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What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

72.199.165.123

Posted on April 11, 2021 at 16:14:34

Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
Since: June 17, 2003

For me it was my dream system set up at Stereo Design a long stay dealer here in San Diego who sadly closed their doors in 2016.

Back in 2001 they had no less than 3 super hi-end rooms and perhaps a 1/2 dozen more down to earth rooms set up.

One of hi-end rooms had a set of Magnepan 20.1 being driven by all Mark Levinson gear and cables which cost about as much as all the Levinson gear combined.

The room was about 16'x20' and had acoustic panels on each wall.
The staff (owner Steve and his son) are/were the best ever, I had arraigned an appointment ahead of time for the Magnepan room and Steve Jr graciously escorted me to the room, explained the setup along with the do's and dont's typical of a high end setup and. He then handed me the remote and proceeded to leave the room; upon his exit he turned to me and said not to play in Kenny G! We both laughed and he shut the door.

Most of my cd's I brought were traditional jazz, Miles and some modern jazz ie Chick Corea, Christian McBride.

The sound was intoxicating, the presentation was addictive; I felt I could approach the sound stage and literally walk around each performer- it was that realistic.

At close to an hour Steve returned and asked me 'how was it?'

I told him it was on par with seeing God himself, he chuckled as if he's heard that line a few times and walked me out the room.. as we left he opened another door and within the room were Wilson Alexandria's playing. They were spectacular, a sound totally different than Maggies of course but incredible just the same.. but I knew as I was leaving Maggies would be my choice if I ever had the money.

I returned later in the year and bought the MG1.6's and grew to love them over the years.

10 years would pass and a pair of Magnepan 20s (not the 20.1) appeared online for sale in LA, about 1 1/2 hour drive from San Diego. Problem being I was working overseas at the time. Well the prospect of him shipping those to someone else along with the fact he was going through a divorce gave me an offer I couldn't refuse: $2300 and he'd drive down and deliver them. Knowing and tracking that model over the years I've never seen those under $5K-$6K so I said well ok, bring em' down. I gave him an extra $100 for the trip.

Never been able to replicate that experience I had at Stereo Design yet with my modest gear but come as close as you can get plus the sound is incredible.

Hide full thread outline!

Great story! Love my 3.6Rs- those 20s must be amazing. nt.

MWE

10:31:28 04/15/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

TimB5881

10:13:15 04/15/21

CG

09:51:48 04/15/21

...

Show full thread outline!

Great story! Love my 3.6Rs- those 20s must be amazing. nt.

MWE

10:31:28 04/15/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

TimB5881

10:13:15 04/15/21

CG

09:51:48 04/15/21

RE: Best system? Brian Walsh's set up [Atma / Soundlab]

Mike Mount

16:21:12 04/14/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

Craiger56

10:57:40 04/14/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

thetubeguy1954

10:21:41 04/14/21

DrChaos

00:39:42 04/14/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

Audioquest4life

13:53:22 04/13/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

Macncheez

11:39:21 04/13/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

pictureguy

11:56:20 04/13/21

Maybe not the best, but the most memorable

M3 lover

09:36:10 04/13/21

RE: Maybe not the best, but the most memorable

tedk.

15:31:06 04/13/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

niws

20:39:37 04/12/21

The system my ears have had plenty of time to grow accustomed to: My Own !

peppy m.

15:39:34 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

SgreenP@MSN.com

14:44:19 04/12/21

Mine. I bet nobody saw that coming. Nt

geoffkait

13:51:49 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

gadio4533

12:29:14 04/12/21

MBL speakers, known for being hard to work with.

peppy m.

16:25:09 04/13/21

Definitely agree about MBL

Chris from Lafayette

17:38:51 04/12/21

RE: Definitely agree about MBL

gadio4533

05:51:08 04/13/21

RE: Definitely agree about MBL

G Squared

08:08:19 04/13/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

G Squared

11:53:20 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

Dave_K

10:20:27 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

Sibelius

10:18:34 04/12/21

Beveridge, Sound Labs, Apogee

DustyC

10:04:53 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

howard

09:27:34 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

srdavis2000

09:17:35 04/12/21

Should have been Dr. Earl Geddes not Paul. Nt

srdavis2000

10:13:56 04/12/21

Top of the line Stax headphone set up a long time ago. Second, a Snell speaker

tinear

08:29:04 04/12/21

which Snell? (nt)

Chuck

12:09:53 04/12/21

They were huge. Sorry I don't remember specifics. nt

tinear

10:05:59 04/13/21

Likely the "Type A"...... [nt]

Todd Krieger

22:29:08 04/13/21

RE: Likely the "Type A"...... [nt]

BillH

11:33:29 04/15/21

RE: Two bests, but one is possibly just nostalgia

B. Scarpia

07:42:28 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

nationalbar

07:35:42 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

B. Scarpia

10:32:29 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

nationalbar

11:30:10 04/12/21

Oddly? One of the worst hi $$ systems I've heard was at that store.

David S.

07:30:17 04/12/21

was that when they were located by the Sports arena

Green Lantern

16:04:54 04/12/21

Steve had four different stores

M3 lover

09:20:54 04/13/21

RE: Stereo Design location

David S.

08:41:01 04/13/21

+1 on the Divas

DKL

09:12:45 04/12/21

RE: Sound Advice

David S.

08:37:27 04/13/21

RE: Sound Advice

DKL

08:49:38 04/13/21

RE: Awesome memories! (nt)

David S.

10:33:18 04/14/21

RE: +1 on the Divas

Green Lantern

16:19:11 04/12/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

BillH

07:12:49 04/12/21

Opus One audio store on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh.

ghost of olddude55

06:42:18 04/12/21

It was out of my price range too at the time

Batman

13:50:12 04/14/21

Great story! I wonder what he'd have said if you'd cranked up some

tinear

05:46:33 04/12/21

Three Systems.......

Todd Krieger

20:47:32 04/11/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?

John N

17:31:24 04/11/21

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 11, 2021 at 17:31:24

John N
Audiophile

Posts: 1325
Joined: May 10, 2000

My favorite - Bay area I think the Sound Room

Dunlavy 5s
Audio Research Electronics
VPI turntable

Everything I listened to was great I especially remember a Stevie Ray Vaughn disc I was completely entranced

I do have to share my best auditioning experience although I don't remember any of the equipment. I was in Toulouse on a very hot July day and was pretty tired. I passed a high end store and decided to pop in. I tried in my terrible French to say that I was an American audiophile and wanted to sample some equipment and tried to say that I probably wasn't going to be able to buy anything.

The person directed me downstairs, showed me a pile of Cds and left me to listen. One of my (one of many experiences0 of being treated with outstanding graciousness in France.

Three Systems......., posted on April 11, 2021 at 20:47:32

Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37333
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000

Three systems come to mind.....

The first was Rowland/Wadia/Avalon system I heard in Cleveland back in the 1990s..... (At the Sound Resource high-end store, which I believe has been close for 20 years.... ) It had the Wadia 7/9 combo CD source, Rowland Consummate preamp, Rowland monoblocks (don't remember model), and Avalon Ascent speakers..... One of the recordings I heard on that system was the Pierre Boulez/Cleveland Orchestra Stravinsky "Petrushka" on Deutsche Grammophon CD, it transformed my impression of the CD as an audiophile playback medium.... I once thought it wasn't capable of audiophile grade sound, that system proved me wrong. (I own this recording, it hasn't quite sounded like what I heard on that system in Cleveland.) It was the only all-solid-state system that really blew me away.

The second was a system that Redpoint Turntable founder and owner Peter Clark owned in Scottsdale, AZ...... (I don't know if he's still around, he was getting up there in years..... ) Maybe the best vinyl playback I've heard..... Source was a Redpoint turntable, don't remember the cartridge.... I think he was using a Hagerman phono stage, Don Allen push pull 45 monoblocks, and large custom coaxial speakers using Fane drivers..... (He later got DeHavilland amps, but I never heard his system with those amps.) It was dynamically palpable and effortless..... Woman vocals, in particular, were stunning.

The third is a system in Mesa, AZ, a friend of mine now owns what were Don Allen's personal speakers, coaxial with Eminence woofers and a horn loaded center tweeter, of unknown maker. (If I knew the manufacturer/model of the tweeters, I'd use them in my own speakers.) His best amps are Don Allen 807 monos and Decware EL84 monos, sourced with a VPI HW19 Jr. turntable with Audioquest arm and custom upgraded Denon 103R cartridge (with boron cantilever and line contact stylus). Fed into a Silk MC-220A step up transformer (adjusted for higher impedance) and Ryan Sound Lab phono stage... And a Don Allen modified Philips CDC935 as the CD source. The background information extracted by that system (due primarily to those mystery tweeters) is worth the price of admission.

Great story! I wonder what he'd have said if you'd cranked up some, posted on April 12, 2021 at 05:46:33
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	Jimi?

Opus One audio store on Smithfield Street in Downtown Pittsburgh., posted on April 12, 2021 at 06:42:18
ghost of olddude55 Audiophile Posts: 32579 Joined: July 14, 2017	Circa 1975. Maggie Tympanis, don't know what they were using for electronics. Transcriptors Skeleton TT, think it was a Supex cart. Had no idea a hi-fi system could sound that good. Been chasing that sound ever since. The blissful counterstroke-a considerable new message.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 07:12:49
BillH Audiophile Posts: 3913 Location: Baton Rouge Joined: December 23, 1999	An all-Linn system set up for a meeting of the Atlanta Audio Society. The room was large and far from ideal, but the sound was musical and terrific. The Linn rep had traveled all the way from Scotland, probably to go to their Jacksonville office afterward, and he was a treat. He focused on the importance of correct pitch in a system. I went away convinced.

Oddly? One of the worst hi $$ systems I've heard was at that store., posted on April 12, 2021 at 07:30:17

David S.
Audiophile

Posts: 3552
Location: Mountains of WNC
Joined: August 31, 2000

Was stationed in San Diego from '92 to '94. Auditioned an ARC LS-3 at Stereo Design & was waiting for them to swap the faceplate from black to silver. In the meantime? They set me in a room with a pair of Magnepan MG20s that had just came in. Can't remember the amplification, but the sound was terribly harsh & not at all like the Maggies I was otherwise familiar with - obviously needed a fair bit of break in.

Best sound? Probably at a shop in Albuquerque, NM - set of Apogee Divas tri-amped with Krell reference amps & fed by a Sota Sapphire with ET2 arm. Simply LOVELY, with a soundstage that seemed like it went back forever.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 07:35:42

nationalbar
Industry Professional

Posts: 25
Location: Gulf Coast FL
Joined: August 3, 2016

Accurate memories notwithstanding, the best system I've ever heard was at CES in Chicago around 1983- Bob Fulton was demonstrating his latest Premiere speakers, with his turntable, Syrinx-like tonearm, his cartridge, his Bravura preamp and, I think, an Audio Research tube amp, though I'm not certain on the amp. He was playing some of his recordings, which I purchased. The sound was truly magnificent, musical, natural and involving.
Not sure how it would hold up to today's gear...

RE: Two bests, but one is possibly just nostalgia, posted on April 12, 2021 at 07:42:28

B. Scarpia

1986 at Larry Weinstein's Hollywood Sound his reference system was an HW-19 III with ET-II Arm , Talisman Virtuoso DTi, Counterpoint 5.1, Counterpoint 20/20, Infinite Slope 1.8s, Straight Wire Cables. There was nothing that didn't sound pure or thunderous, as called for, from "Blue" to "Fanfare For The Common Man".

How it would hold up to what I had the pleasure of auditioning at home when Al Meitner, originator of RMAF came to visit in 2006, I don't know. Marantz SA-8001, ARC LS-1 that I modified, Red Rocks Audio (Al's Company) Renaissance Mono block amps, XLH 1812 Speakers, and MIT cables. The 1812s had been 'best in show' at the previous RMAF; the Renaissance were reviewed by Dagogo founder Constantine Soo as the best amps he'd ever heard. We listened to the SACD of the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony at an outrageous level and Al declared the long drive from Denver was more than worth it.

My current system is as close as I can get with 1/10th the budget (the latter system exceeded $100,000).

Top of the line Stax headphone set up a long time ago. Second, a Snell speaker, posted on April 12, 2021 at 08:29:04
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	system.

+1 on the Divas, posted on April 12, 2021 at 09:12:45
DKL Audiophile Posts: 1046 Location: Deland, FL Joined: November 20, 2001	I heard them in the early 90's at Sound Advice in Orlando - pretty incredible.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 09:17:35

srdavis2000
Audiophile

Posts: 10707
Location: Deep South
Joined: January 11, 2003
Contributor
Since: December 16, 2004

For me it was a setup at Duke LeJune's house when he still lived in New Orleans. The speakers were Gedlees. Duke was assembling these for a while with the permission of designer Paul Gedess. The preamp was a John Curl Blowtorch feeding a Richard Gray designed prototype SET tube amp built into an open plywood box. It was pretty crude. The amp was hard wired directly to the speakers. There was a non-rescript Panasonic CD player that had been sent off and modified by some mod company providing the material.

The sound was a mesmerizing, electric, religious experience. I've heard some nice and very expensive systems over the years, but nothing really compared to what I heard that night. I heard the Gedlee speakers on three other occasions, but they never sounded like they did in that particular setup.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 09:27:34
howard Audiophile Posts: 2954 Location: No. California Joined: December 31, 1999	'96 CES. Large, dark colored panel speakers supported by Rowland electronics in a ballroom. Relaxation

Beveridge, Sound Labs, Apogee, posted on April 12, 2021 at 10:04:53
DustyC Audiophile Posts: 963 Joined: November 4, 2000	2SW-2, A-1 Ultimate's, Full Range Ribbons. With whatever electronics they used. See a trend? (line sources) Started me on the road to 3.6R's

Should have been Dr. Earl Geddes not Paul. Nt, posted on April 12, 2021 at 10:13:56
srdavis2000 Audiophile Posts: 10707 Location: Deep South Joined: January 11, 2003 Contributor Since: December 16, 2004	Nt

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 10:18:34

Sibelius
Audiophile

Posts: 1368
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Joined: April 4, 2000

The Analog Room some 15 years ago?

Original Avalon Eidelon speakers.

Wavestream Kinetics V8 mono amps (designed and built by Scott Frankland).

Not sure of the pre, probably WS Kinetics as well.

SME 30/Koetsu (Jade perhaps) He really liked the Rosewood Sig though.

Any system in Brian's shop was superb, even the entry level Rega when you walked in the door. He's retired and closed up now. His son is supposed to be opening up in Huntington Beach or there abouts.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 10:20:27

Dave_K

My first visit to Goodwin's High End in Boston around 2004. It was either Rockport or large Avalon speakers powered by Spectral in their big room. It was the first time I had heard a really high end system in a room that didn't hold it back. I was blown away more by the room than the system in it, which is why I'm not 100% sure about the speakers. I think Rockport, but the big Avalons had a similar shape. I'll bet if I listened to the same system today, I wouldn't be quite as blown away. But at the time it really raised my ceiling of expectations.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 10:32:29
B. Scarpia	Likely wouldn't hold up to your Music Room. That's a well thought out system.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 11:30:10
nationalbar Industry Professional Posts: 25 Location: Gulf Coast FL Joined: August 3, 2016	Yeah, that was almost 40 years ago! Memory can play tricks. Every man remembers his first bj...

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 11:53:20

G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8489
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
Since: May 23, 2023

It is all about perspective.

When I was a teen - Stacked Quads, with two coffin side subs driven by Mark Levinson equipment and a Gyrodeck at Victors in Chicago..

What wowed me more recently - a pair of ProAc Anniversary Tablettes driven by an OTL amp with an unknown digital source in a bad room at a show. Not full frequency response or flat, but the vocals were haunting and there seemed to be no speakers in the room at all.

Gsquared

which Snell? (nt), posted on April 12, 2021 at 12:09:53
Chuck Audiophile Posts: 817 Joined: August 22, 2000

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 12:29:14
gadio4533 Audiophile Posts: 460 Location: FL Joined: May 28, 2007	Definitely MBL 101 Extreme driven by MBL electronics at CES, staggering.

Mine. I bet nobody saw that coming. Nt, posted on April 12, 2021 at 13:51:49
geoffkait	Nt

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 14:44:19
SgreenP@MSN.com Audiophile Posts: 3538 Joined: April 23, 2007	A place in Millburn, NJ.....out of business a long time ago. Infinity ServoStatic 1A, Audio Research electronics, Decca cartridge...breathtaking.

The system my ears have had plenty of time to grow accustomed to: My Own !, posted on April 12, 2021 at 15:39:34

peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 2242
Joined: February 19, 2021

There are better sounding systems out there, or so I must believe. But those systems may not sound as good to my ears as my own does right now. At least not at first listen.

My focus in recent times has been on solving room acoustics problems. I'm finally getting the room "tuned" to my satisfaction and it's still getting better, incrementally. For instance, I had thought the sound was very clear and the soundstage big, but only recently, after installing two more floor corner bass traps plus some new diffusors at the first reflection points on the ceiling above me, everything took another jump forward. And all of this continues to happen while I'm using relatively modest speakers, electronics, etc...

I've owned more expensive speakers, electronics, and associated gear in the past. But the significance of those types of things pale in comparison to the significance of my latest pursuit. And that pursuit is something I call "room synergy".

was that when they were located by the Sports arena, posted on April 12, 2021 at 16:04:54

Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
Since: June 17, 2003

in a much smaller shop on Sports arena blvd?

Also those may have been the MG20's back then; although I never heard such harshness on my 20's : )

RE: +1 on the Divas, posted on April 12, 2021 at 16:19:11

Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
Since: June 17, 2003

Although a handful of Diva's have popped up on the radar (usually in LA) I've never actually heard a pair. I almost snagged a pair once just on their reputation alone (I would of course audition for buzzing) but decided against it due to their weight and potential maintenance needed down the road.

However I was able to snag a nice pair of Duetta Sigs locally about 4 months ago and absolutely love them. They do a lot of things well that Maggies can't do (and vice-versa). I owned a pair about 10 years ago and regretted getting rid of them (the Magnepans showed up and one had to go)hence my purchase of the current pair.

Definitely agree about MBL, posted on April 12, 2021 at 17:38:51
Chris from Lafayette Audiophile Posts: 26477 Location: SF Bay Area Joined: February 17, 2004 Contributor Since: February 6, 2012	I'm sorry they haven't been exhibiting at the California Audio Show during the last couple of years. (Of course nobody was showing last year!) I've sure liked their equipment during the times they've made an appearance.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 12, 2021 at 20:39:37

niws
Audiophile

Posts: 790
Location: Northeast
Joined: September 4, 2003

In the late 1980's at a shop called Audio Guild in Englewood, NJ, I had the opportunity to meet Dave Wilson and to hear his WAMM's. Their woofers were driven by Threshold monoblocks and their midrange and tweeters by an Electrocompaniet amp. The preamp was a Spectral and the turntable was a Goldmund. This system was at a different level than most others I have heard. I have heard the Infinity IRS's at a hifi show and they were the closest speakers I have heard to the WAMM's. I have heard many other expensive systems at shows and salons, including the aforementioned Apogee Divas in the same room I heard the WAMM's. The Apogees sounded very good. The WAMMS are much better.

RE: Definitely agree about MBL, posted on April 13, 2021 at 05:51:08
gadio4533 Audiophile Posts: 460 Location: FL Joined: May 28, 2007	Both times I saw them, it's the room I couldn't get out of my mind through the whole show. If I had .5 mil in 'disposable' income I wouldn't even hesitate.

RE: Definitely agree about MBL, posted on April 13, 2021 at 08:08:19
G Squared Audiophile Posts: 8489 Location: Washington, DC Metro Area Joined: November 16, 2004 Contributor Since: May 23, 2023	I heard the big MBL system twice. Once in a shop in Dubai - bad set up, bad front end, great looking room, no one in the store knew what they were talking about sounded lifeless. Once at CAF - among the best show demos I have heard. Gsquared

RE: Sound Advice, posted on April 13, 2021 at 08:37:27
David S. Audiophile Posts: 3552 Location: Mountains of WNC Joined: August 31, 2000	Was stationed in Orlando from late '88 to early '90 & spent a HUGE amount of time at Sound Advice, listening to Apogees, and Infinity (up to IRS Beta level.) AWESOME store! Oh, I actually purchased a huge bunch of Monster Cable Powerline 2 speaker cable out of their "odds & ends" boxes, so at least I gave them a modicum of actual monetary support. Good times! :)

RE: Stereo Design location, posted on April 13, 2021 at 08:41:01
David S. Audiophile Posts: 3552 Location: Mountains of WNC Joined: August 31, 2000	Sports Arena Blvd sounds familiar. Wasn't a very big shop & kinda crammed in, but they were SUPER friendly & helpful.

RE: Sound Advice, posted on April 13, 2021 at 08:49:38

DKL
Audiophile

Posts: 1046
Location: Deland, FL
Joined: November 20, 2001

I spent much of my free time there in the late 80's and early 90's - and loved every minute of it! In 1991 I purchased some of my first true high-end components, a CJ PV-11 preamp (in black) and a Sonographe CD player. That same year I purchased a new pair of Acoustat Spectra 1100's from Boss Audio, also located near Orlando. Had that system for a decade. Started with an ADCOM 545 amp and then upgraded to a Muse Model 160. My friend bought his Apogee Centaurs from Sound Advice too.. I also purchased a lot of car audio there - A/D/S speakers, Sound Design amps (Nelson Pass design), Denon/Alpine (and many others) head units, and Boston Acoustics sub. Kept the A/D/S speakers for 25 years before they finally had issues. Those were the good old days :)

Steve had four different stores, posted on April 13, 2021 at 09:20:54

M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
Since: July 4, 2007

that I remember. That all came after he split off from the five origin owners of Stereo Unlimited, then located in La Mesa.

Steve's first store was a smallish shop on El Cajon Blvd, along with one partner. I remember hearing Quad 63s there. Then the first store as sole proprietor was on Sports Arena. From there to a larger store on Clairemont Mesa before his last location, also on Clairemont Mesa near the 805. That last store was the largest and also had multiple sound rooms.

Sorry but I can't suggest years for each location. Steve and his teams were always knowledgable and gracious.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

Maybe not the best, but the most memorable, posted on April 13, 2021 at 09:36:10

M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
Since: July 4, 2007

I've heard at least half-dozen candidates for the "best system". But one system stands out as the most memorable.

That was at Havens & Hardesty in Orange Co., CA in the late '70s or very early '80s. They demoed a modest pair of the current version Vandersteen 2 speakers matched with top of the line ARC amp and pre. The speakers were in a large room and placed at least 6' from the nearest wall, either behind or to the sides. The soundstage was mesmerizing, it felt like I could stand up and walk among the musicians. In addition the tonal definition, detail, and frequency response were amazing for such modestly priced speakers. There was another shop in LA, Optimal Enchantment, that featured the same combination of modest Vandersteens matched with expensive ARC tube electronics. Friends visited the latter store and reported similar reactions.

That experience taught me a lot about choosing and matching components and most importantly, ab out room set up.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

They were huge. Sorry I don't remember specifics. nt, posted on April 13, 2021 at 10:05:59
tinear Audiophile Posts: 65782 Location: Kansas City, KS Joined: April 9, 2006	d

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 13, 2021 at 11:39:21

Macncheez
Audiophile

Posts: 126
Location: Cookeville, TN
Joined: June 25, 2007

In 1975, at the Hi Fidelity Center in Charleston WV in their high end room I saw McIntosh gear for the first time. Not sure the exact models, probably a Mc2105 and C28 but they were connected to ESS Rock Monitors (I know, I know) with DSOTM playing followed by Supertramp. The room was relatively dark and the various pieces of McIntosh gear were lit.

It was without a doubt the loudest and best quality, without sounding strained I ever heard. Five years later, I bought my first McIntosh gear and for the most part have owned McIntosh gear ever since.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 13, 2021 at 11:56:20

pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008

Heard some good in-home systems and even a few at stores.....

My first listen to the LV1020 from Braun was impressive. This was a tri-amped speaker and fairly $$$ for the time.

GL has some MG20s which are VERY well setup and provide an amazing listening experience.

Listened to a system at Alma Audio.....and THAT was special, too. check out that SUB....I couldn't even get it IN my house, let alone have a place picked out for setup....

Most special? In a Cathedral in Europe listening to the Organist play the same instrument Handel played serveral hundred years earlier.....Handel was born in the mid/late 1600s, before that instrument was constructed.....
Too much is never enough

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 13, 2021 at 13:53:22
Audioquest4life Audiophile Posts: 1842 Joined: March 6, 2004	Mine...after I heard the MBL101, Burmester amps, and Koestu Onux cartridge. It has taken me years to get to that level of listening pleasure.

RE: Maybe not the best, but the most memorable, posted on April 13, 2021 at 15:31:06
tedk. Audiophile Posts: 401 Location: chicagoland Joined: July 7, 2004	Long time ago, I assembled a system: Linn LP-12, Syrinx tonearm, Koetsu Rosewood, Counterpoint SA-5.1 preamp, Audio Research D-115 mk.II and Vandersteen 2C's. The sight of my in-laws, sitting on the sofa, with their mouths hanging open, listening to Pink Floyd's "Final Cut" is forever burned in my memory.

MBL speakers, known for being hard to work with., posted on April 13, 2021 at 16:25:09
peppy m. Audiophile Posts: 2242 Joined: February 19, 2021	Only a few seem to have a clue about MBL room and setup requirements.

Likely the "Type A"...... [nt], posted on April 13, 2021 at 22:29:08
Todd Krieger Audiophile Posts: 37333 Location: SW United States Joined: November 2, 2000

my best ever, posted on April 14, 2021 at 00:39:42

DrChaos
Audiophile

Posts: 2063
Location: San Diego
Joined: July 13, 2009

Mystical memory: Apogee Diva at the Smithsonian. But it was an exhibit and obviously I couldn't demo what I wanted to try, but it opened my ears to what was possible. I'm a classical music person and then had young ears well calibrated to natural sound and it was the first time I heard something reproducing true acoustic instruments with almost perfect fidelity. Aragon amp with the big notch.

Best I heard at T.H.E. show, the only audio show I've ever been to:

MBL 101 a few times. Big and enveloping. Lots of others have it on their OMG list for good reason. It's also OMG prices.

Sanders 10E, ESL hybrid transmission line, Magtech and custom DSP & correction. If you were in the very small sweet spot it was *absolutely perfect*. My personal "best of show" every time I've been there.

Revel Ultimata Salon 2: sure it's 'old news' but for a conventional speaker it still seems to do everything right.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 10:21:41

thetubeguy1954
Audiophile

Posts: 6112
Location: Orlando, Fla
Joined: January 7, 2001

The best audio system I ever heard when young (early '80s) was the original HQD --{Hartley-Quad-Decca}-- speaker system with dual Quad's, a Decca ribbon tweeter between them, and a pair of Hartley 24" woofers as subs. This was powered by three Mark Levinson ML2 amps per channel and a Mark Levinson JC2 preamp.

But four years back in 2017 when Lukasz Fikus of Lampizator visited Suncoast audio here in Florida, I drove with my friend Phil A. down from Orlando to Sarasota to hear his Lampizator Pacific DAC and Super Komputer, with a Pass Labs X350.8 and amazing Magico M3 speakers! This blew me away. Those Magico M3 speakers not only produced gorgeous highs and mids, but the bass was the very best I've ever heard in my life!!!! They sounded better and clearer than any sub I have ever heard. If I could afford that entire audio system, that's what I would own...

Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)

Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers

RE: Awesome memories! (nt), posted on April 14, 2021 at 10:33:18
David S. Audiophile Posts: 3552 Location: Mountains of WNC Joined: August 31, 2000	.

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 14, 2021 at 10:57:40

Craiger56
Audiophile

Posts: 5574
Location: San Jose CA
Joined: April 3, 2002
Contributor
Since: December 29, 2003

The most impressive demo I've heard was the MBL room at a LA show years ago. The 101Es were simulating a rock concert in a very large room and I probably had the same expression on my face that I was seeing on others in the room.

An equally impressive sound but in a normal size room, and for A LOT less money was the PTE Statement powered speakers.
I felt incredible immersion at sane volume levels that would have me writing a check if there was near enough dough in my account.

Also noteworthy in a more friendly size and shape was the Vandersteen Model 7 at RMAF the first year they were available.

It was out of my price range too at the time, posted on April 14, 2021 at 13:50:12
Batman Audiophile Posts: 4194 Location: Western Pennsylvania Joined: March 31, 2000 Contributor Since: June 16, 2000	But oh what fun it was to browse. If I recall, it was across the street from the Peerless Willoughby Camera store. Oh the dreams one could have!

RE: Best system? Brian Walsh's set up [Atma / Soundlab], posted on April 14, 2021 at 16:21:12
Mike Mount Audiophile Posts: 573 Location: midwest Joined: September 25, 2004	Brian Walsh's sound system in 2015, when I still lived in Chicago... Was among the most memorable, the best music experience that comes to mind, made me want to go out and buy a pair of Sound Labs driven by Atma-Sphere MP1 / MA2s. The most liquid sound that I can remember. I think that they were U1s... w a y out of my means... KUDOS Brian!

Easy!, posted on April 15, 2021 at 09:51:48

CG
Audiophile

Posts: 432
Joined: October 11, 2000

It was at the Stereophile show in NYC in April of 1990 - I could be wrong about the date.

Andy Singer was showing some monster system based around Krell electronics. The lines to get in to hear that system snaked down the hall and people were waiting in the stairwell.

That wasn't it.

Across from maybe the halfway point in the Sound By Singer line was a room that had almost nobody in it. My wife and I walked in and had no problem finding a good seat. The other room visitor already had his seat.

I sat and listened to the opera that was playing. Now, unless it was performed by The Who or The Kinks, I generally hate opera. The only one I ever could sit through was in a Marx Brothers movie.

But, this was simply entrancing. Nothing was particularly out of the ordinary, which could have been the real appeal of the system. It really, really sounded like a plausible approximation to sitting in a hall listening to live music performed by live musicians.

With one exception, every piece in the room was built by Richard Sequerra. I guess that may be a bit of an exaggeration, since the preamp apparently was a collaboration between Sequerra and JC Morrison. The system wasn't as visually elegant as, say, the Cello room, but it was totally immersive and wonderful to listen to.

My goal since then has been to approximate the overall sound of that system.

One other thing I learned that day was that most commercial recordings may not exactly suck, but they aren't at all meant to sound like real performance. The opera being played in that room was a recent performance of the Greater Bridgeport Opera Company (!) made by Sequerra himself using a simple pair of microphones and a Sony DAT recorder. (The Sony DAT machine was the one piece not made by Sequerra and Associates.)

Of course, I could never truly determine how much of the sound quality was the recording and how much was attributable to the gear. But, if either was a weak link it would have been pretty clear, I think.

After hearing that system, we didn't bother to listen to any other systems there - we just looked. They were all that much inferior.

Richard Sequerra had some thoughts on the state of sound reproduction that he expressed in an interview here:

https://www.stereophile.com/interviews/richard_sequerra_tuni

RE: What's the best system/set up you've ever heard?, posted on April 15, 2021 at 10:13:15

TimB5881
Audiophile

Posts: 581
Location: Rocky Mountains
Joined: September 5, 2001

I was up in Vail, and I got to hear Arnie Nudel's Genesis I speakers driven by a pair of ARC 600 watt tube mono blocks. I could hear things I never hard before. I tried a disc with the Stop Light mat and you really could hear a difference with and with out the mat. Was it better or worse with he mat, Arnie liked so he ordered some. When playing orchestra music, it sounded life size. Now that being said, my friend who worked for Genesis has made a unique 2 way with a horn handling frequency from 750 Hz and up. This was biamped and used a dbx digital crossover and eq. He used a Pass first watt for the horn and a Krell to the woofer. This may have been the most dynamic set up and best sound stage I have heard just not as large as the Genesis.

Great story! Love my 3.6Rs- those 20s must be amazing. nt. , posted on April 15, 2021 at 10:31:28
MWE Audiophile Posts: 2202 Location: Burlington, NC Joined: June 8, 2000	Nt. Mark in NC "The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains" -Paul Simon

RE: Likely the "Type A"...... [nt], posted on April 15, 2021 at 11:33:29
BillH Audiophile Posts: 3913 Location: Baton Rouge Joined: December 23, 1999	The other best system I heard up to that point was a shootout at someone's home. He had the Snell As, and someone brought over their B&W 801 speakers. The B&Ws wiped the floor with the Snells. Those were analog days, around 1980.

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