The Times They are a Changing.......

I recall the Plinius having a kind a bottom heavy authoritative sound in my system. Open but with really tight bass control. I hope it continues to improve.

And, it is improving still. Spent the whole day listening and it truly blossomed into a higher place sonically. It was not subtle at all. The bass is definitely authoritative. If I had to offer a criticism, it can make the tweets of the Aerials a bit strident. Something that I will have to resolve with cabling I think. All in all, I am more than satisfied with it and am looking forward to getting back to Music.

I will have to get my sources figured out. A lot will depend on what Is going on with the Esoteric P2s. To match its build and sonic abilities will cost me a lot. So a repair is still relatively viable. The Prodigal Son will be done soon and that will be it for the Vinyl side for a good long while. I will probably rebuild my paradox pulse 103 and AT33ptgII as they are solid carts or offer them up as is for cheap. I am getting tired of the repair and mending game. I also have to decide if the MMF 7.1 stays.

I really need to make a decision on SACD for 2020. I may abandon the format as I only have about 20 SACDs and I really don’t see me investing in any more. Replacing the Mytek is also on deck for 2020. Though I may go down to the Liberty DAC. I have taken a conscientious step back on the ladder. I am purposely not exceeding a certain level. Trying to teach myself to be content. I am trying to get to “good enough “.
 
I have taken a conscientious step back on the ladder. I am purposely not exceeding a certain level. Trying to teach myself to be content. I am trying to get to “good enough “.
Same. At least, I'm learning to just be content with what I have. I have stopped upgrading and feel no need to do better than what's here. Most of this coming year will be, hopefully, taken up by repairing what I have, and selling what I no longer use. I've started that by finding a seemingly great tech on a recommendation here, and the first piece for service/sale is in his hands as of last Saturday.

I'm very happy with where I am, but I feel that somewhere along the way I lost the plot. Sound over musical enjoyment.

I'm in a similar boat with SACD, too. I have an incredible SACD player and in fact am listening to SACD as I type this. But I only have about 20 SACDs as well, the player is still worth the same as the used old BMW 330 I'm looking at for a winter beater, and I think maybe I'd rather have (another) spare beater-car. I just don't enjoy it all as much as I used to. I want music to be the focus, not gear.
 
I'm happy to hear that the Plinius is working out. An excellent integrated is still a path I often wish I'd chosen. It just makes so much sense as a balance of sound and livability.
 
Got a new (to me) CD player in the mix courtesy of my good friend/enabler Tim. I scooped up his heavily restomodded Onkyo Integra A-G10 and DX-G10 integrated amplifier and CD player. I had been eyeing this pair for a long while and they now fit in with my current audio walk about. Pics later as the CD player is in the mix and the amp is not. With all the upgrades that this player possesses , I have to conclude that I am enjoying the pinnacle of what red book offers. It also affirms my resolve to get the Esoteric P2S back in the mix as soon as I can.

I have some much needed time off later this week which will allow me to swap amps and hear the Grand Integra in the system. Should be fun and also position me to follow through on my stated goal of just stop chasing gear. This also marks the end of my run with the Goldmund Mimisis 3. The absolute best amp I have ever owned, period. I have no doubt that I will be hunting for another one a bit further down the road and hope to catch the matching pre also. I have nothing but fond things to say about the gear that made up my previous system. But this move is also good for me.
 
Got a new (to me) CD player in the mix courtesy of my good friend/enabler Tim. I scooped up his heavily restomodded Onkyo Integra A-G10 and DX-G10 integrated amplifier and CD player. I had been eyeing this pair for a long while and they now fit in with my current audio walk about. Pics later as the CD player is in the mix and the amp is not. With all the upgrades that this player possesses , I have to conclude that I am enjoying the pinnacle of what red book offers. It also affirms my resolve to get the Esoteric P2S back in the mix as soon as I can.

I have some much needed time off later this week which will allow me to swap amps and hear the Grand Integra in the system. Should be fun and also position me to follow through on my stated goal of just stop chasing gear. This also marks the end of my run with the Goldmund Mimisis 3. The absolute best amp I have ever owned, period. I have no doubt that I will be hunting for another one a bit further down the road and hope to catch the matching pre also. I have nothing but fond things to say about the gear that made up my previous system. But this move is also good for me.
Whatever happened to the Goldmund? I recall you having an issue with yours but don't recall the details. That's supposed to be quite some amp.
 
Whatever happened to the Goldmund? I recall you having an issue with yours but don't recall the details. That's supposed to be quite some amp.

It is being repaired and honestly, I was going to keep it. But it would be too tempting to then rebuild a system around it. Which is exactly what I found myself doing. I began looking into the Bespoke Audio Passive preamps and the QLN speakers. Mytek Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge Dacs. Emm Labs transports and Dacs. It was becoming a slippery slope in the opposite direction than I was desperate to travel. Don't get me started on the cables I was dreaming about, Furotech and Analysis Oval. Instead of ramping down, I found myself ramping up. And I was completely hate F@#%king my self while doing it. Like gorging on a cake that you love but no longer enjoy.

All that being said, I am sure that I will seek out a Mimesis 3 again at some point. It has set the bar for what an Amplifier should sound like and be. It was not perfect, but it was the closest I have ever come to sonic perfection from a component. It was so true to itself and what it was fed through the entire spectrum, that I found it an excellent barometer for everything else in my system. It single-handedly sent more items packing in my system than anything else. Its sound was my sound and I wanted it to be happy because it made me happy. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to one in your system, I highly encourage it. Just understand that once you are at that level, it is a tight rope walk with no net under you.
 
It is being repaired and honestly, I was going to keep it. But it would be too tempting to then rebuild a system around it. Which is exactly what I found myself doing. I began looking into the Bespoke Audio Passive preamps and the QLN speakers. Mytek Manhattan or Brooklyn Bridge Dacs. Emm Labs transports and Dacs. It was becoming a slippery slope in the opposite direction than I was desperate to travel. Don't get me started on the cables I was dreaming about, Furotech and Analysis Oval. Instead of ramping down, I found myself ramping up. And I was completely hate F@#%king my self while doing it. Like gorging on a cake that you love but no longer enjoy.

All that being said, I am sure that I will seek out a Mimesis 3 again at some point. It has set the bar for what an Amplifier should sound like and be. It was not perfect, but it was the closest I have ever come to sonic perfection from a component. It was so true to itself and what it was fed through the entire spectrum, that I found it an excellent barometer for everything else in my system. It single-handedly sent more items packing in my system than anything else. Its sound was my sound and I wanted it to be happy because it made me happy. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to one in your system, I highly encourage it. Just understand that once you are at that level, it is a tight rope walk with no net under you.
That's kind of been my T+A amp. I found a solid state amp that has real power, but tube-like qualities, without the aspects of tubes that I don't like. So I'm kind of stuck with it even though I'd rather have an integrated. It plays well with the TVC and just gets out of the way unlike almost any other amp I've heard. There's just ....something about a great integrated though. Its just so EASY. And its not cluttered. And you don't look like that audiophile caricature when people come over.
 
That's kind of been my T+A amp. I found a solid state amp that has real power, but tube-like qualities, without the aspects of tubes that I don't like. So I'm kind of stuck with it even though I'd rather have an integrated. It plays well with the TVC and just gets out of the way unlike almost any other amp I've heard. There's just ....something about a great integrated though. Its just so EASY. And its not cluttered. And you don't look like that audiophile caricature when people come over.

If You are in a good place with the core or whole of the system. Stay there and enjoy it! Don’t follow me....here there be Dragons.
 
The next major items to tackle after this integrated battle will be the Room. Some decorative and functional room treatments will be on the Agenda. Not sure how I will approach this just yet. I know I want some bass traps in the corners though and a diffuser on the ceiling in front of the speakers.
 
I couldn’t resist putting the Massive Onkyo A-G10 in the mix a day early. Holy crap! This amp sounds way better than I was expecting it to. It sounds huge and powerful and clear. It has a real sense of control over the Speakers, not an easy ask. Did I mention that it is Massive?

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I couldn’t resist putting the Massive Onkyo A-G10 in the mix a day early. Holy crap! This amp sounds way better than I was expecting it to. It sounds huge and powerful and clear. It has a real sense of control over the Speakers, not an easy ask. Did I mention that it is Massive?

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Wow, that thing is a beast! I have a soft spot for top-flight gear from that era. It seems most people overlook it and much of it, to my ears, is so much better sounding than the '70s darlings that get all of the attention and love. There are some Sansui amps from that time that are really sweet. Sony and Denon as well.

Does everything in it go through a digital section?
 
Wow, that thing is a beast! I have a soft spot for top-flight gear from that era. It seems most people overlook it and much of it, to my ears, is so much better sounding than the '70s darlings that get all of the attention and love. There are some Sansui amps from that time that are really sweet. Sony and Denon as well.

Does everything in it go through a digital section?

I do not believe that it does but it can. It also has a pure direct mode and the ability to record directly from digital sources. Admittedly, I have not played with all the functionality of it. And the DAT and VCR connectivity, as well as the direct digital connectivity, is wasted on me. I need the Line inputs. The additional connectivity, while cool, is a bit long in tooth. But the sound is absolutely amazing. This amp was modded by Agon modder Ezekiel and it is not exactly a stock unit. I am trying to find his contact information to determine what was done.
 
Put the Plinius back the system. I could live with either of these fine integrated amps. They are both really good though different. The Onkyo is a hair better at low to mid volume. The Plinius keeps full control as the volume goes up into loud levels. A bit more Bass from the Plinius, but the Onkyo has tone controls. No need to make any decisions today or tomorrow. Enjoying the music, which is really nice.
 
I have been spending the last few days admiring the amps, while completely neglecting the CD player. The Grand Integra DX-G10 is a 60 pound powerhouse of red book perfection. Somewhere along the last decade, CD players became unsexy. This CD player has that 90’s aesthetic that also conveys serious business.

As a Set, the Grand Integra really offers a sense of super quality through design. Something that the big names have only returned to in the last few years. This cd player, like it’s partnering amp was also heavily modded. Tim (Ds2000)was really praising its abilities.His is an ear that I trust, coupled with an intense love of Exotic Japanese gear from the golden age of eastern Hi-Fi. I knew if he said it was special, that it would be just that.

According to Tim, The CD player was modded by Parts conneXion with new caps plus the Burson perfect power supply upgrade and a Femto grade clock upgrade at the digital out. All part of a trusted recipe for good sound. The last but critical piece was a set of Sparkos dual FET op amps. The Mods we done well and it truly shows with how good it sounds.

This player competes gingerly with my Esoteric P2S & D2 sonically, and it is truly a wash as to which one is better. If pressed, I would give the edge ever so slightly to the Esoteric as it is stock and awesome. Mods will probably put it in another league. But the DX-G10 is no slouch at all. If not for the Mods, I would use it as a transport to an external DAC. I am seriously glad to have it here.
 
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If my bedroom wasn't a bit too messy for public viewing. I would post a picture of a system that I have conceptualized for a while and finally put together. I put the Onkyo Grand integra A-G10 and DX-G10 along with my Bluesound Node2 and paired it with a pair of KEF LS50s. The end result sounds pretty damn good. i am still wondering if the SMSL M300 or a Topping D90 MQA version or even a Mytek Liberty will be the Dac here. But that is a decision for another day as the Bluesound is more than adequate for the task at hand. The wife loves the looks of the LS50 so that's a win. She has not liked a speaker in the bedroom since the Zu omen dirty weekends. Between this and the main system updates, I am in position to finally stop with the gear and turn towards the music.
 
I am doing some more butchering to my curb salvage MCM dresser turned Vinyl Console. In true me fashion, I have spent more money on getting it looking this way than it was probably worth. But I cannot imagine doing this to an original Herman Miller......So there is that to consider. Anywho, I broke the glass window pane of the drawer and it has been difficult to get a glass outfit to make me another. So, I decided to turn the drawer into a cubby for the Technics power supply and Cyrus Phono Signature. Still a work in progress but I for one am thrilled with how it should turn out!

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Still early but you can see where this is going. My crappy painting skills are n full display.
 
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