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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?
ctsooner
tubeears
136 posts
 
Ctsooner,

If you have the time, check out the new line of Audio Analogue amps... Especially the Maestro series. They have much of what the Ayre delivers in the mid and high end, but a much stronger bass line. I currently use the Maestro Settanta Rev2 integrated amp with DeCapo-i/be speakers. The musical presentation is simply amazing. I know that you would be impressed with these wonderful Italian made amps.
dover
2,247 posts
 
The only true way to compare different cable brands is to wire the whole system with brand A and then replace all cables with brand B.
Most audiophiles use cables for bandaiding problems in their system or room, mixing their brands to come up with some sort of serendipitous outcome. Check out the most common questions on cables - eg
What is the best interconnect with tight bass ?
Looking for speaker cable with big midrange.
Which power cable will give me more bass ?
09-16-13: Bo1972
Last week I bought a Olive 06HD streamer. I also bought the brand new pure silver Audioquest Wild Blue Yonder with the new xlr connectors. I use a Purist Audio powercable with oyaide 004 connectors. This combination is stunning and one of the best analogue sound I ever heard from a digital source.
Not sure how you manage to get analogue out of a digital source but I would suggest that from your previous posts that the only fact is that your observations on cable capability are not based on any sort of scientific analysis, and more upon a try this here and there approach and a lot of hyperbole. Hence that is probably the attraction for the "Wild Blue Yonder" as the best cable in your quest for audio nirvana.
Personally I prefer the MIT Oracle series cabling for all cables - interconnect, speaker & power.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,295 posts
 
I view wires as tweaks. A relatively inexpensive and easy way to fine tune the sound when needed. As such, its hard to say one works better than another in any particular case with various gear, even if overall, some may be "better" than others.

With certain combos of gear, some wires may prove to be better than others in general.

Audioquest and MIT I have heard do not sound the same. No doubt about that. MIT is probably for more unique applications in general perhaps. OVerall, I might prefer Audioquest. Not enough data points for me to judge conclusively. I have only heard certain combos that I could uniquely identify. I may like DNM the best overall of teh ones I have heard. I also use Harmonic TEch truth link. Another unique sounding wire that might work best for some. HT is probably most similar to Audioquest of these I mention, maybe better.
bo1972's avatar
bo1972
2,789 posts
 
I sold MIT for over 6 years of time. And I owned the best powercables the make. Ofcourse they make fine cables. But when I compare the latest Audioquest cables with MIT cables you have to admit that the difference has become too big. I Always Judge cables for many different parts. When you compare the low freq, drive and speed is done a lot better with the Audioquest. The biggest difference is individual focus of instruments and voices. Audioquest is able to let you hear a very precise and small direct focus of all instruments and voices. Voices and instruments are very small in dimension in real. Play it with the MIT and in many cases instruments and voices are played too big. Here you loose the intimate sound what is very important to become one with the music. When instruments and voices are played too big in proportion the distance between you and the music gets bigger. There is less involvement and you are not pulles into the music like it should be. The mid freq are a lot more open and musical with the Audioquest cables. Instruments and voices are a lot more palpable cause of the better blacks of the Audioquest cables. And when you compare how much details you hear, you easily hear much more space, details and different layers. We are not taking about details, but big differences. I think there is a lot of work for MIT to catch up.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,295 posts
 
I do think a lot of MIT wires I read about these days may be overpriced, at least new.

I use inexpensive older Terminator line ICs I picked up used for not much. These are worth the money I would say.
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