I've often posted questions and comments about pieces of my system, but I often get asked about the rest of it. I don’t share the entire system too often I guess.  It's not the prettiest setup (not in clean racks), My gear is line up on my left wall, more sprawling then condensed. (And yes an acoustic absorber is hanging from a TV and balance on 2 wooden panels above my pre-amp). I became obsesses with the idea of having a clean front wall...

I do have stands under my amp and pre-amp, and I have an HRS shelf under my turntable (the one splurge on racking gear.)

So here's my current system rundown, with a question at the end.

Analog:

(Stereo): Techdas Airforce V Premium, Graham Phantom III SE tonearm, DS Audio Master 3 cart with W3 equalizer.

(Mono) Mark Levinson No 515 with an Ortofon Cadenza Mono cart, with a Moon audio 310LP stage.

Digital:

Roon Nucleus (Qobuz and Tidal) via ethernet switch to a Rose 151 DAC (a potential weak link… more on that)

Power:

Audioquest Niagara 3000 (need to upgrade to 6KL for more ports)

 D'Agostino Momentum HD Pre-Amp,. D'Agostino S250 MXV Power Amp.

 Speakers:

 Wilson Alexia V, (2) JL Audio F212 V2's subs, Wilson ActivXO cross-over (crossed at 45hz)

Room treatments:

Soffit Bass traps in front corners, absorbers behind speakers and at first and second reflection points, as well as rear wall.

Diffusers in between speakers and on Ceiling

 I'm on the second floor above a renovated barn,m so I found addin some foam and a hockey puck under the JL Audio feet has helped tremendously with room vibrations

Impressions: 

The system sounds very good. The Alexia's raised the sound stage considerably so center is now closer to 5' than 3'. The stage is well defined across the front wall, helped by the horizontal diffusers.

It takes a bit of work to get the subs and speakers dialed in, so that you cant pinpoint where any of the sound is coming from, but when its done, its worth it, because bass is fast, and it punches and then decays out. Songs like 'National Anthem' by Radiohead, that are mixed center bass heavy can punch you right out of your chair…

I'm a sucker for presentation, being able to pinpoint the musicians, not the equipment, is my goal. Many songs I've heard on good systems I'm hearing more to them now, specifically a level of detail the Alexia V's add to the mid's that I hadnt heard before. 

There's a lot of air being pushed through these, and say what you want about amps, you can tell the men from the boys when powering a behemoth pair of Wilsons. Kudos to D'Ag - I know their aesthetic isnt everyone's favorite but they do an excellent job at what they were made for, controlling current-hungry speakers.

A note about my DAC, I really like my Rose 151, I've often said I think its one of the best bargains out there, but it's definitely an outlier in my system. I know many are split on DACs and their importance…. I'm finding myself wondering if it's worth it to upgrade the DAC or not. Curious if people have opinions based on my system.

I can listen to this sysem for hours and never tire, Something I've found consistent with the wilson line, They don’t have an over-analytical sound (to me) and I find them very musical and tolerable even at massive volumes.

Anyway - happy to answer questions or take any feedback on the DAC.

Amplifiers - 2× Schiit Vidar

Speakers - Quadral Montan MkV

Preamp + Dac - Audiolab Mdac+

Streamer - Wiim pro

Good new: Recently upgraded to a bigger house with my own dedicated listening room! Super excited about that. Tons of new gear headed over too (will share that another day)

Bad news: The room has super tall ceilings and opens to the rest of the main living area. Rings like a bell. I did bring along some sound treatment from the previous space. Nothing is set up properly yet, but I feel like it’s going to take a lot to make this room sound good. Just wanted to share and hopeful keep you updated on the progress.

I love philharmonic audio BMR monitors, particularly the discontinued RAAL tweeter version. I have called this system the gateway drug to hifi.

The only problem is it doesn't play that loud. Sure it's enough for casual listening, but it doesn't really crank.

I know this because I've blown out two (yes two) BMR monitor woofers using a buckeye 500 and a buckeye 700. I think the 250w A7 3E is the best at matching.

So enjoy your amazing wide directivity, affordable, natural speaker but watch the volume!

Spanish Guitar: What are your favorite audiophile spanish guitar songs? Either songs that feature spanish guitar or songs that have spanish guitar in it.

Recently got divorced and treated myself to some speakers!

I got the Opus 1 and drive it with my Astell & Kern SP4000

$70k on ebay, w/ free shipping! 😅 But seriously, I am genuinely curious to know from a redditor who's experienced these: Are they just a ridiculous status symbol or actually god tier/worth the price tag? Who are they for? I mean which music consumer and what size space would these make sense for?

Edit: its 4 towers total, sorry

Hi everyone!

I bought these speakers through social media and I'm trying to confirm they're actually Sinclair Audio (Limited Edition Series).

The rear plate shows the Sinclair Audio logo with "Limited Edition Series" and a unit number (53 of 500 and 129 of 500), along with serial numbers TR10505653 and TR10505729.

The problem: I can't find any information anywhere on this model — nothing online, nothing on forums. Sinclair Audio was a small Canadian company from Montreal (owned by JAM Industries), best known for their Brighton, Sculptura and Architex lines, but this "Limited Edition" series seems completely undocumented.

Has anyone ever seen a pair, or know when they were made, what they're based on, or what they're worth? Thanks in advance!

Salut à tous!

J'ai acheté ces haut-parleurs sur les réseaux sociaux et j'aimerais confirmer qu'il s'agit bel et bien d'enceintes Sinclair Audio (Limited Edition Series).

La plaque arrière porte le logo Sinclair Audio avec la mention « Limited Edition Series » et un numéro d'exemplaire (53 de 500 et 129 de 500), ainsi que les numéros de série TR10505653 et TR10505729.

Le problème : je ne trouve aucune information nulle part sur ce modèle — rien sur le web, rien sur les forums. Sinclair Audio était une petite entreprise canadienne de Montréal (propriété de JAM Industries), surtout connue pour ses séries Brighton, Sculptura et Architex, mais cette « Limited Edition » semble totalement introuvable.

Quelqu'un en a déjà vu ou saurait quand elles ont été fabriquées, sur quel modèle elles sont basées, ou ce qu'elles valent? Merci d'avance!

I’ve finally taken my first step in buying some vintage equipment, I purchased a pioneer sa 7100 and some mission model 70 mkii speakers. I’m so excited and happy about my purchase ( got everything in great working condition for $225 CAD).
Issue is I already feel the itch to buy more and more upgrades and I haven’t even gotten my speaker stands in LOL.

(The sub and computer speakers are what I used to play off of for years until today those will be going and the speakers will get their own stands so I can create a better sound throughout the room)

Name a rock or metal song from the last 10 years or so that really impressed you on a great system. I’ve found that sonically I’ve been most impressed by more classic rock than modern even though I love a lot of it musically, so hit me with your best recommendations, please!

Having a listening day and thought, I don't see this kit / setup mentioned much. Arcam cd62, a Rotel Rmb 1075 powering the front Monitor audio silver 8is and Yamaha yst sw800 which occasionally gets turned on, hence it's dual role as a drinks holder.

​

Sometimes I come close to tears when I hear an exceptional recording played through my audio system.

It's those moments when everything comes together: the music, the performance, the production, the lyrics, the vocals, and a system capable of reproducing it all with remarkable realism.

I've experienced this with different systems I've owned over the years. Occasionally, the sound is so convincing that it feels as though the musicians are playing right in front of me, or the singer is standing in the room.

What strikes me is the realization of just how extraordinary music reproduction can be. The combination of musical artistry and high-fidelity sound creates an experience that almost defies belief.

I suspect other dedicated audiophiles will recognize this experience.

Have you ever heard a recording through your system that almost brought you to tears? What were you listening to, and what made that moment special?

Apparently this is the latest requirement for perfect audio production.

So - why don’t we have rubber feet on our streamers?

Saw it on a post here so though it was worth asking.

We moved to a smaller home and my big system took up a lot of space so I decided it was time to downsize. I sold my huge 300B mono-blocks, my tube pre-amp and tube DAC, and my big Coincident speakers.

I bought the Technics SU-G700M2 and the amazing Gershman Studio XdB speakers. I no longer have components and cables all over the floor and tall speakers in a room with a low ceiling. With the Technics, there is no DAC in this system. I run my streamer and CD transport directly into the G700. I am also running one turntable with MM cart into the G700 phono stage. Everything fits into my home made rack. (well, except for the second turntable)

Yes, of course it sounds different, but it definitely sounds good.

In terms of equipment and environment, this is the best my room has even and I’m pretty excited to share it with you all!

It’s been an ongoing project of experimenting with placement, acoustic treatment, and finding a balance between getting the most out of the system and creating a space I genuinely enjoy spending time in.

The room is treated with broadband absorption along the side and rear walls, along with substantial floor-to-ceiling bass trapping in the corners. Given the relatively modest dimensions and the size of the speakers, getting the room under control has been an important part of the process.

Sonically, I’ve always gravitated toward systems that prioritize dynamics, scale, and rhythmic drive. The JBLs deliver an effortless, almost live quality that I find particularly engaging with rock, funk, and other rhythm-heavy music. Drums have genuine impact, bass is tight, textured and controlled, and there’s a sense of immediacy that makes it easy to get lost in a groove.

One of my more recent changes was replacing my Stressless recliner recliner positioned in the sweet spot with two smaller lounge chairs. It’s technically a compromise in terms of imaging precision, but the room feels considerably more open, comfortable, and inviting. The JBLs still produce a convincing sense of scale and separation from either position, even if the stereo image isn’t quite as locked in as it would be sitting dead center.

Ultimately, I’ve come to appreciate the room as much as the equipment itself. It’s a place to put on a record, settle in for a few hours, and enjoy the music.

Current Signal Chain:

Speakers: JBL 4722N Two-Way ScreenArray® Cinema Loudspeakers

Subwoofer: MartinLogan Depth I

Amplifier: Benchmark AHB2

Pre-Amp: Schiit Freya+ 

DAC: Schiit Gungir Multibit 

Phono Pre-Amplifier: SPL Phonos Duo

Turntable #1 (Reference): Denon DP3000 (in high mass plinth), Dynavector DV-505, Denon 103R

Turntable (Daily Driver): Music Hall Stealth, Audio-Technica AT-OC9XML

I see lots of fancy equipment here in this sub so please don’t flame me if you see something you don’t like! But here it is!

Specs:
Turntable: JVC AL-A158 with p-mount cartridge
Receiver: JVC RX-774v
5 CD Changer: JVC XL-FZ258
Speakers: Elimavi Passive Floor Standing Speakers with Banana Plug Connections

I had been focusing on digital lately, but after getting some new tweeters, I decided it was time to get my table running and hear it on a full electrostatic speaker system.

I wasn't prepared for what I heard, and a friend felt the same way.

Table is a TTW (TTweights) Momentus plus with copper platter mat, Soundsmith Strain gauge phono cart, Graham Phantom 2 arm, Stealth Hyperphono arm cable, and all sitting on an active vibration table.

The table weights over 150lbs yet no individual part weights more than 40 lbs, so one person can move and install it. Eve the platter is in two sections. They made a rim drive option but I never bought it.

During Audio Advice Live in Raleigh, in early August, I had the pleasure of listening to the pre-release Kanto Tuk Grand speakers. I was looking for a two-channel setup that would deliver a great audio listening experience and sound much better for TV listening than a soundbar. The show was running 20% off on Kanto products, so I pre-ordered the TUK Grands and the SX26 stands. I also ordered a WiiM Ultra for streaming. The last piece of the puzzle was some solid, unobtrusive (size-wise) low end. Enter the SVS SB-3000 R|Evolution. You can see it peeking out from under the arm of the green chair.

There is a bit of a story on the pair in this picture, as these are the exact speakers from the show. When I pre-ordered, I was told they'd arrive in early September, which was fine since I was remodeling the living room. September came and went, and after a few messages, I learned the Walnut Rose finish wouldn't arrive until mid-November because of a variety of issues, including manufacturing delays and maritime shipping issues. At that point, I was ready to pull the plug; the living room was finished and my favorite part was missing, so I stopped by Audio Advice to see what options I had. Lo and behold, a pair sat unplugged on a shelf, the same pair that had been dropped off after the show. I didn't think about asking if I could borrow those until my pair arrived, so I started demoing other speakers as replacements. I left that day unsure where I wanted to go, but after a good night's sleep, I figured I'd ask to borrow the ones on the shelf until mine arrived. Much to my delight, they said yes, and here we are. It's no secret that my purchase at Audio Advice is a rounding error compared to the systems they sell, but they still treated me like anyone else with a much larger budget.

So how do they sound? Amazing! It took a bit to get them dialed in, as you will see in the pre-tuned green line in the REW measurements. There was a big dip in the 80-170Hz range. Moving them a bit farther from the wall and raising the crossover to 120 Hz got it closer to flat. Then I made a few PEQ adjustments to get it the rest of the way there, which you can see in yellow. I like a bit of a boost to the bottom end, so I used the Harmon target curve. The WiiM really shines here, letting you set up 10 PEQ bands and time-align the sub to the mains. Luckily, moving the crossover point to 120Hz didn't localize the sub as much as I thought it would. Is it ideal? No, but it definitely helped resolve an issue that was created by the less-than-ideal room. You work within the guardrails the wife gives you! To her credit, she did go to the Audio Advice show to support me.

Overall, the soundstage is great with decent depth. The center image is bang on with great separation when the track calls for it. This is my first experience with an AMT tweeter, and I love the clarity and definition of instruments on more acoustic tracks and synthesized sounds in electronic music. I listened for a few hours last night after tuning, and never once felt fatigued. One of my favorite demos is The Peppery Man by Natalie Mechant. Her vocals sit dead center, with supporting deep male vocals on the left and right. Another is Make Us Stronger by Ghost Rider, which you have likely heard if you've been to any audio show. Great electronic music that fills the room, and the TUK Grands delivered exactly that.

I can't speak to the wireless streaming options or other inputs, as I don't use them. I send everything via optical from the WiiM to the Tuks. Qobuz handles music streaming.

Won’t give out the exact location of the store since I feel it’s better to keep anonymity but wanted to show off all the equipment.

My dad knew I was starting my audio journey and he wanted me to check out an audio store so I could actually listen to speakers and see what I liked. He didn’t want me to make the same mistake he made of buying JBL studio monitors, liking them, and then hearing vintage ADS speakers and actually liking them better.

So we went to this store and I told him I was interested in a few brands such as Bowers and Wilkins and KEF. We first heard some of the JBL summit series which were great but the bass rumble kinda ruined for me. I’m not a fan of high volume and bass rumble. We then listened to some Sonus Faber speakers which me and my dad happened to not be impressed by. But then the person working there connected some B&W floorstanding speakers and it blew me away.

It was the exact sound I was looking for. Nice low end, clear trebles, vocals lifelike, minimal bass rumble. I could just take it all in and enjoy it.

I finally found the brand I have been looking for after bouncing back and forth between what audio brand I wanted to get for my first speakers and I think B&W is the way to go.

Just wanted to share my experience with you all and tell you guys how much I am starting to enjoy the hobby already!

TLDR: My dad took me to an audio store as a beginner audiophile and we tried out different speakers and I landed on B&W. B&W will now be my go to brand for speakers.

Edit: The place is Audio Solutions in Broad Ripple in Indianapolis. I didn’t really think the whole anonymity thing through. My bad.

Got a 1959 Tektronix Type 541 scope for 40 bucks and partially restored it. Using it as a waveform display and room heater for my downstairs setup.

Can I make this room work? It’s basically my designated spot for a man-cave.

Just wanted to share my Kenwood M-54 System with S-3M speakers

Fully functional and very good condition

Just added a Polk HTS12 subwoofer, loving the new deep bass 🥳

Hi all,

I have an Anthem D2v from 2009, an Anthem P5 driving RBH TS-30LSEs and center channel, and an Anthem A2 driving RBH surrounds. I have music on daily since 2009 where I noticed maybe 10-15 yrs ago that the audio was low when you first turned everything on. Adjust the volume so you can hear it and in an hour when everything warms up, you realize, “why is everything so loud?”. Wasn’t sure if it was the preprocessor or the amp, but bought a cable to connect an audio source directly to the amp and it the amp/speakers seem to be fine. I reached out to anthem, but if they come back with a crazy estimate to fix the d2v, I will probably look elsewhere. I’m not sure if I need to spend crazy money on a replacement. I haven’t followed the scene too closely. What would you do? Are there specialist who even fix digital equipment? I’ve seen videos of specialists who fix old equipment and replace all old capacitors and such, but am unsure if people like that exist for more modern equipment. The pic with the screen was composited with a day pic and one with the projector and a dark room.

TIA!

Just finished redecorating and finally set my Hi-Fi gear back up, so I am super glad to be able to listen again!

I appreciate that vintage gear isn’t to everyone’s taste, but it’s taken a long time to collect and I must say it sounds incredible.

Back in 2023, I had everything serviced by a Chartered Electrical Engineer who specialised in vintage Hi-Fi, so it’s all working beautifully.

The Equipment:
Speakers: Celestion Ditton 442
Tube Amps (Currently in use): Leak Point One Stereo & Rogers Cadet with Mullard tubes
Solid State Amps: Quad 44 and 405-2
Headphone Amps (Rarely used): Little Dot MK II & Yaqin with NOS tubes made in the USSR, which all sounds surprisingly good
Turntable: Linn Axis + Basik Plus tonearm
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Interconnects: Van Damme cables + Nakamichi plugs
Anyway, congrats if you read this far! I’m wondering what people’s thoughts are?