My Current HiFi System 2026 – Updated January 29th 2026 – NOW COMPLETE!
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 the 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.
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 way to my mothers house on Christmas Day 2025. 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 Stand Mount
SPEAKER #1 – T+A Talis R330 in Silver – Full Range Stand Mount made in Germany.
These are pure reference speakers for small to mid sized rooms. These sooth my soul on those nights when I want a bit of warmth, a smooth sound but also beautiful detail. T+A makes Talis models in larger sizes as well for larger rooms but there is always something about a small two way that does magic in the right space.
These look the part as well with an all aluminum enclosure and in silver they are as gorgeous as any speaker I have come across. I have always had a love for a small traditional well done two way speaker and these from T+A, while small compared to some others, sound as big as my large floor standers in every way from soundstage to impact with bass. In my 13X18 space of course. The bass on the R330 is simply incredible and competes with the best 2 way speakers I have heard in the high end $10-$20k area. The treble is sweet, airy and never overdone. The midrange has richness and beauty as well as some soul. Some warmth and richness that is palpable. The bass, as I have said already is just incredible. Couldn’t want for more in a speaker of this size and while expensive at $10,900 you do get what you pay for with this German made speaker.
These are not hard to drive and I have ran them with a Billie MK3 ($3k), a T+A Dazzle ($8500), a SoulNote A2 MKII and a Galion A75 ($1500) and all powered them with ease and beauty but the Dazzle and SoulNote topped the list for all out sound quality. The R330 are end game under $15k for a small stand mount and no sub is needed at all in my 13X18 room.
These are just superb speakers from pedigree, design, build and materials and sound. For those who want to step up their sound to the high end while keeping things small and easy to manage.
Pros: Gorgeous and so solid in build – all aluminum enclosure – all drivers and parts made in house by T+A in Germany – big sound – huge deep and controlled bass – these sound like big towers in the right room – great for small to mid large rooms – not so hard to drive but love some power – sweet sound, smooth but extended treble, some warmth in the mids yet every detail is exposed. Punchy when need be, sweet when need be, intense when need be. Just amazing sound. Full bodied and so pleasant to listen to.
Cons: No cons here really as these are as complete as it gets and sound massive for their size. Price is high but these are German made and very premium, made for those who want a high end and end game small 2 way. Maybe not the best for really small rooms as these can really pump out the bass.
Posted a bunch of first looks and sound samples at my instagram @hifihuffofficial
Review to come in Feb 2026 – still waiting for the silver to show up to showcase both.
SPEAKERS #2 – Fleetwood Helios – Audio art made in the USA.
This $4940 made in the USA speaker is functional art and what a sound these have. Made from 1″ This PA solid OAK that has been torrefied (cooked) for stability and the color you see here is not stain, but rather it comes from the cooking of the woods. No other speaker maker does this as it for sure raises the cost of creating it and many look to spend the least and charge the most. Fleetwood Sound does it different and that’s one of the reasons I love them.
The performance here is so good when it comes to being huge in scale, soundstage width, height and depth and the imaging and soundstage is also quite surreal. The midrange is magic, the treble is extended and open yet quite smooth. Realism in the mids. Very immersive and spatial presentation and in fact, some of the best, if not THE best I have had here in this regard.
These will never shout at you but will instead give you an immersive soul stirring listening session within the right setup. Immersion is top tier when set up away from walls a bit, a bit wide apart and allowing them to breath. Low volume listening is special as well. After months of use, these have also tamed up from the first couple of weeks of use. These now have some warmth as well and are just remarkable in their realism.
These are not like the T+A R330 above but rather quite different. As for Bass these are very good for the size but will not do deep bass (as in down to the 20’s or 30’s) and they are not “fat” or “juicy” in the mids either but rather about bringing you all of the information within a recording in a human and beautiful way. For those who do want a sub and some of that reinforcement from the bottom up Fleetwood offer the perfect match at their website in the Fundamental sub. You can see a three song sound well recorded demo in my members area at YouTube HERE with no sub. These sound better to me in some ways vs the T+A especially for immersion and space but the T+A is a bit juicier in sound, with bigger bass. With the Helios, voices greet you, instruments are focused and separated very well and again, come out in the deep and tall stage.
They like to be placed wide apart, slight toe in and love powerful amps, tube amps and an amp with some warmth behind it will plump them up a bit. I sit 8 feet from them and they are about 8 feet apart. There is magic in these boxes.
Pros: Gorgeous unique design and super solid in build – Real 1″ PA Oak for construction vs veneer or pressed wood – uses a pro audio 5″ coaxial driver that sounds haunting at times and a tweeter sits behind this driver, hidden – big sound – massive scale and soundstage in depth, width and height – organic and uber real in sound with vocals – artists are there with you as they project a bit out from the stage – great for small to mid sized rooms – not so hard to drive – Immersive as it gets along with being soul stirring – World class in midrange performance. Also, these love the Western Electric 91E 300B integrated amp.
Cons: There is only one for me as these do not do low bass down in to the 20’s or 30’s. Rather, these go down into the upper 40’s-50’s yet sound somewhat full deepening on amp used, tubes more so vs solid state. I love them as is in my 13X18 room as there is magic here to be found but I also realize they are not quite full range when it comes to the deep bass. Stands are optional and you have three to choose from but these cost extra. I chose the floor stands. With stands these are more in the mid $6k range.
Posted a bunch of first looks and quick sound samples at my instagram @hifihuffofficial
Buy these or see more info at Fleetwood Sound
SPEAKERS #3 – Emotiva Nostala LB12
I waited weeks to do the review as I did not want to listen for a few days and whip out a fast review. These took some time as they kept getting better and better over the weeks I was evaluating them. Today they sound refined, beautiful and like a much more pricey speaker. With the Dazzle, Matrix NT1 and Wave Tube DAC the sound is big, full, room filling, somewhat immersive, somewhat 3D and oh so sweet without any hard edge or fatigue. All of this from a $3k set of speakers sold by an American company. These look gorgeous and are made to a higher build quality level than the competition such as JBL and Klipsch and sound more refined than either of them. Just my opinion of course.
At $3k these are actually a deal and are also easy to drive, are tunable with switches on the back and offer up a welcoming warm sound but with a little bit of soul. Much more than I ever expected for this price point. Well done Emotiva. These take me back to my teen years in style and looks but with a more modern sound. Not as refined as the Helios or T+A above bat these do not cost as much as those either.
See my written review HERE (video soon)
See them at Emotiva or order them HERE
Analog Integrated Amp – The Vinshine/Kinki DAZZLE – HiFi Huff Product of the Year 2025
This is a collab effort from Vinshine Audio and Kinki Studios and this my friends is the definition of a flagship analog integrated amp. It hangs with the best from the big names yet costs way less than those do. This integrated features things that most 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.
The build quality of this integrated is pure end game and seen in $20k and up amps, no joke or hype here. The back panel for example is solid metal and will never push in when changing interconnects. It’s solid as a tank in all ways but also feels like a tank when you lift it. Seriously, I have never seen an integrated amp of this build quality even in $20-$30k amps. The dials on the front are the finest in feel I have come across as well. Ultra premium.
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 and some slight darkness in the mids compared to some other high end brands. It is detailed, punchy and dense, with body, a bit of warmth. It’s very musical but doesn’t skimp on details. The Dazzle comes with world class bass performance that may have you repositioning your speakers. Just a sublime analog integrated amp. It’s as if it is alive at times.
Pros: Amazing what you get for the price compared to other brands, even the high end – insane power on tap to drive any speaker – effortless vibe and sound – after a 100 hour burn in this amp became even more refined, sweet and now has some warmth as well. As musical as it is the Dazzle can also be enlightening with a superb detail retrieval and treble extension, though it’s smooth as well. So quiet, noise and buzz free 100% – Immersive listening – first watts are Class A – big easy to read display and all metal remote – Bass is powerful but super controlled and tuneful. Truly the finest all analog integrated amp I have had in here for build as it sits with the big guns – feels and sounds like a pricey Swiss amp – Runs warm, never gets hot.
Cons: For some, made in China will be a con at $8500 USD but this is as good as it gets in build and parts – would be cooler with a more exciting display – Heavy so not as easy lift – will take 3-4 weeks to get when you order as each on is built to order it seems. Give it a couple of weeks to burn in as it does make a difference with the Dazzle. Also, this is not a truly balanced amp so the RCA ins will sound much better than XLR here. With XLR the sound was more muted and soft for me. RCA in is incredible. Would have been cool to have a sub out or to be able to use it as an amp only with a tubed preamp. Not as airy as others in the audiophile realm but those aren’t as effortless or impactful as the Dazzle.
You can see more info on the Dazzle HERE.
Tube 300B SET Integrated Amp Reference – Western Electric 91E
Western Electric is legendary in the audio world and this is an amp I have wanted to experience for years, since it was announced. Now that it’s at a much nicer price point and half cost of what it once was (Now $7999) I knew I had to hear one. Western Electric sent one over to me in black for review and I couldn’t believe what it was doing for being only a 20 WPC 300B amp. This drove all of my speakers in my space but sounded extra amazing with the Fleetwood Helios and Nostala LB12 as in…MAGIC. I was hearing the 300B traits such as a big gorgeous midrange, a little glow, nice depth and a holographic stage. This one comes with the legendary Western Electric 300B tubes, wooden box and all. While I would have made a couple of changes in the design (no bluetooth for one) as is, this is the finest 300B integrated amp I have experienced in my many decades of loving the 300B sound. It is large yet not a 100lb beast and the handles up top make it easy to move. Also, there is a cooling system here for the tubes that is remarkable and ensures it doesn’t get super hot, and it doesn’t.
This DOES sound like a good tube SET (single ended triode) amp but with stronger bass as the low end here is unreal for a 300B amp. I had to add this one to the setup as a tube reference as this is one tube integrated amp that truly brings all of the best things about 300B tubes. Glow, haunting vocals, immersion and warmth yet with amazing transparency. I love me a good tube amp and since I have always had a soft spot for the 300B tube, this amp spoke to my heart. Will be the Yang to the Dazzles Yin.
For my setup I chose one in Nickel and will showcase both the black and this one when I do the review in February 2026.
You can buy th 91E direct at Western Electric right here in the USA.
My review will be in February/March 2026.
PreAmp – Galion Navy – Affordable but Awesome
This is a fantastic tube preamp from Galion. A step above the P75 for detail and sounds more “audiophile”. This one is dead quiet, rich in sound, brings tube flavor yet is detailed and brings along more refinement.
I have tested this with various amps and even the new Galion mono block amps, which are stunners and another insane value from Thomas (Review soon). Do not know how he does it, offering such super sound quality as such a price. This is a high end preamp yet costs less than most it competes with. This doesn’t sound like a $10k preamp but it does compete well with $5k preamps, maybe a bit more. A brand new Navy will cost you much less than that. I will keep it around to test amps with when they come in for review and use it with the Galion DOUBLE GIANT KILLER Discovery Mono Amps.
Will be doing a review for the Navy in March and the Galion Mono amps sometime before this.
Pros: Super preamp for what it costs – nice airy sound with great detail retrieval and huge bass performance – quiet and noise free – brings tube flavor to the system – all metal remote – easy to set up and seems very reliable and solid in build.
Cons – Has very high gain so just a little on the volume would do it, I would have liked to have seen it with a bit of lower gain, but not too low. That’s it! This is a great preamp at a great price.
Budget Integrated All In One – Wiim Amp Ultra
I have this amp on hand for when I review budget speakers as this is the perfect starter amp for those who do not want to spend a fortune yet still get solid looks and performance. This one has a streamer, DAC and a 100 WPC amp. Just add speaker cables and you are set to stream. Comes with a voice remote as well. This is a fully featured starter all in one and comes in at $529 which is quite the bargain in today’s world of insane prices on audio gear. Great for speakers up to $3k with super good sound and it has been reliable as well. Seems Wiim has also upped the quality of build on this one a little bit. Surprising for what this costs!
PROS: Just a great deal and Wiim has disrupted the audio industry indeed. This one with 100 WPC is more powerful and includes all you need such as a streamer, amp and DAC. Just add speakers and cables. Nice clarity with the sound.
CONS: None for the cost though the build and sound is not comparable to higher end pieces. It’s a starter all in one and awesome for those getting into the 2 channel hobby. A gateway drug if you will.
You can buy this at Amazon via Prime HERE
Streamer – Matrix NT1 Streaming Transport
Received this for review and it is fantastic! I will explain why in my review in February 2026. Think of the NT1 as a more refined, sweeter, more open and yet smoother yet still detailed sound than the ES T8 with nicer looking design as well. External clock in, add an SSD drive, isolated USB and a superb built in 60W linear power supply. Simple, no fluff, made for all out sound quality and the design and build is lightweight and yet very lovely and solid. Lots to discuss about why this one is so good, so will do this in my review soon. There are a couple of negatives which I will also talk about. Also will compare against the Eversolo T8, which is also excellent and costs $2600 less. There are differences inside and out but my main focus is always on performance, app and sound when it comes to a streamer. I fell in love with this one for design and sound.
See this on the Matrix Website HERE
Site Sponsor Dedicated Audio also offers the Matrix NT1
DAC – The Audio Mirror Wave TUBE DAC
The Audio Mirror WAVE TUBE DAC is a pure reference flagship from the US brand Audio Mirror. I had no idea what to expect but this DAC sits with the heavyweights that cost much more, I mean much more. Yea, this one is not cheap or affordable at $22k but if you have a very high end system and are looking at those $50-$100k DACS (yea that’s a thing) it would be a mistake to not audition the WAVE as it may save you tens of thousands of dollars if you enjoy what it does.
Big props to Vlad over at Audio Mirror has this one has left me super impressed. Again, never heard another DAC do quite what this one does in my system. Audio Mirror also sells lower cost DAC options and their Tubadour line is very highly praised and starts at $5k though I have not heard them. I love, adore and am addicted to this DAC and in my review I stated I would manifest a way to allow this DAC to stay but I do not believe I can afford it so it may not be able to stay for much longer. That hurts but maybe I can still make it work. We will see. Either way, this is my fave DAC of all time when it comes to sound but the price leave sit out of reach for many, sadly.
When you have the Wave Tube DAC in system you will finally be satisfied with your digital full stop, but then again, not all of you have the same likes as I do when it comes to sound. The Wave delivers what I love. Immersion, rich and big details, precise but sweet imaging with depth and I can go on and on. This piece has created some “OMG” moments in my space when listening. Yes, there are many great DACs that cost much less but for those seeking this sound, I have not heard its equivalent yet. The way it does detail is crazy good, with instruments jetting out in a 3D space. It’s a big sound, not really warm, not bright at all, but in the middle. No fatigue. I can listen for 6 hours and still want more. Makes digital sound incredible, even Spotify connect sounds like a dream here with the Matrix NT1.
NOTE: If your budget it say $9k vs $20k, do check out the new SoulNote D2 VII DAC HERE. While not the same as the Wave, it also has a gorgeous refined sound and this would be my #2 under the Wave from all I have heard up until now.
Pros: It does bring the detail out in such a an incredible way – nice looking design – solid build – nice metal remote included -iso acoustics feet – easy/simple to use – USB in sounds best but Coax is also nice when using a great streamer and clock – magical sound in the right setup – huge soundstage – body with each sound/instrument/voice – very 3D but has some meat on the bones as well as being clean, clear and open – just has a huge sound – instruments can jet out and be larger than life. Not fat nor lean but sits in the middle. For high end systems.
Cons: Price is $22k and it does take a good 30 minutes to start sounding its all out best. Be warned, you will lose track of time and listen for hours on end if you have the time.
Check out Audio Mirror’s Website HERE
POWER CONDITIONER – Puritan Audio PSM 156 NFR + GroundMaster City Ultra
Bottom line? This Puritan PSM 156 NHR is one of the finest power conditioners you can buy IMO. 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. But again, I cannot say if you will think the same as I do as audio is so personal. I am just giving my experience.
With the new plug and play Groundmaster City Ultra added, 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 any of the big names I had before. 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.
UPDATE Jan 15th 2026: After a while in the system I simply unplugged my Vinshine Dazzle integrated from the PSM 156 NHR and plugged it right into the wall, which by old school belief should have sounded better. I couldn’t believe what happened. The sound went a shade darker, soundstage shrunk and the depth and holographic nature was much more subdued. The sound was flatter. The integrated sounds MUCH better when plugged into the PSM 156 NHR. More dynamic, more spatial and cleaner. This is the opposite of what used to happened with conditioners and amps. Very impressive.
I feel almost any higher end revealing system can benefit from one of these 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.
My system never sounded so deader than black quiet, nor has it ever been as revealing nor has the soundstage been so immersive. Yea, it costs but that’s the name of this silly HiFi Game we play. If you have a modest system or do not want to splurge here. try THIS one, as it is also excellent.
This PSM 156 NHR will also ensure your system sounds the same every day, every hour. No more variances in sound. That’s what it does for me which is the cherry on top.
Pros: Excellent performance that surpasses even more costly designs – inanely great quality fururtech plugs that are solid and hold well – comes with new Ultimate cable with Furutech connections – truly eliminates noise and DC on the line for a surgically silent background, which means more detail will be heard – meant for high end systems and it does what it says it does. This one elevated my system indeed and it was not small. Bass gets more defined and when all boise, grit, grunge is removed it lifts a veil of sorts. This means larger stage wider stage and more depth to the music.
Cons: Seems crazy to spend this much on a power conditioner – not the best looking thing (I keep it hidden). It may expand the details to where you feel treble is lifted but for me, it doesn’t brighten things up at all, just cleans out the grunge on my line, and I seem to have quite bit of it on my lines.
You can get this from Jaguar Audio HERE.
CABLES
NEW INTERCONNECTS – Yes, interconnects make a larger difference than speaker cables, at least for me. In a higher end setup cables are very important but getting the right ones can be a challenge.
SPEAKER CABLES – Sticking with my Nordost Valhalla OG
The Valhalla for me are what perfection in a speaker cable is. I love the design, the complex build and science behind them and I prefer them to the newer V2 models. I could never afford these new back when they came out ($13k) but I was able to get a used set for $2800 and the only cable I would trade them for is another longer set of Valhalla or the newer Tyr 2 which is basically the Valhalla. ; ) Getting a set of these used at around $3k would be a steal for a 3M set. Keep an eye out. These have been in use by me for almost a decade now, and I can not imagine being without them though I do wish for a longer 4M set.
Next up….
INTERCONNECT CABLES – I am back to using RCA interconnects as I find them to sound better with most amps and sources vs XLR to my ears. I have chosen Mad Scientist WHITE MAGIC interconnects and let me tell you that these are special and made like no other IC. These use an all new material and they do not use silver, copper, gold or any other metal normally used for cables. Mad Scientist created these in an all new way and his hype on his website for these? I was skeptical but I have used his Black Magic IC’s for years along with Nordost Valhalla. But his hype is real and I am only using the least expensive version. There are two levels up from these.
These are amazing, and they did improve my sound, quite drastically vs what I was using before them.
Let me be clear, I much prefer the White Magic interconnects in sound to even the Nordost Valhalla Interconnect which cost $6k when new years ago. A $400 cable bested those for me but I just love the way the White Magic sounds.
The sound of White Magic is like liquid silk, open and detailed yet smooth and inviting with beautiful imaging and soundstage. These are in no way edgy like some silver cables (as these are not silver) and these are not as bloated or smeared as some of the cheaper copper IC cables I have (these are not copper). These do not sound bright or warm, they sound… “right” and I wonder what the next level up sounds like! Even so I really do not need them as these are incredible as is.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE, you can get them or read more on them HERE.
USB CABLE – Have a Mad Scientist White Magic USB cable coming in soon. This may be my choice from streamer to DAC if it’s as impressive as the RCA cables. I will update here after I have it arrives and is tested.
POWER – PURITAN AUDIO ULTIMATE POWER CABLES
I exclusively use Puritan Audio Utimate power cables for all of the gear above and have for 3 years now. They are awesome in all ways but I love that they are floppy and can be routed so easily, which is the main reason I enjoy them. I own three 1 Meter cables and two 3 Meter cables and will always use them for as long as I have a system. I am not a fan of the big thick unruly cables, and yea, I tried many of them over the years and many were and are fantastic but I value great performance and ease of installation as well.
Jaguar Audio sells these Cables HERE
The all in one masterpiece Devialet Astra is also still here (review). Just a beautiful all in one high end integrated amp like no other. I will use this for comparisons and speaker reviews in the future but it is now being used in a separate system and it sounds beautiful with ease of use and reliability.
