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New to Audiogon. selling my whole system

EVERYTHING. I've never done this before. It's time to start fresh. I'll soon be posting everything as I learn to use this site. I have everything from Proac Supertowers to studio 100's to studio 1 mk2 to Quick silver monos and full function pre with all MIT wire to Stax Lamda's to two Onyx integrateds etc...

Not sure how much I'll fetch for everything, but I've been listening to everything from 15k speakers to the newest integrateds. I have found a few dealers who have been ultra helpful and very nice. Many years ago I met Richard Vandersteen at Stereo Unlimited in SD and fell in love with the 'new' 2's. After a 4 year stint driving the USS Kitty Hawk, I moved back to CT and set out to finally get my new system. I sold off my moscode amp, CJ pre and Polk 10's (Sandy Gross' design) and found a Vandy dealer in RI> I became close friends with the owner and we are still in touch even though he's been closed for years. I walked in with my wife prepared to walk out with Vandy's and a new amp. Instead I walked out with the Supertowers, Quick mono's and his personal pre amp.

I have loved this system for many years and have had new drivers put in and it sounded even better. Problem is, my new wife needs a remote so I had to buy an NAD integrated. I still love the speakers, but I was told to check out the new D series of Proacs. I was led to Audio Connection and John (he posts here). I went in to audition the Pro Ac's and they were nice, but I wasn't blown away as what I have is still pretty darn good. Then John told me to listen to the Vandy's along with the Ayer 7x integrated and a cheap Music Hall DAC.

Keep in mind, I had recently heard the Focal BE line, Paradigm Signatures, B&W (never have liked them), Dynaudio, PSB T I think it was, Wilson, Dali and the list goes on. Nearly all the contenders (I"ve left some out). I have head the NAD Master series and the new NAD 390 digital. I heard the Krell, etc....

I never expected to have one system blow me away, but it did. I was in SHOCK and still am as it's the reverse of the last time. I really wanted to hear the Hegel integrateds as they have a nice DAC built in, but they aren't out yet. That said, the Ayre would be hard to beat. I like John's approach in that he puts systems together and we have similar ears. He carries the lines I have and have had other than the MIT I have been using (770 MH CVT and shotgun etc..) I also didn't think the Audioquest would impress me, but again, I was dead wrong.

I read reviews, but nothing beats listening. NOTHING. I think the Vandy Treo's , ayre 7x integrated, Music Hall DAC and Audioquest with those DBS deals are the way I'm going to go as soon as I'm able to share some great stuff with folks.

I look forward to reading more threads in the forum as it seems like a nice community.

I wonder how many have been in my boat (starting fresh for the first time after all these years)? Any stories to share?
128x128ctsooner
ctsooner's avatar
ctsooner OP
2,480 posts
 
Guys the Ayre will show up sometime next week he said. I'll hook them up and try them out to see if that does it for me, but the Vandy's just played music. Details and able to throw a nice and realistic sound stage and imaging was wonderful. John will bring them over when I buy them, but it's a 2.5 hour drive so I wouldn't be able to try them in my own space. Sucks, but that's reality for me I guess.

I think John can get me the NAD DAC since he does sell NAD, so that's a possiblity I guess. I have been offered that DAC locally for 1600 for a new one and that seemed great. In that price range what would you folks recommend? It has to be balanced.
timo62
282 posts
 
Ctsooner , Sounds like you really liked what you heard at Audio Connection and want to go in that direction with your system. Nothing wrong with that.

You made the right choice in going to John R. at Audio Connection. I drove up there myself back in September ( 3.5 hrs) and stayed for a few days. I was so glad I made the trip up. I could of stayed up there for a couple of weeks just hanging out and listening to music with John. He is a good guy and really takes care of his customers.

The town of Verona was fun to hang out in also.

Enjoy your new Vandersteens when they arrive!
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,563 posts
 
I have audioquest cv6 wires with dbs devices. They work well and I like them but not sure I hear any difference with dbs devices. Can't hurt though.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
The DBS improves the timing and blacks a lot.
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Good to meeet you, thank you for serving our country, and wow, it must be a letdown to drive a wheeled vehicle after driving a supercarrier!

You seem like an ardent fan of both the gear and the experience; I strongly suggest you attend a regional audio show before you blow the entire sum on a replacement rig. You are in a rare position that most audiophiles are afraid of, that of being able to start from scratch.

Frankly, selling off the entire rig - I have done so a few times - allowed me to take major steps in sound quality and enjoyment which would have taken a lot longer to achieve piecemeal. So, congratulations on not being afraid to "jump ship" so to speak and climb aboard another vessel! Some people get so emotionally attached to their system that it prevents them from having a far richer experience. You are wise not to let nostalgia block future enjoyment.

Attending a show is a mind expanding experience, and could have you alter your choices. I'm not trying to take away from your friend and dealer, but aside from the friendships made at shows one hears a tremendous amount of variety, and sometimes that opens a new door to ownership of an unanticipated component/rig which ultimately satisfies.

One of my audio friends went to his first show about a year ago; at that show we heard the Volti Audio Alura speakers and that was it. He had a fair bit of anxiety over a radical remake of the system but ended up switching out his entire system over that year and now has a dream system he can't get enough of. In fact, he bought the Border Patrol amplification and Snake River Audio cabling as well, nearly replicating the exact show system he liked so well -and it sounds extravagant; as would be expected it is better sounding in his home than it was in the show's hotel room. No matter the price, the show experience is your best way to "shop" the world for a rig.

Re: Audioquest DBS - years ago I spent a fair bit of time comparing that technology to straight wire and found that DBS beat some but not others. Now I do not consider it to be inherently superior to straight wire. My experience is that a variable such as total gauge of the conductor is more critical than DBS. Others may vigorously disagree, but I am not interested in arguing my findings. :)
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