While I've been participating on this forum for years and have posted photos and details before, it's time for my official gallery thread.
It feels like it's been a long journey to get where I am now. I've been though many pairs of speakers (Mirage, Von Schweikert, Dynaudio, Genesis, Aerial, several Wilson and Magico models), preamps (ARC Ref 3 & 5, BAT Rex, Joule, Doshi Alaap, H20 Fire, Pass XP-10/20/30, Lamm L2 Reference, Audio Valve Eclipse, Parasound JC2), amps (Spectron, BAT, Theta, Bryston, Mark Levinson, Moon Audio, VTL, Lamm, Doshi, Pass XA100.5, Pass XA160.5, etc), phono stages (Manley, Aesthetix, Tron), DACs (Logitech, Berkley, Antelope Zodiac, EMM Labs, Playback Designs, Lumin, etc.). Many of these were wonderful products that either didn't synergize with my other gear (and taste) or was owned/auditioned when I had my system in a problematic room. They all taught me something and overall it's been a good (albeit expensive) experience.
My musical tastes is primary classic and progressive rock, jazz (50's to current) and classical (50's to current). I think I often listen with both sides of my brain, dissecting musical passages or following specific instrumentation while being moved emotionally. I'm very picky about sound: I need to have all the instruments separated and really hate a muddy low end that obscures the midrange, but I also can't stand a system that is bright or overly aggressive in the highs. I have learned that I dislike coloration - at least on acoustic instruments as much as I dislike distortion. I really enjoy a 3D soundstage - it totally engages me when I can almost see musicians and their instruments in a deep soundstage. I am an amateur musician who likes to tinker with playing several instruments and recording in my tiny home studio, but my favorite instrument is bass so it's important to me to have a system that has articulate bass.
I have learned a ton from folks on this forum (and others) as well as local audiophiles who have guided me throughout the past several years. I still have tons to learn and that helps to keep this hobby interesting.
While I can't say "I've arrived" or "I'm done" I feel I am getting very close. I think my system is sounding very good - something I don't think I would have said even a few months ago and I'm no longer be embarrassed to let people hear it.
Here are some pics of my system and listening environment (with a few captions here and there):
My speakers are Magico M-Projects and my listening room is also a family room that is adjacent to the kitchen.
The Magico M-Projects are magnificent. I get a full, rich, textured, but open & detailed sound that I haven't experienced with any other speaker. It is incredibly clean and never sounds congested. The tweeter doesn't call attention to itself at all and while I wouldn't describe the sound as dark in any way, it's certainly not aggressive. With a proper source the amount of detail that oozes out of these speakers naturally is amazing.
Here is my rack and the (messy!) listening area
I listen from the middle of the couch
My 2nd favorite spot to listen from is the kitchen - it's about 90% as satisfying to listen from there - the sound carries (and remains fairly well balanced) from there - something that is important to me (and my wife, who luckily for me, has developed a significant appreciation for good sound).
(more in next post)
It feels like it's been a long journey to get where I am now. I've been though many pairs of speakers (Mirage, Von Schweikert, Dynaudio, Genesis, Aerial, several Wilson and Magico models), preamps (ARC Ref 3 & 5, BAT Rex, Joule, Doshi Alaap, H20 Fire, Pass XP-10/20/30, Lamm L2 Reference, Audio Valve Eclipse, Parasound JC2), amps (Spectron, BAT, Theta, Bryston, Mark Levinson, Moon Audio, VTL, Lamm, Doshi, Pass XA100.5, Pass XA160.5, etc), phono stages (Manley, Aesthetix, Tron), DACs (Logitech, Berkley, Antelope Zodiac, EMM Labs, Playback Designs, Lumin, etc.). Many of these were wonderful products that either didn't synergize with my other gear (and taste) or was owned/auditioned when I had my system in a problematic room. They all taught me something and overall it's been a good (albeit expensive) experience.
My musical tastes is primary classic and progressive rock, jazz (50's to current) and classical (50's to current). I think I often listen with both sides of my brain, dissecting musical passages or following specific instrumentation while being moved emotionally. I'm very picky about sound: I need to have all the instruments separated and really hate a muddy low end that obscures the midrange, but I also can't stand a system that is bright or overly aggressive in the highs. I have learned that I dislike coloration - at least on acoustic instruments as much as I dislike distortion. I really enjoy a 3D soundstage - it totally engages me when I can almost see musicians and their instruments in a deep soundstage. I am an amateur musician who likes to tinker with playing several instruments and recording in my tiny home studio, but my favorite instrument is bass so it's important to me to have a system that has articulate bass.
I have learned a ton from folks on this forum (and others) as well as local audiophiles who have guided me throughout the past several years. I still have tons to learn and that helps to keep this hobby interesting.
While I can't say "I've arrived" or "I'm done" I feel I am getting very close. I think my system is sounding very good - something I don't think I would have said even a few months ago and I'm no longer be embarrassed to let people hear it.
Here are some pics of my system and listening environment (with a few captions here and there):
My speakers are Magico M-Projects and my listening room is also a family room that is adjacent to the kitchen.
The Magico M-Projects are magnificent. I get a full, rich, textured, but open & detailed sound that I haven't experienced with any other speaker. It is incredibly clean and never sounds congested. The tweeter doesn't call attention to itself at all and while I wouldn't describe the sound as dark in any way, it's certainly not aggressive. With a proper source the amount of detail that oozes out of these speakers naturally is amazing.
Here is my rack and the (messy!) listening area
I listen from the middle of the couch
My 2nd favorite spot to listen from is the kitchen - it's about 90% as satisfying to listen from there - the sound carries (and remains fairly well balanced) from there - something that is important to me (and my wife, who luckily for me, has developed a significant appreciation for good sound).
(more in next post)
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