Chris, thanks for posting that photo of Mike's system. Sadly I wasn't allowed to include it in my post-Mike because I haven't accumulated 10 posts as of yet. Mike, you don't know me. My name is Tom S. aka Thetubeguy1954 and I met you when Lukasz brought his new Pacific DAC to your Audio Salon after the RMAF to demonstrate it for us. I came down from Orlando with my friend Phil Abish and I had an absolutely wonderful time. In fact, I even met one of my biggest nemesis' on Audio Asylum aka AJinFla at your shop and just as I told him I was sure would happen if we ever met in person, I thoroughly enjoyed his company during the somewhat brief time we talked.
Mike, I have to admit I had never been to an audio society before that has as many members with systems in the upper echelon of high-end audio systems as the members of the Suncoast Audio Society has! However, the best part about meeting the folks down in Sarasota was how very nice & how very friendly they were to me. I was quite surprised when a couple of guys ---
despite the fact they just met me--- invited me to their homes to enjoy a listening session. Francis E. and his invite to come and listen to his Vapor Audio, Jewel speakers immediately comes to mind because of how much I have wanted to hear Vapor Audio speakers!
Now compared to you and I'm sure a great many other members of the Suncoast Audio Society, my audio system is probably viewed as being at the entry-level of
true high-end audio. That said, I'd still like to share what my audio system consists of with you and the others reading this. I'll start with my 135 LB, 40W/ch,
Mastersound Reference 845 integrated, SET amp from Italy. I'm using
Beauhorn Virtuoso speakers that I upgraded by removing their original Lowther DX4 drivers and replacing them with Lowther PM5 drivers with Ticonal magnets! What a significant level of sonic improvement I heard after switching those drivers. My digital audio is restricted to using a
YBA Genesis CD4 as a transport to
Musical Paradise MP-D2 DAC at this time. I hope to be able to include computer audio into my system in 2019. Now while my audio system is not quite up there on the audio mountaintop with you guys, all-in-all for a fellow that's been disabled and living on Social Security Disability since 1987 it's not too shabby of an audio system and I as ex-president Obama would say "
It punches way above its weight!"
This somewhat long-winded post was really just to tell you "That's one amazing audio system you have Mike!" (
I even noticed a tinge of green at my fingertips as I typed this post :snicker
I also wanted to share I believe you have a wonderful group of guys down there in Sarasota! You all made my trip extremely enjoyable. I hope if you're going to be having another big audio event like you had when Lukaz of Lampizator was there, you'll let us all know and hopefully my friend Phil will be willing to give me a ride down to Sarasota once again! Thanks for the most enjoyable time I've had in quite some time. Sincerely, Thetubeguy1954 (Tom S)
