Stereophile
New member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2013
- Messages
- 442
- Thread Author
- #1
<p><img class="story_image" src="http://www.stereophile.com/images/1013awsi.jpg" /></p>
At the time of my August 2011 "<a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/i-am-audiophile">As We See It</a>," I was using a Wilson-McIntosh system. That system is still with me and still gets quite a bit of use. Its location, however, has changed. In its place is a system that I can't see switching out or needing to replace: <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-alexandria-xlf-loudspeaker">Wilson Alexandria XLF</a> speakers with VTL Siegfried Series II Reference monoblock power amps, <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/938/index.html">TL-7.5 Series III Reference</a> preamplifier, and TP-6.5 Signature phono stage. It might take a small army of people to move it, but beyond that, I think I'm good to go.
<p>
This system has taken my listening sessions to an entirely different level. Over the many hours I have spent sitting in front of it, I have been trying to articulate what that means.
</p><p>
I think that when one climbs to the more rarified air of the audiophile environment, the reasons for that ascent become more varied, intense, sincere, and sometimes ridiculous. Only those who remain ignorant of hi-fi's power would contest the fact that a certain pair of speakers, the right cables, or stylus can bring a listener closer to the Playback Promised Land. All you can do is pity their box-wine-grade appreciation skills and move on.
</p><p>
Like many music fanatics, I have had a stereo system of some kind from a very early age. It wasn't until I got a bit older, heard better systems, found myself on both sides of a PA, and started spending incredible amounts of time in recording, mixing, and mastering studios, that I understood that the more optimal the playback, the more of the source tape and its intent would be revealed to me. This is what started a fairly obsessive journey, seconded only by my fascination, curiosity, and love of music itself.
</p><p>
Perhaps the single thing that inspired me to switch out gear and upgrade was listening to multitrack mixes through reference monitors during recording sessions
[Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/pursuit-audio-excellence-2]
At the time of my August 2011 "<a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/i-am-audiophile">As We See It</a>," I was using a Wilson-McIntosh system. That system is still with me and still gets quite a bit of use. Its location, however, has changed. In its place is a system that I can't see switching out or needing to replace: <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/content/wilson-audio-specialties-alexandria-xlf-loudspeaker">Wilson Alexandria XLF</a> speakers with VTL Siegfried Series II Reference monoblock power amps, <a href="http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/938/index.html">TL-7.5 Series III Reference</a> preamplifier, and TP-6.5 Signature phono stage. It might take a small army of people to move it, but beyond that, I think I'm good to go.
<p>
This system has taken my listening sessions to an entirely different level. Over the many hours I have spent sitting in front of it, I have been trying to articulate what that means.
</p><p>
I think that when one climbs to the more rarified air of the audiophile environment, the reasons for that ascent become more varied, intense, sincere, and sometimes ridiculous. Only those who remain ignorant of hi-fi's power would contest the fact that a certain pair of speakers, the right cables, or stylus can bring a listener closer to the Playback Promised Land. All you can do is pity their box-wine-grade appreciation skills and move on.
</p><p>
Like many music fanatics, I have had a stereo system of some kind from a very early age. It wasn't until I got a bit older, heard better systems, found myself on both sides of a PA, and started spending incredible amounts of time in recording, mixing, and mastering studios, that I understood that the more optimal the playback, the more of the source tape and its intent would be revealed to me. This is what started a fairly obsessive journey, seconded only by my fascination, curiosity, and love of music itself.
</p><p>
Perhaps the single thing that inspired me to switch out gear and upgrade was listening to multitrack mixes through reference monitors during recording sessions
[Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/pursuit-audio-excellence-2]