How it started ...Grew up in France in the 80s ... always dreamt of buying my system from Hifi Station 2001 (French distributor for Goldmund and Wilson Audio at the time). +30 years later, I live in the US but I now finally have a Goldmund / Wilson combo.
Simplified my Digital gear couple years ago from multi boxes (Dcs Elgar, Dcs Verona, Dcs Purcell, Sonos Connect modded Gert/Ultimo) to Moon Mind 2 + reclocker + D/A in the amplifier.
Finally ... not specifically looking to upgrade anything ...
Unless I spend a significant amount of $ to upgrade my equipment, I expect the future changes to be minor, with limited ROI. I may want to try again a Stealth Sextet AES EBU (which I had with my Dcs stacks) or find another Kharma AES EBU digital cable ... I knew my streamer could be improved and have been looking at different options ... One streamer which caught my eye was the discontinued Dcs Bridge, but not sure it is worth the more than two-times the cost of the Moon Mind 2. Now, is the Moon Mind 2 three-times better than the B&W Formation Audio? In relative terms, no, but in absolute $ on the used market, yes!
Mainly streaming (95%), Vinyl (5%).
Listening to LP was fantastic when I had the Spectral preamplifier / Audio Research mono blocks, but as I mostly listen to Deezer (for convenience purposes), it made more sense to focus the gear/$ toward digital.
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2024 Update
- Replaced the jumper cable between Wilson WATT Puppy from the factory MIT Cables to Transparent Audio Reference Magnum Opus G5
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Replaced Network transport from Bowers & Wilkins Formation Audio to Moon Mind 2 with MIT Cables Proline Reference AES EBU connection to Apogee Big Ben. I tried many "low-end" audio streamers (Sonos Player, Modded Sonos Player, Sonos Connect, Modded Sonos Connect, Modded Bluesoud Node 2, B&W Formation Audio). I was happy with the B&W Formation and it has worked flawlessly so far. Moon Mind 2 has a less refined user interface, but sound-wise, it is a step above. More details, blacker background, better imaging and bass is outstanding compared to B&W.
- Replaced power cable on the Synergistic FEQ (MIT Cables Z1 to MIT Cables Z3)
- Added Absolare (Bybee) Bullets between MIT Cables EVO speaker cables and Wilson Watt/Puppy
- Added 3 Synergistic Research UEF panels
2023 Update
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Replaced Wilson Cub 1 with Watt Puppy 5.1. Removed Rel B1 subwoofer as the “bigger” Wilson can handle the complete audio spectrum.
2022 Update
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Replaced EMI-1005 ethernet filter with GISO GB lan filter. Added more body to the sound.
- Replaced subwoofer from Rel B3 (10 inch) to Rel B1 (12 inch). I did not expect much of an upgrade but the complete range has improved dramatically. Due to the size of my room/speakers, I made my peace with not being able to listen to some very bass heavy soundtracks, I was wrong … one of the best upgrade I did.
2021 Update
- Added Goldmund SR8. Connected PS Audio NuWave Phono to Goldmund SR8 SPDIF digital input. Sound is surprisingly enjoyable again.
- Replaced Bluesound Node 2i with Bowers & Wilkins Formation Audio. The Node 2i got bricked during an update. Was not interested in trying another one … they lost a customer …
- Added wifi 6 throughout the house with Mesh wifi. A Linksys MX5300 is now in the room and provides ethernet options for the system.
- Bought two Wireworld Starlight cat8 ethernet cables to go from the node to the EMI-1005 Ethernet filter and to the streamer.
2020 Update
- Added GIK 244 bass traps
- Bought a new TV in the family room and moved my old 46" LCD to this room. Audio/Video systems are separate though. TV is connected to B&W Panorama (sound), Roku (streaming) and powered by Surgex, connected to a dedicated 20A AC line.
- Replaced power conditioning system (Transparent Power Isolator MM2, Shunyata Cyclop v1 and Shunyata Hydra Alpha) by Shunyata Triton v1 / Typhon using Shunyata Sigma umbilical cable
- Removed Meridian 518 and used Bluesound built-in volume control instead. No longer listening to vinyl due to lack of volume control. Vinyl through PS Audio NuWave Phono and Meridian 518 was not as satisfying as it used to be with the Spectral DMC-20 Serie 1.
- Added PS Audio NuWave Phono (Phono and A/D functions) into Meridian 518
- Replaced Sonos Connect (modded Gert/Ultimo) by Bluesound Node 2i due to glitches when streaming and upcoming discontinued Sonos support
- Replaced Audio Research V140 + Spectral DMC20 Serie 1 by Goldmund Telos 352 + Meridian 518 (for volume control and input source selection)
- Added Lessloss Blackbody
2019 Update
- Replaced Teac TN-550 by Pioneer PLX-1000
- Added Transparent Power Isolator MM2 to power digital system
- Added Shunyata Hydra Alpha to power turntable
- Added Shunyata Amp-1 to power subwoofer
- Added Shunyata Cyclop v1 to power Audio Research mono blocs
- Replaced Pass Aleph 3 by Audio Research V140
- Bought Rel Britannia B3 (plus Rel Bassline cable and Sound Anchor base)
- Replaced Spectral SDR-2000 Professional by Reimyo DAP-777 mk2
- Added Synergistic Research Atmosphere Mini
- Installed two dedicated 20A lines.
2018 Update
- Added Acoustic panels (Cathedral Sound Acoustics and Vicoustic)
- Added HRS isolation shelf under turntable and HRS damping plates
- Replaced Tara Labs The Two AES EBU by Kharma Grande Reference AES EBU
- Added Synergistic Research HFTs
- Added ElectroClear EFC3X
- Replaced phono cartridge to Ortofon 2M Black (from Red to Blue to Black)
2017 Update
After having sold most of my equipment in 2015-2016 due to limited time, jumped back on the never ending audiophile crazy train.
- Bought Spectral DMC-20 Serie 1 (with balanced in/out and phono cards) and Pass Aleph 3
- Tried Vinyl (Teac TN-300, then replaced by Teac TN-550) and bought Goldmund Relief Mat + Clamp, Oyaide headshell and Ortofon 2M Red
- Bought modded Sonos Connect, Forsell Air Reference D/A, Spectral SDR-2000 Professional and Apogee Big Ben
