My Current HiFi System 2025 – Updated December 9th 2025.
Audio has been in my life since I was a kid. I started listening to my mom’s records at age 9 on a portable all in one crappy turntable. I bought my first “system” at 15-16 and every week I would buy a new album. I would listen to that album all week until it was time for the next purchase or sometimes wear out the grooves! I still own some of those original albums today though they do not get played anymore. These days I am 100% into digital streaming as this brings millions of tracks right to our fingertips and the sound can be unreal with the right setup.
I get emails from time to time asking me what the state of my system is. It has changed often, usually every few months in the past as I get new pieces in that I fall for. I am a HiFi addict after all, lol. Just because I change a piece doesn’t mean what I had before is bad or no longer loved, I just like to keep things fresh for the videos and to experience as much as I can. I do this to learn, to compare and to understand what makes some gear cost as much as it does.
I am setting up and all new system for 2026 and so far it is without question my favorite setup yet. Full details soon.
Lucky for me my wife is into this as well. While I listen daily, she sits with me on the weekends and we both enjoy it. Here we are on our weekend “date” at a local brewery. After this we went home to listen to some music. Fun Fact, my wife and I met in kindergarten and went to grade school together. Now in our upper 50’s we enjoy the simple things in life above all else.
This is my current system going into 2026:
Main Reference Speakers
YES these right here, the Fleetwood Helios will be my main speaker for 2026, and honestly these will never leave me. I may have said this before but there are many reasons why this time I mean it. Where to start? Well, my review for these is not quite done yet so I will not give too much away but let me say this…
The Fleetwood Helios is a speaker that should not exist in our audio world today. The Helios represent a value like I have never seen, ever. Not in my 40 years of being into music and audio. I have heard speakers that cost a shit ton more, but none as satisfying as these boxes. The driver used is a coaxial driver that is a professional and very expensive driver. It produces full range sound from these small boxes that boggle my brain. Teh workmanship is old school when there was passion and pride in creating something so very special, you would want o hand it down from generation to generation. The Helios is one such product and it has now bested what I called my :Spirit Speaker” in my 13X18 space. I have never heard a speaker like the Helios. Also, I can guarantee these will be backordered and there will be a wait list happening when my review hits. Th reason is simple. There has never been a luxury high end speaker such as this sold for $5,000 USD. In fact, it’s less than that as the price is $4950 and this to me is insane.
After speaking with Jonathan over at Fleetwood/OMA about this project he went deep with me into why he wanted to created a speaker like teh Helios. The bottom line is that this hobby is filled with overpriced gear that rarely lives up to the dollars you pay for it. Rarely do we get something like the Helios that sounds bigger than my huge floortsanders while being built with quality wood from PA and even uses torrified wood for the front of the speaker. The design is artistic and beautiful yet the sound is even more so. What these do is so unique, so amazing, so different and there is not a speaker made today that can even start to compete with the Helios for anywhere near what they cost. I bet Fleetwood is taking a bit of a loss here, even with their direct sales model. This is the first time I have seen any audio company release a product because it is special and will actually get people to LISTEN AGAIN to real music, at real volumes and this my friends can help us with stress, joy and even relaxation.
I am so excited about this one and NO, I WAS IN NO WAY PAID for this review. In fact I bought this set and paid for them because I know nothing else exists like these anywhere near this price. One may look at these as I initially did and think “wow, these look awesome buy they must send thin or weak” but this is not the case at all. The scale is huge, the soundstage is wall to wall, floor to ceiling and the depth is insane. These can do soft or loud as you can stand, and they never give up.
This is a product that is unlike any other as it gives us, the music love, a way to truly get it all in one small box. In my 13X18 space no sub is needed but I am sure one day I will try out the sub Fleetwood made to go with these. In any case, this is my new reference speaker and it is a reference, just as much as a $50k Wilson would be. At $5k this is stunning. Review to come soon but this may be the most special product I have ever gotten in and it makes some other speakers look like a rip off. Sorry to be blunt, but it’s true. These are a STEAL art $4950. I did buy the floor stands with them as well.
Amplification – The Vinshine/Kinki DAZZLE
This is a collab effort from Vinshine Audio and Kinki Studios and this my friends is the definition of a flagship integrated amp. It hangs with the best from the big names yet costs way less than those do. This integrated features things other brands never even think about such as including high end cryogenic treated fuses, cryogenic treated power inlet, insane construction and quality with gold plated PCB’s, vibration draining feet, a short and direct path from preamp to amp, a total of eight power supplies, dual 800w matched toroidal transformers (1600 watts of instant power on tap), dead silent operation, the all new SSCLD module for ultra wide bandwidth, dynamic range and virtually no distortion.
There is much more such as internal flame cabling, ShoonTH binding posts and the ability to drive any speaker made by man. It also plays well with easy to drive speakers. I have tested the Dazzle with five sets of speakers ranging from 82DB to 98DB efficient. Each time I was blown away by either the raw power on tap or the delicacy to which the Dazzle can perform. The sound is big, bold, powerful with an effortless flow. It is detailed, punchy and a bit incisive. The Dazzle comes with world class bass performance. It doesn’t run hot, just warm and yes it is large and heavy.
Update After The Review: In a 2 channel HIGH POWER analog integrated amp it doesn’t get much better, even if you spend much more. I should know, I have two $25k+ integrated amps here now and while they offer a little more in some areas, the Dazzle offers it all in a balanced way that is simply jaw dropping good for the $8500 USD price. Heck the Dazzle even offers a thing or two above those amps in sound. Yea, it costs a lot but again, this is a high end piece that performs and is built to a much higher level than the usual $8500 integrated. Finally a reference level amp that doesn’t cost $20k+, make electrical noises, doesn’t look gaudy and is A+ quality from knobs to fuses to wiring to speaker outs. You can spend more and maybe get a little more or maybe less. This one is not warm, not puffed up and also not lean or brought. It sits right down the middle but the star of the Dazzle show in performance is the effortless power it delivers.
You can see more info on the Dazzle HERE.
Amplification – Devialet Astra
Yes indeed, the Devialet Astra is still here and is the finest all in one integrated I have experienced. It’s a costly one to obtain but it does it all so no need for any other boxes if you like the vibe of this sleek integrated. Everything is optimized to work together perfectly from the streamer, DAC, pre amp and amp. The remote is the best ever made IMO and this piece delivers amazing sound and ease of use. Also houses a remarkable phono stage that puts most in integrated amps to shame. Amazing piece and no other “all in one” I have heard can deliver what the Astra brings. It’s sleek, thin, lightweight but solid and just works. While you can add your own streamer and DAC to the Astra the ones inside are top tier indeed.
Compared to the Dazzle the Astra has some warmth in the midrange, a softer yet airier treble and a more organic spatial vibe vs the raw impact and muscle of the Dazzle.
My Review of the Astra is HERE
PreAmp – Galion Navy
I had the super affordable P75 from Galion as my resident tube PreAmp but switched to the Navy after hearing it in my system with the A75 Power amp of which I also have on hand. These are the separates I have here as they are incredible for the money they cost, as in just a stupid deal. The Navy is a premium tubed preamp and it works so well with almost any amp I have tested with it. The Navy uses tubes so it has some tube flavor as well as a modern sound with open stage, details galore and solidity all at the same time. It’s a more refined, snappy and lit up version of the P75 with a bigger chassis and bolder looks.
This is here as when I need to test a power amp so the Navy will be my main goto in a preamp. It’s pretty awesome, built well, looks nice and sounds phenomenal. This one is also dead silent in operation. I use it from time to time with the A75 Power Amp which is just an insane deal. The Navy and A75 are under $5k for the set and can slay some pre/power combos that cost double.
Streamer
I will post what my streamer will be for 2026 soon! Still deciding. Will it be a past fave or an all new beast? I will reveal by end of year but the competition is fierce and maybe I do not need to spend as much as I thought here.
DAC
Still deciding on this one but getting close to spending way more than I wanted to on a DAC that brings all out magic with each listening session.
Network Switch – Vinshine Audio SW10 Pro
I’d recommend this for highly resolving systems for that “cherry on top” type of thing. It’s so worth it for my system here that it’s one of those permanent additions like speaker cables and power conditioners. It just stays in and does what it does without calling attention to itself. It does do what they claim it does and helps to make my streaming sound incredible. Overall a worthwhile addition to the system though probably not “needed”. More of a “WANT” as what it does is slight but it does it.
More info HERE at Vinshine Audio.
POWER CONDITIONER – Puritan Audio PSM 156 NFR + GroundMaster City Ultra
This replaced the awesome Vinshine Audio Tai Hang power conditioner for two reasons but will be my power conditioner going forward as I did just pay for it from Jaguar Audio, so I now own it and it will sit in this spot for all of 2026 and probably way beyond as I haven’t found better for my needs. This setup is pure gold for your power conditioning needs and is recommended for revealing systems where it will show it’s worth quickly.
In regards as to why this is replacing the TaiHeng…
#1 it has two more outlets (that are better) than the Tai Hang, and I needed them. Sure, I could have bought another Tai Hang as they are priced so right but when I heard the new PSM 156 NFR with its upgraded premium Furutech GTX series connectors (and the upgraded Ultimate cable it comes with) I was hooked instantly and this wasn’t even on my radar. Again, I thought “how could this be an improvement over the standard 156”? Well…it is and I feel this is one of the finest power conditioners you can buy. One guy who posted online replaced his big time money Shunyata Everest with this and has no regrets. It’s that good and sort of a small secret within the audio community. One of those “if you know, you know” kind of things.
#2 With the new Groundmaster City Ultra dded, the performance is stunning (and I prefer it to the stand alone ground master). It has cleaned up my electricity so well, even better than the TaiHang, previous 156, PS Audio PP20 and all of the Audioquest models I have tried. No hype, no joke. I hear instruments and voices easier now, as the system has taken on an even more effortless flow. Zero noise, grunge, buzz or hums at all. This dual setup costs a lot but power is the foundation of our systems and so many disregard it. Then again, not everyone may need a power conditioner, but some will absolutely hear the benefits with ease. I feel almost any great system can benefit from one though and JaguarAudio allows for a trial period with this piece. Check ’em out. BTW, I have been using Puritan Ultimate power cables in my system for years now and have several. These are my go to PC’s and all I will use. The Puritan does “sound” different from the “TaiHang” and I will speak of this in my review soon.
I have tested power conditioners from the “best” such as Audioquest (up to Niagra 5000), PS Audio (big money PP20), Shunyata ($6500 Denali) and a few others as well. I will just say that the new Puritan NFR is end game for me and my power needs as it just doesn’t get better unless you spend $20k+ and even then, not so sure this can be bested as it does what it says and it delivers. I prefer it to all of the above conditioners as those were all great but didn’t fully address all of my power issues. The PSM 156 NFR does. My system never sounded so deader than black quiet, nor has it ever been as revealing. I mean this in only the best way. Also, this is fantastic for removing DC on your lines. This DC can cause transformers to hum and buzz, and yea, I have it on my line. This fixes it and my amps that used to buzz due to this DC on the line, well they no longer do this.
With this said…
I would recommend this Puritan 156 NFR for high end revealing systems, and the Tai Hang or standard PSM 156 for mostly everyone else. These are the only two power products I recommend at this time, period.
This one is a level up from the standard 156 and offers a bit more solidity while still making everything sound clear and clean with a slightly expanded soundstage and it is noticeable and easy to hear. I had zero intention to move from the TaiHang but this one did it for me. No it’s not aesthetically as pleasing as any of the others but for me, these things stay hidden anyway. What matters is the performance and this one is insanely good.
The 156 NFR comes with an updated Ultimate cable that uses Furutech connectors which is pretty sweet as that alone is a $2k upgrade.You will never need another power solution than right here.
Review by end of Year or early 2026 on the PSM 156 NFR and GroundMaster City Ultra.
You can get this from Jaguar Audio HERE.