What's your dream system?

[dsavitsk]

1 hour ago, swt61 said:

^?

I started responding and thought better of it. I don't find commercial audio gear very interesting, but I don't need to rain on anyone else's parade.

[Sherwood]

I, for one, welcome whatever input you have Doug.  None of my sense of self is tied up in my appreciation for those speakers.  I think part of the appeal is the dovetails, and that's more your area of expertise than mine.,

[swt61]

Well, those dovetails are machine made, so no real expertise needed.

Edited April 25 by swt61

[dsavitsk]

27 minutes ago, swt61 said:

Well, those dovetails are machine made, so no real expertise needed.

Not sure about that; those pins are pretty narrow. It's possible they used a thin kerf table saw blade, but the narrowness and inconsistency looks like a hand saw to me.

Edited April 25 by dsavitsk

[skullguise]

There's a lot of equipment I think is so grossly overpriced it's ridiculous; on principal even if I had the $ I likely wouldn't purchase many things.  I've found that I can enjoy simpler things, and my main basement system is kind of my "local" dream.  I say local because it's right for my musical tastes, in my home/listening room.

For me, my ultimate dream system can be perhaps 50% the room and its comfort....

[swt61]

1 hour ago, dsavitsk said:

Not sure about that; those pins are pretty narrow. It's possible they used a thin kerf table saw blade, but the narrowness and inconsistency looks like a hand saw to me.

Sorry Doug. I thought we were talking about the OMA Monitor. Those dovetails on the amp certainly do appear hand cut.

[swt61]

[dsavitsk]

@swt61 those are definitely router bit cut

[Sherwood]

12 hours ago, swt61 said:

Well, those dovetails are machine made, so no real expertise needed.

I mean, I would need to develop enough expertise to use the machine, to start with.

Still, could be a fun project.  Two way crossover with an AMT and a driver I'm sure someone has figured out, looks like a sealed box.  I could probably find someone around here to cut me a weird-ass baffle since this whole town is made of stone.  I'm inspired by your nonchalance, Steve!

[swt61]

Don't mistake me though. I personally have no issue with machine cut dovetails. I have made them, I like them, I don't think of them as a cheap shortcut.

I have a lot of respect for the guys that are proficient with hand tools. Sometimes I find hand tools to be the quicker method, and that's when I generally use them. But I embrace power tools. I do want to be involved in the actual creation process, so I'd be more likely to use a CNC to cut templates, that I would then use to make forming the actual piece easier.

Edited April 26 by swt61

[swt61]

There are people on this forum who I believe could design such a speaker. I probably shouldn't name names, but one chose a certain pipe tobacco as his name here. 😊

Building the speakers once someone much smarter than myself designs it, would be the fun part for me. My monitors that Marc designed are absolutely brilliant.

I would still want the AMT unit atop the speaker in a dipole fashion.

[Craig Sawyers]

Broadcast by the BBC in 1959

https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/hi-fi-fo-fum/zjt6kmn

[mikeymad]

That is so funny - well done BBC. 

... but give me dem sweet sweet NOS '50s tubes though... 

 

[swt61]

On 4/24/2024 at 6:51 AM, swt61 said:

I really want to hear those OMA monitors as well, and for good reason...

In the mid 80's I bought a pair of ESS AMT 1D speakers. Those speakers had the Heil Air Motion Transformer tweeter/midrange units. They are the best top end/midrange I've yet heard. The issue was the bass. It was a bit wooly and loose. I've always wanted someone to design a speaker using those AMTs, but with a better low end.

 

So, I just learned of the Pure Audio Project Heil AMT open baffle speaker.

https://pureaudioproject.com/shop/

The Trio 10 with Heil AMT.

A true dipole/open baffle design.

[swt61]

OK, foregoing the twink harem. Still very matchy...

Aqua LaDiva CD transport.

Nagra Streamer.

Nagra Reference Anniversary Turntable.

Lyra Atlas SL Lambda MC cartridge. 

Nagra HD Phono.

Nagra HD DAC.

Nagra HD Preamp.

Nagra HD Monoblock Amps.

Vivid Audio Giya G1 Spirit speakers.

 

 

Edited May 16 by swt61

[Craig Sawyers]

If you are going for a record deck, Thorens have just launched a new version of the legendary Reference turntable. Price unspecified. If you need to ask the price you probably couldn't afford it.

https://thorens.com/en/thorens-news-infos/302-thorens-204-news-en-mobile.html

and

https://thorens.com/images/presse/reference/Reference_Brochure_05_2023.pdf

And in the flesh

[Craig Sawyers]

OK found the price - Euro220k. Then you have to buy up to three tonearms and cartridges. And find somewhere that can take the weight. The original Reference was about a tenth that price (converting for inflation) when it was launched in a 100 unit limited run. In today's money about 25k.

[swt61]

That's roughly $240,000. I think I'd keep the $175,000 Nagra and spend the extra $65,000 on some nice racks to hold the gear.

[Craig Sawyers]

Yes it is loads of dosh. But I think it is remarkable that the same company who made and makes affordable decks, decided to launch the original Reference in 1980, and that astonishing piece of engineering last/this year as the new Reference.

An original Reference has just sold on eBay UK for £51k in stunning condition 

 

[Torpedo]

I don't have a dream system anymore. Maybe a dream room to put a decent system inside. What would I set up in that room? I don't know, I'd need to trial and error a lot of stuff. Nothing that's going to happen in this lifetime of mine. Nobody asked before being born. Meantime, attending live concerts in real venues should be enough.

[mikeymad]

Oh yeah the analog section.

I am a Linn-head so it is hard not to go with the 40th anniversary (yeah it was 10 years ago), Linn Sondek LP12.

But it came with an Highland Park 40yo - and the Plinth was made from HP cask staves

Fully loaded with the upgrade bits and the Ekos Arm and Ekstatik cart:

That would give me the Linn sound that I like, but to dig a bit deeper I would like to try the - Wilson-Benesch GMT One Turntable:

 

Built around this piece of engineering art:

 

I agree with you Steve on the LYRA Atlas SL Lambda - I heard the younger sibling of this, in a whisky friend's rig, and I was sold on the sound.

And the mono version for mono reason (same pic..  )

For more swapping I have always liked the Grado sound as well -- so Grado Epoch3

And Mono of course - picture not included (yeah it looks the same).

I would have to do a lot more research into the phono pre. But I would probably start out with something like the MANLEY STEELHEAD RC:

Multi inputs - multi gain - multi load - tubes..  neet!

 

... and I agree with people that this is a bit of a farce. I am not going to own anything here. But I have also spent time with super high end systems and they are a wonderful experience. This is a hobby for me, listening that is, and with any hobby, you spend time, effort and money on them.  A lot of chasing high end would be lost on me at this point in my life, unfortunately. My tinnitus has gotten really bad in the last year and a half. I have had a mild version of it since I was a late teen and I damaged my hearing making homemade horn loaded speakers that I put in my car! I still have really good listening skills and can pick out the minutest of details, I just have to turn things up a bit louder to get over my internal noise floor. 

 

Oh, and an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman:

For one - thank you very much - there is only one listening position. - Ever.

 

Edited May 18 by mikeymad

[guzziguy]

My "Dream System" would be to have my hearing restored to what is was when I was 35. 🤫

[Dusty Chalk]

59 minutes ago, guzziguy said:

My "Dream System" would be to have my hearing restored to what is was when I was 35. 🤫

A-them to that!  I'd settle for a year ago, myself.

[swt61]

I'm sure I've lost some high frequencies, but overall my hearing is still pretty good. After I get my second cataract fixed, my eyesight will be great again as well. My six pack abs are still great, probably because I keep them safely stored under 65 lbs. of fat.