I've been a audio addict since i got my first decent system for my bar mitzvah in 1980. It's been pretty much a non stop path of upgrades since. Hundreds of pieces have come in and out here. I guess it keeps me out of trouble. Relentless a/b testing, from power cables, to tubes, to room furniture. I get an insane amount of joy for where i'm at, but enjoy the adventure of continuing to a/b test and strive for more. If you're an audiophile and live in the Bay Area, feel free to come on by.
A masterpiece from Keith Johnson. I've tested against latest Berkeley Reference. Just the most analog DAC i've heard.
Continuum Criterion
A good turntable.
Continuum Copperhead
A good tonearm
Transfiguration Proteus
Ultra low output, ultra low resistance. Great value and preferred over mysoniclab and lyra.
Einstein The Tube Mark II
Utterly transparent and measures as good as a solid state. Each input gets its own set of input tubes and allows to customize sound for each input. I find this to be CRITICAL. Months of testing got me amperex 7308 usa for my digital, and a telefunken e88cc for my analog. who knows why? all the more proof how important this is.
Karan KA M-1200
400 lbs of massive power ultra clean and ultra fast power. 3600 watts into 2ohm. It gives the Magico what i needs to really sing.
Audiquest Wild Blue Yonder
XLR's from preamp to amp
Acrolink Mexcel 7n-da6300
from dac to preamp
Prana Cosmos
Silver cables from Joe Cohen
Vendetta Research scp-2b
John Curl's finest.
Absolare Bybee Purifier
Great power conditioner.
Alpha Core bp-30
Dick Sequerra designed isolation transformer
Magico Q-5
To get super tight articulate bass, awesome dynamics, in a relatively small box, you need a 4 way, and a non ported non-resonant enclosure. The price you pay is in efficiency, and this is a hobby of trade-offs. Having lived with full range single drivers, electrostats, you name it, for me, this is the trade off that gives me most of what i want. The Karan's do the job and provide full dynamic expression. Q7's too big for me room, and M project is a 3 way. I might be with these for a long long time.
