Malaka
Current Systems / Monitor 10's
My very first foray into high-end audio was when I purchased the 'Monitor 10' speakers you see here. I believe it was around 1985 or so. This high end audio store in Northern NJ demoed a pair to me running Bryston gear, and I was utterly floored! And hooked for life! Since then, I have dabbled with other setups, both for my main system, and smaller more budget systems in other areas of the house (office, family room, etc.). My father also has a FISHER 500C with the original Telefunken tubes that he's had since the 60's, and that whetted my appetite for better sound as a kid growing up. As of late, I am very enamored of tubed amplification, having purchased a 'Little Dot' MKIII, which is a tubed headphone amp/preamp. Suffice it to say I will NEVER go back to solid state preamplification again! I am 'rediscovering' my CD/HDCD/XRCD/SACD collection! If you can get this kind of rich, sweet sound out of a budget tubed amp, I can't imagine what i'm going to hear with a $1000 or $2000 tubed preamp (Odyssey, Rogue Audio, Vincent, etc.)! That will surely be my next purchase, when I can afford it. Between my Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) hobby and this, I will never be able to retire! The obsession continues...
  My bedroom system, which consists of my beloved Monitor 10s (with the original Polk stands), a classic Pioneer SX-780 receiver, and an OPPO DV-980H DVD/SACD/HDCD universal player. I don't even bother with surround sound for watching DVD's, as I am very happy with mono or stereo sound from the Polks. Sometimes, 'minimalist' is the way to go! I use DH Labs T-14 speaker cabling and Straightwire interconnects on all my systems. |
 I always listen with the grilles off. I love the way these speakers look! |
 My main system, which consists of Magnepan MG-12/QR's, Sound Valves SV-100 preamp (although my Parasound P/HP-850 is shown in this older photo), McIntosh MC162 amp, Velodyne sub, and a Marantz CD-5001 CDP (older Denon DCM-370 shown). |
 My killer little office/computer room system, which consists of AV123 X-LS bookshelf speakers, a Little Dot MKIII headphone amp/preamp, an AudioSource AMP Two amp, and a Denon DCM-370 HDCD CDP. 'Cans' are Sennheiser HD-595's. I just got into tubes with the purchase of this budget head amp/preamp, and I can't get enough of the exquisite, sweet sound! When I get more moolah, I will definitely go tubed preamps in my other systems. |
 Best 200 bucks I ever spent! This piece is, without a doubt, the best high-end audio bargain out there right now. A tubed high-end head amp/line preamp combo that is designed and built like a tank. The stock tubes sound great! Can't wait to do some NOS 'tube rolling' soon! |
 Amateur Radio (Ham Radio), my other obsession! |
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CDP |
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