We are too old for that for sure! I know some kids made serious $$ that can buy MBL reference gears easy. 
Or win the lottery. The chances might be a tad better. 
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Or just settle with what you can afford and enjoy it.
I looked at speakers costing EUR 10k. Then I listened to speakers of EUR 3.5k. They are EUR 2k less expensive as my integrated amp.
Ouch, wrong ratio according to many audiophiles. Just not to my ears, not to my eyes and certainly not to my bank account, which has a positive impact on other important things in life.
I bought the smaller and less expensive pair, It is since a very long time that I thoroughly enjoy to play music.
Nevertheless, as an engineer I enjoy seeing and hearing what is technically possible. I just can never own it, which is as much as an issue for me as not owning a Lamborghini, church organ or the Wembley stadion with Queen in it.
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I´m not surprised they recommend to go with Phoenix Net instead of going to Zenith. Haven´t heard either of those,but do know how much better streaming is with Etherregen and ocxo clock doing the same as Phoenix but more complicated 4 box solution instead of one.
Everyone has to accept their limitations and to be comfortable in their own skin they have to believe living within their limitations makes perfect sense. I know that even though my speakers are very efficient I would hear a great improvement if I switched from my Gryphon Antileon Evo stereo amp to a pair of monos. I won’t try to pretend it makes sense to stay where I am, as I have limits as well.
I would admire someone who could choose to do so.
When we get on our soapbox to tell someone they have gone too far and it doesn’t make sense, it makes me wonder who they are trying to convince. Themselves or….
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Say it, brother.
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I had to look him up on the net. Interesting person who was sort of pushed into the background. I always think of Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Satchmo and Kid Ory when relating to New Orleans type Jazz.
Thanks for enlightening me further!
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There is no Zen Mini in there. You are seeing the Phoenix USB reclocker. My streaming setup is:
Auralic Aeries G2 > Phoenix > Matrix > DSD Sr.
Indeed the Reference 1s are excellent but I am becoming a bit obsessed with the idea of the Nenuphar. I really want to audition them.
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That’s my point precisely, but in my own sarcastic way! My buying days are done, except for music.
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I’d love to hear your “no compromise” system. Stellar, I’d say the Gryphon probably leans more towards personal taste in the sound than limitations at that level. For me I am happy with my budget system, Decware Zen SE84UFO driving Pure Audio Project Trio 15 Classics. Sounds like music in the room not hifi to my ears. Your system is on an entirely different level, and certainly a real treat to experience. 
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I really want a pair of these, there’s just something about them that draws me in, and I’m not one for retro designs either, I usually buy quite modern kit.
They just sound quite fantastic for the money.
@njlinuxmike What sound quality differences did you hear when comparing the use of the Matrix between the Phoenix USB and the DSD Sr versus going directly from the Phoenix to the DSD via USB?
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Probably for similar reasons that I, as a life-long lover and owner of Maggies, still want a pair of JBL L-100s.
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How about 70’s vintage era Wharfedale W60s
Because they look gorgeous.
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I visited the Decware compound twice. Steve is such a great guy with a sensible approach to providing gear that punches way above its price points. A great source for tube magic.
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Another ex-Maggie owner whose first introduction to Magnepan was the mighty Tympani IV in an audiophiles house when I was a lad growing up in Sacramento. In fact, that encounter may have been when I was fatally infected with the high end audio virus. I still lust after those beauties to this day. Unhealthy obsession, so be it!
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I had a pair in the early 80’s in my first apartment. I was living the beach life. Those speakers were the heartbeat of many keg parties. I am certain they still sounded fantastic and smelled like stale beer when I sold them.
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A week ago I ordered the Mk III updated for my Jay’s Audio CDT2 MkII transport, along with a Qstab NSE stabilizer clamp to substitute for the stock version. The Qstab was drop-shipped directly from the manufacturer, Headquarters Audio in Austria, and arrived this afternoon. The Jay’s Audio upgrade boards must travel further and have not arrived yet.
The Qstab NSE disc stabilizer is decidedly unimpressive to look at in person. However it took only a few quick A<->B comparisons using the the first 2 minutes of track 6 of Tool’s latest, Fear Inoculum to realize it was changing the sound. I borrowed my son’s teen girlfriend and repeated the comparison without showing or telling her what was being changed. Much easier than A-B-ing cables- LOL! Her untrained ears picked out the same changes in soundstage spatial cues and percussion reverberation tails that I had. Dunno how this thing does what it does, but it clearly does. And both of our first impressions were that that what it does is to the positive.
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