I'm Done!

dhart86
dhart86 Posts: 1,594
edited September 2018 in 2 Channel Audio
I am done buying audio gear. Don't get it twisted, I am not frustrated or disappointed with my musical experience, but I'm sure I have found the perfect combination of gear that ends the search for "better" Now I know I've said that at least one time b4, but I think I'm there. I couldn't be more happy with the way my rig sounds now. All of my recordings sound good, even recordings that previously sounded dull and boring, now have me tapping and enjoying the music. My listening enjoyment is provided by the following equip:

Source JRiver > PS Audio Directstream Jr > deHavilland Ultraverve (tube-pre) > Belles Reference 150 v2 driving Harbeth C7es3 .....(MIT shotgun S1 ic & Acoustic Zen Satori sc)

Gotta thank Marvda for steering me toward the dehavilland pre. It is the best pre that I've owned by far. It is very transparent, quiet with fantastic detail retrieval, imaging and staging. But the Belles is one hellava amp. Strong tight bass, shimmering highs without the slightest bit of brightness or harshness. It is crystal clear and transparent. Makes my speakers sing then disappear at the same time. I don't know how to do a technical review, but in layman's terms...."I have arrived and now I'm done" looking.

Thanks Marv for all your help with the deHavilland
Main Rig:
Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


Second Rig:
Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


Comments

  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    That's great news!!!! Enjoy!!

    How 'bout a pic?
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    edited September 2018
    Hope there are no major format changes are hardware design/configuration upgrades (e.g., DACs) for the rest or your life, then... how old are you?

    ;)


    d4c6e38iqkk1.png


    In seriousness, I could see the Harbeths being forever components... dunno about any of the rest.

  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    Congrats! Sure enough, you'll be rollin tubes, lookin at new stuff, etc., etc., down the rabbit hole again! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • Congrats. I had the same conclusion with my rig a couple weeks back and it feels great to just enjoy the music.
    Living Room
    Parasound HINT 6, Yamaha Aventage RX-A 1060, Yamaha BD-S681, Cambridge Audio Azur 851N, Polk S60, Polk S30, Samsung 60" LED

    Office
    Cambridge Audio 851A, Auralic Aries Mini, LSiM 703s

    Douglas Connection ICs and Cables
  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    halo wrote: »
    That's great news!!!! Enjoy!!

    How 'bout a pic?

    Will do....gotta charge up the camera
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    edited September 2018
    DSkip wrote: »
    If you're happy, stay away from me. I've become a bit of an enabler with Marvin recently and he might rub off on you.

    Hahahahaha, for sure DSkip, you are very knowledgeable and have some nice equipment in stock so yeah, I should probably take your advice
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Hope there are no major format changes are hardware design/configuration upgrades (e.g., DACs) for the rest or your life, then...

    Well you make a decent point, but my dac is able to do firmware updates. Everything else should be good for at least 10-20 yrs maybe. Mhardy I'm at a parade, stop tryna rain on it (lol)
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    verb wrote: »
    Congrats! Sure enough, you'll be rollin tubes, lookin at new stuff, etc., etc., down the rabbit hole again! :smile:

    Thanks Verb, I got a bunch of tubes on hand from previous experiences
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    Congrats. I had the same conclusion with my rig a couple weeks back and it feels great to just enjoy the music.

    4 sure
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


  • Glad you have made it to "The Promised Land". I'm knocking on the door, but not quite there yet, but very close!
  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
    Glad you have made it to "The Promised Land". I'm knocking on the door, but not quite there yet, but very close!

    What are you playing with these days Mike? Rogue Audio M-180s ?
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    I can’t wait to get to this point. Except for me, I’ll sit back and enjoy it for a full week before the upgrade bug bites again. ;)
    Glad you’ve made it, I’ll be here whether I like it or not in the upcoming months, as I gotta get a car, hopefully before I get my actual license.
  • dhart86 wrote: »
    Glad you have made it to "The Promised Land". I'm knocking on the door, but not quite there yet, but very close!

    What are you playing with these days Mike? Rogue Audio M-180s ?

    The 180's have moved on, I now have a pair of VAS Audio Citation II, EL-34 based mono blocks. They have won me over.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,922
    dhart86 wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    Hope there are no major format changes are hardware design/configuration upgrades (e.g., DACs) for the rest or your life, then...

    Well you make a decent point, but my dac is able to do firmware updates. Everything else should be good for at least 10-20 yrs maybe. Mhardy I'm at a parade, stop tryna rain on it (lol)

    Hey, I'm just tryin' to keep the hifi industry goin'. Since folks don't breed like flies any more, we're their main source of income!


    ;)
  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,862
    @dehart86, thanks for the heads up on the cv181-t, took the deHavilland to a new level.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Puritan PSM156
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    Sweet rig you put together man. Every piece is a no brainer. Rock out with your you know what out bro.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
  • kharp1
    kharp1 Posts: 3,453
    Congrats @dhart86 I'm in a holding pattern myself. I'm liking my PS Audio Memory Player and DAC, though it's only being utilized for disc playing at the moment. I'm waiting for the PSA streamer to come out, and, that will probably be the last purchase for a while.
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    Actually, you are getting started. Have fun. :)
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
  • You haven't changed you pre and amp in your sig. That's your subconscious telling you that you ain't done. :)
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|Sonus Faber Cremona Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette
  • gce
    gce Posts: 2,158
    I don't think you're done you've just had enough. There's always something to replace or upgrade in this hobby. :p
    Anaheim Hills CA,
    HT 5.1: Anthem MRX 720 / BDP-Denon DBT1713UD / Polkaudio LSiM703 / W4S mAmp's / Polkaudio LSiM706c / Polkaudio LSiM702F/X's / SVS PC12-NSD / Panasonic TC P55VT30

    2 Channel: Rogue RP-5 / WireWorld Electra power cord / Marantz TT-15S1/ Ortofon - Quintet Black MC / Marantz NA8005 DAC / W4S mAmp's / Synology DS 216+ll-4TB / Polkaudio LSiM703
  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    If your happy with the sound, I’m happy for you.

    All that’s left is finding the perfect chair, because it’s been unscientifically proven there is a correlation between audio preformance and butt support.
  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,084
    rpf65 wrote: »
    All that’s left is finding the perfect chair, because it’s been unscientifically proven there is a correlation between audio preformance and butt support.

    La-Z-Boy Eldorado
    High Leg Recliner

    https://www.la-z-boy.com/p/recliners/eldorado-high-leg-recliner/_/R-029423

    Thank me later!

    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampi Baltic 4
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,471
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,521
    You have some great components.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Is this thread a test? “I’m done” is an absolute joke in this hobby.
  • mlistens03
    mlistens03 Posts: 2,767
    joecoulson wrote: »
    Is this thread a test? “I’m done” is an absolute joke in this hobby.

    Learned that from experience once or twice, or maybe 6 times. :#:D
  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    joecoulson wrote: »
    Is this thread a test? “I’m done” is an absolute joke in this hobby.

    Have a heart. Just isn’t right to crush somebody’s dreams.
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    His setup is in my dreams, so he will live..