I have chosen the components over years of my reading, listening to different syetems, talking to different people & recording engineer over 10 years. My full system is as below.
Intel
i7 13700K + 32GB DDR5 RAM on Windows 10 (SSD + TIDAL) + MSI RTX 3060 12 GB -> Roon ->
HQplayer (Upsampling everything to DSD 256) -> Merging NADAC
(connected directly via ethernet cat 8 cable + Pink Faun LAN isolator)
-> Bakoon Amp 13R -> Soundkaos Vox 3afw (on Soundkaos stands + ISO
Acoustics Gaia III feet).
I have created my own grounding boxes (2 nos.) using various crytals + Minerals and + Conductors. I have connected each to NADAC & Bakoon. No grounding box is shared between components.
Interconnects connectig NADAC to Bakoon is custom RCA cable having pure silver conductors (made using Xangsane cable). Speaker cable is custom UPOCC copper cable (made using Neotech's discontinued NS 1965). Power cable are Chinese power cables.
Distribution box is rom SoundFoundation Barracuda which I have modified to use Schaffner EMI Filter, changed topology to paralle (Star) & cabling changed to use better OFC cable.
Equipment rack is custom made usinng Steel and HDF shelves which are height adjustable.
All electronics is tweaked (treated) to reduce the EMI/RFI interference.
Feel free to ask any question regarding my system or component or leave a comment/feedback :)
Regards, Audio_phool
Edit 1:- Since many people viewing and reading about my system will have the question about how does it sound, I have already posted my own take/impressions of my system (although they are old and I had not performed some of the tweaks which I did later); please go through the thread and leave your valuable feedback. https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/soundkaos-vox-3a-bakoon-amp-13r-merging-nadac-impressions
Edit 2 :- I have added Power Conditioner from OnFilter & it's performance is mind-blowing. Also I have switched to AudioLinux which is another clear step-up from Windows in terms of SQ.
Edit 3 :- I have changed the interconnect from DAC to integrated amp to XLR to RCA cable from Audiolund's Ultimate Silver cable
SoundKaos Vox 3afw bookshelf speakers with it's stans (metal version) with feet being replaced with isoacoustic Gaia III feets
Bakoon Amp 13R
Bakoon's integrated amp viz. Amp 13R which serves as Stero integrated amp as well as a headphone amp.
Merging Technologies NADAC
Merging NADAC 2 Ch. from Merging Technologies
Zero Zone Leo
LPS for DAC from Zero Zone
Afterdark Master Clock
Custom master clock from After Dark for Merging NADAC with output frequency of 625kHz & 10 MHz.
OnFilter PDU
OnFilter's Power conditioner with best performance related to EMI & RFI reduction (conducted EMI) which kilo bucks worth of Power Conditioners can't match.
DIY Grounding Box
Two DIY grounding box using custom mix of crystals, minerals and other substances connected to DAC and Integrated Amp.
Roon Labs Roon Player
Roo Player From Roon Labs.
Signalyst HQ Player
HQ Player from Signalyst.
AudioLinux AudioLinux V3 OS
AudioLinux is Linux optimised for audio playback offering clear improvement in SQ from your computer over Windows/Mac OS.
@jmalen123 Thank you. I listen to virtually everything, atleast anything that I like so it ranges from Western Classical (orchestra) to Indian classical, Jazz/Blues, Bollywood, Regional music, some rock (not heavy metal), pop etc.. I have put up my review of the system here on audiogon you can read that to understand what my system excels at.
But to tell you in short it excells at midrange and highs so music like jazz, vocals jazz etc. really shines on the system.
If the sound matches the looks, you got a winner. Even my wife would approve. And she approves very little, hence I had to build the house of stereo. Enjoy!
@jond Ohh, it has got some rave reviews, especially from Srajan of 6moons and Dawid of HiFi Knights, Steve Huff etc. Dawid owns them till date and they serve as his referencesystem against which all other speakers are judged. Only recently he declared that one bookshelf from Borresen completely outperformed Vox. But that speaker is M1 which retails at approx 100K which is atleast 7-8 times more money than Vox 😁
@jond thank you for your kind comment. Yes, sure this system is miles from the beaten path and fortnately it turned out to be absolutely gorgeous sounding. Yeah, speakers are cool, very unique design maybe even one of its kind. Martin is one hell of a speaker designer who surely knows his craft.
What a fascinating system audio phool certainly far off the beaten path! I've read good things about Bakoon and the Merging NADAC but I've never heard of your speakers before the are certainly cool looking!
