Del monaco
Del Monaco
Great thread idea Del!!
My turn:
I'm Darren and I'm an audiophile. I enjoy the kit as much as the music. That's why I hang out on a hifi forum.
Starting a new home in my early fifties... my budget is limited because my old wreck of place needs everything doing to it.
My objectives are :
* To have a 'live' sound - something bold and clear, not overly refined, but detailed and dynamic. A sound that arouses my emotions, not sends me to sleep.
* To be able to include some of the kit I wanted decades ago but couldn't afford.
* To have a full range system - one that goes low into the bass and high beyond the limit of my hearing.
* To have beautiful vocal reproduction and a strong stereo image.
* To have lots and lots of Audio fun. To move things around, try different cables, different combinations, to improve as I go.
* To never spend an amount of money that causes me any stress or concern. I have no interest in 'investment hifi'
Yea..... I want it all.... cant afford it... but want it. It's a journey and I'm enjoying it.
Speakers:
Magneplanar .6QR Not my first pair of Maggies but my best. Oak trim, cream cloth. Large and imposing - the way real speakers should be. Way out into the room. The first time I heard Maggies I could tell something was missing - the lack of a cabinet singing along was immediately obvious. Maggies create an expansive sound stage and easily fill a large room with sound. I wish I could afford larger ones.
Subwoofers:
I'm a huge REL fan. A sub is, for me, a great value upgrade when correctly integrated. I found a REL R-205 to be easy to integrate with the Maggies, so, like a fool, I bought another..... Gosh! integrating two subs is a Bugger of a job. They seem to activate the room modes in a way that one just didn't - I'm getting there and its fun.... but not as easy as REL would have you believe. When its good... its very good.
Power amp:
a NOS Yamaha mosfet professional amp - Big, fan cooled and powerful. Drives the Maggies to any level and has cool leds on the front too. I also have a pair of Musical Fidelity P150s awaiting Jez Arkless services. I do love old Musical Fidelity kit.....
Pre-amp:
A Musical Fidelity Pre amp 8 - mirrored front, waffle top case. Serviced by Jezzer who treated me fairly ands served me promptly. Love the look of this. But would like an ARC SP16 or something. We will see - I kinda miss valves in my system.
Sources:
I have a FIT PC running Daphile as a music server - I control it via my tablet - amazing value and great sound. I also have a vintage Mission PCM 7000 CD Player bought on vintage whim and a modern Marantz I use as a transport. Streamer wise a Google Chromecast Audio has given way to Primare NP5..... I'm not convinced it sounds any different - but its early days. The CCA has to be one of the audio bargains of the century.
DAC:
The Soncoz SGD1 is the heart of my system. All the digital sources are fed through it - I bought it new from Keith at Purite and I really rate it. The Soncoz was a great, very audible upgrade and Keith gives very good service - I'd buy from him again in an instant.
Cables:
The Van Den Hul cables have always interested me - especially the ones with the carbon conductors. I've slowly accumulated an all Van den Hul cable loom which adds an extra 2% to my system's performance I figure. It's not make or break.... but I can hear the benefits. You think I'm imagining it? I'm cool with that.
Things I want but cant (yet) afford:
Bigger Maggies!! or a pair of Quad 989
An ARC pre amp
A Krell KSA 80
A high end Audio Note Dac.
A snog with the Borg Queen.
I would like to try something with a higher current to see if the LRSs improve. Shame there is no pre-out on the Yammie.