speakers and Meridian 557 2-channel @ 200watts/channel amplifier for the L/R surround speakers.

I use PS Audio Power Plant 300 for source equipment and Audioquest Python for all interconnects, and Slate speaker cables for the main L/R and center speakers and Type 4 cables for the surrounds. For power cords, I use Shunyata Black Mumba, Cardas Golden Reference, and Audioquest AC-12 and AC-15.

I am toying with the idea of getting a Krell KCT pre-amp to round out my 2-channel audio.

Hopefully, with all this, I think I will find my audio nirvana....for the time being I think...... or until I emerge from financial bankruptcy from buying all this equipment.

I'm a McIntosh junkie. I have a C42 pre-amp,MVP861 DVD/CD, MCD7008CD changer, 2 MC7150 power amps, MR78 tuner modified by the designer,ML2C Mac speakers with tweeter towers modified by the designer with a Mac eq101 designed for them, Pioneer RT707 reel to reel, Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home and Sonus Faber Concertinos, Velodyne HGS10 sub, all hooked to a Tice Power 3C conditioner. It sounds awesome, and is extremely reliable. I've heard a few horror stories of guys spending huge bucks for equipment that is in for repairs more than it's in their listening rooms!

I like most of us have a system in flux but here we go benz ruby cartridge on a graham 1.5T mounted on a basis 2001 with graham silver wire . This feeds a audible illusions mod .3 with telefunken 6DJ8 cc a's phono and siemens 6922 cc a's both n.o.s. . CD source is a theta jade transport and a theta DSPro basic 3A I use a nordost silver shadow aes/ebu cable here and use a straight wire crescendo to the pre amp.the run to the amps is a cardas neutral ref 7 meters long to VTL 125 mono blocks with tesla J/J EL34L tubes and mullard n.o.s. 12AT7's . the speaker cable is apex ref biwire on the top and mids and apex biwire doubled up on the woofers . I use apex power cords on the amps and pre amp and TG audio power cords on the theta stuff, front end eq. goes to a cardas power strip. I am looking for a cord for the basis . the speakers are alon 5 mk1 wonderful speakers!many tweaks and goodies around to play with and not enough records yet , 170 cd's but who cares? getting ready to do a ac thing and always looking to improve the room .Oh by the way the room is small but it works if it was bigger I would have alon circes.

System building is an ongoing pursuit. I find we often make changes to get a new flavor rather than an improvement (search your own soul here). I've had perfectly satisfying systems and had to make changes to adapt to a new room, rather than absolute improvement. Here are my two favorites: Set up in the living room of a split level ranch with an L shape dining area. There was more volume here than any woofer should ever be asked to cover, but this system disappeared like few I've ever heard. Eggleston Andras, Omega Micro speaker cable, Symphonic Line RG-4 Custom amp, Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway II IC's, Sonic Frontiers Line 3 (the very one that started the SE upgrade, instigated by yours truely!), an AHT P phono stage and a Basis Debut Gold MK III with a Wheaton Tri-Planar V and a Symphonic Line RG-8 Gold. The digital reproduction was handled by an Esoteric P-2S feeding an SF Processor 3. System #2 was in a room about 13 X 17. It included a pair of Merlin VSM Milleniums, 2 pair of H/T Pro 11's, the RG-4C, 2 pr. of Totem (yes, Totem!) IC's, in and out of the BAM, the aforementioned Line 3SE and AHT, and a Versa Dynamics 2.0 with a Clearaudio Accurate. Digital was the Pro3 but the transport was changed to a Forsell Air Reference MK II. These systems didn't just get my foot tappin', sometimes I just had to get up and boogie!