The BEST system you've ever built !!!!

Best System I have ever Built is my current system....

Leben HiFi RX28CX tube preamplifier with tube MM phono stage and separate tube rectified power supply
Bob Carver Cherry 180M tube mono block amplifiers
Jaton A&V 803 Loudspeakers
Pro-Ject Xtension 12" Evo Carbon Fiber Tone Arm and Ortofon 2M Bronze cartridge
Denon 3800bdci blu-ray player
Jadis JS2 Tube D.A.C.
AppleTV
PS3
Luminous Audio cables
Tice Power Block
Core Audio isolation stands

Current system, still saving for my ultimate cartridge but sounds wonderful now.

Avid sequel table
SME V arm w/kubala balanced cable
Benz Micro Gullwing cartridge
BAT VK-P10 phonostage
BAT REX preamp
BAT REXPower monoblocks
YG Acoustics Carmel speakers
JL Audio F110 subwoofer (pair)
Kubala/audioquest cables
various power cords
dedicated room and power
RAM modified Esound sig. CDP

This modest system is not the most high end i built, but gives me much joy, so I want to share it:

Computer to HRT music streamer II
Onkyo M504 power amp and the matching pre
ADS 810 speakers
Ixos gamma wires all around

Total cost used was less than $1000! ... and I am in sonic heaven... and my other system is more than $60,000, which I listen to less.

That was then...

11-17-03: Thesaint519
The best system that I ever built is still very much under construction. But, listed below is my current system w/ the future upgrade list in tow:

- Levinson 390S
www.marklevinson.com

- Levinson 33H
www.marklevinson.com

- PS Audio P1000 Power Regenerator w/ 20A High Current Ultimate Outlet
www.psaudio.com

- Revel Ultima Salons - Piano Gloss Black w/ Aluminum Sides
www.revelspeakers.com

- Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack w/ Apex footers (4 shelf version)
www.grandprixaudio.com

- Grand Prix Audio F1 Carbon Shelf
www.grandprixaudio.com

- Synergistic Research Resolution Reference X-Series XLR w/ active shielding - Interconnects
www.synergisticresearch.com

- Synergistic Research Resolution Reference X-Series w/ active shielding - Speaker Cables
www.synergisticresearch.com

- Kimber SC-VU s-video cable
www.kimber.com

- Spike Spotters - spike/floor interface
www.spikespotters.com

Future upgrades:

- Levinson 40 Audio/Video console
- Levinson 433 (3 channel amp for center & surrounds)
- 46" - 60" LCD HDTV
- Revel Ultima Voice Center Channel Speaker
- Revel Ultima Embrace Surround Speakers
- Revel Ultima Subwoofer
- PS Audio Ultimate Xstream Power Cable (for the 433)
- Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack w/ Apex footers (two shelf base)
- Richard Gray Substation (for the 33H's)
- Synergistic Research Master Control Center

This is now...

- Wilson Audio Sashas

- Lamm M1.2 Reference Mono amps

- dCS Delius

- dCS Purcell

- Richard Gray Power Company 1200S

- Transparent Audio Reference XLR ICs (MM1)

- Transparent Audio Reference Spkr Cable (MM1)

- Grand Prix Audio Monaco Modular Rack w/ Apex footers (4 shelf version)

- ReQuest Media Server (5,000 songs & 300 Movies)

- SRA VR-series IsoBase for each Lamm mono

- Spike Spotters - spike/floor interface by Cerimax
www.spikespotters.com

Future upgrades:

- Lamm L2 Reference Preamp
- HRS SXR isolation rack
- Transparent Audio Reference upgrade for all cables to XLMM2
- Transparent Audio Reference XLMM2 RCA IC for the Lamm L2 (already purchased in preparation for the L2 arrival)

Vandersteen Model 5's in front, Vandersteen 2CE Sigs in back. Ayre K5xe-MP and V5xe driving the fronts; Arcam A38 driving the rears. Anti-Cables for all interconnects (balanced front, unbalanced rear), and fronts biwired with Reference series Anti-Cables. OPPO BD-95 with external USB drive loaded with FLACs for source.

My deep thanks to John Rutan of Audio Connection, NJ for all his invaluable advice on setup and equipment! He turned me on to Ayre gear and Anti-Cables, and just recently sold me my Model 5's, then helped me through setting up and cal'ing them. Now, I finally have the incredible sound I've been trying to get out of a system for over 13 years!

Vandersteens and Ayre work together like magic. I've never had a system or sound I wasn't picking apart, never had one where something wasn't missing. Now I can finally just sit back and soak my music in. My audiophile friends are blown away by the sound I'm getting and I'm overjoyed.

Thanks again, John! You make it all seem easy :-)
Omar