Thank you guys. Much appreciated.

Jerome. I saw you got the full set of Mc again ?

No Paul. That’s an old pic.

Bluemcintosh, your system is beautiful. I noticed you have left Tannoy for Avantgarde. While I have had opportunity to hear and compare many acoustic suspension vs. ported systems, my experience with horns is almost zero. If I might ask, why do you prefer horns? Also, I think your choice of Accuphase with your horns a truly excellent choice. While I think Accupase has adequate power for inefficient speakers, it might not be my first choice. However, with horns it seems to me that Accuphase would be my absolute solid state amp of choice but what do I know? I have always felt that a solid state amp should not be pushed past about 10% of rated power for optimum performance. Anyway, what a beautiful well thought out system. If I were going to start over, I would seriously consider a system such as yours.

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Charles Updated System
Amps: McIntosh 1.25KW’s (3) set on floor on custom made cultured marble slabs
Preamp and DAC: McIntosh D1100
Sources: McIntosh MCD1100 SACD player, MVP881 BR player, MVP851 DVD player, MR87 tuner, Marantz 510LV Laser Disc player, ASUS laptop USB (JRiver Media Center 23)
Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Alexx
Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1) horizontal lie and Wilson Watch Controller (abbr: WC)
Cables main system: Audioquest Wel Signature speaker cables and balanced IC (preamp to amps); Wel Signature AES/EBU balanced digital IC for CD playback; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for BR player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Coffee USB cable; McIntosh MCT cable for SACD playback; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for tuner; cables for DVD player not listed
Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC from WC to amp; Wind balanced IC from preamp to WC; Hurricane HC (2) and Dragon HC (1) power cords
Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines with no. 10 wire straight out of fuse box
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) solid walnut cabinet on large casters; holds all sources and preamp; also, Niagara 7000; 15 feet minimum distance from speakers
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes enough to turn the room into a virtual anechoic chamber if desired; however, at present my room is significantly reflective giving me a bright, vibrant, dynamic, highly resolving, smooth sound free of harshness and grain and perfect for my taste; zero slap echo; gorgeous midrange
AC: Dedicated to this room only, an ultra-high efficiency and quiet Trane split system 2.5-ton heat pump with 4 returns; active electrostatic filter and top-grade digital thermostat
Room (mancave): 40’L x 15.5’W A-frame; max ceiling height 8’ min 5’; wall within wall construction built of 2 x 6’s; built over garage with custom hardwood floor with gym seal with over 40 Lowes stiffened wooden I-beams supporting floor; complete isolation from rest of house

Thank you so much Charles. You have a wonderful system as well. [emoji1360]

I had my goal set about 7 years ago that my destination set up would be the horn + tube + analog. I had few guys who owns them they going around the audio show hear the systems and end of the day they chuckle and going back home enjoying their horn and tube set up always wondering what’s going on :). One day I checked older Avantgarde Uno with Coincident 300b amps and makes me wowza. It was just stunning sound with makes my toe tapping with whole session. However I was still worried about the bass integrate issue with older generation as soon as they come up with XD. ( which upgrade the DSP setting and Class D instead of Class AB amp they used on bass module ) I said that’s it.

With Avantgarde Mezzo XD I feel so connected to the music, it’s absolutely stunning. The music is freed from the box and just appears in my room. Vocals are wonderfully natural. They have tremendous 3D, depth and width. The music is so dynamic, clear and open. Simply totally disappears. People used to call me a speaker whore [emoji38] well after living with them I sold off all my others coz I do not need them anymore. This Mezzo is all I need.

In terms of Accuphase E650. They are excellent but I still preferred the tube sound as mains source and the E650 doing a great job as second amp. Love both.

Thanks again Charles.