Again, a massive thank you to all that have contributed to my thread. I'll try to go over the key points and questions asked.
So my journey with hifi is over 30 years old. From midi systems, to first separates, then Naim boxes, to valve stuff, to big box Class A, and back to valves.
I have also heard many different types of hifi system, from cheap as chips to mega (as in over £250k) set up's. The cost doesn't determine the ultimate quality and enjoyment, but it is a general shove that way. I've preferred a Rega, Sugden, Harbeth system (say £5k) to a massive Accuphase/Tannoy one. So I'm well aware that joy can be found in lesser set up's, but also downsizing to lesser will result in a loss of (insert hifi cliche here) but perhaps not a loss of enjoyment.
I have tried to do this before. Couple of years ago I toyed with big changes, only to bottle it and I kept what i had (and have since added to it). I think my head was in a very different place then to now. Obviously, in recent times, we've had a global pandemic - and with that, no live music, no travel or holidays - and much more time at home. Time to sit in front of the hifi system more, which should add to the enjoyment yes? Ok so why do I feel the opposite?
Perhaps factors I chose to ignore have bubbled to the top. Valve amps, complicated turntables, expensive cantilevers, it is all very delicate, user-unfriendly and has become my realm with my partner, son, friends terrified to touch any of it. Even the cats give it all a wide berth. Considering music is to be enjoyed by all, everyone else in the house plays music via portable BT speakers or headphones, as the hifi is out of bounds, unless I operate it. This is just silly and is the main reason for change.
Next up if the value. To replace my system, new-for-old, is well over £100k. Of course i didn't pay that much for it, and as a sale price it's value is a lot less, but it is still a massive chunk of depreciating asset that only I really use. If we move house, its a nightmare, if I croak, leaving this to my partner is a nightmare. If we go on holiday, fretting over the housesitter going near it, is a nightmare. In short, most aspects of owning this system are negative, the only positives are when i sit and listen to it, with no other stresses in life. Again, reference the last 18 months, will this come back any time soon?
The system then, which a lot of you know, is as follows:-
Analogue : Thales TTT-C Mk II Turntable on Levi Base with Simplicity Tonearm and 3 headshella. Ortofon MC Anna Diamond, Zyx Universe II, Zyx Ultimate 100 cartridges. Tron silver RCA cable & Clearaudio Smart Matrix RCM.
Digital
: dCS Bartok, Acoustic Plan DriveMaster CDT & PowerMaster PSU, Roon Nucleus Audio Server. English Electric 8Switch Ethernet Switch.
Amplification : Tron Atlantic Ref 300B Power Amp with Electro Harmonix, Takatsuki & Western Electric 300B Vacuum Tubes. Tron Seven GT Line Stage & Tron Seven GT Phono stage.
Speakers : Devore Fidelity O/96 Loudspeakers with bespoke covers.
Support : Grand Prix Audio Monaco SWB c/w Carbon platform, Apex Feet and latest pads. Solidsteel 3-3 4 shelf support.
Cables : JPS Labs Superconductor V Speaker Cables, Harmonic Technology Cyberlight P2A x2 & Wave & Siltech 550i RCA’s, Cardas Golden Ref, Isolclean Focus, Analysis Pro and Okutsu Denko Air Power Cables. Acrolink 7N-D5070-3 Digital Cable. Audioquest Cinamon Ethernet & Toslink Cables.
Misc. : iFi Power Station Power Conditioner, iFi AC iPurifiers. Gryphon Black Exorcist Demagnetiser. Epluggs RCA High Power Grounding.
So there you have it. Two towers of audio porn, which looks, and more to the point sounds fantastic! Many years of careful upgrading and fiddling to arrive at this pile of stuff only I really use, and mostly gets used for TV/film, which goes to the Bartok dac.
I talked at lengh about this with my partner. We also talked aboutn watches, cars and other stuff that has been acquired and only recently have I started to question, why? The amount of comments on here from people who have been on the journey I am contemplating, and have downsized, and remain happy! They didn't keep over and die over the loss of fidelity, the world carried on rotating! I guess it's like when I sold my mega headphone systems and now happily live with my B&O H95 - they get used and enjoyed, and i like the fact they cost less than a cable on my old set up!
With that in mind, and referencing back to my Roksan/Creek/Royd system of decades ago, I feel this might be a tad too far. I still want a good sounding system, an easy to use record player, easy Roon streaming, the TV connected. The fact it's less boxes, neater and less "look at me" are positives. I know it won't sound as good, but do I care? The support i got at home (as well as on here) is very welcome. My partner's advice, she is far wiser than me, was to set timelines, then make decisions, stick to them, see it through. We talked about what "we" want from a system and how low we can go, as we both love music. Perhaps the hardest thing in the last year or so has been us not seeing live music. We go all over Europe seeing bands we like, and the joy of music at home is always greater if you've seen the bands live.
So, if i do this, then perhaps i can be excited about what i do get to replace it all. Active speakers are a definite option - whether Buchardt, ATC or many other options mentioned. Alternatively, a one box amp (with DAC, Streamer, phono) and yes i know all the caveats mentioned about "what if they go wrong", but in fairness, i've had valve amps fail too, so complex tech doesn't have a monopoly on failures. Also Dirac, as my living room isn't acoustically right - I've lived with it and made excuses - but if i am to change then I'd definitely be keen to explore this.
So amp wise, we have things like the NAD M33, Lyngdorf, the Naim one box. Maybe some lovely passive speakers (so much choice!) or go active. A planar 10 turntable. That's it.
I'm going to mull it all over some more, another option is to mothball the entire system for 6 months, get the new set up and see "IF" i can live with it. If not, bring back the old stuff, or if i live with it and all is fine, then sell. There is no pressure to sell, but, raising some cash wouldn't be half bad, I can do plenty with the money and have less stress/pressure.
Anyway, more to follow i'm sure, and again, thank you to all who have contributed. I've read them all, and PFM is proving again to be a cracking bunch of sensible people