Does anyone have a digital system that is as involving as their analogue front end?

@audio-b-dog When I inherited money I went into a bit of an audio buying orgy. 

Me too. Some from my late parents and some from my late grandparents 

@audio-b-dog I’d probably listen to Magico

I’m a bucket list audiophile for about 10yrs. My strategy was to listen to the best I could find at audio shows and audio stores, then try to reproduce the Sonics within budget. Unfortunately my tastes run to Magico and YG, and their accompanying electronics were also expensive. I wish to reach a used Magico M3, but 50k way out of budget. A used Magico S5v2 and A5 were a budget stretch. 

When I went to AXPONA 2022, my demo targeted the Magico A5 and the Rockport Atria. Unfortunately they sounded poor due to room conditions. The Vimberg Mino D sounded great, many attendees commented on the great sound. Unfortunately, it had a +9k optional diamond tweeter upgrade which pushed it way out of budget.

I discussed this with my dealer Chris Thornton at Artisan Fidelity (including gorgeous Garrard 301/401 turntable finish to a sky high level) who after back and forth negotiated a much lower price as I blew my budget. Proud owner of the AXPONA Vimberg Mino D.

Electronics were a second hand Constellation Inspiration Preamp+Stereo Amp (TAS Top 50 bargain). It was Constellation entry level of 4 levels. The amp was reportedly light at the bottom end. Trying to move up was a tough budget proposition.

The Audionet STERN preamp + HEISENBERG amp was a cost+time no-object project that yielded state-of-the art performance and was displayed at the Smithsonian. Afterwards, Audionet used what they learned to make a more affordable electronics while preserving the Sonics which resulted in the Humboldt integrated which got rave reviews mentioning reference level. This looked like a sonic bargain that competes with the very best. Unfortunately, it was out of budget.

Luckily, a second hand Humboldt available for sale within budget in NAmerican voltage- very rare. The seller was very generous at my counteroffer so I wired the payment instead of going through PayPal’s fees. For 22k which cover preamp and amp for top Sonics- super affordable bargain!!!.

@fthompson251 But, when I finally got the LHY SW10 Pro they all were left in the dust.

I was targeting a Reiki Switch and Reiki Ethernet cable. Budget wise, a 5.7k switch+PSU was palatable, but the 4.2k cable was tough to swallow - 9.9k just to lower the noise floor 🙄

I’m a fan of Alvin Chee’s Vinshine Audio who offers high performance at better prices. I may go with the LHY+PC. Thanks for the tip. 

@chesebert The jump from Rossini to Vivaldi was very obvious and I couldn’t even listen to Rossini having heard Vivaldi

Although state of the art, I’m not a fan of the huge Vivaldi stacks preferring a single box or 2.

My budget is more modest. I have a high level analog chain VPI Avenger/VDH Grail SB, so trying to afford a satisfying DAC within budget was daunting. I was targeting a Playback Designs MPD-8 dream DAC as the lowest cost sonic option, but this was a huge budget stretch maybe out of budget. Luckily, I purchased the sonic bargain Linn Klimax DSM/2 Organik DAC

@charles007100 I’d be surprised if that streamer you found in your closet is better than the MA3i built in streamer. Performing updates with the Meitner thru mcontrol shouldn’t be an issue. Can’t really blame Meitner for the failure. They use Conversdigital streaming card. Same streaming card that’s used by other manufacturers including dCS and Playback Designs. It happens. 

@kennyc @audphile1 

I have listened to a lot of speakers over the years, mostly at shows, but I helped a friend of mine buy high-end stereo equipment and heard a lot of speakers and electronics. He chose Wilson Sashas which were only $12K then. I have been impressed with a lot of speakers. Two speakers I was not a fan of were Wilson and Dynaudio. I don’t like exacting, analytical gear. I’ve used tubes for a good part of my audio life.

I know most of the speakers in the L.A. area. I don’t have the energy I had 25 years ago when I helped my friend drive from Santa Barabara to Riverside, well over a hundred mile radius.

To buy my Sonus Faber Olympica V speakers, I went to the dealer closest to me and first heard Vienna Acoustics at about $15K. I immediately ruled them out. I listen to a lot of jazz and rock, as well as classical, and I wanted some real-world punch. When I heard the Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V, I didn’t look farther. That was my speaker. Although, I must admit the treble opened up a lot after 50-100 hours use. But it works well in my system, whose electronics are a bit on the rolled-off side, Pass Labs preamps and Hovland Radia amp. If you don’t know it, you can look up an old Stereophile review. It’s a hell of an amp, even at 25+ years old.

So, age and I guess experience, stopped me from driving all over one of the largest cities in the world. If I’d inherited the money 15 years ago, my orgy would have put a lot of miles on my car. But I think whatever system you bring home will not be perfect after you listen to it over time. Rolled off or not, my system is very transparent. Bad recordings sound pretty bad. When I had tubed gear, it was much more forgiving. But good recordings, like Cassandra Wilson's "New Moon Daughter" sound sublime.