My Current HiFi System 2026
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 in 1978. I bought my first “system” at 15-16 (1984) 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 so immersive 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.
This is my current 2026 system used for review purposes and comparisons as these are some of the best I have found for the money:
Main Reference Speakers Stand Mount
SMALL SPEAKER #1 – T+A Talis R330 in Silver – Full Range Stand Mount made in Germany.
These are pure reference end game smaller speakers for mid sized to medium large rooms. These sooth my soul on those nights when I want a bit of warmth, a smooth sound but also beautiful and organic style detail up top. 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 small two way 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 bigger then they are and can vanish in the room with ease.
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 rests inside as well. Couldn’t want for more in a speaker of this size and while very expensive you do get what you pay for with this German made speaker. All drivers and the entire speaker are made in house by T+A and these are not a hard drive. For those who want to step up their sound to the high end while keeping things small and easy to manage. T+A is legendary in the audio realm.
Posted a bunch of first looks and sound samples at my instagram @hifihuffofficial
SMALL SPEAKER #2 – Fleetwood Helios – Audio art made in the USA.
The performance here is so good and surprising really. As small as they are they are huge in scale, soundstage width, height and depth and the imaging and soundstage is also quite surreal in my 13X18 space, besting the T+A above in these areas. The midrange is big in scale and the treble is extended yet quite smooth depending on your source and amp. Very immersive and spatial presentation and in fact, some of the best I have had here in this regard, regardless of size or cost.
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 breathe. 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. The bass plumped up over the months of using them vs fresh from box.
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. With the Helios, voices greet you, instruments are focused and separated very well and again, come out in the deep and tall stage. The Helios is not lean or fat but neutral with a hint of warmth in the mids.
Posted a bunch of first looks and quick sound samples at my instagram @hifihuffofficial
Buy these or see more info at Fleetwood Sound
INTEGRATRED AMP – Vinshine Audio – DAZZLE
This integrated amp is a stunner and my pick for best audio product of 2025. It’s a flagship of epic proportions but you would know this already if you saw my review. It’s built like a beast but has immense power behind it with 300 WPC into 8 ohms and 560 WPC into 4 OHMS it will drive any speaker made. It’s made of high quality parts and sounds supremely refined and delivers all I could ask for in an integrated amplifier. This one comes in at $8500 USD and is worth every cent of that as this one will last a lifetime.
See more on this at the Vinshine Audio Site
Mono Amps and Tube Pre – Galion Navy/Discovery – Affordable High End Sound.
I love what Thomas is doing at Galion. He creates some killer gear at prices that are much more affordable than the big names, hence why many call some of his products “Giant Killers”. Galion is my fave affordable brand and mainly due to the fact that the bang for the buck is as high.
I currently have in house a set of the Galion Discovery mono amps and the Navy tube preamp. These amplifiers are 80 WPC but sound more like a 150 WPC set as they are high current. The look and sound is really quite amazing for what these cost and then some at under $2k per set. Alive, open, musical, detailed and airy. I would call these audiophile leaning amps.
The Discovery Mono amps are dead quiet in my room so no buzzes or hums. These are so far, the quietest amps I have heard from Galion. Also, they are very dynamic, have a bit of body but with the Navy preamp running the show, there is transparency and just downright spooky imaging performance as well. Do not let the low price fool you with the Discovery mono amps. They are a bargain and yet look and sound like they cost much more than they do. The Discovery are not about warmth but more about a wide open stage with super imaging. For those who want to see into the recordings a bit more.
I am running the Discovery amps with a Galion Navy pre-amp which is also a stunning sounding preamp but again, one that is about imaging, soundstage, clarity and shine. Over time I have grown quite fond of this pre-amp for its sound signature and performance. With the Discovery amps the sound is open, transparent yet punchy and strong with dynamics and slam. It throws a wide stage, delivers some depth and has transparency and soul combined. The sound is vastly different from my Vinshine Dazzle but as impressive in its own way. Open, energy and alive (Galion) vs dense, bigger midrange and refinement (Dazzle).
With the Navy you will get airy highs, deep bass and a nice clean midrange. The amps will bring attack, dynamics and a sense of power with clarity and some warmth in the mids that flesh out the music somewhat. This setup is truly remarkable for the cost. Not warm, not bright but neutral.
I also have the new Comet amp and this one is still airy but has more midrange presence, feels warmer and more luscious. For my tastes…I prefer the Comet which comes in at around $1700 but it all depends on your tastes and what sound you seek.
Streamer – Matrix NT1 Streaming Transport
This NT-1 has upped my level of digital streaming. Add the Matrix SC-1 clock and SS-1 Pro switch as I did and you will have a super refined streaming setup that sounds better than you can imagine. Pricey, sure. Worth it? All depends on how far you want your streaming to go as well as how big your budget is for such things. We are not all as crazy as I am!
I am using it now with the SC-1 clock and SS1-Pro switch and this is the best I have ever heard digital sound. Magic indeed. On its own though the NT-1 is as good as those $6k streamers for $2k less. See the review linked below for all of the details but I ended up purchasing the NT-1, SC-1 and SS1 PRO as once I heard it, I was hooked.
See this on the Matrix Website HERE
Site Sponsor Dedicated Audio also offers the Matrix NT1
DAC – The Audio Mirror Wave Tube DAC
The Wave is a master of emotion. A master of immersion. This DAC weaves magic and makes any speaker I hook up to the system sound just as I had always hoped it could for my digital music streaming. Yes, a DAC can make a huge difference or a small one, or maybe none at all. This one brings something very special to the sound and when I take it out I lose that all out immersion magic I get with it in. The way this DAC separates instruments and does detail is next level as well. Turn down the lights, lower the volume and. throw on a nice relaxing track and you may get lost in the music.
Due to having tubes the Wave also brings some humanity to the sound so it is not cold or incisive. This is not a bright dac in any way nor is it a warm mushy DAC. Its tone is all about spooky goosebump realism. Not sure how Vlad did it but this is a masterpiece of a DAC.
The only con I found with the Wave DAC is that it takes about 90-120 seconds to boot up. This is to soft start the tubes for max tube life so the wait is worth it. It’s been rock solid for months without issue.
See more about the Wave Tube DAC at Audio Mirror HERE
My full review can be seen HERE
POWER CONDITIONER – Puritan Audio PSM 156 NFR + GroundMaster City Ultra
Bottom line? This Puritan PSM 156 NFR is one of the finest power conditioners I have had here. 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.
“After a while in the system I simply unplugged my Vinshine Dazzle integrated from the PSM 156 NFR 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 still awesome but a little flatter now”. – Me.
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.
There are many options out there for power and some may be better, I haven’t tried them all. Of what I have tried (so far) I seem to have always enjoyed the Puritan products.
You can get this from Jaguar Audio HERE.
CABLES
SPEAKER CABLES – Sticking with my Nordost Valhalla OG
The Nordost Valhalla for me are what perfection in a speaker cable is at their used price. I love the design, the complex build and science behind them. I could never afford these new back when they came out ($13k) but I was able to get a used set for $2800 and they just are perfect for me in all ways for a speaker cable. 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. I have had many brands of cable in here from transparent, audioquest, cardas, kimber, acoustic zen and so many more. I have tested all levels of Nordost up to Valhalla 2. For my budget and likes it’s tough to beat a nice used set of Valhalla plus they are light and will not stress the back of your amp with weight and pull. Yea, I have had high end cables here that were so heavy the banana plugs bent after 2 months of being used, from the weight.
No, these are not bright nor will they make any system sound bright. If you have a bright system then these will show you that. In my systems they have always brought big body, a rythmic flow, superb depth and imaging with a way of doing top to bottom energy that I have rarely heard with other cables. A gem.
Interconnects – MAD SCIENTIST
I went over to Mad Scientist audio and saw he has created a new kind of cable that uses a material that he says no other company uses for cables. He has three levels in this new “White Magic” line of IC’s and Digital cables from basic to ultra to prime.
He sent me a USB and RCA set in his starter range. The RCA’s retail for $399 so nothing insane. When they arrived I was blown away by the RCA cables as they brought a sound that was super musical with such a wide stage, a sweetness and a realism. It sounded so welcoming and it was easy to hear the difference from his Black Magic to the White Magic as they are completely different sounds. The BM was more hard, more sizzle, more oomph. The White Magic is airier, lighter, more resolute with inner details and yet there is a warmth, a smoothness to it all that makes it quite nice.. I loved these cables so much I went to order a set of PRIME versions. They are amazing sounding cables and now all I use in my system when it comes to interconnects.
All in all I am now using his White Magic Prime USB and RCA cables in my system. The sound is sublime and yea, it was easy to hear what these do. The prime is more resolute sounding vs the standard and also more open, more holographic in sound but even the starter cable sounds gorgeous.
I am also using his ethernet cables just because I had to try them. They are also very excellent but very stiff as in very stiff. Once in though, these do not need to be moved so it works out.
The White Magic Prime USB is the finest sounding USB cable I have ever tried. These cables did make a very nice difference in my system and I can highly recommend them. It’s interesting also as I never heard such a big difference from changing out a USB cable.
POWER – GALION P400 AND P200
I just switched to some new power cables. Not because my last ones were bad nor did I tire of them, but in this hobby, especially for a reviewer, keeping things fresh seems to be the thing to do ; ) When I heard the P400 power cable from Galion I was very impressed with what it was doing with my source and even amp. The P200 was very nice with my DAC and I feel like I sensed a bit of improvement in bass, clarity and air all while staying refined, zero harshness.
These Galion cables are super impressive in build and looks as well with the P400 just looking downright awesome, rivaling some uber big money brands. These new cables are quite stunning and priced right. Not all believe in power cables but many swear by them. Me? I know they can alter the sound in some ways as I have heard it for 15 years when I started testing out power cables. I will say I never heard a difference back ion the late 90’s when my system was a hodge hodge and not very well setup or done. When my system was more polished, I found power cables swaps altered the sound in ways that I liked or didn’t. There is a reason why even Nordost says “start with the power cables” above even speaker cables and IC’s.
In any case, the P200 and P400 are remarkable power cables and I will now use a P400 on my streamer, amp and clock with a p200 on my DAC. The Galion cables are sold in regards to what kind of sound you seek and there are a few models on offer.
See the Galion Power Cables HERE
TWEAKS – Stack Audio Auva 70 and EQ Isolators
The AUVA EQ and 70 are used under loudspeakers and electronics to control vibrations and this in turn tightens up the bass and brings things into focus. Made for systems that are revealing. I didn’t use to believe in these things so much but now that I have all in place. yea..these are doing SOMETHING.
The EQ isolators go under equipment such as your streamer, DAC or amp. This also helps to snap everything into focus, and yea…they do help to do this when under my streamer and DAC. The effect may be small or large depending on your system and how much vibration you have going on. I have used ISO Acoustics, Nordost and Axxess Noir feet and the Stack Audio is as good or better than any of those. These are made well, feel solid and do not use ball bearings. If you have set up a solid system and do not have a fancy rack that isolates for you, these will do similar things to what those fancy isolation racks do. I do not use a fancy rack so these work well in my system. I have a set of EQ under the NT-1 and SC-1 as well as my amplifiers. A set of Auva 70 under my speaker stands, using the spikes. These are what I call an “icing on the cake” upgrade.