My Current HiFi System 2025
I get emails from time to time asking me what the state of my system is. It has changed often, usually every few months as I get new pierces in that I fall for. I am a HiFi addict after all, lol.
This is my current system:
Speakers
Icon 12 Speakers from O Audio.
From the moment I heard the Icon 12 and saw these in the flesh I knew that they would be up my alley. These are majestic. end game and for those who love a bit of warmth, big body, big bass and a sweet wide open treble that is airy and holographic. No sub needed or desired in my 13X18 space. These are without question my favorite speakers of all time. They are on the warm side (yet still amazing detail and never overcooked) with my Nagra setup but also have thunderous impact and a larger than life sound. They are refined and can do whispers or roars. Amazing if this kind of sound is up your alley. What I love is they sound good, no…amazing with just about all kinds of music. Not bright, not dark, just right. Bass down into the upper 20’s.
Pure Audio Project Duet 15
I love these and now have the Horn version set up. It’s a looker and brings the open baffle wide open sound. The bass doesn’t reach the heights of my Icon 12’s but these are all about being natural, open and the way these project voices into the room, well they will induce goosebumps with Jazz, Vocals, and even acoustic instruments. I like rock and metal much more with my Icon 12’s but for those times I want an easy going wide open vibe, I place these in. Jazz has the clarity, snap and energy all presented. The Voxactiv version is a little warmer, meatier and I keep going back and forth as to which I prefer. Both are stunning but the 1.6 Voxactiv is what I would recommend for most unless you love horns like me ; )
Amplification
Nagra HD Preamp, HV Version. This was a crazy purchase for me in Jan 2025 and I stressed about it for months. After I bought it I had some things happen that crippled me financially and I was going to sell it all. I listed them at a crazy low price, my HD pre and Amp but all I got were low ballers who thought I was desperate and wanted 80% off. No, I wasn’t desperate nor would I sell for 80% off. I decided to keep this pre-amp after placing it back in my system after being out for a month. I shed tears while listening that night and vowed to do my best to keep this, and so for now I am. I will deal with the other issues in another way. Regrets suck,
Nagra Classic AMP. This is one of my fave amplifiers ever. Such a sweet sound with an airy treble, warm-ish midrange and just right bass. This is an organic beautiful amp that just brings such a beautiful and at times haunting sound. Holographic imaging and never bright or hard. While it’s a pricey amp, it’s made to the highest standards and is built to last a lifetime. I am using it with the VFS plate. It’s expensive, but we do sometimes get what we pay for. These are also made in Switzerland.
I purchased the Nagra gear from Unveiled Audio.
Streamer
Nagra Streamer. This is the lowest cost item Nagra makes and at $5k while it is not cheap for just a streamer, again, you are getting what you pay for in performance. There are streamers out there in the five figures though yet I couldn’t care less. This streamer has beaten everything I have tested it against and I love it for its simplicity. There is no app needed, it is ROON ready, does Spotify connect very well as well as Tidal connect. Only two outputs which is an N Link and COAX. I use the COAX and the sound is again, full bodied with amazing details and depth. Layers, texture, and yes streamers make a difference. Source is king and the Nagra streamer is excellent.
I bought mine from Unveiled Audio.
DAC
LAIV Micro Harmony DAC. Yea, one would think that this DAC doesn’t fit in with the Nagra gear I have but this HiFi thing is more about synergy that what a piece cost. The Micro DAC is and will be in my products of the year for 2025 because of the insane value it offers. This DAC sounds better to me than a $5k+ DAC I recently heard. At $994 this is a bargain of the highest order. It is rich, beefy, warm with again, just the right amount of details. I hate lean, harsh, bright and overdone transparency. This is not that. Instead it will get you moving to the music vs analyzing it. A STEAL!
Power Conditioning
VINSHINE/KINKI Tai Hang. This has been a tough one to crack as I can’t stand some of the power conditioners out there today. I found the Audioquest models to brighten up the sound. I lived with the Puritan PSM 156 for a couple of years as it effectively fixed my DC issue but even it brightened things up a tad. I now use the Tai Hang and it has been a miracle maker for my bad power. It not only fixed the DC issue on my line, it doesn’t limit current so amps can and should be plugged in as well. My amps sounds better plugged in to the Tai Hang. Also, it eliminates noise and acts as a surge protector as well. This launched at around $1k but due to Tarrifs it is now $1700, Yes Tarrifs are a tax on US and many have already been raising prices in the audio world. Even at $1700 it is well worth it and I prefer it to the Puritan and Audioquest models. I even tested it against another brands $6k model and prefer the Tai Hang! Fit and finish is awesome as well. Another bargain.
Cables
For speaker and interconnect cables I use over a decade old Nordost Valhalla V1 for speaker and Interconnects.
I have tested nearly 100 cables and always go back to the Valhalla. These are in no way “bright” as some have said. Again, synergy. Im my system as shown above these offer an amazing level of bass definition, treble sweetness and midrange awesomeness. These are neutral with a warm tilt when paired with the right amp and speakers. They allow all info to transmit and I have never found another cable I like better, even the V2 Valhalla, which I found to be too thick sounding when I tested them. Then again, that could have been a synergy mismatch back then. In any case, the OG Valhalla is a cable you keep for life.
See my Video on the Nordost Cables.