I’m in the final stages of assembling a system in a largely unused play room in the house before installing it in a slightly larger and more rectangular downstairs den.
Tube amp 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, 4 Ohm taps also available
McIntosh Labs C100 Controller
Two-piece preamp with balanced inputs and outputs; stellar phono section with both moving magnet and moving coil inputs, (the MC section uses Ortofon branded step-up transformers), has a main out plus two speaker/amp outputs switchable from the front or remote, has both a listening loop and recording loop for insertion of equalizer or other signal processing equipment. Displays output in either dB or as a percentage, volume control in either 1 dB or 1/2 dB increments, mono, mute, balance controls, maintenance-free switches. All analog, purchased with thought I wouldn’t need to buy another preamp in my lifetime.
Top-of-the-line DAC, purchased at a steep discount during COVID as a ‘Garage-Sale’ unit configured with the older Analog cards and USB interface, but upgraded later to ‘Less-is-More’ status. I find it has great sound stage and imaging which the upgrades have only enhanced and solidified. I’m currently using only the AES/EBU and RCA coax inputs, the USB is available for connecting a phone directly.
Madrigal Audio Laboratories Proceed PDT3 Disc Transport
Otherwise known as “the Toaster” because it is about the size of one. I purchased it for its AES/EBU output which has been fantastic to my ears.
Auralic Aries wireless bridge
The original version of the Aries which came with the ultra quiet power supply. Works great over the manufacturer’s supplied application on my i-phone. I can also use it as a Roon endpoint.
Music Hall MMF-5.3 Belt Drive Turntable
Ticked all my boxes, two-piece plinth sandwiching a vibration-damping layer, weighted, not spring-loaded anti-skate, three (not four) legs, even has a spirit-level built in.
Warfedale W-E70 Vintage Speakers
The E70’s are configured with 15 in woofers, 5+ in midrange and Mylar tweeters. They are mounted on 24 in Sound Anchor stands and sound wonderful to my ears. They are all-original, I am the 3rd owner.