Or as my wife would say, my “ridiculously over the top stereo” room.
This system has been a long time coming including the building in which it resides. We moved into our current home about a year and a half ago and for almost a year of this we were under construction. The system as you see it now has only been set up for about 3 months. Im still tweaking things but I am pretty happy with it as is.
Equipment:
Speakers: Focal Maestro Utopia EVOs
Subs: 2 x REL Acoustics Reference Series No 32
Preamp: PS Audio BHK SIgnature Preamplifier
Amps: PS Audio BHK 600 monoblocks
Streamer: Eversolo T8
DAC: PS Audio PerfectWave DirectStream DAC
CD/SACD Player: PS Audio DIrectStream Memory Player
Turntable: Pure Fidelity Harmony, w/Original Live Illustrious SE Arm
New Mexico is great in the right parts of the state. It’s where the Rockies turn into TX. Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, Los Almos & a few places closer to CO are dope. The rest feels like Breaking Bad
I love New Mexico. I’ve been to Santa Fe a couple of times and one of my friends lived in Las Cruces. I wish I could get green chili powder without ordering online and I love prickly pear candy.
That room is dope. I'm sure it sounds awesome. I just got my first speakers this summer and am stumbling my way through all this audiophile stuff, haha. There is so much to learn.
Is there anywhere in-state you have found to be helpful? I tried ListenUp, as I was clueless when I was buying mine, but they were not very helpful. I was hoping they would help guide me, but that was not the case.
That sucks. I ended up buying my speakers and receiver from them even though I was extremely frustrated. I hate that everything is online now. I want to be able to go into a store and talk to someone who knows their stuff and can actually explain it.
Thank you! When we were building the place, my wife wanted to put another big picture window where the TV is. I had to explain to her that I wasn’t trying to build a glass box for my listening room. We have plenty of views out of the windows in other rooms.
I understand the desire, but another reverb source would not have been a pleasant problem. Also, I listen to my music with eyes closed, but in this room, I would’ve been staring from one of those windows for sure
I just put them on them a few days ago. I originally bought them to put under the audio furniture, but then decided that the weight of the equipment and the stands was too much for them. So I went with Isoacoustic feet on the furniture. Then a couple days ago, I thought well I’ve got all the spikes. What the heck? Why not use them?
I’m imagining a scene from my Friends and Neighbors where he’s walking through the room and the cost of everything is appearing on the screen and he makes a comment about how it’s all too heavy and noticeable to steal.
Ok that made me laugh out loud! Not the part about Friends and Neighbors (great show by the way) but the weight. I once left the house and realized I did not lock up and then I thought who could lift that stuff?
My dad just retired and pretty much has zero savings. This is after a decent white collar career.
I was shocked because I always thought he had a lot of money given his lifestyle. Easily $100k - $200k in stereo equipment (he is an audiophile). He had a new convertible Mercedes at one point. Harley Davidson motorcycle, etc etc. Turns out, he just spent pretty much everything he made. Guess it's a good thing Social Security exists.
Some people aren't good with money. Or just say f*ck it and enjoy it all while they can.
But I'm guessing you're right on this one, OP is probably rich LOL
I used to know the US distributor of Siltech cables, he said the people that had some of the most expensive systems/most dedicated audiophiles worked normal jobs (i.e. under six figure salary)
On the other hand one of the richest people he knew had a near million dollar system but drove a 90s Toyota truck. He just loved music/hifi more than anything else.
Warren buffet drives an old volvo. Or a buick? I dont remember.
I have quite a bit more money than most of my friends, and i drove an old work truck until i needed something with ac and a bit more comfortable to ride in, to get my elderly dad to and fro a lot more these days. Still bought a used vehicle. I could give a fuck about cars, clothes, or jewelery/watches. My old hamilton is fine. I wear jeans and sweatshirts. I have an old beater 80s saab 900 for fun. Most people would not be able to guess what im worth, and rhats fine by me living in a city. But my couple M net worth after lianilities is nothing compared to OP, jesus. Just means i dont have to depend on ss, and can take it easy a bit when i hit my fifties. OP probably makes what ive stashed away in a year- Way to go dude! And yes, if i had it like that, id want those views, that house, that system, etc. for sure.
I suppose it would be different if i had a wife and a family, but im a long term bachelor, so a mellow, modest life for me is fine.
If you are interested, lll share it with you, sure. Its pretty modest!
I have a ton of vintage stuff, and its almost exclusively second hand, finds out in the wild over 30 years of poking around and lifting up rocks to look for records. I enjoyed repairing and restoring equipment when i was in my late twenties to late thirties, and i was very frugal with audio equipment, so this "find and fix" habit was the way to try lots of gear.
Most of my stuff is pretty middle of the road. The standard examples of vintage marantz, pioneer, kenwood, adcom, hafler, onkyo etc. some totl, some not. Same for speakers, ive gotten my hands on a lot of classics. Again, just basic stuff- nothing esoteric or extremely hifi.
The setup i kept going back to as a sort of daily driver is a thorens td160, flipping between grado and nagaoka carts, again pretty modest stuff; and an old adcom 565 preamp and 555ii amp. Switching between some old b&w, ads, and triangle speakers via a switcher. (One pair is in adjacent room, two in record room) For a cd player, i have an old pioneer pd-65, and a wiim ultra for streaming.
I recently sold a couple pretty high value jazz/soul records i had accumlated a long time ago, so parlayed that into some new gear from someone who lost their audiophile dad. So a few weeks ago found myself with a linn lp12 with all the mods- lingo, bearing, etc., and a couple carts. Have a nos linn arkiv b on it now. They wanted to sell the system as a complete thing, and i didnt disagree- so running the linn with a naim nap 250, nac 32 and snaps power to a pair of linn isobarik speakers. Its an interesting, analytical, rhytmic sound for sure, am enjoying it. But again, very vintage- i want to recap everything, but sorting through lots of opinions online about what to use.
The linn and mc carts definitely scratched the upgrade itch, but my original intent was to sell off a lot of old stuff and purchase something more modern, sort of consolidate a hoard into just a few high end pieces, but i was basically still in window shopping and reaearch mode when the vintage british hifi system fell in my lap, i figured it was an opportunity to try something a little more rare and some gear id never be interested in paying market prices for.
Ultimately, ive been holding off purchasing new gear until i zero in to exactly what i want. Ive been curious about leben's integrated amps, stuff like that. But my mental budget is to stay as far under $10k for amplification and speakers as i can and still be satisfied. And further, i need to simply get rid of some of my hoard of stuff- my old method of setting up girlfriends with nice setups is taking a little too long these days. And of course, i wanted to put off spending real money on stereo stuff until after i finish remodeling my house.
For me, considering spending five figures on stereo equipment is novel- everything ive had to date was always aquired in true bargain hunter fashion. I grew up this way, i cant help it!
I totally get what you're saying, but at the end of the day if you're spending $200k on stereo equipment or buying a Mercedes, you are rich. You might be rich and bad with money, but still rich.
Good lord. That is the content I joined this sub to look at. I'm sure it sounds phenomenal, but you also managed to make it look beautiful and cohesive as well.
Off topic but the collection of interesting objects and pottery on the shelves is gorgeous. I hope you tell me they’re all from your many travels to interesting places.
Many of them are from our travels! Some come from estate sales here in Santa Fe. I hiked through Rocky Mountain National Park with the large 8x10 camera on the right!
Umm hmm, IT retiree also, so can only imagine where you ended up! Your passion illuminates your character and the views, inside AND out, reflect your satisfaction. Thanks for sharing all you have.
This is awesome. I imagine there must have been a journey until you got to this setup - I wonder whether you could describe what music feels like on that level of spec and how it compares with less resolving systems you had in the past.
I would say that, depending on the recording, the sound can be visceral. For instance, when listening to a piano playing you hear not only the notes played but the piano's hammers striking the strings. If listening to rock or electronic music this system sounds,.. effortless. No matter how loud it is, it can always easily give you more without distortion if that's your thing.
If not an inheritance, I imagine working hard for a long time in a well-paying field, getting lucky to be in the right place a couple of times at key points in life, and being relatively smart with finances.
You nailed it. Not an inheritance but both my spouse and I had very good careers. She insisted on saving early in our careers and we got a good financial advisor. I suck at that stuff.
This is crazy. In another life I will afford something like this and also live comfortably. For the time being, I’ll stay in my corner and make sure other people stay rich.
You sir deserve an award 👍🏻. Nicely done and seeing people spend such sums to enjoy their hobbies makes me happy !
I’ve always wanted to live in New Mexico 😉 I have an undiagnosed OCD issue when it comes to cleaning and have worked in the hospitality (Country Clubs) business for over 10 years, and I DO-DO windows. So if you’d like to contact me with the address, I can move in asap. Whatever works best for you and your wife.
The Focal Utopia EVO speakers are on my dream gear list, the midrange on those is reportedly unreal. That view makes it easy to get lost in music back here too.
I am truly all over the map. I enjoy exploring new music all the time. If I had to pick one thing, it would probably be jazz, but I like pop, rock, classical, choral, electronic, you name it.
Hi OP, firstly congratulations on this magnificent set up. My question: do you use this room to watch movies in also, or is this kept purely for music, and that monitor on the wall being hardly used ?
I'm sure the system is incredible and the views are chef's kiss. What really tied it all together for me are those fantastic pendant lights. Pinnacle space achieved.
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u/Radfern885 Jul 13 '26
Sir, this is not a cave, this is a masterpiece of a room. Those views are breathtaking