Called "Morphing", because it did! LD, turntable, DAC...all went "bye-bye" in lieu of updated gear. I replaced them with a VPI Scout/Shelter 501 combo, and the sleeper Marantz SA-8260 SACD player. The Perreaux, Legacy's, and Hsu did stay. This has been a very satisfying system, overall, especially since the addition of the "tubes". The room is on the small side, and the shape forces compromises in system setup (as does WAF), but this isn't bad!

This system had been dormant for probably ten years. A recent foray back into pro-audio (I was an FOH mix guy in the mid-seventies) refocused my perspective, and caused me to dig back into my vinyl collection. I was never really "sold" on digital, although the system originally was built around the Audio Alchemy DDE+. I had a Perreaux SM-2 pre at the time, which "enhanced" (if you can call it that) the digital sound (wow, was it aggressive), and when I started recording classical vocal groups and ensembles a few years ago, I saw plainly how wrong my choices were! After hearing my brother's excellent Musical Fidelity/B&W system, I replaced the Perreaux SM-2 with the X-Pre and started in earnest to revamp the character of the whole rig. I'm there. I had no trouble settling on the VPI Scout with the wonderful Shelter 501 cartridge. As this combo has broken in, and I've tweeked the cartridge setup, the sound has gotten better and better. I can now say that it produces the best sound I've ever heard in my listening space! Involving, articulate, open, deep soundstage, and just wonderful highs - all the good stuff. What a wonderful piece of gear!

Finding the right digital front-end was another matter, nothing easy there at all! I researched many players in the $1000-$2000 range, and after much angst, I decided two things. One, I wanted an SACD capable player, and Two, tubed analog/output section wasn't a must. After many discussions and recommendations and then a local audition with one of my recordings, I bought the Marantz SA-8260, and man, am I happy! It is very analog-like, very smooth, has an open, layered soundstage, and on it Redbook CD's sound every bit as good as do SACD's (maybe even better). I love it, and highly recommend it!

I know you can see other components in the photos. A HT system dove-tails onto the stereo in "keep it separate!" way. I use a Pioneer VSX-27TX AVR receiver, a Jamo center channel speaker (below the Sony XBR monitor), a pair of refoamed Smaller Advents for the rear surrounds, and a Pioneer DVR-220s DVD recorder for DVD viewing. There is also an ancient JVC HRD-725U Hifi VHS deck in the system, along with a Hughes DirecTV receiver. I feed the front pre-outs of the VSX-27TX to the X-Pre when the wife and I want to watch a movie. I don't consider home theatre any more than entertainment, and it will stay pretty much the way it is. If something breaks, I'll replace it!

The Hsu sub isn't pictured. It lives by the rear wall, next to the "listening couch", as per Dr. Hsu's suggestion.

This system has arrived. It still requires some tweeking (which never stops, now does it), especially the turntable, but it is another world compared to what it once was. Am I happy? Ask my wife!