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Luckybaer's Current Set-Up

luckybaer

luckybaer

Thinks The Devil actually beat Johnny
Each piece in the system has a story to tell...

My turntable is a Kenwood KD-2070 purchased used for about $35 on eBay nearly a decade ago. Only recently did I decide to "get back into" vinyl, so it has been seeing a lot of work. I currently have it loaded with an Audio-Technica VM750SH stylus. If I plan to upgrade any component, I'm going to start here.

My DAC is a Schiit Gungnir MB. I stepped up from a Modi 2 MB and a DragonFly Red. I agonized over several months before deciding on the Gungnir. I love the way it sounds, and it isn't going anywhere soon.

My CD player is a Marantz CD5003. I use this only for transport. I bought this a long time ago from Crutchfield when I was more of a n00b than I am now. It seems to serve its purpose, and I don't feel much need to upgrade.

My headphone amp is an AURALiC Taurus MkII. I didn't want to fuss with tubes and get sucked into audio nervosa Hell and spend $$ rolling tubes, so I decided on solid state. This amp has a nice presentation with very little, if any, editorialization. It is balanced end-to-end but can be run unbalanced, too. Definitely not thinking of an upgrade.

My amp is an Onkyo TX-8555, and it was purchased around the same time as the CD5003. Money was tight in those days, so I didn't spend much here. I'd like to know what I'd get if I upgraded to something like Musical Fidelity M5si. What does a $2,000 integrated amp do that a $300 one does not?

My speakers are Polk Audio RT25i bookshelf speakers. I pilfered them from our home theater set-up after my two boys essentially destroyed our DVD player and completely disorganized our DVD collection. Basically, I said I'm taking my toys and going home! I have some floorstanding RT600i (also from the old HT set-up) that I plan on incorporating into the system. That should keep me from wanting to upgrade.

I have more headphones than I can list.

I love music, especially Alice In Chains, Elvis Costello, The Cure, New Order, The Police, Led Zeppelin, etc.
 
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luckybaer said:
Each piece in the system has a story to tell...

My turntable is a Kenwood KD-2070 purchased used for about $35 on eBay nearly a decade ago. Only recently did I decide to "get back into" vinyl, so it has been seeing a lot of work. I currently have it loaded with an Audio-Technica VM750SH stylus. If I plan to upgrade any component, I'm going to start here.

My DAC is a Schiit Gungnir MB. I stepped up from a Modi 2 MB and a DragonFly Red. I agonized over several months before deciding on the Gungnir. I love the way it sounds, and it isn't going anywhere soon.

My CD player is a Marantz CD5003. I use this only for transport. I bought this a long time ago from Crutchfield when I was more of a n00b than I am now. It seems to serve its purpose, and I don't feel much need to upgrade.

My headphone amp is an AURALiC Taurus MkII. I didn't want to fuss with tubes and get sucked into audio nervosa Hell and spend $$ rolling tubes, so I decided on solid state. This amp has a nice presentation with very little, if any, editorialization. It is balanced end-to-end but can be run unbalanced, too. Definitely not thinking of an upgrade.

My amp is an Onkyo TX-8555, and it was purchased around the same time as the CD5003. Money was tight in those days, so I didn't spend much here. I'd like to know what I'd get if I upgraded to something like Musical Fidelity M5si. What does a $2,000 integrated amp do that a $300 one does not?

My speakers are Polk Audio RT25i bookshelf speakers. I pilfered them from our home theater set-up after my two boys essentially destroyed our DVD player and completely disorganized our DVD collection. Basically, I said I'm taking my toys and going home! I have some floorstanding RT600i (also from the old HT set-up) that I plan on incorporating into the system. That should keep me from wanting to upgrade.

I have more headphones than I can list.

I love music, especially Alice In Chains, Elvis Costello, The Cure, New Order, The Police, Led Zeppelin, etc.
Click to expand...
I can't believe I forgot to include my Phono Pre-Amp/Analog-Digital Converter:

PS Audio NuWave Phono Converter - That's a mouthful! Anyway, this little box handles MM or MC cartridges, you can switch between load resistances, fiddle with gain, convert to PCM or DSD, etc. Really, REALLY versatile box.
 
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luckybaer said:
Each piece in the system has a story to tell...

My turntable is a Kenwood KD-2070 purchased used for about $35 on eBay nearly a decade ago. Only recently did I decide to "get back into" vinyl, so it has been seeing a lot of work. I currently have it loaded with an Audio-Technica VM750SH stylus. If I plan to upgrade any component, I'm going to start here.

My DAC is a Schiit Gungnir MB. I stepped up from a Modi 2 MB and a DragonFly Red. I agonized over several months before deciding on the Gungnir. I love the way it sounds, and it isn't going anywhere soon.

My CD player is a Marantz CD5003. I use this only for transport. I bought this a long time ago from Crutchfield when I was more of a n00b than I am now. It seems to serve its purpose, and I don't feel much need to upgrade.

My headphone amp is an AURALiC Taurus MkII. I didn't want to fuss with tubes and get sucked into audio nervosa Hell and spend $$ rolling tubes, so I decided on solid state. This amp has a nice presentation with very little, if any, editorialization. It is balanced end-to-end but can be run unbalanced, too. Definitely not thinking of an upgrade.

My amp is an Onkyo TX-8555, and it was purchased around the same time as the CD5003. Money was tight in those days, so I didn't spend much here. I'd like to know what I'd get if I upgraded to something like Musical Fidelity M5si. What does a $2,000 integrated amp do that a $300 one does not?

My speakers are Polk Audio RT25i bookshelf speakers. I pilfered them from our home theater set-up after my two boys essentially destroyed our DVD player and completely disorganized our DVD collection. Basically, I said I'm taking my toys and going home! I have some floorstanding RT600i (also from the old HT set-up) that I plan on incorporating into the system. That should keep me from wanting to upgrade.

I have more headphones than I can list.

I love music, especially Alice In Chains, Elvis Costello, The Cure, New Order, The Police, Led Zeppelin, etc.
Click to expand...

What does a $2,000 integrated amp do that a $300 one does not?

Empties your bank account an additional $1700. Onkyo is good stuff. Great system.
 
Just stumbled across this thread; awesome system, indeed! I too own the TX-8555, bought new when it came out, and this thing is a POWERHOUSE of a stereo receiver...in fact, it really is more like an integrated amp with a tuner built in. Honestly. From the finely-sculpted aluminum faceplate to the no-nonsense, heavy and smooth metal volume knob, everything about this 100wpc unit screams quality. It's a shame that Onkyo has gone down the rabbit hole of "cheaper is better," acquiring Pioneer first and now being bought out by a syndicate that owns Denon, Marantz (previously D&M Holdings) and a few other brands...since that move, their stuff has gone WAY downhill, especially their A/V surround receivers, which are now burdened with cheap components and plastic bits everywhere (including non-aluminum volume knobs on even their "higher end" receivers). It truly is a shame, because this was my go-to company for years...

I also own a Marantz disc player in my two-channel rig, the CC4001 five-disc changer, so I can relate to much of the OP's gear stack...speaking of which, do you have any pics of your gear from a wider angle, showing their positioning in your furniture?
 
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