Hey y’all,
I’m new here and wanted to introduce myself and share a bit about my setup and recent listening journey. I am 46 years old and enjoy basically all music genres [except Opera and Modern Country Pop stuff]. I’ve been into two-channel audio for a while, with a strong focus on both vinyl and digital playback, and I enjoy systems that balance detail, musicality, and a bit of fun across genres.
For vinyl playback, I’m running a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge into a Parks Audio Puffin phono preamp, which the goes to my DAC via SPDIF coax out.
My digital front end is centered around a Gustard R26 DAC, fed via multiple sources including the aforementioned Puffin from coax (vinyl), LAN from a Windows laptop (local files from HDD), a Pi2AES running MoOde (streaming Qobuz via mConnect from phone), and (Apple Music stream) from an Astell&Kern SE300 used as a transport with optical out into the R26.
I also keep an RME ADI-2 Pro in the system for utility use and Windows/Gaming/YouTube playback, which doubles as a bit of a Swiss army knife in the chain.
Lastly, my primary portable DAC/amp is a Chord Mojo II, which is sometimes integrated into my desktop rig when I want a different flavor than R2R.
Preamp duties are handled by the Freya Noval (primarily in tube mode for vinyl listening) though I’ve been experimenting with different modes and gain structures depending on what genre I’m listening to. I also have a Ladder Bach II preamp on the way and plan on comparing it with the Freya N after it arrives.
Headphone and IEM listening is also a big part of my routine, with gear including an Aune S17 Pro, SPL Phonitor S, Burson desktop amps, and a few tube and hybrid pieces depending on mood.
On the speaker side, I’m running Paradigm 9se MkII towers.
Most recently, I swapped out a Schiit Vidar power amplifier for a Galion TS A75, and the change has been immediately noticeable. The Vidar is a solid and capable amp, but the A75 brought a level of clarity, bass control, and imaging precision that caught me off guard in the best way. There’s a sense of separation and ease that makes even familiar tracks feel newly resolved, especially in electronic and modern production-heavy music. Bass feels tighter and more authoritative, and the soundstage presentation has opened up in a way that’s been genuinely exciting to experience.
I’m still early in living with the change, but it’s already one of those upgrades that makes me want to revisit my entire library. It really feels like the Vidar was the weak link in my system and replacing it with the A75 lets the rest of my gear ascend to a higher level.
I would love to hear from any of you who had similar experiences with finding "the missing ingredient" for your system. Looking forward to learning from others here and seeing how different systems come together.
Be Well and Stay Blessed!
