I began building this system after visiting Overture Audio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1993, seeking to purchase my first CD player. I first heard a California Audio Labs Icon Mk II there. I purchased the Icon after spending a weekend playing it through my venerable Yamaha integrated-and-Bang & Olufsen home system.
I began more seriously learning about high-end audio, which led me to travel around a bit to hear many makes and models of audio gear. During a visit to Progressive Audio in Columbus, Ohio, I heard the Icon playing through a couple of their high-end systems. After a second trip to Progressive, I decided to purchase, one component at a time, a DMC-12 pre + Spectral/MIT MI-350 interconnect + DMA-90 power a Spectral system like the one I had "auditioned" during those two visits.
My high-end audio system was almost complete! Almost...
But then I "discovered" technical scuba diving. I was living near the Great Lakes at the time, which soaked up my disposable income faster than one could possibly imagine and prevented me from completing my audio system.
And then I decided to start a family. Fathering three daughters (including twins!) within two years reduced my disposable income to a trickle!
My finances have settled down a bit again, so now (in late 2009) I am hoping to finally complete my audio system. Toward this end, I've developed a "master plan":
MASTER PLAN
Phase I. Complete the base system. ***DONE Jul 2013!***
1. Purchase smallish, stand-mount monitor speakers. 2. Purchase tuner. 3. Upgrade CDP-to-pre interconnects, and move old interconnects to tuner-to-pre.
Phase II. Complete initial upgrades.
1. Upgrade audio component stand (so components won't need to be stacked). ***DONE Feb 2013!*** 2. Upgrade speaker stands--to something appropriate/optimal for final choice of monitor speakers. 3. Upgrade speaker cables (to Spectral/MIT MH-770 UL Series II?) 4. Upgrade tuner-to-pre interconnects. 5. Upgrade pre-to-power interconnects (to Spectral/MIT MI-350 UL Series II?)
Phase III. Ideas.
1. Purchase DAC and music server system? 2. Upgrade pre? (to Spectral DMC-15SS?) 3. Upgrade CDP? (to Spectral SDR-4000SL?) 4. Upgrade speakers? (to fuller-range towers?) 5. (More?)
Thanks in advance for your comments and/or suggestions.
2013.07.11. System Description revised to reflect purchase of stand-mount speakers.
Purchased new in 1994 from Overture Audio in Ann Arbor MI, USA, for $1,000. I sent away my Icon Mk II CDP for the $500 Boss HDCD upgrade approx 2 months after I purchased it.
Discwasher Gold-Ens
I've owned these interconnects since the mid-1970's. They are a single cable having a ground wire running between the left and right wires, the three insulator sheaths cemented together lengthwise (phono cables, I think). I used them first with a Panasonic cassette deck in my college stereo and then later with a Yamaha AM/FM tuner in my grad school stereo. I've used them with my CAL Icon Mk II HDCD CDP since I purchased it new ca. 1993.
Magnum Dynalab MD-90, upgraded to MD-100 specs
A "certified previously owned" MD-90 tuner purchased ($850) Mar 2013 from http://www.magnumdynalab.com with internals upgraded ($200) to MD-100 spec.
Godar FM-DXR-500 FM Antenna
Indoor FM antenna. Purchased new from http://www.musicdirect.com in Apr 2013.
Stager Silver Solids Basic (Canare F-10) RCA
Purchased these interconnects Mar 2013 from http://stagersound.com/silver. 3/4 m.
Spectral DMC-12
Purchased new in 1995 without a phono stage, from Progressive Audio in Columbus OH, USA, for $3100.
Spectral/MIT MI-350 CVT UL (Series I)
Pre- to power-amp interconnect.
Spectral DMA-90
Purchased new in 1996 from Progressive Audio in Columbus OH, USA, for $3200. This (with the DMA-12) completed my first pre- and power amp separates ever!
Spectral/MIT MH-750 UL Series II
Purchased used in 2009 from an Audiogoner for $400.
Merlin Music Systems TSM MXM
2-way, acoustic suspension, stand-mount monitor speakers, in "Ruby Heart Red." Purchased new for $3,075US direct from Merlin Music Systems. (Paid $3,168 after PayPal and shipping fees.) Speakers were delivered July 2013.
SolidSteel Audio Table 5.5 - Silver
Purchased new in Feb 2013 from MusicDirect.com for $700 (to replace, finally, the Black, 3-shelf SolidSteel table purchased new ca. 1995).
SolidSteel SS-5 Spkr Stnds - Silver
Purchased new in 2009 from MusicDirect.com for $350 to use while auditioning stand-mount monitor speakers. First *new* audio gear purchase in nearly 15 years!
