Pricey system, mid-fi or lower tier, room treatment and speaker/equipment placement is many times the overlooked key to a better sounding system. It always cracks me up when I see a guy showing off his awesome gear and its all placed in wonky positions with speakers slammed up against the wall or zero room consideration/treatments. With those elements in mind one can make a lower priced system sound much much better than the price simply by changing speaker placement and the acoustical considerations of the room one is dealing with. Id go so far as saying that room size, treatment, distancing, acoustics should be ones first consideration when looking for a system and then getting the most out of the gear one can afford. Crazy great system Mike! Keep tweekin ;)

I used to be, 25 years ago, one who upgraded forever. Cables interconnects odd mods to tweak units. Now I am happy with a system that costs $2k and thousands of lps. I discovered that properly cleaning records gives the system a massive upgrade. So I buy albums and clean rhem and I am happy.

"The maid snapped the cartridge" dude when i start having that problem I'll know I've made it 🤣

It was only last night i watched your system setup from last year. And this now drops today. Thanks for the update.

Just auditioned Air Force Zero yesterday, best analog experience I have ever had. I am using a Air Force III right now and have listened to I multiple times. I would say they are definitely the way to go, record have never sound this way before until you audition a TechDAS turntable.

Mike that's an amazing setup killer turntable and those VTL looks stunning.

I totally get what you are saying about collecting rare, quality issues. My taste in music evolves constantly and my preference for different masterings and formats does as well. Awesome explanation RE Townes. Do a video of your audiophile CD/SACD collection!

Thanks so much for going into detail about you Solidsteel rack. As you can imagine, photos and video do not tell the whole story. It’s great to hear it from a hands-on perspective.

Really nice system/s, Mike! Definitely, something to be proud of and worth showing off. If it were me, I'd consider some cable management to give it that extra touch.

Very nice upgrade, Mike👌🏽😊! I know what you mean by moving the front speakers to ONLY place in a room. It took me allmost 3 years to be satisfied with the placement of my Martin Logan ReQuest. Not because I didn’t know how to do it, but because I’m a hifi-nerd🤣. When I once was satisfied with the perfect position, then I upgraded the system with six Martin Logan Balanced Force 210 behind the speakers ( three on each side in a tower configuration ) and ajusted them like you have done. Mening, that they are working at a very low volyme, just to fill out the atmospheric air pressure in the room…and go waaay down in frequency☝🏽😊👌🏽… and like you said… What a difference it makes😀👍🏽. But no matter what…. The most important thing when building a great stereo-system is to match every equipment together with each other… which is the most difficult thing to do… It takes time, and you got to have great connections with a lot of hifi-dealers to be able to borrow home the gears and try it out in your current system. Only then, when you’ve matched everything together… then you will be able to tweak in the last part of the sound.. Then I can asure that you will be rewarded. Good luck with with your upcoming upgrades😊👍🏽. Best Regards from Johan, an audiophile from Sweden.

Great setup, Mike. I have audio research, Wilson alexx, clearaudio ovation with universal arm and Lyra kleos. so I know how good it can be. Like you said, once you hear it, you can't unhear it!

You're a legend Mike...I really loved this! Thanks

I live in Richmond VA. So does Ken Fritz. If God had a hi-fi system, it would be second best to Ken's system. I'd give my to spend an hour getting to hear it. I wish my system was 1/10 as good as yours. 😎👍

This is so close to be a nice mastering studio ;)

You're the ultimate tweaker! I'm impressed!

Being an audiophile, you will never be satisfied That is a given

I like this channel to learn about new music hitting the record stores and to be reminded of how crazy the record collecting habit is. But this quote from the beginning of the video says a lot: "I think with audiophiles in general…most audiophiles, if you’re really into this, I don’t know if you are ever totally done. You know, you get an upgrade in your system that shows other weaknesses in your system and you start upgrading again. And it’s a vicious cycle and it never ends…." Another way to look at it is just how much better the music sounds after an upgrade. I just upgraded a component and am enjoying listening to how much better this or that record, cd, or hi-res file sounds. I am thinking here too of the William Blake line "The selfish smiling fool and the sullen frowning fool shall both be thought wise, that they may be a rod." Even the highest of high-end audio requires a compromise, and it must be difficult to always be unsatisfied: a bottomless pit of audiophile disappointment. Spin a beat up Chuck Berry record and remember how good the music is!

Fantastic video! Thanks for doing this.

Great video. Love your gear!

never mind the audio equipment. I'm sure the sound absorbing wall piece that hangs above it is more expensive than 99.9% of peoples entire setup.

Nothing beats the tube sound.

Hell of a system you got there.

This s such a fun (albeit expensive) hobby, such a high!

Nice gear Mike. I was a dedicated Koetsu guy from the early 80's but I would give the My Sonic Lab a serious listen & a real under the radar gem is the Lyra Etna. I am a tube amp lover all the way, Air Tight being my choice but after many years of playing with phono stages I think solid state is an advantage generally. As far as an air bearing linear tracker arm goes, I know it makes sense in principle but in the real world I think it isn't worth the effort. I say this owning quite a few including the Versa Dynamics 2.3 which I consider the very best ever created. Hopefully you might find this helpful as it is obvious you know what you are doing. All the best.

I absolutely love these. Keep ’em coming!

Man, your wife helped you move those? She must really love you.

This reminds me of car guys who are constantly trying to get their car engines tuned to certain performance specifications.

Very nice man congrats!

Gorgeous system Mike. I wish I could listen to it in person. How can you not like Towns Van Zandt?

I've bough ATR newly manufactured reel to reel tape, which is really good. I use it on an old Pioneer rt-707, which is actually pretty good sounding for the money.

Reel to reel. Got me, dude.

I would usually look to constantly upgrade, but my financial situation forbids it! I'd be lucky to buy two records a month these days, it sucks for me!

Never Let the Maids Near the Gear. (new t-shirt idea for you, Mike)

Hey boss much love your featured in my next series of hi-Fi videos scheduled this Friday hope you get a chance to take a peep. You do a roller job and never steer us wrong 🥳

Subs are ideally used for sound reinforcement - With a few exceptions. Love that you essentially call this out about your (large) subs. You sometimes need to have large things to perform subtle tasks exceedingly well.

Hi Mike, Could you please do a video on the different phono cartridges that you have listened to and what their sound signature is like? Thanks for the videos.

Look into First Sound audio pre-amps ...nothing compares!

I have upgraded my system a couple of times, but I have never heard any improvements. I think its mostly placebo! I don’t think I would hear any difference between $1000 system or a $100.000 system. But it’s fun with gadgets ;-)

Impressive view.

Nice system. Did you ever think about Astethix Reah as a phonostage? They also can accommodate three turntable. I own one of it and it's sounds amazing.

Awesome. The wood art/diffuser and source gear is 180° opposite from the speakers? How many speakers in that room? I got confused. Would be cool to get a better look at the whole room.

Great video. Wish I could hear them.

"This isn't a club" Great quote. I have the same window on the front wall condition. Are you doing much treatment to it other than the light drape? I have a heavier drape over my set of windows and it seems to help the sound stage. Thanks

I’d love to learn more about the diffuser/art above the gear.

So Mike. Has this speaker placement fine tuning cured the “They only sound good on the best recordings” issue Speaker placement The best free tweak ‘

I just got a cambridge xax35 with the hope of getting some hifi from my old records. After seeing this I think I'll give up.

In the Miyajima Zero you've got one of the best true mono cartridges made(2nd to the Miyajima Infinity). I have a Zero as well. You have the Miyajima mono SUT. .Is your MP1100 a mono phono preamp or a stereo phono preamp with a mono setting/switch as there is a big difference..My Rogue Ares Magnum tube phono has a stereo input and separate mono input and mono switch(and Bob's Blue Sky 20 cinemags)...Most people I've spoken to or read their posts find that they want to play the mono release instead of stereo of many titles. My choice is starting with a first press mono Blakey Free For All. Your speakers will have smoke pouring out of them.

Very nice 👍

So you're puttin out about 120 db. I think thats enough man!

Wow! I listen to records about twelve hours a day and one of your steel shelves cost twice as much as my entire system 😂.

“Honey, those 3 inches really made a difference.. *audible chortle*” - Angel

We need a Steve Guttenberg (Audiophiliac) / The ‘in’ Groove video! :-)

Italian made, killer rack, weighs 210pounds, $$$, built like a tank! .....records on the floor. ;)

11:12 This! Its getting more and more frequent for me to "fire and forget" most of my vynil: I buy them, get a 24-bit digital copy on it and that's it, off to the record they go. And because I know so many other audiophiles its getting to the point where I buy the record but because someone already digitized it I just keep it sealed. I know, that's crazy. But its a crazy world we're living in.

I like your videos and wish I could visit your store. Ty for all you do Please try some other power cords I own wire world power cables that are sitting around or plugged into non important things. Their speaker cables and interconnect are good, their power cables are not. You will not believe the difference when you plug thicker cables to your amps I use Shunyata and Audioquest power cords. Even a Shunyata venom HC will make your amps work much better.

“He who has ears, let him hear.” - Jesus Christ, Bible.

Would like to hear the sound of your great setup have you got any sound demo's 👍👍

Nice! Hey, I need a turntable. What do you recommend for around $1000 bucks? I'm on a budget.

What's the function of a pre-amp as opposed to just using a integrated amp?

I guess the shootout is Animals then as you have a stack next to the setup?

So, Pink Floyd - Animals is the next shoot out video. 😃

I would give anything to hear Polaris'-"Pray for rain" on this setup. Seriously.

What records did you use to position the speakers?

Mike you think your done then something else comes along then ive got to have it

Great set up, thanks for sharing! I have a question for you. You mentioned Art Blakeys' Moanin as your favorite Jazz album, I just picked that up (the blue note mastered by Kevin Gray) and upon first playing, heard what sounded like scratches in the record only coming out of the left channel on the first song at certain times when the horn would play. Took it back to the store and got another one and the same thing happened! All other records I've played after didn't do it and even played it on my roommates system and heard the same thing. It's not system, but the recording. Why would Kevin Gray allow that to get through? I've never heard such imperfections on anything else by him or other albums I've bought ever. The store manager said that's how it was recorded. I don't believe him as I think it's a bad run. Any thoughts from you since you know and love this album? It stinks, because hearing you say it's your favorite and from what I heard I liked and now I feel like I'm missing out. Thank you for your time! Happy Record Store Day!

you have to get Katanga! on Tone Poet

Yea, but how does it sound?

Nice. What's the room size?

Its Ko-wet-su. You’re making it sound like a penguin of Madagascar.

Upgrade to the cruiser tonearm with the Koetsu sapphire tipped styli.

Wow. 🤩

I've been an audiophile for over 20 years and have arrived at my final system....Zingali twenty evo 1.2 and Gryphon Diablo 300... Using Gryphon VIP speaker cabling and JPS labs Aluminata power cords... Sublime... Synergy is key along with simplicity... I cringe at alot of these 'hifi' brands and pricing... There is too much going on in this system... Keep it simple... I wouldn't touch most of today's 'hifi' brands given the choice... personally I prefer the true hifi artisans♥️

my ultimate system would be a pair of cerwin vega at 15s a bryston 4b a urie 1620 and a technics sl1200 mk2 and a stanton 681eee

The VTL phonostage will sound better than the Macintosh but you do indeed loose that flexibility ! Keep the Mac ; get the new Modwright 9.0 X and use it with your new Kuzma Stabi reference with 4 point tone arm (cartridge of your choice!) . The present table is still great ! Just upgrade the tone arm . There I started you down another Rabbit hole LOL.

I'd like to see your record collection.

So where is the demo?

How often are you ever sitting around splicing tape on that thing Brother?

What do you use the JC5 for?

One word . . . KRELL

I thought you preferred line arrays. A year earlier you were raving about the McIntosh line array speakers. What happened?

Not bad. No lava lamps

The amount of times Mike mentions things didn’t sound right with his already extremely high end gear makes me very hesitant to get into hifi! I’ve read many times how certain speakers only mix well with certain equipment. How does one really know until you get it into your home???!!! Testing it in the store might make it sound different….plus it will be on a different turn table . Too many variables! 🤪

Hello sir I like ur hi fi system it's super brilliant,,,, one thing how do get one with out the wife divorceing me,,,,, ur help is badly needed 😏👍🤓

MUST BE NICE

As Arnie said in The Terminator…….”Give me you address there”.

I commented a few videos back that you should ditch the MAC gear, coloured as shit and not hifi. Glad to see you have come to your senses.

Clearly, you haven't heard the Einstein OTL Silver Bullet amps to drive the Wilsons! You've been warned!!

Try finding amps to drive big Maggies, really difficult, why would you buy very expensive kit if you can't try it at home? Buy now or cry later, where have I heard that before, how true. My wife did exactly the same when I was auditioning my Constellation Mono blocs.

6:50 $2500 for a rack? Ok I have now officially heard it all. My Goodness.

My girlfriend also tells me 3” make a big difference.

George Benson...Dave Wilson...WHO ARE YOU???

wife permitting haha

I keep a note on my dust cover, PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH, PLEASE DO NOT CLEAN. It's for the maid and everyone else.

Are all record store owners this wealthy 😮

Now I have a better understanding why records are $40 a pop. 😂

How in the hell do you afford all this. I know people who own a million dollar plus business and couldn’t afford all this plus normal life expenses. Lol.

"Electricity is half the sound"

Vinyl will never sound as good as cd

Cool video but I have no idea really what Mike is talking about. I mean I know what pieces he is talking about but "clipping," yeah no idea what that is.

And no matter what, it’ll never sound live.