My Current HiFi System 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.
Anyway, my system is below!
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 mid 50’s we enjoy the simple things in life above all else.
This is my current system:
Speakers
Icon 12 Speakers from O Audio.
From the moment I heard the Icon 12 and saw them in the flesh I knew that they would be right up my alley. These are majestic. End game for those who love a bit of warmth, big body, big bass, solidity and a sweet wide open treble that is just a bit airy and holographic but at the same time, very refined. No sub needed or desired in my 13X18 space and I feel these could fill a fairly large space but for those with huge rooms, O Audio offers this model.
These are spectacular with any music and can do rock as well as I have heard so far. They do Jazz as if you are sitting in a club listening live but with zero harshness or hollowness. Ambient stuff is insanely room filling and the soundstage has an ethereal vibe going on. It’s wide, tall and deep. These are big, powerful and rich in sound, some warmth yet a silky transparency. Not a lit up top end, but a sweeter kind of vibe.
What I love most is that they sound great with just about all kinds of music and magical with well done recordings. Not bright, not dark, just right. Bass down into the upper 20’s. These are also easy to drive so no big power needed but they do love quality power. These have a heart touching soulful vibe about them. After 6 months with these they have become my favorite speakers of all time.
Pure Audio Project Duet 15
I own two version of the Duet 15, the Horn and the Voxactiv 1.6 version. One with green baffles, one with black. The Horn is a touch more open and airy, the Voxactiv is more dense and punchy. Both are stunners and for the money, I do not feel you can beat these. These are around $13k+ less expensive than my Icon 12’s but they are a different vibe. Voices on the Duet 15 are gorgeous, full throated and in the room. These do the holographic soundstage and all of the audiophile tricks as well. I may slightly prefer the Voxactiv version but there are days I prefer the horn version. Superb with ambient, Jazz and classical. The Voxactiv are better with Rock/Metal, the Horn better with vocals and strings. Both are incredible and there will be no wring choice between the two.
See my review of the Duet 15 Voxactive
See my review of the Duet 15 HORN
Amplification
I now have the ModWright LS99 Tube Pre and KWA99 Amplifiers in the system currently.
LS99 Tube Preamp – This is a 3 tube preamp and offers balanced or single ended inputs and outs. A truly balanced design this has sounded great with all amps I have paired with it. I love the retro big knobs and the tube sound it injects. A kick but preamp that is quiet and also comes with a separate power supply that stays away from the preamp itself. Reminds me of a much better Cary SLP98 from back in the day with a bigger, bolder. more detailed sound but with body, density and a much more refined sound. Also, this thing is dead silent. Zero noise.
KWA 99 Mono Amps – I love the design of these. Simple but retro with the amber VU meters which are large and beautiful. The sound has punch, density and drive. It has energy and an electric kind of power that seems endless with the right speakers. These put out 100 WPC into 8 Ohms and 200 WPC into 4 Ohms. Also, these are made in the USA. The sound is so good and have driven all speakers with the same kind of kick and energy.
I will use these for personal enjoyment as well as review comparisons and purposes.
You can see more about these at the ModWright Website HERE.
See my full video review of this stack!
Other Gear I will have on hand and sometimes swap out for a change or use for review comparisons.
Vinshine Audio TaiHang Power Conditioner (Own It) – Finest I have tested to date, and the most affordable as well.
Bluesound Node Icon Streamer (Own It) – Great for review purposes and when using gear that needs a streamer or streamer and DAC.
ELAC DB63 Bookshelf Speakers. (Own them) – Great for budget speaker review comparisons.
Buchardt E50 Speakers (Long term loaner) – Love having these here for companions as well. Beautiful speakers that are superb in sound and build.
LAIV Micro DAC (Own It) – Such an awesome DAC for a superb price. This is one of those things that you must own to appreciate. Gorgeous sound from such a small box. I love comparing this to DACs that cost much more.