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You've Won the Lottery: Your Dream System, Now.

For this exercise, you don't HAVE to spend lots of money....but imagine if price were absolutely no object....

...and you weren't trying to show off, impress your neighbors, be loyal to your dealer, blow lots of cash needlessly or experiment with the latest Editors Choice or Class A recommendations.....

but rather, using everything you have ever learned in this hobby and in this forum, were honestly, genuinely, simply and sincerely trying to achieve the most "high end", 2 channel, musical nirvana ever in the history of audio..

..where you could buy new or used, as you wish....

With no constraints to the budget, of course you can have a perfectly restored Levinson HQD, Infinity IRS or Quad/Entec system.....the giant Apogees...or the latest mega Wilson's or any other well marketed, latest top of line speakers, however overpriced they might be....

Brand new or classic Audio Research reference....LAMM....Pass Labs...analogue, digital, WHATEVER YOU WANT under the sun.....

Rives tuned room, Shakti stones, exotic power conditioning devices.....just say the word and it can all be yours right now.

Here are the only rules:

ONE source
ONE system re pre amp and amps (bi or triamping optional)
ONE set of speakers
Cables exactly as you wish
As many tweaks as you like
All CDs and/or records FREE

Tell us your design for the perfect system, the last audio system you would ever need to build to live a long, happy, musically enriched life....the system you would never need to change or upgrade and the system which would enable you to die happily.

Good luck. Have fun.

Cheers,

cwlondon
cwlondon
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
I'd simply hire D'Arcy and Whitaker and tell them to select
the equipment and build whatever they wanted without compromise. Make it
better than anything else they have done. I'll readily admit I am no expert so given the money I'd let these experts decide everything. Also if I had unlimited funds I'd build all this in an exotic location, hire the best technicians and invite the bands to come with their producer and record at my house!

One caveat - the band would need to bring their groupies. (I'd hire Simon Cowell to narrow down the selection first - to keep air travel sensible, as I am an environmentalist at heart)

One problem - I'd think I've died and gone to heaven!
jazdoc
365 posts
 
In spite of believing that true happiness is being happy with less than you have...

First someone would have to explain to Mike Lavigne why he has to move so that I can put my system in his room...

After that:

Galibier Stevlio Turntable
Triplanar and Schroeder Reference Tonearms
Dynavector XV1-S Stereo Cartridge
Miyabi Mono Cartridge
Tron Mono Phono Preamp
Messenger Preamp
Serious Stereo Amplifiers
Oswald Mills Speakers
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
It's long been a thought of mine if I hit the Red neck retirement some Saturday night, what would I do?

First I'd buy a new home and hire some experienced soul to build me a dedicated room for audio and one for video each one, acoustically treated of course.

Then I'd travel. I'd visit as many of the high end designers as I could stand to see, or their dealerships and audition till I was completely confused or my socks get blown off and buy the rig that did it.

I would have to go outside these rules somewhat though... as I'd want both an outstanding SET system, and something with more guts. Sorry. it just seems odd to place constraints on unlimited funds while chasing a dream for audio bliss.
schipo
1,268 posts
 
I would keep my budjet system and buy the largest lp and cd collection that I could find. One with every known audiophile and non audiophile LP and cd that my heart could desire. Then and only then would I consider and buy an all out what ever money can buy system.
karelfd
476 posts
 
I thought of a new purpose built house to put my new mammoth system in as some others did, but I’ll stick to a reasonable lotto gain and what I could actually imagine to fill my present room with.

The "Only One Source"-rule vexes me, though: should I rather do without the wonderful LPs that never made it on CD (or in a miserable state only) or without CDs that are never going to be released on LP???? Oh well, I'll accept the prize and find me someone to digitalize my cherished LPs and burn them on discs then.

Zanden Model 2000 CD transport + Model 5000 Signature DAC
Tidal Preos preamp (2008 incarnation)
Tidal Impact Monoblocs
Tidal Contriva Diacera (2008 incarnation)
Tidal Drum subwoofer(s), not in the product catalogue anymore, but Joern might have a couple left
Copulare Sial stands
Silent Running Audio Ohio XL+ for all amps and source components
complete Purist Audio Design 20th Anniversary with LE powercords, Virtual Dynamics Genesis 1.1, Synergistic Research Tesla Series (ask Ted which ones) or Argento Audio Serenity Master Reference SE cable loom; can't decide that until I would have compared which ones fit my new system best (this bit may look like a bit of overkill, I suppose)
HMS Energia Definitiva and have a dedicated power line installed to feed it
a decent stock of NOS replacement tubes for the DAC
Transparent Acoustic room treatment installed by Dmitry
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