[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Charles

Dan, it is obvious that you as well as I have taken the "journey". Although we made mistakes we learned from them, hopefully not to repeat them. I began with tubes and vinyl and wound up with SS/digital for amp and pre. You have settled on tubes. I like the c2300 a lot. I wish Mac made a similar tube pre in their current lineup. I can't see how you are going to improve on your current gear. I think some might think, "Why what he's got currently is so simple, so obvious, so right." But not so. It's the result of years of experience and wisdom and experimentation.

Charles.......So true. The hardest part of high-end audio is knowing what sound you want. That seems simple enough, almost self evident, but it's not. As you pointed out, it takes years of experience and experimentation to gain the wisdom to make the right decisions, and to know when those decisions are worthy of settling on. I was most fortunate in the late 1960's to have a friend and hifi mentor who opened my eyes and ears to the possibilities that can be achieved by selecting audio components that create a sound I could truly embrace, or rather a sound that truly embraces me. He was instrumental in me purchasing my first McIntosh amplifiers, a pair of MC30 tube mono amps. His influence on my future audio direction was far greater than he ever knew.

I have a wonderful friend now who has helped me achieve the sound I enjoy today. His impact on my sound systems has been monumental. I now have two high-end sound systems in my home that I couldn't have dreamed of 50 years ago when I took my first steps into premium gear. The music I am able to enjoy every single day has enriched my life beyond words.